Neumann KH120 II Monitor Review

[bitels]

@bitels, maybe you are particularly unlucky. That's not at all the level of quality control a firm like Neumann is reputated and expected for.
Are you certain you bought real Neumann and not counterfeits or a specific flawed production batch not allowed to sell by the company ?
have you been in contact with Neumann or with a reseller ?

If you're sure you bought genuine authorised Neumanns, this kind of repeated incidents and flaws are defintely unacceptable. You should claim strongly for a significant discount.
There's defintely something going wrong in our world, if even the best long established companies lose respect for their products and clients.

Considering what happened to you, if I'll have to buy a small good monitor in the future, I'll be strongly hesitating buying a Neumann.
Maybe I'll go for a more expensive Genelec or a PSI, (the latter being very very expensive, Swiss made of course).

And I'm a bit surprised by the port noise and the other strange nosie you hear. To tell the truth, I coudn't hear the strange noise you mention on the video.
Can you tell us a bit more about this ? what's the level of this noise and the type of noise ? At which distance can you hear it ?
It's the first time I read such a criticism about a Neumann monitor.

Waiting to hear more from you about all this

Hi

I bought them from thomann.de, the official retailer for Germany. Country of origin for Neumann products.



I am not anti Neumann, I have 2 LCD microphones from Neumann, which I use for work, and I am happy with them.



Also despite all of this, I still want a pair, sonic value is outstanding.

Levels I do work with are 80-85db.



About discount or any other recompensate, I prefer just to return in 14 day window, otherwise, suppliers often want to repair products, and I don't buy new, to get repaired instantly.

Just for summary,



1st pair was good, port noise is a product feature, that I do accept.



2nd pair, not good, they were working, but rattling in one monitor, and whining from the driver on the other monitor.



3rd pair, I think I will keep them, port noise is as usual, but they play beautifully.



4rd pair toxic plastic smell, unacceptable. I just boxed them, tomorrow they go. Also, there was something off with sound, I placed 3 rd pair back on stands, and they are much better.





About the noise form the second pair, it was rattling at the back of the monitor, inside. I can hear it clearly in video I uploaded today.

I could hear it from 1,5 meter, and 10 cm.



I am also hesitant about this product, but I find it the best sonic value for mixing under 2,5k euro.

Now with ma1 mic, they cost about 1500 euro.



About Sennheiser customer care, they are among the worst. I contacted them few times, and was sent back to Thomann, because they can't help me with their product, and they did not sell it, so they can't help me.

The Lady I spoke 3 times on the phone, and send 6 or 7 mails, was as unhelpful as it is possible.



The last thing, I am a little worried about, is also repair service under warranty. Someone on this forum, stated they charge for whole pcb replacement, 200 euro more than a new speaker.



I am just sharing my experience, I am a bit anal about quality, because one Kh120 costs almost a base income in my country, and also thought about Neumann, they are among the best.

 

[bitels]

None of my Neumann monitors has even a slight smell.

Thanks for the info.

 

[Pearljam5000]

Hi

I bought them from thomann.de, the official retailer for Germany. Country of origin for Neumann products.



I am not anti Neumann, I have 2 LCD microphones from Neumann, which I use for work, and I am happy with them.



Also despite all of this, I still want a pair, sonic value is outstanding.

Levels I do work with are 80-85db.



About discount or any other recompensate, I prefer just to return in 14 day window, otherwise, suppliers often want to repair products, and I don't buy new, to get repaired instantly.

Just for summary,



1st pair was good, port noise is a product feature, that I do accept.



2nd pair, not good, they were working, but rattling in one monitor, and whining from the driver on the other monitor.



3rd pair, I think I will keep them, port noise is as usual, but they play beautifully.



4rd pair toxic plastic smell, unacceptable. I just boxed them, tomorrow they go. Also, there was something off with sound, I placed 3 rd pair back on stands, and they are much better.





About the noise form the second pair, it was rattling at the back of the monitor, inside. I can hear it clearly in video I uploaded today.

I could hear it from 1,5 meter, and 10 cm.



I am also hesitant about this product, but I find it the best sonic value for mixing under 2,5k euro.

Now with ma1 mic, they cost about 1500 euro.



About Sennheiser customer care, they are among the worst. I contacted them few times, and was sent back to Thomann, because they can't help me with their product, and they did not sell it, so they can't help me.

