Help with choosing a studio monitor.

[Huang Jerry]

So I sold off some gear, and instead of being a financially wise man, I decided that I needed a proper pair of studio monitor.

I'm choosing between two pairs:
- Klein + Hummel O110 in very good condition, for SGD650 (USD470, EUR455)
- Kali LP6 (not V2) brand new in box, for SGD500 (USD375, EUR350)

I prefer a "clean" neutral sound, and I'm quite sensitive to distortion in all frequencies
I listen to everything from soft jazz to death metal,
Criteria: needs to do anything between watching cat videos and mastering very well.

My listening room cell is 2.8m (length) x 3.5m (width), so yeah, near-field listening only.
The room is untreated and speakers are placed on a desk 1.5m apart, 10° toe in and ~30cm to the wall.

I liked both of these speakers after I auditioned them both in a store (with full anechoic room treatment).
I would love to have something proven and legendary of its neutrality, but it is pretty rewarding (and comforting) to buy brand new.

My only concern with the Kali is that it will be too large for my setup, as for the O110, its only problem is that it's $50 beyond my budget.

Answers and suggestions are greatly appreciated.
Have a great day.
Jerry.

 

[astcal]

you will most likely get advice here of something like Genelec or Neumann, which are out of your price range but definitely worth it. If you absolutely can't stretch your budget, you may want to take a look of iLoud Micro.

 

[Berwhale]

you will most likely get advice here of something like Genelec or Neumann, which are out of your price range but definitely worth it. If you absolutely can't stretch your budget, you may want to take a look of iLoud Micro.

Neumann KH Line (e.g. KH80 DSP) = Klein + Hummel

 

[radix]

The Kali generally get good reviews. The LP6 is reviewed here on this site: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/kali-lp-6-review-studio-monitor.17978/

I'm not familiar with the O110.

 

[RobL]

K&H O110 looks like a nice monitor, even if a little older:


Predecessor of the KH120 I think?

 

[Huang Jerry]

K&H O110 looks like a nice monitor, even if a little older:

View attachment 264594
Predecessor of the KH120 I think?

Exactly, KH120 is a improved version over the old O110

 

[AnalogSteph]

I tried to test the bass level handling of my O110s at one point... my ears gave out first! By contrast, the 3rd harmonic on my old Tascams with some known relay issues was plainly audible.

You can get unlucky with the O110s' mains transformers as evidenced by one of mine that has increased buzz and seems sensitive to DC on the mains... but in general they're a pretty quiet affair, unlike the well-documented hiss levels on the v1 Kalis.

My K+Hs cost me a fair bit more, and that was pre-pandemic. So even if they're stretching your budget, I would consider them a good deal. The only thing that the Kalis would do better out of the box is bass extension, but you could still help that with some EQ if needed.

 

[ZolaIII]

Try to rotate your position in cell if that's possible and move desk a bit from the wall. Try with Kali LP-6 V2 not V1 they hisss along with a sub (and you really don't need to go for overkill one 12" 300+ W).