Neumann KH 150 Monitor Review

[samysound]

The first image that comes to my mind about active monitors in my living room is seeing my grandkids poking the exposed drivers of a Genelec 8361A LOL

I think Neumann got it right putting metal grills on the KH120, KH150 and KH80 drivers to make them childproof which is a smart move for sure.

Yeah the grills are great for curious fingers and flying objects!!!

 

[enricoclaudio]

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?

All of them share the same exact tweeter so sound signature should be the same. In fact, according the Neumann, you can match/combine them in the same system.

 

[Doodski]

All of them share the same exact tweeter so sound signature should be the same. In fact, according the Neumann, you can match/combine them in the same system.

Are they all to tolerance of 0.8dB between models too? That sounds exotic and stuff but I'm not up on the latest speaker manufacturing tech.

 

[SlothRock]

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.

 

[LTig]

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.

Agreed. Here a sub would be a better investment.

 

[DJBonoBobo]

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?

120 vs 310 - May 1st, 2021: Post in thread 'Neumann kh 310 + hk 750 vs kh 420' https://audiosciencereview.com/foru...ann-kh-310-hk-750-vs-kh-420.20804/post-690013

120 vs 150 - Oct, 8th, 2022: Post in thread 'Neumann KH150' https://audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/neumann-kh150.33454/post-1342111

 

[Pearljam5000]

KH80 looks like a toy lol

 

[samysound]

Does anyone have a pic of the woofer without the grill cover?

 

[pierre]

Score with EQ goes down to 6.8.
I think it is because of LFX.
Can you take the sub bass filter off and get a new score?

You can always boost the bass. Note that in-room that will not work. We are wayyyy below Schroeder.
For fun:

Preamp: -1.6 dB
Filter  1: ON HP Fc    38 Hz
Filter  2: ON PK Fc  1637 Hz Gain +1.59 dB Q 3.00
Filter  3: ON PK Fc 10132 Hz Gain -1.10 dB Q 0.72
Filter  4: ON PK Fc   336 Hz Gain -0.96 dB Q 0.61
Filter  5: ON PK Fc    56 Hz Gain -0.88 dB Q 3.00
Filter  6: ON PK Fc  5232 Hz Gain +0.38 dB Q 3.00
Filter  7: ON PK Fc  8101 Hz Gain -0.35 dB Q 3.00
Filter  8: ON PK Fc 11660 Hz Gain +0.44 dB Q 3.00
Filter  9: ON PK Fc  3008 Hz Gain -0.36 dB Q 3.00

gives

         SPK auEQ
-----------------
NBD  ON 0.22 0.28
NBD  LW 0.22 0.24
NBD PIR 0.24 0.22
SM  PIR 0.92 0.98
SM   SP 0.95 0.99
LFX       35   34
LFQ     0.78 0.78
-----------------
Score    6.9  7.1
w/sub    8.6  8.6
-----------------

 

[enricoclaudio]

Great job, @pierre

Going to try those EQ settings with Roon DSP as soon I get the KH 150s delivered next week

 

[digitalfrost]

For fun:

That's a stiff curve man.

 

[jhaider]

Question for those that use Neumann MA1 calibration software. Do I need to purchase the MA1 mic or any calibrated mic would work? I have miniDSP UMIK-1 and UMIK-2 mics and also an Earthworks M30 calibrated mic.

The mic is analog so technically you can use any mic and the software won’t know. However, you can’t enter a cal file other than the Neumann mic’s.

I certainly wouldn’t use UMIK-2 - the software was designed for the polar response of a smaller capsule. Then again I doubt a USB mike would work anyway.

I think Neumann got it right putting metal grills on the KH120, KH150 and KH80 drivers to make them childproof which is a smart move for sure.

For me that was the difference between consideration and not consideration. Naked drivers are unsightly and distracting.

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...

A valid reason - if your KH 120's give out in the upper bass (i.e. above where a sub comes in) at your listening levels.

Incidentally, I made the same call between KH 80 DSP and KH 120. I set up KH 120's, but ended up taking them back down for the KH 80's (both on Neumann LH 65 stands). Both are just fantastic sounding desktop speakers. However, the smaller one did just fine with sub at my most spirited desktop listening levels, and just look better next to the monitor to me due to their smaller size.

 

[pierre]

Great job, @pierre

Going to try those EQ settings with Roon DSP as soon I get the KH 150s delivered next week

Hi Enrico,

don't expect too much. The speaker has already been tuned by Neumann.
1. Small increases in scores are not significant.
2. Trading flatness of LW/ON for PIR may or may not work
3. The amplitudes of the PEQs are small and will be borderline audible

Feedback appreciated esp. if you hear a difference and if it goes in the right direction.

 

[AM88]

All of them share the same exact tweeter so sound signature should be the same. In fact, according the Neumann, you can match/combine them in the same system.

I recently heard at separate times in the same room at a local hifi show the KH80,120 and 310. They switched the monitors using some sort of switch and they did sound scarily identical. They must have been level matched as well. I can’t remember what song was playing but it wasn’t one with any really deep bass , but it was impressive to say the least.

 

[AM88]

What if she approved of Genelec/Neumann but was adamant about everything being plastic in your house?

That would be strange. Dressing up like a highwayman is over the top.

 

[375HP2482]

What about hiss?

Yes, what about the hiss.

The Texas Instruments TAS5613A amplifier chip is a 2011 design, spec'd at 180 uvolts noise (A-weighted). The TPA3255 (of Aiyima A07 and recent Fosi Audio fame) is a 2016 design, spec'd at 85 uvolts noise (A-weighted), which is ~6 dB quieter. Which means that, if run direct from the amplifier, there would be 6 dB more hiss out of the older chip. Since the tweeter is seeing less spectral power, the hiss could be reduced with a resistive pad of some kind.

So, why the older chip here? It appears that the thermal performance of the TAS5613A is better (more efficient) than the newer TPA3255. Curiously the TPA3255 uses the more heat-efficient 44-pin package than the older TAS5612A's 64-pin package, even though the older chip was initially offered in that package but Ti soon discontinued it.

 

[Mario Sanchez]

View attachment 249841
KH80 looks like a toy lol

There's one thing I find interesting here, the KH120A (being, if I'm not mistaken, the oldest model in Neumann's current KH lineup, excluding previous Klein&Hummel stuff) has this small part on its lower waveguide that actually extends on to the raised edge of the baffle transitioning to the woofer grille, something missing in its predecessor O110, and in other, newer 2-way KH monitors (80 and 150) as well. I wonder what it does, and why it disappeared again on later designs?

 

[thewas]

View attachment 249841
KH80 looks like a toy lol

What should the 8010 say then?

 

[amirm]

I received an overlay of my measurements relative to Neumann's own and the matching is incredible!

Gives us a lot of confidence in each other's methodology! If anyone every complains about ASR measurements, you can point them to above.

 

[thewas]

I received an overlay of my measurements relative to Neumann's own and the matching is incredible!

Gives us a lot of confidence in each other's methodology! If anyone every complains about ASR measurements, you can point them to above.

The image doesn't show up, is it just me?