Neumann KH 150 Monitor Review

[Pearljam5000]

The Wiim Pro Plus doesn't have volume control ?

 

[Count Arthur]

Won't the 8 inch vs 6.5 inch size make a big difference also ?

I came across an article the other day, which may be of interest: https://musicandmiscellany.com/2023/01/03/secrets-of-the-neumann-kh150/

Referring to the woofer in the KH150: The driver combines extraordinarily low distortion combined with an ability to remain dynamically linear over a huge (in driver terms) ±12mm diaphragm displacement range. And I think it really shows in the way the KH150 performs.

 

[Pearljam5000]

I came across an article the other day, which may be of interest: https://musicandmiscellany.com/2023/01/03/secrets-of-the-neumann-kh150/

Referring to the woofer in the KH150: The driver combines extraordinarily low distortion combined with an ability to remain dynamically linear over a huge (in driver terms) ±12mm diaphragm displacement range. And I think it really shows in the way the KH150 performs.

Thanks.

 

[Pearljam5000]

Anyone compared the KH150 With and without the MA1 calibration ?
300€ is not exactly a small amount if MA1 doesn't make a big difference

 

[Berlin]

Anyone compared the KH150 With and without the MA1 calibration ?
300€ is not exactly a small amount if MA1 doesn't make a big difference

Maybe you can borrow the MA1 kit from a forum member..?

 

[Berlin]

But I'm a bit confused, because I've heard many times that studio monitors are not suitable for home use because they are too analytical and sterile, that the angels don't really sing there.

The angels will sing so sweetly that you will think you are in the same room with them. Be prepared for a near-death experience...

 

[Pearljam5000]

Hello, this is my first post on this forum.
I am interested in the mentioned Neumann kh150 speakers, mainly based on the superior measurements performed by Amir. But unfortunately I can't hear and try them live before buying.

But I'm a bit confused, because I've heard many times that studio monitors are not suitable for home use because they are too analytical and sterile, that the angels don't really sing there. And if I want to be on the safe side, I should rather buy speakers that are intended for home hifi use.

What makes studio monitors unsuitable for home use? My room is 25 square meters and the distance to the speakers would be about 2.5 to 3 m (I would place them to the left and right of the tv).
Would this be a suitable setup?

When I read this thread from the beginning, some people wrote that they use them exclusively for studio work, and they have others for home hifi setup. Can someone please explain to me what the real point is and the difference between hi-fi and studio speakers.

Connect them to a turntable and a tube amp and the angles will sing again

 

[computer-audiophile]

I'm an old Klein & Hummel fan, by tradition. But the KH150 is too expensive for me now as a monitor in my private study. Recently, I briefly considered replacing my former Neumann KH120a with it. That would certainly have been a step up.

But then I just found it inappropriate for me, to be honest. I'll wait for the successor to my current JBL 305pII, which I like better sound-wise than the KH120a. Hard to believe probably, but true. The JBL's sound fuller, are tuned a bit lower. Piano sound is more natural, that is striking. As far as I know, they have been on the market for 5 years and maybe JBL will come up with something new in this good and affordable segment. I can wait...

 

[Pearljam5000]

I'm an old Klein & Hummel fan, by tradition. But the KH150 is too expensive for me now as a monitor in my private study. Recently, I briefly considered replacing my former Neumann KH120a with it. That would certainly have been a step up.

But then I just found it inappropriate for me, to be honest. I'll wait for the successor to my current JBL 305pII, which I like better sound-wise than the KH120a. Hard to believe probably, but true. The JBL's sound fuller, are tuned a bit lower. Piano sound is more natural, that is striking. As far as I know, they have been on the market for 5 years and maybe JBL will come up with something new in this good and affordable segment. I can wait...

You tried Genelecs also?

 

[computer-audiophile]

You tried Genelecs also?

No, sorry, I'm not up to date at the moment. Genelecs are even more expensive on average according to my impression. That puts me off.
When I bought my KH120a, I was able to compare it with Genelecs in a similar class in a listening studio.

 

[Count Arthur]

Anyone compared the KH150 With and without the MA1 calibration ?
300€ is not exactly a small amount if MA1 doesn't make a big difference

I don't have an MA1 set-up. I used a UMIK-1 and REW. You can't adjust the onboard DSP with this, I don't think, but I can use the DSP within JRiver or in my RME DAC, although that limits me to just 5 filters.

