Neumann KH 310A Review (Powered Monitor)

[LTig]

The Neumann page for the kh310 is full of misleading information then, I have too assume..

No. The recommendations are for typical studio use cases, like those from Genelec. Use in domestic homes is different insofar as most people play at lower SPL so you can use a monitor at longer distances than recommended. I also think that the KH310 can be used in the nearfield as midrange and tweeter are very close to each other.

 

[LTig]

What studios? Famous studios using Neumann, afaik, have them for their multi-speaker setups. Because for sure they are pretty good for the purpose, and for a really good price. But those studios don't have Neumann as their main.

Neumann has no main monitor in their lineup. The biggest monitor (KH420) is midfield and may act as a SPL limited "main" if you soffit mount it and add their biggest sub. For higher SPL look to the mains by Genelec, they have real monsters in their lineup.

 

[Geert]

-the kh310 (which is sold as a nearfield monitor), has to be far way, because that's how it is supposed to be. 3 meters away??? ok...but then..
- ..you can't push the kh310 too loud, because they push the lows too far for a sealed cabinet of that size

This speaker can be used in the near field, no problem. Just make sure it's lined up correctly.

The low end is indeed the limiting factor when working on bass heavy music, also near field. You don't even need to take it to ear deafening levels. But it's workable.

 

[dfuller]

The recommendations are for typical studio use cases

I would keep in mind as well that in a properly set up studio there is substantially less room gain.

 

[DJBonoBobo]

Thanks DJBonoBobo.

When I wrote my experience and my feelings after checking out the speakers, a lot of assumptions has been made on the reason why the speakers didn't perform well (if you believe on my judgement, of course). Thinking back to the experience, for sure I could have been more careful in creating the best listening scenario, but what I heard, for experience, is something beyond just being out of the sweet-spot. And I don't think speakers should be so dependent on all these factors. I remember the first time I listened to Genelecs, and some spatial music was played. I was sitting in a school pretty small room, with other people around, in a random spot, and I still remember how those Genelec showed me how a a pair of monitors can really create the acoustic illusion that a stereo field is. I don't think that if that day I was sitting 40 cm closer or further, or 50 cm left of right, it would have been any different.

Measurements. I believe in measurements. I like measurements. And I know that if you design something with measurements in mind, you can make choices to pass those measurements in the best way. But measurements are "discrete" representations of performances. It's a bit like passing a test with 100/100 because you studies the exact questions the test was about. And it's one of the easiest thing to achieve nowadays.
In my experience, the most commercial is a product/brand, the most it relies in showing measurements, linearity, wide frequency response, etc. They measure better then products considered to be the standard.
Then some of them (like Neumann) are actually good, but some of them are actual crap.

I have often said the KH310 can sound very bad in a bad room in my experience, but also very good when set up carefully.
The KH310 has good measurements and should be better than a lot of other speakers in that price range, but the KH150 is probably even less room dependent and easier to set up in a small room. I have heard the KH150, the Genelec 8351 and the D&D 8c uncorrected in a small room and none of them sounded good enough to me. But only because they could not play out their potential. All of them are just speakers, none is magical.

 

[Honken]

I start to be confused here, I have to say.
I navigated the forum a bit, and it seems that according to it, the world should be a sort of dystopic post-communism place, where each studio has either kh150, 310, or 420. Maybe some Genelecs are allowed, in your studio B.
But then I am told that:

-the kh310 (which is sold as a nearfield monitor), has to be far way, because that's how it is supposed to be. 3 meters away??? ok...but then..
- ..you can't push the kh310 too loud, because they push the lows too far for a sealed cabinet of that size

The Neumann page for the kh310 is full of misleading information then, I have too assume. Or, simply, they play on what the speaker shines at (not just that, I really enjoyed listening actual music on the kh310): measurements.

I did not mean to imply that the 310 needs to be listened to in the mid to far field, just that I do. Nor did I mean ti imply that they require a large distance to the side walls, just that I have a large distance to the sidewalls in my setup.

But to get the stereo image as I wanted it I had to fiddle a fair bit back 'n forth with toe in and positioning, moreso than my previous speakers in this room. Not sure what the minimum distance would be for a good sound, and don't particuarly care to trial 'n error my way to find out, instead I choose to believe what Neumann write in their manual where they recommend at least 1m distance, and 75cm at a minimum.

As for the loudness, I have no issues with the soundlevels personally, but as others have said, objectively they don't go loud loud. They are neither a main monitor, nor a speaker for your party venue. Not an issue in my home however.

