Neumann KH 150 Monitor Review

[VTKZ]

2 or 3 way is imo not a question about quality, its about the complete concept. You can also buy the KH120, to save some money, build 4x DIY subs for room mode compensation (dba / sba), buy an mini dsp, PA Amp (Img stage line) and build an full active setup completly dsp corrected. Also good for your bass worries. But you need spend time in it, good bass = subwoofer & dsp knowledge or massive room treatment and big speakers. There isnt realy in between.

but at the end, just my taste based on experiences. i own the 150s and i just disappointed (price/performance) from the ,,normal,, hifi gear in the shops like B&W, KEF, Dali etc…

 

[Pritaudio]

It's much easier for me to setup dsp and some small variation of speaker placement then it is to install room treatment.
And if it so happens that in getting the sound tuned for my listening position, I create boom for other places in the room which my neighbours can hear, I will have to create different sound profiles for late night listening.

 

[teashea]

I’m considering hypex nc252 or nc502 amp with something like Kef concerto 3 ways instead of the Neumann kh150.
It will be around £500 cheaper, and I already have the Wiim ultra for dsp.

Is this for use as pleasure listening or as studio monitors?

 

[Pritaudio]

Is this for use as pleasure listening or as studio monitors?

Mainly pleasure. But I do expect to use them for accuracy purposes too.

 

[Pritaudio]

Cost too actually!

 

[Pritaudio]

I am Considering these too.
Seeing as some people have claimed the distortion Inthe Neumann is close to the purifi woofers.

It has hypex amp and dsp built in with a strong cabinet and future upgradable. Both in amp and midrange/tweeter beryllium drivers.
But only 1 year warranty.

MUM-6/MUM-8.

MUM | PresentDayProduction

PresentDayProduction MUM Series speakers are incredibly detailed, dynamic and once you hear them... there's no going back.

www.presentdayproduction.com

 

[goat76]

It's much easier for me to setup dsp and some small variation of speaker placement then it is to install room treatment.

I don't see EQ adjustments as a substitute for room acoustic treatment. EQ is a very effective way of addressing the frequency response, while room acoustic treatments mostly affect the time aspect of the sound which may not affect the frequency response in a significant manner.

A combination of both EQ adjustments and room treatments are therefore in most cases necessary to achieve the best possible result, the acoustic room treatment for addressing the “overlapping” of “old” reflective sounds in the time domain and EQ for addressing problems with the frequency response.

 

[Jimbob54]

I am Considering these too.
Seeing as some people have claimed the distortion Inthe Neumann is close to the purifi woofers.

It has hypex amp and dsp built in with a strong cabinet and future upgradable. Both in amp and midrange/tweeter beryllium drivers.
But only 1 year warranty.

MUM-6/MUM-8.

MUM | PresentDayProduction

PresentDayProduction MUM Series speakers are incredibly detailed, dynamic and once you hear them... there's no going back.

www.presentdayproduction.com

Let's try and keep to the thread topic, not other devices . Thanks

 

[Pritaudio]

I don't see EQ adjustments as a substitute for room acoustic treatment. EQ is a very effective way of addressing the frequency response, while room acoustic treatments mostly affect the time aspect of the sound which may not affect the frequency response in a significant manner.

A combination of both EQ adjustments and room treatments are therefore in most cases necessary to achieve the best possible result, the acoustic room treatment for addressing the “overlapping” of “old” reflective sounds in the time domain and EQ for addressing problems with the frequency response.

Sure.
I was merely stating my situation.

 

[Randyman...]

I’m considering hypex nc252 or nc502 amp with something like Kef concerto 3 ways instead of the Neumann kh150.
It will be around £500 cheaper, and I already have the Wiim ultra for dsp.

Passives (and some KEF's) were on my short list - but knowing the KH120a's from my day job, and seeing the KH150's stellar spins and SPL capabilities - it gave the KH150's the easy win for me. And USD pricing from German stores is a great way to save 25%-30% off USA Neumann retail prices (under $2600/pr).

