Neumann KH420 Review (Studio Monitor)

[RobL]

What's sitting on the middle speaker? Looks like a soundbar.

Yep it is. From HERE:



Compact with incredible sound: Sennheiser AMBEO SoundbarIn addition to the Neumann studio monitors, the 3D control room also has a high-quality Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar, which, in spite of its compact dimensions, offers surprisingly powerful 3D reproduction and is an excellent option for reproducing 3D audio content especially in the home entertainment sector. Its automatic room calibration system adjusts the sound reproduction perfectly to the respective listening environment. The revolutionary technology of the Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar, which makes it possible to position virtual loudspeakers in the room by skilfully using reflections and in this way creating fully enveloping listening experiences, was developed in cooperation with the Fraunhofer Institute. In addition to compatibility with Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and MPEG-H, the integrated Upmix Technology transforms stereo content and 5.1 audio into emotional sound that is guaranteed to give any listener goosebumps. The Smart Control App makes operating the system child’s play.
“I personally feel that the Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar reproduces 80 percent of the experience that you can achieve with separately arranged loudspeakers,” said Karl Tessmar. “However, you shouldn’t ignore the fact that the achievable sound quality depends to a large extent on the nature of the room in which the sound is being reproduced. Of course, you also have to remember that the alternative would be to set up numerous loudspeakers throughout the room, which, in the case of Dolby Atmos, would be at twelve different positions – something that is simply not possible in all cases or not desirable. If you then also consider the compact design and the lower price compared to a solution with twelve single loudspeakers, the Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar is really an outstanding product!”
In addition to the Neumann studio monitors, the 3D control room also has a high-quality Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar, which, as an all-in-one solution and in spite of its compact dimensions, offers surprisingly powerful 3D reproduction

 

[JustJones]

Yep it is. From HERE:



Compact with incredible sound: Sennheiser AMBEO SoundbarIn addition to the Neumann studio monitors, the 3D control room also has a high-quality Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar, which, in spite of its compact dimensions, offers surprisingly powerful 3D reproduction and is an excellent option for reproducing 3D audio content especially in the home entertainment sector. Its automatic room calibration system adjusts the sound reproduction perfectly to the respective listening environment. The revolutionary technology of the Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar, which makes it possible to position virtual loudspeakers in the room by skilfully using reflections and in this way creating fully enveloping listening experiences, was developed in cooperation with the Fraunhofer Institute. In addition to compatibility with Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and MPEG-H, the integrated Upmix Technology transforms stereo content and 5.1 audio into emotional sound that is guaranteed to give any listener goosebumps. The Smart Control App makes operating the system child’s play.
“I personally feel that the Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar reproduces 80 percent of the experience that you can achieve with separately arranged loudspeakers,” said Karl Tessmar. “However, you shouldn’t ignore the fact that the achievable sound quality depends to a large extent on the nature of the room in which the sound is being reproduced. Of course, you also have to remember that the alternative would be to set up numerous loudspeakers throughout the room, which, in the case of Dolby Atmos, would be at twelve different positions – something that is simply not possible in all cases or not desirable. If you then also consider the compact design and the lower price compared to a solution with twelve single loudspeakers, the Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar is really an outstanding product!”
In addition to the Neumann studio monitors, the 3D control room also has a high-quality Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar, which, as an all-in-one solution and in spite of its compact dimensions, offers surprisingly powerful 3D reproduction

That's more my speed there's no way I could ever put all those speakers in my room.

 

[thewas]

I had heard that soundbar in the Neumann studio monitor R&D centre when it came out in 2019, quite impressive. Here is a photo I had taken from that event, unfortunately not with the soundbar which was in different room:

 

[LTig]

I had heard that soundbar in the Neumann studio monitor R&D centre when it came out in 2019, quite impressive. Here is a photo I had taken from that event, unfortunately not with the soundbar which was in different room:

View attachment 409649

The white 3-way - is this the old K&H O500C?

 

[thewas]

The white 3-way - is this the old K&H O500C?

Yes, silver and with the optional FIR filter box.

 

[dfuller]

Wonder if Neumann will make a KH510 ever. I doubt it, but it would be cool to see.

 

[LTig]

Yes, silver and with the optional FIR filter box.

Could you listen to it, and if yes, how did it compare to the KH420?

 

[thewas]

Could you listen to it, and if yes, how did it compare to the KH420?

Yes, we toggled between all from KH80 to O500C with and without subs and for the O500C with and without FIR phase correction, they sounded surprisingly similar, from my memory I think the O500C sounded a tad leaner/brigher than the KH420.

 

[Pearljam5000]

What's going on with this KH420?

 

[AnalogSteph]

My guess: Either that driver has seen a lot of sunlight or it has previously been repaired and fitted with a new dustcap.

 

[Randyman...]

Almost looks like an aluminum dust cap like Peavey uses on their 15" Steel Guitar Black Widows!

 

[dfuller]

My guess: Either that driver has seen a lot of sunlight or it has previously been repaired and fitted with a new dustcap.

Yep, mine are both solid black, looks like treated cloth.

 

[Randyman...]

My guess: Either that driver has seen a lot of sunlight or it has previously been repaired and fitted with a new dustcap.

Maybe someone was trying to get it to play flat to 20Hz

 

[Kyle_PL]

There should be some infrasonic filter in these neumann, so 20Hz shouldnt kill the driver.

 

[Randyman...]

There should be some infrasonic filter in these neumann, so 20Hz shouldnt kill the driver.

In the linked thread, the OP is attempting to trick his Genelec's room correction to gain extra LF extension below the speaker's natural cutoff (where it unloads below f3 tuning and has DSP filters in place). Was just poking a little fun at that attempt here

Can the /excessiveness/ of the 8361A be better utilised?

I think ‘why’ is obvious. OP bought a super expensive pair of speakers that are doing little more for him than the smaller pair could have done. He wants to know if he can somehow squeeze a subwoofer out of them so the expense wasn’t a waste. OP has also received about 20 thoughtful replies...

audiosciencereview.com