 

[Pearljam5000]

Lol
Why does the right KH310 costs more than the left 310?

 

[HerbertWest]

Good question for that retailer.. price is identical for R/L new gear in EU and US “usual” online stores.

 

[Everett T]

Lol
Why does the right KH310 costs more than the left 310?View attachment 367101

B-Stock quality?

 

[vssyla]

hi all, i've been using the kh120ii for a year now. Recently I've had a potential opportunity to trade my kh120ii for the kh310. A really crazy deal, but the measurements and score of the kh310 in this thread make it seem like it isn't even better than the kh120ii.... i don't have a sub yet in my setup, but I guess my questions remains:

would you trade kh120ii for kh310 if you had the chance?

 

[dfuller]

hi all, i've been using the kh120ii for a year now. Recently I've had a potential opportunity to trade my kh120ii for the kh310. A really crazy deal, but the measurements and score of the kh310 in this thread make it seem like it isn't even better than the kh120ii.... i don't have a sub yet in my setup, but I guess my questions remains:

would you trade kh120ii for kh310 if you had the chance?

It has waaaaay more bass extension than the 120 II - like another half an octave or so.

 

[Jim Taylor]

would you trade kh120ii for kh310 if you had the chance?

In a heartbeat.

Jim

p.s. - I position speakers so that they are close enough to reach out and touch.

 

[YSC]

hi all, i've been using the kh120ii for a year now. Recently I've had a potential opportunity to trade my kh120ii for the kh310. A really crazy deal, but the measurements and score of the kh310 in this thread make it seem like it isn't even better than the kh120ii.... i don't have a sub yet in my setup, but I guess my questions remains:

would you trade kh120ii for kh310 if you had the chance?

given the look and slightly directivity error, personally I would opt the money for a KH750 and MA1 to get it full range with some Calibration to knock off some of the bass issues

 

[azzy_mazzy]

would you trade kh120ii for kh310 if you had the chance?

only if i didn't have a subwoofer or if the kh120ii lacked output capability

 

[boxerfan88]

would you trade kh120ii for kh310 if you had the chance?

If it was me, and a crazy deal is on the table, for sure , no question.

(disclaimer: i actually currently own the 310)

 

[rcstevensonaz]

hi all, i've been using the kh120ii for a year now. Recently I've had a potential opportunity to trade my kh120ii for the kh310. A really crazy deal, but the measurements and score of the kh310 in this thread make it seem like it isn't even better than the kh120ii.... i don't have a sub yet in my setup, but I guess my questions remains:

would you trade kh120ii for kh310 if you had the chance?

How far away is your listening position from the speaker? That potentially changes everything about which direction to go, as others have mentioned.

 

[vssyla]

How far away is your listening position from the speaker? That potentially changes everything about which direction to go, as others have mentioned.

ill have to get measurements tomorrow when I'm back in my studio. right now it's probably 40 (ish) inches, but I can easily get some stands to put them on, and move them further away. my room is big, with tall ceilings. so, I could position the kh310 in an arms reach, or much further away. both options work for me.

how far should my listening position be?

also I have the ma-1 to calibrate.

 

[rcstevensonaz]

... I could position the kh310 in an arms reach, or much further away. both options work for me. how far should my listening position be?

Check on the guidelines from Neumann for recommended Minimum / Ideal / Maximum listening distance (along with position from the wall) for the KH 120 vs. KH 310. There are physical characteristics of the waveforms coming out of speakers (along with design of the waveguides) that directly impact the coherence at different distances.

If you have placement flexibility, you can match your listening position to the speakers... in which case, the primary consideration becomes which best fits your room acoustics. For those of who do not have such flexibility, then match the speaker to the listening position. (For me, the KH 120 A is the optimal option because my listening position is fixed and very close.)

 

[songOVERsound]

Didn't know monitors are supposed to be fun View attachment 346670

They are only supposed to be fun if that’s what gets you the results. Remember, most of the music is mixed on Yamaha NS-10’s which are horrible.

If an engineer gets results by using “fun” speakers, then they should use those. I prefer to go neutrality in my speakers but my studio is tuned for elevated low end and shelved down HF because I work at lower sound levels, the elevated low end helps because I factor in fletcher munson (not being in effect at low SPL)

This is all aside from speakers themselves, I want neutral. As I age and lose HF in my hearing, not sure what I’ll do then but hopefully work towards a flat response in HF

 

[Geert]

Remember, most of the music is mixed on Yamaha NS-10’s

This is not the 80's anymore.