Neumann KH 150 Monitor Review

[dfuller]

Ok so, is KH 150 good for home cinema, used as FL, FR, Back R and Back L? Distance from the FR/FL arround 2.6 metres? IF YES, what Center channel to match with them ?

It can do it, but they aren't SPL monsters - at all. Best match would be another one.

 

[boxerfan88]

IF YES, what Center channel to match with them ?

KH150 also.

 

[AnalogSteph]

Ok so, is KH 150 good for home cinema, used as FL, FR, Back R and Back L? Distance from the FR/FL arround 2.6 metres?

They're way overdressed as surrounds, KH120 II should be more than fine there.

IF YES, what Center channel to match with them ?

I might consider a pair of KH120 IIs flanking the screen.

Keep in mind that these guys can go seriously loud once crossed over to subs. Even the KH120 II is not too far from the 8" ADAM T8V (and that's one of the best budget 8"s).

 

[mj30250]

At a 2.6m distance such a system would likely be more than SPL capable for home theater use above low/midbass frequencies, but I would likely step down to KH 120 IIs or even KH 80s for surrounds. Agreed with the above that the "best" center would probably be another KH 150. However, the big caveat is how you would manage subwoofers. I don't think a pair of KH 750s would get the job done for me (they are also very expensive), so that means you're likely going elsewhere for subs, which eliminates the benefits of Neumann's MA-1 alignment software.

 

[aschen]

I am recently using KH 150 with subs in my main living room listening area. Listening distance around ~3 meters. SPL is more than adequate as far as I am concerned. It was a primary concern of mine especially coming from 130lb giant towers. Total non issue, loud enough to risk hearing i think.

 

[Yotec]

There’s something puzzling in the manual. I am planning to connect these via spdif input and there’s a dedicated switch selecting the desired input. The manual says though that this selector is deactivated when speakers are in network mode. Does this mean I’m not able to feed them with digital signal while using the auto-aligning software?

 

[DJBonoBobo]

There’s something puzzling in the manual. I am planning to connect these via spdif input and there’s a dedicated switch selecting the desired input. The manual says though that this selector is deactivated when speakers are in network mode. Does this mean I’m not able to feed them with digital signal while using the auto-aligning software?

If you use them in network mode, you configure everything via software, so the switches are not needed (because there could be a conflict between the switch and the software settings). So, don´t worry.

 

[VTKZ]

Ok so, is KH 150 good for home cinema, used as FL, FR, Back R and Back L? Distance from the FR/FL arround 2.6 metres? IF YES, what Center channel to match with them ?

Hey, they work perfectly! Of course, they can be used as cinema speakers. I use them in a home cinema setup with four DIY subwoofers and can reach up to ~106 dB peak at a 3-meter listening distance, with average listening levels between 85–100 dB. However, you’ll definitely need a low-cut filter — without it, they are too small for full-range use.

If you like listening loudly and don't have neighbor problems (or have tolerant neighbors like mine), go with the 150 for the mains, and the 120 or 80 for the surrounds / height - atmos channels. The 80s are totally sufficient as long as the speakers aren't more than 2 meters away from your ears, my KH80s working good as surround. When youve the money go with 150s on all channels of course.

I wouldn’t recommend the 120s for the main speakers — they’re too small and don't have enough power for high peaks. You can see that with the 150s, you can push slightly over 100 dB & pushing them always close to the limiter is not realy good for the overall sound, because it can be sound harsh and strained. The dream would be the 420s, but they're too deep (in my case), the 310 are not vertical (space problems beside the screen)

I have to say, I’m having so much fun with the 150s. Right now, I’m watching a lot of movies. And once room correction, DSP tuning, and proper subwoofer alignment are done later this year, I'll probably get a few more dB out of the setup. I am always surprised how powerful they are

 

[audiophilis]

Hi.

When using the MA1 alignement i see that you can then adjust the frequency response in the MA alignement app.

