Neumann KH120 II Monitor Review

[musicforants]

Imo kh120ii somewhat reminds me of planar magnetic headphone sounds. Very detailed, dry/analytical sound but feels little less dynamical/musical. Ofc it's much better.

Liked the thicc, warm sound of krk vxt8 better for music listening but that thing was hiss noise machine

 

[Pearljam5000]

Imo kh120ii somewhat reminds me of planar magnetic headphone sounds. Very detailed, dry/analytical sound but feels little less dynamical/musical. Ofc it's much better.

Liked the thicc, warm sound of krk vxt8 better for music listening but that thing was hiss noise machine

Maybe the KH150 would be better for you

 

[musicforants]

does anyone know how to solve this problem with the speaker?

when I try to run ma1, it asks firmware update

when I click update, ma1 software always says it failed firmware update

 

[Pouyoux]

does anyone know how to solve this problem with the speaker?

when I try to run ma1, it asks firmware update

when I click update, ma1 software always says it failed firmware update

I had the same error on both speakers : MA1 flash the firmware, reboot the speaker but doesn't detect when the speaker the online again. The only option is to kill MA1 and restart the process to update the other monitor, it's a shame but it's harmless.

 

[musicforants]

I had the same error on both speakers : MA1 flash the firmware, reboot the speaker but doesn't detect when the speaker the online again. The only option is to kill MA1 and restart the process to update the other speaker, it's a shame but it's harmless.

How did you flash the firmware?

Im keep getting error saying failed updating firmware

 

[Pouyoux]

How did you flash the firmware?

Im keep getting error saying failed updating firmware

sorry I misread your error message, I was able to launch the flashing and I had no error on this step but the software hadn't be able to detect the monitor restart.
There isn't much inside this firmware so maybe you can wait for the next firmware release to update your monitors.

 

[Matias]

So I got my pair of KH 120 II and almost had a heart attack. That's because my parents brought them from Europe in their luggage (and complained a lot, as these are not exactly small or light), and once I set them up at the office at home, the left one had a strange noise coming out of the tweeter. I thought it was a ground loop, so lifted the ground through the switch and nothing. I disconnected the XLR and still the noise was coming out of the tweeter with the speaker idle. I even swapped power cords and nothing.

I don't know if warranty was going to cover a defective unit in another country, it was a risk I took when I decided to buy it, but I was not expecting to use it so soon...

Then I saw behind this speaker and there it was: my Wi-Fi router on the table, a TP-Link Deco. I moved it some 20 cm to the side, right behind the monitor and between both speakers, and instant relief: the noise was 100% gone.

Funny thing is that the former KH 80 DSP in the same spot never had any issues. So I guess the 120s are more sensitive to Wi-Fi interference?

Anyway I listened to them and compared to my 80s. How do they differ? On paper the tweeter of the 120s are a tiny little more linear, and the dispersion very similar (that is, excellent). The elephant in the room is the bass extension: 53 x 41 Hz in -6dB makes a big difference. Still no extension to subbass territory, but nonetheless a healthy bass comes from the speakers. Also they sound less strained when playing medium-loud, naturally and expected.

So my 80s are going up for sale locally soon, and I will always remember the scare those 120s gave me lol.

Since a post is worthless without pictures here is one. The 80s are covered on the right.

 

[YSC]

So I got my pair of KH 120 II and almost had a heart attack. That's because my parents brought them from Europe in their luggage (and complained a lot, as these are not exactly small or light), and once I set them up at the office at home, the left one had a strange noise coming out of the tweeter. I thought it was a ground loop, so lifted the ground through the switch and nothing. I disconnected the XLR and still the noise was coming out of the tweeter with the speaker idle. I even swapped power cords and nothing.

I don't know if warranty was going to cover a defective unit in another country, it was a risk I took when I decided to buy it, but I was not expecting to use it so soon...

Then I saw behind this speaker and there it was: my Wi-Fi router on the table, a TP-Link Deco. I moved it some 20 cm to the side, right behind the monitor and between both speakers, and instant relief: the noise was 100% gone.