For JRiver, I use as many filters as required, 11 in my case:

If you limit the number of filters within REW and re-run the "Match response to target" you can mess about with it until you get just 5 EQ settings. In my case mostly focused on some bass peaks:

You can also re-run it and get slightly different results, here REW suggested 9 filters and I manually added a tenth for that broad dip around 1K:

 

[Pearljam5000]

I don't have an MA1 set-up. I used a UMIK-1 and REW. You can't adjust the onboard DSP with this, I don't think, but I can use the DSP within JRiver or in my RME DAC, although that limits me to just 5 filters.

For JRiver, I use as many filters as required, 11 in my case:

View attachment 332836

If you limit the number of filters within REW and re-run the "Match response to target" you can mess about with it until you get just 5 EQ settings. In my case mostly focused on some bass peaks:

View attachment 332837

Thanks.

 

[Count Arthur]

Thanks.

In addition, I have a Dynaudio subwoofer, so I don't think MA-1 would work in my case. I believe I would have to use the Neumann KH750 subwoofer for MA-1 to work with it.

 

[Crazylove]

The angels will sing so sweetly that you will think you are in the same room with them. Be prepared for a near-death experience...

Then I really have no choice but to get one ...

 

[Crazylove]

Connect them to a turntable and a tube amp and the angles will sing again

I will connect them to some streamer with Tidal connect and physical volume knob. Maybe Eversolo, I'm not sure yet...

 

[IamJF]

I'm an old Klein & Hummel fan, by tradition. But the KH150 is too expensive for me now as a monitor in my private study. Recently, I briefly considered replacing my former Neumann KH120a with it. That would certainly have been a step up.

But then I just found it inappropriate for me, to be honest. I'll wait for the successor to my current JBL 305pII, which I like better sound-wise than the KH120a. Hard to believe probably, but true. The JBL's sound fuller, are tuned a bit lower. Piano sound is more natural, that is striking. As far as I know, they have been on the market for 5 years and maybe JBL will come up with something new in this good and affordable segment. I can wait...

You would like the new KH120ii - is exactly in the direction you prefer. And you can use MA1 and digital inputs.

 

[IamJF]

Anyone compared the KH150 With and without the MA1 calibration ?
300€ is not exactly a small amount if MA1 doesn't make a big difference

Itmakes a BIG difference - definitely get MA1 for these monitors! I tried it with KH120ii and KH80 and it delivers very stable results and was always a good improvement. I would even recommend it for KH80s to get the full potential, it's a good investment for the boost in performance even for the small and cheap speakers.

 

[IamJF]

Good monitor manufacturers give also the recommended range as the point where the direct sound dominates which is different to the distance from SPL point of view, for example:

Source: https://www.genelec.com/correct-monitors

This graph is for highly treated studio rooms - direct sound distance in a living room will probably be half of that! So it's even more important to get a speaker with smooth off axis performance there.
Until you WANT a dedicated sound from your speakers! Which is totally ok, most people want to enjoy music in their free time, no need to have perfect reproduction. But it's way harder with normal HiFi Speakers to find the right one cause they interact stronger with the room and will sound more different in different rooms. Just useing the MA1 system and dial in a custom target curve to get the sound you like would be way easier and more reliable.

 

[thewas]

This graph is for highly treated studio rooms

Modern well engineered studios aren't as heavily absorbtive as they used to, also because we have loudspeakers with much smoother directivities than in the past. In my personal experience these distances work also well in normally furnished living spaces, of course not though "luxury" bare concrete and glass rooms shown mainly in computer generated photos.

Just useing the MA1 system and dial in a custom target curve to get the sound you like would be way easier and more reliable.

Still a less/later beaming loudspeaker like the KH80 wouldn't sound the same like a KH420 when tuned to the same target, equalisation can only correct bass room modal region issues on such neutral loudspeakers, the rest would be just a voicing of the stock flat direct sound.

 

[IamJF]

Did you ever do the calculations for reverberation radius in living rooms? You normally stay under 1m, with a highly directive source probably up to 1,5m.
So while these speakers will sound good in 3-4m you for sure are deep in reverberant field.