Neumann KH120 II Monitor Review

[quattro98]

How do the speakers sound to you for your type of listing with and without the room EQ? If you like them after EQ, then go with it. I'd probably prefer them without the EQ unless I tweaked the curve a bit (as I've done for my KH120 II/KH 750/MA1).

The Harman curve takes an anechoically flat speaker and puts it in a normal room. If you EQ that to flat, you end up with a lot less bass and more highs.

I would start by broadly following the room’s bass gain trend from maybe 150-200 Hz. Eyeball a reasonable curve through the peaks and dips and adjust to taste from there.

Eyeballing the curve, I'd do something like this.

40 Hz + 8 dB
60 Hz + 4 dB
100 Hz + 2 dB
200 Hz 0 dB

Here's another way to get to something similar. If you look at your own measurements, notice how the highs in the "not aligned system" are below the target. The next effect of the MA1 EQ in your system is to reduce the bass and boost the highs. Using a downsloping curve as outlined in the post below leaves the natural room response in place while addressing room modes).

Looking for post Neumann MA-1 auto alignment adjustment recommendations

I've done mostly reading here for awhile and hoping to tap some of the incredible knowledge here on how to get started. I'd love some help this curve. I'm looking for something a bit more for playback and generic music, movie, and game use. As aligned from the software it's far too bright...

audiosciencereview.com

 

[DJBonoBobo]

How do the speakers sound to you for your type of listing with and without the room EQ? If you like them after EQ, then go with it. I'd probably prefer them without the EQ unless I tweaked the curve a bit (as I've done for my KH120 II/KH 750/MA1).

The Harman curve takes an anechoically flat speaker and puts it in a normal room. If you EQ that to flat, you end up with a lot less bass and more highs.


Eyeballing the curve, I'd do something like this.

40 Hz + 8 dB
60 Hz + 4 dB
100 Hz + 2 dB
200 Hz 0 dB

Here's another way to get to something similar. If you look at your own measurements, notice how the highs in the "not aligned system" are below the target. The next effect of the MA1 EQ in your system is to reduce the bass and boost the highs. Using a downsloping curve as outlined in the post below leaves the natural room response in place while addressing room modes).

Looking for post Neumann MA-1 auto alignment adjustment recommendations

I've done mostly reading here for awhile and hoping to tap some of the incredible knowledge here on how to get started. I'd love some help this curve. I'm looking for something a bit more for playback and generic music, movie, and game use. As aligned from the software it's far too bright...

audiosciencereview.com

The MA1 target curve is more sophisticated than the Harman curve. It takes all that into account, but also the distance and AFAIK also the actual measured reverb of the room.
The closer you are to the speakers the less downward slope is needed.
So, you can always adjust to taste as you want, but it is wrong to underestimate Neumann and think they don't know the Harman curve.

 

[quattro98]

The MA1 target curve is more sophisticated than the Harman curve. It takes all that into account, but also the distance and AFAIK also the actual measured reverb of the room.
The closer you are to the speakers the less downward slope is needed.
So, you can always adjust to taste as you want, but it is wrong to underestimate Neumann and think they don't know the Harman curve.

I am curious about this. I might go back and redo my cal and try out the stock curve as a starting point. If time permits (i.e., not anytime soon, I'd compare near field and far field and see what Neumann does there).

 

[teashea]

Just like Neumann audio engineers, I prefer a flat frequency response for my studio monitors so that I know what the source really sounds like. But, that is for studio work. For pleasure listening, flat frequency response is no so important to me.

 

[teashea]

I would appreciate some advice. I have recently purchased an SSL18 audio interface. For the outputs to the monitors, it has two settings - 9dBu and 24 dBu. Which would be more appropriate for my KH 120 II's and KH 150's? Thanks much.

 

[Miguelón]

I would appreciate some advice. I have recently purchased an SSL18 audio interface. For the outputs to the monitors, it has two settings - 9dBu and 24 dBu. Which would be more appropriate for my KH 120 II's and KH 150's? Thanks much.

Usually 24 dBu, select berore minimum gain at Neumanns input (usually is 94 dB @ 0 dBu) and lowest output, then adjust for your listening level.

EDITED, sorry select -15 dB at input gain and 94 dB at output, I reversed

 

[teashea]

Usually 24 dBu, select berore minimum gain at Neumanns input (usually is 94 dB @ 0 dBu) and lowest output, then adjust for your listening level.

EDITED, sorry select -15 dB at input gain and 94 dB at output, I reversed

thanks

 

[bitels]

Anyone suffering from RF interference on their monitors? I got a pair of kh120 ii for my desktop, and honestly, the intermittent buzzing that I hear sometimes breaks immersion enough to make me want to return these. And I otherwise love them and would want to keep them. I wonder if Genelecs, or hifi products like buchardt A10 would handle EM noise around my desk better.

Hello
This problem apparently is not coincidence, I have found it in all 10... yep, I did buy and return 5 pairs of those kh120II speakers. I have tested, speakers with serial numbers from 606....... to 645.......

Speaker produce the noise, even when all cables are disconnected.

In the last pair, that I kept, it started after 2 weeks in one speaker, and after a month and a half in the second one.

Neumann, don't recognize this problem. The only solution offered was to send a speaker to them, to test.

Problem is, it occurs randomly. Maybe once every 10-30 times when switching the speaker on. It goes off after turning off the speaker and starting again.

It is not loud, and probably can not be heard from 2 meters and more.

Here is video describing the problem.

Those are 2 movies from different days, glued.

Since few weeks, switching signal at the back of the speaker won't help. Only power reset works.

I hope it will not become constant after warranty ends, I would prefer before.

Anyway, happy with sonic value of kh120. Irritated with many minor bugs, I had described before in this topic.

I do think Neumann could use some cheap components, that compromised quality of product.

 

[teashea]

I have three pairs of these have no problem. I cannot quite understand what the issue is. What do you mean that the noise is produced even when the cables are removed? I do not see this in the video.

 

[Pearljam5000]

Hello
This problem apparently is not coincidence, I have found it in all 10... yep, I did buy and return 5 pairs of those kh120II speakers. I have tested, speakers with serial numbers from 606....... to 645.......

Speaker produce the noise, even when all cables are disconnected.

In the last pair, that I kept, it started after 2 weeks in one speaker, and after a month and a half in the second one.

Neumann, don't recognize this problem. The only solution offered was to send a speaker to them, to test.

Problem is, it occurs randomly. Maybe once every 10-30 times when switching the speaker on. It goes off after turning off the speaker and starting again.

It is not loud, and probably can not be heard from 2 meters and more.

Here is video describing the problem.

Those are 2 movies from different days, glued.

Since few weeks, switching signal at the back of the speaker won't help. Only power reset works.

I hope it will not become constant after warranty ends, I would prefer before.

Anyway, happy with sonic value of kh120. Irritated with many minor bugs, I had described before in this topic.

I do think Neumann could use some cheap components, that compromised quality of product.

Does it happen with KH150 too?

 

[bitels]

I have three pairs of these have no problem. I cannot quite understand what the issue is. What do you mean that the noise is produced even when the cables are removed? I do not see this in the video.

Perhaps you should hear it? With only the power cable plugged in, it still produces noise.

With all the respect, how old are you?
I do not want to be rude, but hearing loss with age is a real thing, and this whine is high-pitched.

 

[bitels]

Does it happen with KH150 too?

I did not test them.

 

[unpluggged]

this whine is high-pitched.

Then it cannot come from the woofer. Most probably it's some choke in the power delivery circuit. Check if you can hear it better from the back, where the electronics are.

 

[bitels]

Then it cannot come from the woofer. Most probably it's some choke in the power delivery circuit. Check if you can hear it better from the back, where the electronics are.

It is less prominent from the back. I said it wrong in the movie, it comes from tweeter area.

 

[teashea]

Perhaps you should hear it? With only the power cable plugged in, it still produces noise.

With all the respect, how old are you?
I do not want to be rude, but hearing loss with age is a real thing, and this whine is high-pitched.

What frequency is it?

It seems that there is something in your system components causing the issue. The probability that ten KH120 II's are defective is virtually non--existent.

No one else has ever reported such an issue here or anywhere else I have seen.

Try the KH120 II's with another system.

 

[teashea]

You have a defective piece of audio gear.

 

[bitels]

What frequency is it?

It seems that there is something in your system components causing the issue. The probability that ten KH120 II's are defective is virtually non--existent.

No one else has ever reported such an issue here or anywhere else I have seen.

Try the KH120 II's with another system.

I have no clue, what it could be, if the only thing connected to the speaker is power.

Moreover, my other speakers don't have this problem.

 

[Pearljam5000]

I have no clue, what it could be, if the only thing connected to the speaker is power.

Moreover, my other speakers don't have this problem.

Did you try a different cable?

 

[Joaquinín]

According to JRiver visual Analyzer, the noise is centered at arount 400, 2400 and 6500 khz.

 

[bitels]

Did you try a different cable?

I did.