Short answer: the Focal Twin6 Be. It ranks #34 of 40 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality at $2200; the Adam Audio S2V ranks #37 and costs $3500, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Focal Twin6 Be offers: High-output 2.5-way studio monitor with an inverted beryllium tweeter and two 6.5-inch W-composite drivers, one covering bass/midrange and the other reinforcing only 40-150Hz. Watch for: The response and directivity are not as uniformly neutral as newer waveguided three-way monitors, and Erin suspected intermodulation-related roughness even though conventional harmonic distortion was low.
On the Adam Audio S2V side: CEA2034 spinorama shows excellent driver blending through an imperceptible crossover between the 7” woofer and AMT tweeter, with distortion measured 70dB down at 1kHz. Set against that: An intentional shelving curve creates a dip in the low bass response, roughly 200-500Hz.
Buy the Focal Twin6 Be. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Adam Audio S2V and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip both of these and look higher up the 40 powered bookshelf speakers instead.
Specifications Side By Side
| Focal Twin6 Be | Adam Audio S2V | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2,200 each | $3500 |
| Ranked | #34 of 40 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #37 of 40 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension | 40Hz manufacturer specified; Erin measured strong low-frequency linearity | - |
| Sensitivity | Not applicable (active studio monitor) | - |
| Drivers | 1" inverted beryllium tweeter; dual 6.5" W-cone drivers | 7" woofer, S-ART AMT tweeter |
| Amplification | 150W LF + 100W LF/MF + 100W HF | - |
| Inputs | Balanced XLR with +4dBu/-10dBV sensitivity | - |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | - | 85Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 62Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Dimensions | - | not published by manufacturer |
| Frequency Response | - | 35Hz - 50kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | - | not published by manufacturer |
| App | - | Yes |
| EQ | - | No |
| DSP | - | Yes |
| Output Power | - | 350W total (300W woofer Class D, 50W tweeter Class A/B) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- JBL 4329P vs Klipsch The Sevens
- Buchardt A10 vs Klipsch The Sevens
- Adam Audio T7V vs Genelec 8341A
- JBL 708P vs Focal Twin6 Be
- Buchardt A500 vs Focal Twin6 Be
The Two Speakers In Full
Focal Twin6 Be: $2,200 each Amazon
Pros: High-output 2.5-way studio monitor with an inverted beryllium tweeter and two 6.5-inch W-composite drivers, one covering bass/midrange and the other reinforcing only 40-150Hz. Erin measured excellent harmonic distortion at both 86 and 96dB, essentially quarter-decibel dynamic compression and clean subjective output around 95dB. Mirror-configurable driver orientation, front ports, shelving/notch controls and switchable +4dBu/-10dBV input sensitivity support professional installation.
Cons: The response and directivity are not as uniformly neutral as newer waveguided three-way monitors, and Erin suspected intermodulation-related roughness even though conventional harmonic distortion was low. The amplifier plate becomes notably warm after extended operation. Hiss is more audible in -10dBV mode, and safe output can be deceptive because the speaker gives little audible warning before excessive exposure. The active design has no passive impedance or sensitivity figure; low-bass extension should be augmented for full-range mastering.
Full Focal Twin6 Be review and specifications →
| Amplification | 150W LF + 100W LF/MF + 100W HF |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension | 40Hz manufacturer specified; Erin measured strong low-frequency linearity |
| Drivers | 1" inverted beryllium tweeter; dual 6.5" W-cone drivers |
| Inputs | Balanced XLR with +4dBu/-10dBV sensitivity |
| Sensitivity | Not applicable (active studio monitor) |
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Adam Audio S2V: $3500 Bhphotovideo
Pros: CEA2034 spinorama shows excellent driver blending through an imperceptible crossover between the 7” woofer and AMT tweeter, with distortion measured 70dB down at 1kHz. The 350W amplifier was the first the reviewer tested that didn’t run out of power on demand, delivering over 120dB SPL per pair.
Cons: An intentional shelving curve creates a dip in the low bass response, roughly 200-500Hz. The rotary-encoder control interface is non-intuitive, and the companion PC app requires serial-number registration with settings that only take effect after a manual “write” step that takes 5-10 seconds and produces audible ticks and pops. Expensive at $3,500 per pair.
Full Adam Audio S2V review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 62Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 85Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| DSP | Yes |
| Dimensions | not published by manufacturer |
| Drivers | 7" woofer, S-ART AMT tweeter |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 35Hz - 50kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Output Power | 350W total (300W woofer Class D, 50W tweeter Class A/B) |
| Weight | not published by manufacturer |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons