Neumann KH120 II Monitor Review

[vamp]

I forgot to say that I took a hearing test and I can't hear above 16.5 kHz. I'm writing this for objectivity. Maybe in SPDIF there is something distinguishable from analog at the very top, above 16 kHz. And those who hear these frequencies feel the difference between analog and SPDIF. Just thoughts

For me it is difference like between Adam A7v ribbon twitters and standard silk ones. I replaced A7v with kh120II and it lacked highs and reverb, until I switched to SPDIF and it started to sound more close. Also I had a sort of blind test when i came to friends studio months later where he has kh150II and I noticed a less crisp sound and was a bit confused until I found out that he is using XLR as his console just doesn't have digital outputs.

 

[apx]

So Neumann, Genelec, Adam and others add digital input just to raise the final cost of the equipment and repel customers

They do it just for convenience like if you already have digital outputs on your mixing console for example. 100€ more doesn't really matter when you buy monitors at this price range. Besides the fact the electronics in these monitors do not cost more than 50€.
Or the AES67 inputs now are really handy if you already use dante to wire your studio. Especially if you use more than 2.1.

 

[apx]

For me it is difference like between Adam A7v ribbon twitters and standard silk ones. I replaced A7v with kh120II and it lacked highs and reverb, until I switched to SPDIF and it started to sound more close. Also I had a sort of blind test when i came to friends studio months later where he has kh150II and I noticed a less crisp sound and was a bit confused until I found out that he is using XLR as his console just doesn't have digital outputs.

because the a7v emphasise the highs as you can see and your friends studio is acoustically not yours, so ofc it will likely sound different. the bigger drivers and dimensions of the 150s also can have an impact on your perception. like i said, there will be reasons why you hear what you hear, but it's very unlikely its because of a single da-ad-da conversion.

Adam A7V Measurement Report | Released

Hi All, Just found that Adam Audio has finally released their A-Series Monitor Measurement Reports. I'm specifically looking at the A7V's. Some people have mixed reviews on these; while others love them. As I'm not an engineer, some of these graphs are quite foreign to me. I make house and...

audiosciencereview.com

 

[SorenTyson]

Inaudible or you can't hear it? There is a tiny-tiny difference, you know, just like between 3 and 2. Not for everyone as wee see, but still.

Didn't answer my question?

With your logic, if we cannot detect a 0.01 degree increase in room temperature, then we can't detect a 500 degree one either

 

[Ktacos]

because the a7v emphasise the highs as you can see and your friends studio is acoustically not yours, so ofc it will likely sound different. the bigger drivers and dimensions of the 150s also can have an impact on your perception. like i said, there will be reasons why you hear what you hear, but it's very unlikely its because of a single da-ad-da conversion.

View attachment 392229

Adam A7V Measurement Report | Released

Hi All, Just found that Adam Audio has finally released their A-Series Monitor Measurement Reports. I'm specifically looking at the A7V's. Some people have mixed reviews on these; while others love them. As I'm not an engineer, some of these graphs are quite foreign to me. I make house and...

audiosciencereview.com

You might wanna look at the graph again. The HF emphasis is mostly beyond 20k. ~+1db rise 17khz to 20khz isn't likely to be the reason they are different in the top end.

 

[vamp]

Didn't answer my question?

With your logic, if we cannot detect a 0.01 degree increase in room temperature, then we can't detect a 500 degree one either

If something inaudible then 50000xinaudible is still inaudible. And i am not talking about temperature degrees, Citroen compact exterior colors, and favorite dildo sizes.

100€ more doesn't really matter

mkey, tell me more

 

[apx]

You might wanna look at the graph again. The HF emphasis is mostly beyond 20k. ~+1db rise 17khz to 20khz isn't likely to be the reason they are different in the top end.

yes you're right, but with the other data in mind and because it's an AMT it is reasonable that the highs on this speaker will sound different. heck they even doing marketing with it

 

[musicforants]

Just got mine and happy but there's a few things I'm trying to resolve before calling my setup perfect for me

One of the two speakers actually turns off instead of going into standby mode. I need to turn the switch off at the back and on again to get it to play music again.
I've updated firmware to the latest. Using XLR analog to a Minidsp Flex HT.
I've read the last few pages but didn't see anything too helpful there outside just resetting it everytime
Any suggestions to fix it? Otherwise I'll proceed with requesting replacement


LH65's are sold out everywhere in Australia (and $$$), so looking for alternative desktop stands/wedges.
Using Kanto's S6's at the moment and the angle is good, but I can't screw them in, so wouldn't mind something sturdier
Any recommendations?


All apps are Windows/Mac. Would have been nice to see some Linux apps
I'll see if it works via Bottles.
Anyone explored this path?


