Short answer: the Audio Smile Little British Monitor for better sound quality, the Adam Audio D3v for the lower price. The Audio Smile Little British Monitor ranks #3 of 13 powered bookshelf speakers at $529. The Adam Audio D3v ranks #4 at $349.99, $179.01 cheaper.
What the Audio Smile Little British Monitor gets right: For an 8 inch tall, 1.7kg desktop monitor it posts the highest preference score of any small powered monitor in this batch. Set against that: The compact 3 inch mid woofer limits bass extension to a measured 71.8Hz at -3dB, so this is a nearfield desktop speaker rather than a room filling one. 50W plus 50W of Class A/B power and a narrow +/-1dB treble trim limit its output ceiling next to larger active monitors at similar money.
The case for the Adam Audio D3v: Compact powered desktop monitor with passive radiators on the sides for extra bass extension, designed specifically for near-field (about 1 meter) listening. The catch: Built-in limiter chops off both low-frequency and midrange content as output increases - not intended for loud or far-field listening.
Buy the Audio Smile Little British Monitor if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Adam Audio D3v if the price matters more than sound quality.
Specifications Side By Side
| Audio Smile Little British Monitor | Adam Audio D3v | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | 529 GBP/pair | $349.99 |
| Ranked | #3 of 13 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #4 of 13 in Small Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Enclosure | ported | - |
| Drivers | 0.75" wide band tweeter, 3" long throw mid woofer | 3.5" woofer, U-ART accelerated ribbon tweeter |
| Dimensions | 8.1"H x 4.7"W x 5.3"D (205 x 120 x 135 mm) (8.1 x 4.7 x 5.3 in) | 6.7"H x 4.3"W x 5.9"D (170.2 x 109.2 x 149.9 mm) |
| Weight | 3.7 lbs / 1.7 kg (Master unit) / 3.1 lbs / 1.4 kg (Slave unit) | 3.7 lbs / 1.7 kg |
| Power Output (Watts) | 100W total (50W LF, 50W HF, Class A/B) | - |
| Frequency Response | 58Hz-20kHz -6dB | 50Hz - 50kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 71.8Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 50Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 56.6Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 45Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Crossover Points | 1.5kHz | - |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, aptX HD | - |
| Warranty | 12 months | - |
| Country | United Kingdom | - |
| App | - | No |
| Bluetooth | - | No |
| EQ | - | Yes (Room adjustment filters) |
| Inputs | - | XLR, RCA |
| Max SPL | - | 102dB @ 1m |
| Sensitivity | - | 86.5dB (measured at 0.3V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Output Power | - | 50W (30W woofer + 20W tweeter) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Edifier MR3 vs Genelec 8010A
- Genelec 8010A vs IK Multimedia iLoud Micro Monitor
- IK Multimedia iLoud Micro Monitor vs Klipsch ProMedia Lumina
- Adam Audio D3v vs Genelec 8010A
- Adam Audio D3v vs Klipsch ProMedia Lumina
The Two Speakers In Full
Audio Smile Little British Monitor: 529 GBP/pair Audio Smile
Pros: For an 8 inch tall, 1.7kg desktop monitor it posts the highest preference score of any small powered monitor in this batch. The low frequency rolloff has an unusually low Q of 0.30, meaning it fades away cleanly rather than building into a resonant boomy peak the way many small monitors do near their extension limit. On axis deviation measures just 0.085dB average, the second tightest figure in this whole batch behind only the AsciLab A6B. Hand built in England with an active DSP crossover and aptX HD Bluetooth.
Cons: The compact 3 inch mid woofer limits bass extension to a measured 71.8Hz at -3dB, so this is a nearfield desktop speaker rather than a room filling one. 50W plus 50W of Class A/B power and a narrow +/-1dB treble trim limit its output ceiling next to larger active monitors at similar money. It’s a boutique UK product sold direct from the manufacturer, so buyers outside the UK pay import shipping.
Full Audio Smile Little British Monitor review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 56.6Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 71.8Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, aptX HD |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Crossover Points | 1.5kHz |
| Dimensions | 8.1"H x 4.7"W x 5.3"D (205 x 120 x 135 mm) (8.1 x 4.7 x 5.3 in) |
| Drivers | 0.75" wide band tweeter, 3" long throw mid woofer |
| Enclosure | ported |
| Frequency Response | 58Hz-20kHz -6dB |
| Power Output (Watts) | 100W total (50W LF, 50W HF, Class A/B) |
| Warranty | 12 months |
| Weight | 3.7 lbs / 1.7 kg (Master unit) / 3.1 lbs / 1.4 kg (Slave unit) |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
Adam Audio D3v: $349.99 Amazon
Pros: Compact powered desktop monitor with passive radiators on the sides for extra bass extension, designed specifically for near-field (about 1 meter) listening. Bass extends flat to about 50Hz before rolling off sharply. On-axis linearity holds within about ±2dB - notably better linearity than its similarly-priced rival, the Kali LP-UNF. USB-C plus analog inputs, with the secondary speaker powered through a cable from the primary unit so only one power outlet is needed. Adjustable back-panel settings compensate for desk, wall, corner, or stand placement. Distortion in the midrange is better controlled than the larger Kali LP-UNF at moderate output levels. Smaller footprint than similarly-priced alternatives, useful for tight desk space, while still a clear step up from cheap sub-$150 desktop speakers.
Cons: Built-in limiter chops off both low-frequency and midrange content as output increases - not intended for loud or far-field listening. Best output window is roughly 78-86dB based on multitone distortion testing; long-term compression testing puts effective maximum SPL around 89dB, and instantaneous compression around 90dB. A slight treble tip-up appears around 4-6kHz on-axis. Vertical listening window is tight, typical of compact two-way designs - needs to stay close to the tweeter axis. Narrower horizontal dispersion (about ±60°) and less vertical placement tolerance than the Kali LP-UNF (about ±70° horizontal). The Kali LP-UNF, at the same price, offers roughly 2dB more maximum output and a bit more bass boost, if either matters more than the compact size.
Full Adam Audio D3v review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 45Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 50Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Dimensions | 6.7"H x 4.3"W x 5.9"D (170.2 x 109.2 x 149.9 mm) |
| Drivers | 3.5" woofer, U-ART accelerated ribbon tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (Room adjustment filters) |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 50kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | XLR, RCA |
| Max SPL | 102dB @ 1m |
| Output Power | 50W (30W woofer + 20W tweeter) |
| Sensitivity | 86.5dB (measured at 0.3V/1m, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 3.7 lbs / 1.7 kg |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Adam Audio D3v vs Edifier MR3
- Adam Audio D3v vs Audioengine HD3
- Adam Audio D3v vs IK Multimedia iLoud Micro Monitor
- Adam Audio D3v vs Genelec 8010A
- Adam Audio D3v vs Edifier M60
- Adam Audio D3v vs Klipsch ProMedia Lumina
- Adam Audio D3v vs Audioengine A2+
- Adam Audio D3v vs Presonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen
- See all 11 comparisons