Funny thing is that the former KH 80 DSP in the same spot never had any issues. So I guess the 120s are more sensitive to Wi-Fi interference?

Anyway I listened to them and compared to my 80s. How do they differ? On paper the tweeter of the 120s are a tiny little more linear, and the dispersion very similar (that is, excellent). The elephant in the room is the bass extension: 53 x 41 Hz in -6dB makes a big difference. Still no extension to subbass territory, but nonetheless a healthy bass comes from the speakers. Also they sound less strained when playing medium-loud, naturally and expected.

So my 80s are going up for sale locally soon, and I will always remember the scare those 120s gave me lol.

Since a post is worthless without pictures here is one. The 80s are covered on the right.

View attachment 377395

I am pretty amazed you dare ask the parents to carry such heavy stuffs and put in luggage, baggage hadlers are know to be the furthest from being electronics friendly.

 

[Matias]

Not the checked luggage, but rather the ones carried with them in the plane. I would not trust luggage carriers to handle anything with care...

 

[Deleted member 68267]

I am considering getting these since they are retailing for 750€ at Thomann momentarily and would be really thankful if someone could help me with a couple questions:
1- Do you think I could connect my wiim pro plus as source using the coax input? Or using a converter cable RCA-TRS?
2- Do the KH 120 II have enough power for listening at a distance of 2 - 2,5 meters in a 25 sq. m. room? I rarely reach 90 dB whilst listening
3- Is there a significant difference with the Neumann KH 120 II AES67 apart from the AES connection?
4- Would it be feasable to work measuring with a umik-1 + REW and then manually inserting the filters to the Wiim's PEQ?

Thanks a lot in advance!

​

 

[Matias]

1. Yes, I think so.
2. I would say that is kind of stretching it, but who knows.
3. No AFAIK.
4. Yes, definitely.

 

[Deleted member 68267]

1. Yes, I think so.
2. I would say that is kind of stretching it, but who knows.
3. No AFAIK.
4. Yes, definitely.

Thank you very much

 

[Deleted member 68267]

1. Yes, I think so.
2. I would say that is kind of stretching it, but who knows.
3. No AFAIK.
4. Yes, definitely.

Would the Neumann KH150 be better for the mentioned listening conditions?

 

[Matias]

I would definitely choose more headroom then not if space and budget is not an issue. My desk and listening distance and budget would not allow a KH 150 here. In you case I would also consider adding a sub to extend to the subbass.

 

[staticV3]

Would the Neumann KH150 be better for the mentioned listening conditions?

The KH150 can play deeper and louder:


Keep in mind that music tends to peak at <200Hz, so higher headroom above that is usually for naught.

 

[Matias]

Interesting how on that 50-80Hz critical range where bass drums hit both have almost the same headroom. IMO the main difference then is more on the bass extension. Which would be compensated with a sub and HPF to some 80 Hz anyway.

 

[Deleted member 68267]

The KH150 can play deeper and louder:
View attachment 377463 View attachment 377464

Keep in mind that music tends to peak at <200Hz, so higher headroom above that is usually for naught.

I am not sure about which conclusion I should draw from this information (sorry, I'm still learning the basics)
So... the KH 120 II with a sub (for instance the Kali WS 6.2) using a high pass filter should be ok for 2 m. listening distance in a 25 sq. m. room? or still short of power?

 

[staticV3]

So... the KH 120 II with a sub (for instance the Kali WS 6.2) using a high pass filter should be ok for 2 m. listening distance in a 25 sq. m. room? or still short of power?

That depends entirely on the type of content that you play and how loud you'd like to play it.

 

[Deleted member 68267]

That depends entirely on the type of content that you play and how loud you'd like to play it.

Thanks for your response

 

[Matias]

For the price difference between both, I think a KH 120 II + sub plays louder and deeper than the KH 150 alone. But then of course the KH 150 + sub would play even louder, but at a price $$.