Adam Audio T5V or Yamaha HS5. Short comparison review with frequency respnse graph

Today we will compare two popular studio monitors with 5 inch woofers - Adam Audio T5V and Yamaha HS5.

Build Quality
Yamaha HS5 is superior monitor to Adam T5V in terms of build quality and looks (especially in white finish) - HS5 feels much more sturdy all round and is finished to a higher quality standard. Adam T5V is let down especially by the plastic front panel and flimsy controls on the back. Additionally T5V, unlike HS5, has no status light on the front (has one on the back) which is not very comfortable. Adam T5V has a enclosure that is very deep and this makes it rather bulky on desk.
Yamaha has less hiss than Adam, but both have audible level of hiss when idling.

Sound Quality 
Neither of these two is totally flat in its frequency response (see the graphs below). Yamaha HS5 has a honky colorations, lift is response around 1kHz. Adam T5V on the other hand has a small dip around 3.5kHz which translates to slight lack of body and significant bump between 5kHz and 12-13Khz which translates to a bright forward sound signature (suprisingly not very fatiguing though). T5V has much more usefull bass response and can be used without subwoofer to a good effect, while HS5 has rather weak but also tighter bass that begs for subwoofers help to sound full.
Adam creates superior soundstage with more depth and can reach higher SPLs without distortion. HS5 sounds a bit more coherent while there is a slight feeling of disjoint between midrange and treble in T5V


Here is a frequency response graph, measured in room using UMIK-1 microphone at 1m distance:

Here is a sound demo of T5V and HS5 from my YouTube channel:

Summary
In summary I think we have a draw here. Yamaha HS5 is better build and to my ear sounds slightly more coherent, but also is honky and weak on bass. T5V has superior tweeter but presents a bit forward and disjonted sound with solid bass response. Choose your compromises wisely ;)