I don't have the MA1 mic but i know there's a big resonance at 140hz in my room which i'd love to precisely cut. Is there a way to adjust the frequency response WITHOUT having to pay 300$ for this single use mic ?

I've connected my KH 150s to the ethernet and launched the app but i couldn't find the option

Thanks

 

[teashea]

Hi.

When using the MA1 alignement i see that you can then adjust the frequency response in the MA alignement app.

I don't have the MA1 mic but i know there's a big resonance at 140hz in my room which i'd love to precisely cut. Is there a way to adjust the frequency response WITHOUT having to pay 300$ for this single use mic ?

I've connected my KH 150s to the ethernet and launched the app but i couldn't find the option

Thanks

Not with MA1. You could purchase a room equalization program.

 

[VTKZ]

Hi.

When using the MA1 alignement i see that you can then adjust the frequency response in the MA alignement app.

I don't have the MA1 mic but i know there's a big resonance at 140hz in my room which i'd love to precisely cut. Is there a way to adjust the frequency response WITHOUT having to pay 300$ for this single use mic ?

I've connected my KH 150s to the ethernet and launched the app but i couldn't find the option

Thanks

Where do you live ? I sell my Mic (or i want to sell it). It just laying around because i dont use the MA1 anymore. Maybe you've interest in it.

 

[unpluggged]

having to pay 300$ for this single use mic ?

It's not a single-use mic. Perhaps you won't use it daily, but it's a tool worth having at hand, like a laser measure or a drill. Even more so that it can be used with third-party measurement apps (such as REW) thanks to the included calibration file.

don't have the MA1 mic but i know there's a big resonance at 140hz in my room which i'd love to precisely cut.

Give it a try; if there are any noticeable irregularities in the response, most probably they will be satisfactorily taken care of.

When using the MA1 alignement i see that you can then adjust the frequency response in the MA alignement app.

In the MA 1 app, you can adjust the target curve, not the applied EQ.

That being said, thanks to Neumann making the protocol description publicly available, you can use a third-party software like the khtool to edit the EQ filter values directly inside the speakers — but you need to know what you are doing, of course.

 

[audiophilis]

Thanks everyone !
@VTKZ : i'm in France

 

[NeverBetter]

I just got these monitors. Very impressive. Planning to use them without sub at this stage in a small home studio for mixing music. I'll write my thoughts in more detail later but my absolute first impressions are very positive on things like clarity and precision in sound, depth, stereo field. I'm hoping that with a little MA-1 analysis I'll be able to mix with confidence.

 

[teashea]

I just got these monitors. Very impressive. Planning to use them without sub at this stage in a small home studio for mixing music. I'll write my thoughts in more detail later but my absolute first impressions are very positive on things like clarity and precision in sound, depth, stereo field. I'm hoping that with a little MA-1 analysis I'll be able to mix with confidence.

They should work well for you. Best wishes.

 

[starfly]

I recently picked up the KH120 II, and there’s a noticeable amount of hiss coming from the tweeters. After some googling, apparently not an uncommon issue. Appears to be self-noise.

Do you KH150 owners have any hiss coming from the speaker?

 

[Karmacoma]

I recently picked up the KH120 II, and there’s a noticeable amount of hiss coming from the tweeters. After some googling, apparently not an uncommon issue. Appears to be self-noise.

Do you KH150 owners have any hiss coming from the speaker?

None in my earing range

 

[teashea]

I recently picked up the KH120 II, and there’s a noticeable amount of hiss coming from the tweeters. After some googling, apparently not an uncommon issue. Appears to be self-noise.

Do you KH150 owners have any hiss coming from the speaker?

I have two pairs of KH120 II's and two pairs of KH150's. None of them have any self noise.

 

[VTKZ]

nope. my 150ˋs and 80ˋs are quiet. but i also sitting propably far more away from the main speaker than you guys (~3 meters)

 

[Pearljam5000]

Any long term users that can share their experience with KH150 so far?