The H200 are ADAM Audio’s new closed back studio headphones. Designed from the ground up by their Berlin based R&D team that has been expanded to include several experienced headphone engineers.

Using the company’s renowned S3V as a tonal benchmark, the PEEK (Polyether ether ketone) diaphragm drivers and acoustic surround have been designed to deliver the exceptional sound quality for which ADAM Audio is known. These dynamic headphones feature 40mm transducers with Neodymium magnets in a circumaural closed back design. Expert design, premium materials and a patent pending internal air flow technology come together to provide a low-end that is distinctly controlled. Delivering a quoted frequency range of 2Hz to 23.5kHz at a max SPL of 112.5 dB, these 32-ohm headphones deliver quite a punch.

The cups are manufactured from ABS plastic which contains 85% recycled material with the ADAM Audio emblem on both. This is rounded out with a durable headband with ADAM Audio etched in, and anodised aluminium yoke. Together, these provide for a firm clamping force to ensure exceptional isolation. The earpads and headband are manufactured from replaceable memory foam with faux leather styling, although a soft cloth option is also available which may be a better choice for long sessions.

In the box you will find along with the headphones, a 3-meter long lead with a 2.5mm jack that can plug into either cup for left or right-handed termination which is an excellent design choice and virtually unheard of at this price point. The other end is terminated with a standard ¼” stereo jack. Also included is a padded fabric storage bag which seems really well made and much better than most, even more expensive options.

To top all of this off, there is a utility plugin designed in conjunction with Sonnox that provides a range of optimization. An “externalization” feature uses advanced crossfeed techniques to better translate speaker mixes to headphones.




In use

I must admit, at first, I was a little concerned that the clamping force would cause some discomfort during long sessions. This, however, proved not to be the case. I ran my usual mix of reference tracks, tracked some vocals and tested them out on a mixing session. All of this took several hours and there was no discomfort for me at all, although some may feel a little discomfort. Listening to my reference tracks showed that the H200 provides a mix that is well-balanced and clear. The high frequencies are represented well with a nice, clear transient response whilst the low end is clear and well balanced. The mids come through as very slightly forward which works well for bringing the vocals into focus.

The acoustic isolation of headphones becomes apparent whilst tracking in front of a sensitive microphone and these headphones do not disappoint on that front either. The bleed into the microphone, I feel, is well within the realms of acceptable, and much better than others in this price range. The slightly mid forward sound proves really useful whilst tracking vocals too, as I find it easier to hear what is going on.

Lastly, the fact that they have an impedance of only 32 Ohm makes them easy to drive with any amp. All in all, ADAM Audio have provided a solid performing headphone with the H200. They performed well in all areas that I tested them. Alone they are well worth the asking price based on their performance, but the story doesn’t end there.

Software

There is a plugin to accompany these which provides a few options to customise the sound to suit individual needs. At the time of writing, the plugin was only available in VST format for Mac and Windows, but ADAM assures that AAX is in the works.


Firstly, you need to select whether you have the faux leather or soft cloth option. There is then a Gain Compensation whose available options are Equal Loudness, based on the Fletcher Munson curves to provide consistent perceived output loudness, Safe Mode which is based on the Gain Compensation curve but only applies negative gain to prevent clipping, and the final option is Off which bypasses all gain compensation.

There is a large button in the middle that turns on the externalisation effect. This is provided by advanced crossfeed techniques to counter the effects of headphone design, in that each ear is normally presented with its own unique sound and simulates listening through speakers.

We next find a “Voicings” control with either “Pure” or “UNR” options. “Pure” is a highly accurate or flat setting ideal for critical listening duties such as mixing and mastering. “UNR” stands for “Uniform Natural Response” and this is a dynamic, natural-sounding response curve of ADAM Audio’s own design. This curve is based on a variety of ADAM Audio legacy monitors, which includes the renowned AX series, and is suited for music production and other creative processes due to its inspiring response.

Lastly, the final control in the plugin is a “Bypass” - which is self-explanatory and should be used when rendering/bouncing your mix through the output of the DAW.

Final thoughts

If you are in the market for a set of reasonably priced, closed back cans then the ADAM Audio H200 could be just what you are looking for. Alone, these headphones are a solid performer whether mixing or tracking. The acoustic isolation and slightly forward mids make these a good option for tracking vocals. The included plugin provides extra options that elevate the usefulness beyond basic headphones and help propel them above the competition.

Pros

• Excellent design, I particularly like the ability to plug the cable into either cup
• Good isolation
• Nice sound reproduction
• Externalization plugin with useful features

Cons

• Nothing for the price ($149.99 MSRP)

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