 

[Pritaudio]

At what theoretical frequency could a sub crossover be used to minimise the imd distortion of the kh150.
I am of course not referring to the ma1 with kh750 sub.
Another third party sib with some eq such as svs sb2000 pro sub in mono or stereo.
Higher the better I suppose. As long as the directivity cannot be determined.

 

[teashea]

At what theoretical frequency could a sub crossover be used to minimise the imd distortion of the kh150.
I am of course not referring to the ma1 with kh750 sub.
Another third party sib with some eq such as svs sb2000 pro sub in mono or stereo.
Higher the better I suppose. As long as the directivity cannot be determined.

 

[Pritaudio]

Can you recommend some passive 3ways which would be good for listening pleasure instead.
Around £1500.

 

[LTig]

Can you recommend some passive 3ways which would be good for listening pleasure instead.
Around £1500.

Don't go this route. Good studio monitors are very well suited for the high listening pleasure - I use studio monitors in all systems at home since 20 years and will never go back to passive hifi speakers - and I'm not the only one here. It's an urban myth that studio monitors are sterile and have bad sound. The best passive speakers can sound as good as very good active studio monitors, but will often cost more even without the required power amp.

If a recording sounds bad because of bad production use tone controls or DSP to improve the sound as preferred. Changing speakers is a rather ineffective and very expensive type of tone control ...

 

[Pritaudio]

Don't go this route. Good studio monitors are very well suited for the high listening pleasure - I use studio monitors in all systems at home since 20 years and will never go back to passive hifi speakers - and I'm not the only one here. It's an urban myth that studio monitors are sterile and have bad sound. The best passive speakers can sound as good as very good active studio monitors, but will often cost more even without the required power amp.

If a recording sounds bad because of bad production use tone controls or DSP to improve the sound as preferred. Changing speakers is a rather ineffective and very expensive type of tone control ...

Even with an excellent hypex amp, and then choosing passive speakers too.

 

[Count Arthur]

Even with an excellent hypex amp, and then choosing passive speakers too.

The advantage that many active monitors have over passive speakers is DSP, this allows for finer tuning of the drivers output than a passive crossover.

Even some of the best passive speakers struggle to get close to the linearity of some active monitors:

Source: https://www.erinsaudiocorner.com/loudspeakers/kef_reference_1_meta/

The Kef Reference 1 is about 3 times the price of the Neumann KH150. The Kef is arguably prettier and more living room friendly, whereas the Neumanns and most pro orientated studio monitors are more utilitarian.

 

[Pearljam5000]

Are there any issues with the auto standby on the KH150?

 

[unpluggged]

The advantage that many active monitors have over passive speakers is DSP

Active speakers had had obvious advantages over passives long before the mass adoption of DSP-based designs. Just look at the measurements of all-analog Neumanns and Genelecs. They are not any worse than similar DSP designs (and the analog Genelecs are often even more linear in frequency response than their SAM counterparts without GLM correction). DSP conceptually can bring two main advantages to the consumer: 1) built-in phase correction; 2) built-in room EQ.

 

[Count Arthur]

Are there any issues with the auto standby on the KH150?

I haven't experienced any.

 

[Count Arthur]

Active speakers had had obvious advantages over passives long before the mass adoption of DSP-based designs. Just look at the measurements of all-analog Neumanns and Genelecs. They are not any worse than similar DSP designs (and the analog Genelecs are often even more linear in frequency response than their SAM counterparts without GLM correction). DSP conceptually can bring two main advantages to the consumer: 1) built-in phase correction; 2) built-in room EQ.

I'm guessing that this is because in pre-DSP monitors you can have the "crossover" at signal level, prior to amplification, which allows for far smaller and less costly components, which in turn might allow you to design more complex filters than would be practical with the larger, more costly components required post amplification. If that makes sense.