Neumann KH120A or Genelec 8030C?

[Valeo]

I think you've answered your question already.

Thank you for the concise answer.

 

[Lilith]

I read on one of the forums how the user neumann kh80 swore at them. He said that the composite from which the monitors are made is fragile. On one of his monitors, the speaker mount came off the case, and nothing could be done to fix the breakdown, the loudspeaker rattled. Therefore, at one time I did not buy a kh80, but bought a genelec 8020D.And it seems to me that the kh120 does not have such problems as the kh 80.

The KH80 is made of plastic (high quality though), the KH120 is aluminum.

 

[rcstevensonaz]

I read on one of the forums...

Everything I have read has been pretty universally positive on the entire line of speakers from Neumann (KH80, KH120, KH310) and from Genelec (8020, 8030, 8040, the "ones", etc.). People will have preferences and biases, with some speakers working better than others for some situations (and the exact opposite for other situations) — after all, a KH80 and a Genelec 8050 are quite different speakers, obviously.

You won't go wrong with any of them, provided you pick one that is reasonable for your environment. In the end, it is a matter of matching size, features, design preference, and price for your environment.

p.s., I disagree with @temps . I think KH120A is the sweet spot and KH80 is too small (and the wrong place to have room DSP correction). But that is just me and my preference. Moreover, if I was in a smaller room or if I had a smaller desk, I can pretty much guarantee you there would be a pair of KH80's or Genelec 8020's on my desk instead of the KH120A's.

 

[Valeo]

Everything I have read has been pretty universally positive on the entire line of speakers from Neumann (KH80, KH120, KH310) and from Genelec (8020, 8030, 8040, the "ones", etc.). People will have preferences and biases, with some speakers working better than others for some situations (and the exact opposite for other situations) — after all, a KH80 and a Genelec 8050 are quite different speakers, obviously.

You won't go wrong with any of them, provided you pick one that is reasonable for your environment. In the end, it is a matter of matching size, features, design preference, and price for your environment.

p.s., I disagree with @temps . I think KH120A is the sweet spot and KH80 is too small (and the wrong place to have room DSP correction). But that is just me and my preference. Moreover, if I was in a smaller room or if I had a smaller desk, I can pretty much guarantee you there would be a pair of KH80's or Genelec 8020's on my desk instead of the KH120A's.

Yes, the KH 120 is made of aluminum, so it is preferable, and probably its sound detail is better, after all, a 5-inch woofer should work better than a 4. I would like to listen to them together neumann hk 120 and genelec 8030. I want to make a choice and pull the trigger. I really like the compactness and shape of genelec, and their branded bags are quite comfortable. I have to move from one room to another, and it was very convenient with the 8020, I think it would be the same with the 8030.But the kh120 is a completely different beast, perhaps it will fit into a genelec 8040 bag.And I wonder if the character of the sound in the kh 120 was more detailed and it would really be easier to align, compress, hear the reverb tails, then I would definitely unconditionally choose kh120 instead of 8030.On the other hand, if the difference in sound is minimal, if kh 120 is 8030 for detailed work with sound, then I would not hesitate to choose genelec. If someone else can share their experience with both monitors, I will be very grateful to you.

 

[MNMLSM]

Anybody can share new experiences with both models in the meantime?

 

[HarmonicTHD]

Anybody can share new experiences with both models in the meantime?

I think everything and more has been said already after some 14 pages.

Both are excellent speakers. Get the one of which you prefer the look and which might be cheaper in your country.

 

[Valeo]

I would recommend genelec 8040 if the room is spacious and there is a possibility of acoustic treatment. The 8030 and kh 120 are excellent monitors, but the 8040 sounds richer in bass and the stereo picture is wider. The bass is much better. With a direct comparison in the store, the 8040 is a clear winner. 8040 does not need a sub. The 8040 is a fairly compact monitor, takes up little space and is quite convenient to carry in a branded bag. In a room of 18 square meters against a wide wall, they sound very balanced.

 

[Ilkless]

I would recommend genelec 8040 if the room is spacious and there is a possibility of acoustic treatment. The 8030 and kh 120 are excellent monitors, but the 8040 sounds richer in bass and the stereo picture is wider. The bass is much better. With a direct comparison in the store, the 8040 is a clear winner. 8040 does not need a sub. The 8040 is a fairly compact monitor, takes up little space and is quite convenient to carry in a branded bag. In a room of 18 square meters against a wide wall, they sound very balanced.

IMO the 8040's broad ~1dB peak around 800Hz makes the midrange sound odd vs the 8030.

 

[MNMLSM]

Additionally, the 8040 is an interesting speaker but almost double the price. In Germany a pair of 8040s would be around 2000€ and a pair of 8030s ~1000€.

 

[Valeo]

IMO the 8040's broad ~1dB peak around 800Hz makes the midrange sound odd vs the 8030.

I don't think these 1dB peaks can be a problem. In my opinion, a lower bass is a priority. In fact, the 8030 and 8040 have an uneven frequency response of +-2dB. A bigger speaker sounds fuller. It feels like listening without a subwoofer, the 8030 is not much better than the 8020.8040 when compared directly, they sound much better.

 

[Valeo]

Additionally, the 8040 is an interesting speaker but almost double the price. In Germany a pair of 8040s would be around 2000€ and a pair of 8030s ~1000€.

If there are not enough funds, then 8030 will be more profitable. But 8040 can be taken used.

 

[xaviescacs]

Additionally, the 8040 is an interesting speaker but almost double the price. In Germany a pair of 8040s would be around 2000€ and a pair of 8030s ~1000€.

I bought the 8030 and not the 8040 because of this. I thought they were on the sweet spot in price-performance ratio. No idea how right or wrong is this. I know good bass performance is expensive.

 

[Valeo]

IMO the 8040's broad ~1dB peak around 800Hz makes the midrange sound odd vs the 8030.

To align the frequency response, I use Sonarworks. The sound becomes more linear, in my opinion it works very well. I will attach 8040 graphs calibrated in different rooms.The first room is larger, the second is smaller, but the most remarkable thing is that the 8040 transmits an identical frequency response. The acoustics of the rooms are satisfactory, you need to add more bass traps.

 

[Valeo]

I bought the 8030 and not the 8040 because of this. I thought they were on the sweet spot in price-performance ratio. No idea how right or wrong is this. I know good bass performance is expensive.

Don't get upset. 8030 is no worse than 8040.In smaller rooms, the 8030 will sound better than the 8040.Even on my charts there are serious peaks and dips at low frequencies, it is difficult to deal with them at home. A smaller speaker will not create serious problems in small rooms. The site has measurements of 8050 and 8030, I would really like to see high-quality measurements of 8040.Good sound to everyone!

 

[JVCaxv-4]

after all, which speaker reaches which low hertz? who has what deepest bass?

 

[Lilith]

after all, which speaker reaches which low hertz? who has what deepest bass?

KH120 goes deeper.

 

[YSC]

Out of curiosity I go Thomann to check out the kh120, just to find that the newer D model compared to the old A model cost like 80% more… a big wtf..

 

[AnalogSteph]

after all, which speaker reaches which low hertz? who has what deepest bass?

KH120A: 52 Hz @ -3 dB, 46 Hz @ -6 dB (looks more like 48 to me on graphs, but anyway)
8030C: 47 Hz @ -6 dB (Amir: 56 Hz @ -3 dB, 51 Hz @ -6 dB)

Not a night and day difference anyway. Genelec limiters tend to be rather stricter in terms of level though. So if bass is a priority, I'd go for the Neumanns.

Out of curiosity I go Thomann to check out the kh120, just to find that the newer D model compared to the old A model cost like 80% more… a big wtf..

The D version has almost always been around 50% more expensive than the A. Being a more niche model and containing a digital section with ADCs and DACs (chip shortage!) certainly isn't helping matters any. Perhaps they haven't been made in a while. They seem to have gone on sale in early 2020 and 2021. The price hike then was in April of 2021, and things have pretty much stayed like this since then.

 

[YSC]

KH120A: 52 Hz @ -3 dB, 46 Hz @ -6 dB (looks more like 48 to me on graphs, but anyway)
8030C: 47 Hz @ -6 dB (Amir: 56 Hz @ -3 dB, 51 Hz @ -6 dB)

Not a night and day difference anyway. Genelec limiters tend to be rather stricter in terms of level though. So if bass is a priority, I'd go for the Neumanns.

The D version has almost always been around 50% more expensive than the A. Being a more niche model and containing a digital section with ADCs and DACs (chip shortage!) certainly isn't helping matters any. Perhaps they haven't been made in a while. They seem to have gone on sale in early 2020 and 2021. The price hike then was in April of 2021, and things have pretty much stayed like this since then.

ic, somehow I had wrong memory about that being the newer ver with a different amp and dsp to replace the A model, memory fakes me on that

 

[JVCaxv-4]

I have this moment in my space a pair of Genelec 8030c and a pair of Neumann KH120, also in my room i have some sound absorders, a big carpet and i have the balcony doors open so that the sound spreads...i can say that the speakers are very similar, i believe that only in a real studio there will be some differences! so in room conditions the speakers are the same! anyway it's true that both are kind of boring...my previous ones are dynaudio bm6amk3 and I can say that they sound more fun, more "club sound".
in logically it will be what is needed for mixing the genelecs and neumann, but not for fun music listening! that's all I had to say