Short answer: the Palmer STUDIMON 5. Both are rated 3.6/5 for sound quality (#68 and #67 of 108 powered bookshelf speakers), and the Palmer STUDIMON 5 costs $599.98 against $1,079.98 for the ADAM Audio A4V, so with nothing between them on sound quality, price settles it.
The case for the ADAM Audio A4V: Compact monitor with onboard DSP, placement controls and room-correction integration. The catch: A small average-deviation figure hides a major localized response irregularity: the selected measurement spans 10.8dB from 300Hz to 5kHz, and listening-window narrow-band deviation is 0.547.
What the Palmer STUDIMON 5 does well: The available third-party measurements predict 3.48 standalone and 6.37 with an ideal subwoofer. Watch for: The trace spans 4.0dB from 300Hz to 5kHz and estimates -3dB bass around 80Hz, with local irregularities despite the level overall trend.
Buy the Palmer STUDIMON 5. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $480 less than the ADAM Audio A4V.
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Compact monitor with onboard DSP, placement controls and room-correction integration.
Amazon $539.99 B&H Photo Video $539.99 eBay
The available third-party measurements predict 3.48 standalone and 6.37 with an ideal subwoofer.
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Specifications Side By Side
| ADAM Audio A4V | Palmer STUDIMON 5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,079.98 per pair | $599.98 per pair |
| Ranked | #67 of 108 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #68 of 108 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Enclosure | 2-way active, dual front ports | 2-way active, rear-ported |
| Drivers | X-ART folded-ribbon tweeter, 4” MLM woofer | 0.75” soft-dome tweeter, 5” woofer |
| Dimensions | 10.6H x 6.2W x 8.7D in | 10.6H x 7.5W x 8.5D in |
| Weight | 12.8 lbs (5.8 kg) each | 8.6 lbs (3.9 kg) each |
| Amplifier Power | 130W RMS each | 60W each (30W LF, 30W HF) |
| Inputs | XLR and RCA; Ethernet for control | Balanced XLR and 1/4” TRS |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.92 | 3.48 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.33 | 6.37 |
| XLR Input | Yes | Yes |
| RCA Input | Yes | No |
| TRS Input | No | Yes |
| Optical Input | No | No |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | No |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| Frequency Response | 58Hz - 41kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 70Hz - 20kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Country | - | Germany (design) |
Frequency Response Compared
Both speakers’ spinorama measurements, overlaid. A flatter line is more neutral: peaks sound forward or harsh, dips sound recessed. Each curve is shifted so its average from 300 Hz to 3 kHz sits at 0 dB, so loudness differences between the two are removed and only the shape is compared. The two were measured by different sources, so small differences, especially in the bass, can come from the measurement setup rather than the speakers.
Measurement data: ADAM Audio A4V (measured by Audio Science Review) and Palmer STUDIMON 5 (measured by an independent reviewer), via spinorama.org.
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