The Lady I spoke 3 times on the phone, and send 6 or 7 mails, was as unhelpful as it is possible.



The last thing, I am a little worried about, is also repair service under warranty. Someone on this forum, stated they charge for whole pcb replacement, 200 euro more than a new speaker.



I am just sharing my experience, I am a bit anal about quality, because one Kh120 costs almost a base income in my country, and also thought about Neumann, they are among the best.

Maybe try KH150 or Genelec instead

 

[bitels]

Why does it concern you? Any two monitors are within ±0.5 dB tolerance of each other. Besides, Neumann themselves say that SNs are not assigned consequentially.


I don't recall any of my three speakers having such strong odor. I would ask for a replacement.


Oh, so it did not smell right out of the box then? At which SPLs specifically? "60 percent" has no meaning.

I just was not exactly sure is it a problem or not.



Level 80-85 db. If the indicator is not flashing red, i expect I don't play them too hard. Neumann advises no break in period.


The other 3 pairs, did not have this smell.

 

[bitels]

Maybe try KH150 or Genelec instead

Out of budget, kh150 is twice as expensive, and Genlec's model with similar bass extension as kh120II is Genelec 8340 APM, also twice as expensive.

If it was possible to find another solution, I would already do it.



Have better hobbies, then testing and sending monitors back and forth.

 

[Pearljam5000]

Out of budget, kh150 is twice as expensive, and Genlec's model with similar bass extension as kh120II is Genelec 8340 APM, also twice as expensive.

If it was possible to find another solution, I would already do it.



Have better hobbies, then testing and sending monitors back and forth.

I'd give up some bass extention or extend the budget for the peace of mind

 

[Tovarich007]

Of course, if you bought them from Thomann, no doubt they are genuine and authorised Neumanns.

I agree with Pearljam and I feel appaled by such a bad service from Sennheiser/Neumann you've been faced with. This is for me a No Go. Considering their long term reputation of serioussness and quality of service, such a recent decline in quality of consumer service is even worse !

Hope Neumann read us and will correct this promptly !

As for the port noises, what are they exactly ? my hearing is most probably less accurate than yours, but I can't hear nor hiss nor rattle in your video.
80/85 dB is not very loud, no reason you hear port noise and moreover a rattling. On its site, Neumann indicates a bass capability of 105dB at 1 meter with 3% distorsion, so normally you could go up to 100 dB or so without big hiss and no rattling at all, except of course if you play ultra bass at high level music (they are rather small monitors, not designed to play 20/25 hz at high "realistic" levels).

And what about the serial numbers, can you read them on the back of your speakers ?

 

[unpluggged]

And what about the serial numbers, can you read them on the back of your speakers ?

There's nothing wrong with the serial numbers, it's just that @bitels unhappy that the warehouse guys picked the boxes that were laying closest to them for shipment, not paying attention to their serial numbers, as if it would somehow matter.

Again, my two KH 120 speakers have serial numbers with only the first digit (of ten) in common, it's "6". Moreover, I got them two weeks apart, because the second was on back-order from the factory. Do I worry? Not a bit.

 

[Halbknapp]

I have KH150s where too the serial number is 60xxxxx and the other 64xxxxx, no matching numbers. So they are clearly not assigned continuous. My genelecs have serial numbers following one another. While nice that's certainly not something I would care about.

 

[bitels]

Yes, that's good to know. What bothered me a bit more, was that one monitor came without a brown Neumann seal/tape on top of the box. It was taped with something else, and I was wondering why, especially since Neumann stated all of them should have this paper seal.


I found, during further testing, that port noise is prominent from 75 db and up and only when playing solo parts that play at low frequency <60hz.
When I mix the whole song, it is much harder to notice.

Still, after using, and testing a dozen studio monitors, i think they are brilliant.
They are much better then Adam for 2,2k euro, and barefoot for 3k euro.
I talk strictly about mixing btw.


If I kept the first pair, which I did not, just to check if they were faulty, I would probably not have gone through all of this hassle.

Neumann advised sending back a 4th pair, with a plastic smell. Very nice from them, but still I returned them.

Overall, I can recommend this product, sonic value is very good. Time will show, how durable it is.

 

[Pearljam5000]

Yes, that's good to know. What bothered me a bit more, was that one monitor came without a brown Neumann seal/tape on top of the box. It was taped with something else, and I was wondering why, especially since Neumann stated all of them should have this paper seal.


