Neumann KH150

[kimmosto]

Let us know if we can finally hang up our tools and just kick back and relax. From what I’ve seen of Neumann’s measurements, this is the one of the best commercial speakers of this size; (1/2 cu foot) as of 2022. The frequency response, phase response, and non linear distortion is first rate.

Just reminding that linearity of directivity index and other power averages and individual off-axis responses is not the only requirement related to directivity. I'm not big fan of horns and wave guides - especially deep ones because sound is not very open and natural and spectrum of acoustic resolution rises towards HF without significant directivity at LF. Plain tweeter with proper box or flush mounted half space design in a good acoustics offers better sound imo. Horn/wave guide concept can offer some benefits in very bad/harsh acoustics of course.
Also bass level with 0 dB setting is too high for finite room volume and distances to walls, but fortunately that can be reduced with bass switch or app.

 

[Curvature]

imo

What do you have to back that opinion up?

 

[kimmosto]

What do you have to back that opinion up?

Maybe I don't understand your question but this sounds like "opinion" is just random thought or imagination without any experience or other background in real life. For me opinion is personal without requirement of applicability for others, but could be based on several designs, comparisons and experience.

 

[Curvature]

Maybe I don't understand your question but this sounds like "opinion" is just random thought or imagination without any experience or other background in real life. For me opinion is personal without requirement of applicability for others, but could be based on several designs, comparisons and experience.

Opinion is your personal thing informed by whatever you've done in your life up to now, expert or not.

What I'd like is to understand your claims with you supplying the data that convinced you that deep waveguides sound unnatural and that traditional mounting is better.

 

[changer]

Ease.

That a waveguide can sound closed has been reported by others before. However, I would really like to learn more about how "closed" and "open" is described in detail, and which parameters are taken as explenatory. For example, I have found Genelec 8030A as sounding very "open," despite its waveguide. They use a dome tweeter in the waveguide. I find my 90 degree waveguides to sound more "closed," and I use a compression driver. So what explains what?

 

[Pearljam5000]

I'd take a 3-way over a 2-way any day
If the KH310 and KH150 were priced the same I would have chosen the 310

 

[Rednaxela]

Don’t you feel they’re a bit long in the tooth these days?

 

[Pearljam5000]

Don’t you feel they’re a bit long in the tooth these days?

If they are then why are Neumann selling the newer KH150 with the newer tech for less than KH310?

 

[Rednaxela]

Maybe because they have one driver and one amplifier less?

 

[Rednaxela]

Maybe because they're easier = cheaper to get right using DSP?

 

[3125b]

Don’t you feel they’re a bit long in the tooth these days?

The KH310 is still a very capable speaker, even of the newest, DSP controlled generation few can match it. It has no flaws other that the inherent limits of its size and construction, but even new TOTL drivers and more powerful amps wouldn't change that very much while making it way more expensive. So ... no.

 

[AudioJester]

Locally KH310 has dropped significantly in price and is cheaper than KH150.
Either they are running out KH310 or this is the market value of both.

 

[Pearljam5000]

Locally KH310 has dropped significantly in price and is cheaper than KH150.
Either they are running out KH310 or this is the market value of both.

Where?

 

[AudioJester]

Neumann KH 310 A - Active Studio Monitor (Left)

The KH 310 A three-way active tri-amplified monitor features Neumann's outstanding "Mathematically Modeled Dispersion Waveguide".

www.soundseasy.com.au

Neumann KH 150 Studio Monitor (Single)

Powerful bi-amplified studio monitor with reference-class performance. Its 6.5” woofer in a bass reflex cabinet provides stunning low end and high SPL capability with undiminished clarity. DSP controlled electronics ensure linear phase response and allow for room-adaptive calibration via...

www.soundseasy.com.au

 

[tktran303]

@AudioJester

I don't know about permanent price drops. To me that's a bona-fide Sales pricing from Sounds Easy.