Kinda related, but the Flex HT doesn't drive my headphones (Hifiman Edition XS Stealth) as well as I thought it would even after using gain.
My fault, should have researched more. I'll probably buy a straight forward headphone amp
In hindsight, I'd have kept my old DAC and bought the KH750 DSP with MA1
Seems would have been a simpler/easier solution for room correction

I have a pair of kh120ii and one of my speaker doesn't wake up from standby mode unless I turn it off and turn it back on with the switch at the back (basically same issue as urs)

 

[vamp]

I have a pair of kh120ii and one of my speaker doesn't wake up from standby mode unless I turn it off and turn it back on with the switch at the back (basically same issue as urs)

Send it back.

 

[mechkbfan]

Sent it back. After some back and forth over a few weeks, they apologised and sent me a new one.

First day, new one went into standby, then woke back up. Great. Told them to close the ticket.

Second day, new one didn't go into standby and the old one did ... F

I'm just going to turn off auto standby and be done with it.

The QA of these speakers is disappointing.

-----------------------------

Also in the manual that I can download from my Neumann account it says I can change the time & threshold of standby in MA1

I contacted support asking where this was in the application, and they told me that documentation is out of date and they removed that feature. WHY?!

Edit: Just went in and at least they've removed that documentation from the page now.

 

[mechkbfan]

Now I feel like an idiot

Ordered the LH65 stands, assuming (MY BAD) that they'd work for KH120 II

No. They've changed the mounting size from an M8 on KH120 to an M6 on the KH120 II

So now need to buy some more M6's. Not the biggest issue in the world but a PITA none the less

 

[jhaider]

Now I feel like an idiot

Ordered the LH65 stands, assuming (MY BAD) that they'd work for KH120 II

No. They've changed the mounting size from an M8 on KH120 to an M6 on the KH120 II

So now need to buy some more M6's. Not the biggest issue in the world but a PITA none the less

IIRC, my LH 65 came with both sets of screws.

 

[LTig]

If something inaudible then 50000xinaudible is still inaudible.

Inaudible means below the threshold of human hearing, which is not zero. You cannot hear a change in loudness of 0.001 dB, but you certainly hear 50000 * 0.001 dB = 50 dB.

And i am not talking about temperature degrees, Citroen compact exterior colors, and favorite dildo sizes.

The former is true for all thresholds in human senses.

 

[mechkbfan]

IIRC, my LH 65 came with both sets of screws.

I must have gotten some old stock then before II was released. Not many stores in Australia stock it.

Foam had deteriorated pretty quickly when took it out of the box

Ordered M6 bolts on Amazon, so be here tomorrow. Not end of world.

Edit: Yep, I must have gotten old stock. I looked at the pictures online and they're different to the design of mine.

They're this design

https://studiocare.com/cdn/shop/products/neumann-lh65_1_945x945.jpg?v=1578924681

Not this design

https://www.neumann.com/globalassets/digizuite/46694-en-lh-65-new_neumann-studio-monitor-accessory_m.png/ProductImageDesktop

 

[vamp]

Sent it back. After some back and forth over a few weeks, they apologised and sent me a new one.

First day, new one went into standby, then woke back up. Great. Told them to close the ticket.

Second day, new one didn't go into standby and the old one did ... F

I'm just going to turn off auto standby and be done with it.

The QA of these speakers is disappointing.

-----------------------------

Also in the manual that I can download from my Neumann account it says I can change the time & threshold of standby in MA1

I contacted support asking where this was in the application, and they told me that documentation is out of date and they removed that feature. WHY?!

Edit: Just went in and at least they've removed that documentation from the page now.

Do you use XLR or SPDIF??

 

[mechkbfan]

XLR. Just bought a Flex HT with analog because intent was I wanted one DAC/Amp to experiment with room correction for speakers, and eq my headphones (e.g. oratory1990's settings)

Edit: Turns out it can't really drive my headphones I'm an idiot and thought it had some level of amplification & didn't double check before buying.

So I've kept my DX7 Pro. Now I know that Flex Digital would have been better choice for speakers.

 

[staticV3]

Turns out it can't really drive my headphones

How could it? The Flex HT is a pure RCA Line out device.
Designed to be plugged into external speaker and headphone amps.

 

[vamp]

Just got my pair back from Senheiser\neumann, it had senheiser branded tape on the box. They repaired it, took about 1 week of actual repair once they accepted the package.
Will just disable auto-standby... and i won't fuck with sampling rate. I hope the electronics is sturdy enough to run 24\7.

 

[Pearljam5000]

So basically when not using
the auto -standby the KH120 II work flawlessly?

 

[vamp]

So basically when not using
the auto -standby the KH120 II work flawlessly?

Seems so. I had a version that changing resampling method of audio card was causing the issue, and I managed to hang the kh750 sub on purpose, but people above report that it is not only over SPDIF and various resampling methods issue but also happens with analog input... Don't wanna risk again, so I just disabled that auto-standby feature, in all other aspects the speakers are awsome.