- Adam Audio launches the H715 Reference, an open-back studio headphone that tops its headphone range, designed for mixing and mastering.
- It is aimed at sound engineers, producers, and musicians who judge their balances, dynamics, and stereo image on headphones, in a quiet room: its open design does not isolate, it is not a tracking headphone.
- Developed with Sonnox, Headphone Utility and ListenHub come with it: calibration, adjustable crossfeed, comparison with reference tracks, and mix control tools.
- Two cables are provided: a coiled studio cable with a 3.5 mm jack and a symmetrical Hi-Fi cable with a 4.4 mm Pentaconn connector. With 150 ohms impedance, it requires a suitable headphone output.
Adam Audio made a name for itself with its nearfield monitoring speakers, those monitors placed at ear height to make mixing decisions. The manufacturer now transfers this demand to headphones: the Adam Audio H715 Reference, the brand's new top open-back model.
Its specifications boil down to three words: balance, extended bass, low distortion. The goal is to be able to make EQ or compression adjustments on headphones with the same confidence as on a pair of monitors. For this model, Adam Audio also strengthened its collaboration with Sonnox, the plug-in developer: the headphones come with their own calibration and control tools. Drivers, software, dual connectivity, and comfort: here is what this mixing headphone offers.
In the brand's headphone range, which already included the Adam Audio H200, the H715 Reference occupies the position of the high-end open-back headphone.
It is an over-ear design (fully enclosing the ear), with 40 mm dynamic drivers and rotatable ear cups. It weighs 302 g without cable and comes with a hard case.
Specifications - Adam Audio H715 Reference
| Type | Open-back studio headphones, over-ear |
|---|---|
| Drivers | 40 mm dynamic · Titanium-coated PEN diaphragms · Neodymium magnets |
| Frequency response (-3 dB) | 9 Hz - 40 kHz |
| Nominal impedance | 150 ohms |
| Sensitivity at 1 kHz | 94 dB SPL for 1 mW · 102 dB SPL at 1 Vrms |
| Total harmonic distortion | Less than 0.05% at 1 kHz and 100 dB SPL |
| Maximum SPL at 1 kHz | 113 dB SPL |
| Input power | 30 mW continuous · 100 mW maximum |
| Studio cable | Coiled 1.3 m extendable to 3 m, 3.5 mm TRS jack with 6.3 mm adapter |
| Hi-Fi cable | Straight 3 m, dual input, 5-pin 4.4 mm Pentaconn |
| Software | Headphone Utility ListenHub |
| Weight | 302 g without cable |
| Included | Studio cable · Hi-Fi cable · 6.3 mm adapter · Switching rod · Hard case |
| Verdict |
Pros
Worth noting
|
Mixing and mastering with the Adam Audio H715
The H715 Reference is used to closely listen to three things: balances between instruments, dynamics, and stereo image. This is the job of mixing and mastering headphones, the ones you keep on to check that a bass does not overpower the kick drum or that a reverb does not spill to the sides.
Two figures from the specs stand out here. The response from 9 Hz to 40 kHz at -3 dB indicates the range over which the level remains within 3 dB of the 1 kHz reference: the bass goes below what the ear perceives. The total harmonic distortion (the unwanted harmonics added by the driver) remains under 0.05% at 100 dB SPL, already a high level.
Open means the back of the drivers is not closed: sound flows freely, which gives an airy listening experience, but it also passes both ways. The H715 is therefore suited to a quiet room. To record a voice in front of a microphone, a closed-back studio headphone prevents the headphone music from leaking into the recording.
Titanium-coated PEN diaphragms
Each ear cup houses a 40 mm dynamic driver. The diaphragms are made of titanium-coated PEN (PEN is a rigid and lightweight polymer), driven by powerful neodymium magnets, with an adjusted suspension and a pending patent ventilation system.
The drivers are angled and placed behind a permeable woven steel mesh. Around their outlet, a dense acoustic material reduces unwanted resonance peaks, those frequency bumps that color the sound. The front is protected by a grille covered with fabric and felt.