Why do I say this? There was a sale at SoundsEasy for KH120 in March 2021. At that time the KH120 was AUD $875 but now it's gone up. I was advised that was the case by the rep. I suspect the same will happen with KH310, after this sale ends.

Don't tempt Pearljam5000, I think he's been looking for his end-game speaker for like... forever...

 

[tktran303]

Just reminding that linearity of directivity index and other power averages and individual off-axis responses is not the only requirement related to directivity. I'm not big fan of horns and wave guides - especially deep ones because sound is not very open and natural and spectrum of acoustic resolution rises towards HF without significant directivity at LF. Plain tweeter with proper box or flush mounted half space design in a good acoustics offers better sound imo. Horn/wave guide concept can offer some benefits in very bad/harsh acoustics of course.
Also bass level with 0 dB setting is too high for finite room volume and distances to walls, but fortunately that can be reduced with bass switch or app.

Interestingly, Dennis Murphy's BMR Monitor 3-way was (no waveguide) was preferred to a wide variety of other sub US$3000 book-shelf speakers including the those bought in by dealers. I don't think anyone expected that, except for maybe Dennis, who eschews the use of waveguides. This was at the recent Arizona AV Club event.

The speakers were:
ATC SCM 11
KLH Model 5
KEF R3
Sonus Faber Lumina II
Totem Sky
Philharmonic BMR Monitors
Polk Audio Legend L200
LSA Signature 80
Tekton Design Impact Monitors,
Monitor Audio 100 Gold,
Buchardt Audio S400 MkII
Triangle Comete 40th Anniversary
GoldenEar BRX
GR-Research X-LS Encore
Falcon Acoustics Q7
SpeakerLab Point 1+

Just because it has a waveguide doesn't mean it's better. I agree.

Anyway, guess I better get back to finishing these, with that ol' tool VituixCAD2

DIY 2-way with complete spinorama / CTA2034A measurements - Purifi and Scan-Speak

Project brief- To design a small speaker with a big sound, with the aid of the Klippel Near Field Scanner for complete measurements in 360 degrees! Classic 1/2 cubic foot (14L) 2 way with 6.5" midwoofer / 1" tweeter, stand-mount Driver selection: Midwoofer: Purifi 6.5" Xtended x-max aluminium...

www.audiosciencereview.com

best regards,
Thanh

 

[Pearljam5000]

Neumann KH 310 A - Active Studio Monitor (Left)

The KH 310 A three-way active tri-amplified monitor features Neumann's outstanding "Mathematically Modeled Dispersion Waveguide".

www.soundseasy.com.au

Neumann KH 150 Studio Monitor (Single)

Powerful bi-amplified studio monitor with reference-class performance. Its 6.5” woofer in a bass reflex cabinet provides stunning low end and high SPL capability with undiminished clarity. DSP controlled electronics ensure linear phase response and allow for room-adaptive calibration via...

www.soundseasy.com.au

It's in Australia

 

[AudioJester]

@AudioJester

I don't know about permanent price drops. To me that's a bona-fide Sales pricing from Sounds Easy.

Why do I say this? There was a sale at SoundsEasy for KH120 in March 2021. At that time the KH120 was AUD $875 but now it's gone up. I was advised that was the case by the rep. I suspect the same will happen with KH310, after this sale ends.

Don't tempt Pearljam5000, I think he's been looking for his end-game speaker for like... forever...

I know what you mean, been buying on sale from sounds easy for years.
Interestingly other shops have been selling at that price for a while, predatind thd sounds easy sale. Since kh150 was available I have not seen kh310 priced higher than it?

 

[tktran303]

That’s great. Sometimes we do get little wins from the Australia tax.

My wild guess is that about 80% of things cost far more here, than than how much they cost in Europe.

Most of the time we’re like the Middle East, or Israel!!

 

[Neale]

Interestingly other shops have been selling at that price for a while ..

yes, I recently bought a pair of KH310 for $A5000 in Perth from another dealer