8030C and KH120 - Subjective Listening Tests

[ctrl]

I’m a measurements guy and today for the first time I listened “timbre” differences between speakers that perform similar in measurements.

Your ears are definitely better than your eyes

The measurements suggest a significant difference in tonality.
The axis frequency responses are 1-2dB apart, but almost more importantly, listening window, sound power (and ER) differ significantly in the range 1-4kHz and above 7kHz.
All these curves (LW, SP, ER) represent "averages" from single measurements, so deviations of 1-2dB (over wider frequency ranges) are expected to show up as audible tonality differences.

(Unfortunately, there were only different measurement sources for the comparison)

Source: https://pierreaubert.github.io/spinorama/

listening tests are also significant and you should pick the one that is good for you and not just for measurements.

Definitely!

 

[YSC]

Your ears are definitely better than your eyes

The measurements suggest a significant difference in tonality.
The axis frequency responses are 1-2dB apart, but almost more importantly, listening window, sound power (and ER) differ significantly in the range 1-4kHz and above 7kHz.
All these curves (LW, SP, ER) represent "averages" from single measurements, so deviations of 1-2dB (over wider frequency ranges) are expected to show up as audible tonality differences.

(Unfortunately, there were only different measurement sources for the comparison)
View attachment 235561


Definitely!

the difference is there and to the degree I notice the difference, mostly in the highs/air region. but easily masked by environment noise.

in this category of performance I personally think that one could be satisified by either of these, I ended up choosing the 8030 instead of the KH120 mainly due to it uses class D which is less of a concern in hot tropical climate, and that it is $100 cheaper in Thomann during my shopping days, which is significant difference to me given similar extension, and for subsequent sub purchase the 7040 being cheaper, slimmer and extends good enough fits my usecase more. I would likely decide the opposite if the Neumann was cheaper back then

 

[ctrl]

the difference is there and to the degree I notice the difference, mostly in the highs/air region.

Agree, the audibility of the differences depends on the listening environment. The higher the direct sound ratio, the smaller the tonal differences are likely to be. In an environment with diffusers and little absorption, the differences should be more audible.

is less of a concern in hot tropical climate

lucky you

 

[Music1969]

Next is to try 8341A and KH310.

Try this too !

HEDD Type 05 Mk2 vs Genelec 8030

This is excellent (compared with Genelec 8030) Korean website via Google Translate https://www-0db-co-kr.translate.goog/index.php?mid=REVIEW_0DB&page=5&document_srl=1999938&_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[changer]

Obvious difference on Sennheiser HD-25 II.
8020 and 8030 do not seem close from what we can see from the measurements.