The 150 ohm impedance measures the resistance the headphones oppose to the signal. The higher it is, the more voltage the headphone output must provide for the same volume. The sensitivity of 102 dB SPL at 1 Vrms gives the order of magnitude, and the headphones accept 30 mW continuous (100 mW peak). A suitable headphone output maintains level without pushing the electronics to their limits.
Sonnox, Headphone Utility and ListenHub around the Adam Audio H715
The headphones do not come alone. Developed with Sonnox, Headphone Utility applies settings specific to Adam Audio headphones and adds adjustable crossfeed. Crossfeed mixes a small part of the left channel into the right ear, and vice versa, as two speakers naturally do in a room. The result: a mix intended for speakers is better appreciated on headphones, without the sensation of sound glued to the ears.
ListenHub adds a virtual monitoring environment. You compare your track with streaming platform titles, balancing levels so the loudest doesn't seem the best. It also includes metering, mono control, side channel listening (the part of the signal that creates stereo width), and balance.
Under macOS, Headphone Utility can run directly within ListenHub. Calibration then applies system-wide: your workstation, audio player, or browser all use the same correction regardless of source.
Before comparing your mix to a reference track, activate level matching in ListenHub. A few decibels difference can make a track sound richer, and you might end up judging volume instead of balance.
Studio cable or symmetrical Hi-Fi mode: two ways to connect the H715
The cables are detachable. The studio cable is coiled, 1.3 m long and extendable to 3 m. It ends with a straight 3.5 mm TRS jack, with a 6.3 mm adapter. It plugs in on one side only, left or right depending on your preference, and locks into the earcup. This is the everyday connection to the headphone output of an audio interface or mixer.
The Hi-Fi cable is 3 m long, connects the two earcups separately, and ends with a five-pin 4.4 mm Pentaconn plug. It’s for a balanced connection: each side of the headphones gets its own send and return, with no shared ground between left and right.
To activate it, a recessed button in the left earcup is pressed with the supplied metal rod. It separates the common ground for use with a compatible differential headphone amplifier. Pressing again restores the common ground, and the studio cable is used again. This mode is also aimed at attentive music listening at home on high-end electronics.
Comfort and replaceable parts for long sessions
Support comes from a spring steel headband. Its central cutout reduces pressure on the top of the head, the spot that tires first after a few hours of mixing. The swiveling earcups follow the shape of your head, and the whole weighs 302 g without cable.
The memory foam pads, offered in soft fabric and faux leather, attach by magnets: they come off and go back on without forcing clips. Machined aluminum supports, detachable cables, and replaceable headband padding complete a modular design. A daily-worn headphone wears out, and here every wear part can be replaced.
First check the headphone output you already work with. A decent interface or headphone amp is enough for the studio cable. The Hi-Fi mode only makes sense if your amp offers a balanced 4.4 mm Pentaconn output: without it, stick to the studio cable and enjoy the rest of the headphones.
FAQ - Adam Audio H715 Reference
Is the H715 Reference suitable for recording?
It’s designed for mixing and mastering listening. Its open design favors sound openness over isolation: for vocal recording in front of a mic, a closed-back headphone is more suitable.
Do you need a headphone amp for the Adam Audio H715?
With 150 ohms impedance, it requires a suitable headphone output, like that of an audio interface or dedicated amp. The Hi-Fi mode assumes a differential amp compatible with a 4.4 mm Pentaconn output.
What cables come with the headphones?
A coiled 1.3 m studio cable extendable to 3 m, with 3.5 mm jack and 6.3 mm adapter, and a straight 3 m Hi-Fi cable with dual input, ending in a five-pin 4.4 mm Pentaconn plug. A hard case is also included.
What are Headphone Utility and ListenHub for?
Headphone Utility, developed with Sonnox, applies settings tailored to Adam Audio headphones and an adjustable crossfeed. ListenHub adds comparison with streaming tracks at matched levels, metering, mono control, side channel listening, and balance.
How much does the H715 Reference weigh?
It weighs 302 g without cable, with a spring steel headband and memory foam pads with magnetic attachment.
The H715 Reference combines a refined open headphone, Sonnox calibration software, and dual connectivity ranging from home studio to high-end amp. It naturally fits alongside a pair of monitors: speakers for room feel, headphones for detail, and crossfeed to link the two. A good way to check a mix translates everywhere before sending it to mastering.