I found, during further testing, that port noise is prominent from 75 db and up and only when playing solo parts that play at low frequency <60hz.
When I mix the whole song, it is much harder to notice.

Still, after using, and testing a dozen studio monitors, i think they are brilliant.
They much better then Adam for 2,2k euro, and barefoot for 3k euro.
I talk strictly about mixing btw.


If I kept the first pair, which I did not just to check if they were faulty, I would probably not have gone through all of this hassle.

Neumann advised sending back a 4th pair, with a plastic smell. Very nice from them, but still I returned them.

Overall, I can recommend this product, sonic value is very good. Time will show, how durable it is.

Which Adams?

 

[schallmauer]

I contacted Neumann, and they said seal should be on the box, but there was only tape with dots.

Hey bitels,
the print on adhesive tape has been changed from the brand logo to dots shaping a wave.
As per the photo, the packaging and tape seems to be legit.
Probably you received some units from before and one from after the changeover, that would also explain the difference in serial numbers.

Outside of the limits of the bass reflex system a.k.a port noise, the other aspects such as the whine, rattle & odor seem to be issues with the individual units.
In this case, speaking to the vendor makes sense for swapping or reimbursement, however raising the issues to service is helpful so one can learn from them.

However, I agree that 3 issues among 8 units is more than Neumann also expects from themselves...

 

[bitels]

Which Adams?

Adam a77h, a7v

 

[bitels]

Hey bitels,
the print on adhesive tape has been changed from the brand logo to dots shaping a wave.
As per the photo, the packaging and tape seems to be legit.
Probably you received some units from before and one from after the changeover, that would also explain the difference in serial numbers.

Outside of the limits of the bass reflex system a.k.a port noise, the other aspects such as the whine, rattle & odor seem to be issues with the individual units.
In this case, speaking to the vendor makes sense for swapping or reimbursement, however raising the issues to service is helpful so one can learn from them.

However, I agree that 3 issues among 8 units is more than Neumann also expects from themselves...

Hey, thank you, Neumann could not answer this question, they told me they did not change anything, but it was an unhelpful lady from sennheiser .
Did you receive units with new tape, as a retailer?

 

[bitels]

During black week reaserch, I found a lot of b stock 120 II, in store.

https://www.bax-shop.nl/producten.html?keyword=neuman%20kh120&o=score&c%5B%5D=193

Maybe there is something with qc, indeed.

 

[Pearljam5000]

During black week reaserch, I found a lot of b stock 120 II, in store.

https://www.bax-shop.nl/producten.html?keyword=neuman%20kh120&o=score&c%5B%5D=193

Maybe there is something with qc, indeed.

But not a lot of KH150 B stock

 

[SorenTyson]

Thanks for sharing and I think it's a good lesson for all of us with an urge to upgrade.

I remember when adding a sub to my system, the measurements improved dramatically in the bass, but I could literally not tell any difference when listening to music.

 

[SorenTyson]

Thomann's got a deal on these. A pair including the MA1 for 1,279 dollars.

Isn't the normal price 1,000 per speaker?

Neumann KH 120 II Bundle

Bundle offer comprising 2x Neumann KH 120 II Active Studio Nearfield Monitor Drivers: 5.25" woofer and 1" tweeter, Frequency range: 44 - 21,000 Hz (+/- 3 dB), Max. SPL 116.8 dB, Output power: 145 W woofer, 100 W tweeter (THD+N with limiter...

www.thomannmusic.com

 

[staticV3]

Isn't the normal price 1,000 per speaker?

700€ per speaker in Germany. Still, that's an insane deal.

 

[dfuller]

Hey, thank you, Neumann could not answer this question, they told me they did not change anything, but it was an unhelpful lady from sennheiser .
Did you receive units with new tape, as a retailer?

Neumann is owned by Sennheiser.

Anyway

I found, during further testing, that port noise is prominent from 75 db and up and only when playing solo parts that play at low frequency <60hz.

Well, let's look at where the port is active, eh? Mostly from about 60hz on down. Not surprising that if you're throwing a ton of stuff through them (I find 75dB to be very unlikely given the videos you took that showed the drivers visibly moving). It's not surprising in the slightest that pushing it hard you're going to get port chuffing.

In the same way: