Neumann KH 150 Monitor Review

[teashea]

This KH150 is ruler flat, thanks to dsp.

If I would screw a purifi 6,5 inch midwoofer in a stiff cabinet, with a bliesma midrange and tweeter, and use dsp (from a hypex plate amp FA253) to set crossovers and levels, measure and flatten the response, would it be possible to get the same ruler flat output?

Or do these companies have more intricate dsp to optimize the frequency response?

The reason why I ask this is that the man behind grimm once said that you could only achieve real high end results with meticulous adjusting a dsp within controlled circumstances and that this would be a different category than the dsp measurements at home, with umik/rew for example. Agree?

DSP is very important but is not the only factor. Watch the Neumann videos.

 

[bachatero]

Below 39 Hz.

What is the bar to meet this standard of having content below 39Hz?

 

[teashea]

What is the bar to meet this standard of having content below 39Hz?

1) Few instruments play lower 2) Few composers/writers write music with lower notes 3) Producers know that fewer than one in a hundred listeners listen on a system that reproduces sound below 60 Hz.

 

[teashea]

Can someone answer what the benefit is of DSP within a speaker. Does it become irrelevant if you are hooking up to a computer/other hardware with those capabilities or is there more to it?

DSP in Neumann monitors is built into the monitors themselves. The do not have to be hooked up to a computer. Having it integral to the monitor is a a big advantage. It does more than EQ. For example, it limits the woofer excursion.

DSP is a method to make the monitor have flatter frequency response and lower distortion. I have learned a lot by reading some articles on how DSP works and watch some YT videos and read the Neumann information that they have on their website.

 

[teashea]

Never heard anything but bad about the 750. Looks like Neumann needs a new sub to fill in the gaps

Actually, the KH750 is highly regarded.

 

[teashea]

It’s not bad, just that it has limitations and some would like to have a more powerful one.

And, of course, they make a more powerful one.

 

[teashea]

Until it turns yellow and you can never be 100% sure that won't happen. That's why I never get white stuff.

I just purchased my first set of white Neuman monitors (KH120 II's). All the rest of my Neumann monitors are graphite. I have seen exactly zero comments that any of their white monitors have turned yellow.

 

[teashea]

So is a "pro" monitor like the Kh 150 suitable to compare to something like a state of art passive monitor (e.g. Revel M126Be, March Sointuva) for use in small to medium living room type installation. Likely with subwoofers in all cases.

Search this threat for the dozens of comments about this exact issue.

 

[teashea]

Personally, in a small to mid size living room, I would go with the Revels. I only use active monitors for near field listening: mixing, editing and desktop music listening.

I do much the same. I only use my seven pairs of Neumann monitors as nearfield monitors in my studio. I use pleasure listening speakers for my stereo systems.

 

[teashea]

Thanks. Is that preference primarily due to the greater dispersion width of the revels?

It is worthy of note that Neumann says their monitors are usable at midfield distances but not optimal. Read Amir's comment on this earlier in this thread.

 

[teashea]

Since when looks are irrelevant???
I can't live with something if I don't like it visually first.

I think Neumann monitors look quite good in a studio.

 

[teashea]

Anyone heard them side by side with KH120
Which were dark sounding to me...
Question is do all Neumann monitors have the same "house sound" as all Genelecs do
Or are they different?

I have seven pairs of Neumann monitors in my studio. The do indeed have a family sound - flat frequency response and low distortion. They are designed to not impart any color, sweetness, heaviness or anything else to the source.

 

[teashea]

I think I've decided to just stick with my 120's for desktop listening. I haven't really seen a single valid argument thus far of why you'd spend $3500 to get the 150's if you already have the 120's and I don't wanna spend that type of cash on something that is ultimately going to sound like an incremental upgrade. We'll see how the 120 II's are priced and how they perform when those come out. Might be better bang for the buck ultimately.

It depends on what one wants to use them for. I still use 120A's for some things but the 150's and 120 II's are clearly superior for critical uses.

 

[bachatero]

1) Few instruments play lower 2) Few composers/writers write music with lower notes 3) Producers know that fewer than one in a hundred listeners listen on a system that reproduces sound below 60 Hz.

This might have been true in the past, but today "everybody" has a pair of headphones that can play down to 30Hz, and even cheap speaker systems can play low notes just fine including those in cheap cars. Plus, although it's true that a lot of music lacks bass, there is also a lot of music with "tons of bass" but which doesn't sound bad if you can't hear that low. Check out this 30Hz example from Mr. Profile Picture:

 

[teashea]

This might have been true in the past, but today "everybody" has a pair of headphones that can play down to 30Hz, and even cheap speaker systems can play low notes just fine including those in cheap cars. Plus, although it's true that a lot of music lacks bass, there is also a lot of music with "tons of bass" but which doesn't sound bad if you can't hear that low. Check out this 30Hz example from Mr. Profile Picture:

There are a few songs with content that low - very very few.

 

[bachatero]

There are a few songs with content that low - very very few.

Can you quantify how many songs have content that low?

 

[teashea]

No one wants exaggerated phrases like that, but it would be nice to get some some sound impressions. Unfortunately anything subjective is completely unacceptable here on ASR. Measurements are not everything, but everyone who says so, is in danger of getting crucified. ASR is pretty radical in their rules of what is wrong and what is right and I find myself disliking that more and more.

OK - They sound like nothing. No coloration. Flat. They simply allow the source to come through with remarkable fidelity. You hear the source - not the monitors.

 

[boxerfan88]

Because quality costs.

White paint is more expensive and better quality than grey? Seriously? Hmm…

 

[TylerR]

There are a few songs with content that low - very very few.

The #1 song on spotify currently has a solid 30hz 808. There are a lot.

 

[teashea]

Can you quantify how many songs have content that low?

One in Five Hundred, maybe.