Neumann KH420 Review (Studio Monitor)

[Chimiel]

Finally got time for MA-1 measurement of the KH420’s and two KH750 subs. I’m perplex by the result; the mids and highs never sounded so good, the lows are tight and big, without making a mess of the rest. I used Dirac before on this setup and was impressed by what it did, but MA-1 correction is on another level. I did two measurements: a triangular precise to the centimeter, unfortunately just before my listening position, and the other one on my couch, where the distance from KH420 to listening position was bigger then the distance between the KH420 (400 cm instead of 350 cm between the KH420’s) The triangular measurement and correction sounds wonderful, the other one sounded not good at all. I guess one should follow Neumann instructions to the letter for good results, awesome

 

[dfuller]

I'm just bumping this to say I am still very, very happy with my KH420s. Killer speakers.

They do basically everything right as a tool, and yet are somehow still a joy to listen on.

 

[Vintage57]

Since summer of 2019. Nothing better.

 

[Vinsen]

I love my boring speakers. My babies look robust and timeless with their grills on and the sound just keeps delivering. They are still coupled with KH80's as main/monitor in my DJ booth and it just doesn't get any better for that purpose at home. Such a personal hi-fi listening bar makes me really spoiled though... Those fancy looking custom sound system listening bars popping up everywhere can't justify their expensive drinks for me yet

However time has moved on and so have the prices. I'm not sure if they are still great value at the current price level?

 

[Steakhouse]

Same here since 2019. They make you feel like a spectator when reading all those speaker reviews. Always interesting but never felt the need for new speakers since then.

 

[HuubFranssen]

Yesss, my K420’s stay here until I die. Even my wife accepted the speakers after some time. The grilles are mounted when there is protection needed against small kiddo’s.

Things I learned: in my room the bass is best with the speakers near the wall, highs en mids are best with your ears between the upper 2 units (KH420’s are slightly tilted).

With the right streamer and dac they are not boring at all. I use the Chord Dave dac and the Volumio Rivo plus streamer.

 

[MikeP]

I have been enjoying the KH420 since autumn 2022. Fantastic speakers. Pure joy everytime I listen to music.

 

[gasolin75]

Such high aarmonic distortion under 80hz for such a big,expensive speaker woow

 

[dfuller]

Such high aarmonic distortion under 80hz for such a big,expensive speaker woow

Amir's tests show higher distortion than others I've seen. The (now-defunct) German magazine Sound+Recording showed that it hits 3% THD at 100dB at 60hz, which is much higher than what Amir's measures show.

(FWIW, I've pushed mine as loud as I can stand and they have zero audible distortion doing so, seemingly regardless of material.)

 

[Pio]

Love mine! Was able to add a pair of 870's last year.. WOW!!

 

[tavaz]

Genelec wrote in a white paper (if I remember correctly) that the amplifier distortion in midrange should be lower than 0,03% if the driver distortion is 0,3%.

This Neumann KH420 monitors are active constructions meaning they have a big technical advantage over passives in the EMF area, -they will play bass much better than most passive constructions because of this. The TDA 7293 power IC used is probably good enough to provide that active advantI desage.

I designed TDA7293 in late '90 year during my job in STMicroelectronics. I am glad to see that someone used in proper way (bridge/parallel mode) this amplifier. What makes this device unique compared to other power ICs is the paralleling function (without power resistors) and the use of Master/Slave concept. I am the holder of the STM patent.

 

[FrantzM]

Hi

I visited about 2 days ago during a trip, a recording/mastering/mixing studio with 3x KH310 for LRC, 8 x KH 120 for SIde, Rear and ceiling Atmos, one KH805, and 2 other subwoofers... DIY or custom made.

This was a fabulous experience, ear opening. In particular, I realized, that most people (I, included) have not heard a properly recorded and reproduced surround music track. It is a vastly different immersion , rquiring much less imaginative or brain power efforts, than 2-channel. A different , more enveloping, listening experience.

I also understand even better, the value of a well set-up audio (or video) system. This studio is Dolby Atmos certified by Dolby.. and it did sound as good as one would suspect: Flat out spectacular and accurate, massive wall of sound and ... an immersion that needs to be experienced to fully understand.

I have heard several so-called High End systems, most, if not all of these, 2-channel. some (most?) with cables (lol) ... costing more than this entire studio (itself not cheap by any strtech), and these are jokes compared to this studio, which cost a fraction of those HEA systems. Some will clalim it was nearfield vs far-field.. nah.
And yet....

I didn't come out from this listening experience with the sense that my own was inadequate or woeful, ... rather, I came back with a renewed appreciation of applying Science to the reproduction of audio, to the hobby we call "Hi-Fi". My modest system while not as good, is in retrospect, decent and satisfactory. I did not need to measure to know and hear some things that I am missing... call it bias but I can live with that. This was a superior system in a well behaved, correctly treated room, with very good equipment. I . also have a clear sense of the way forward.

I once more, thank this ASR community for tteaching and for the continuation of this ongoing learning expereince;
and in particular , @amirm, for having created this site, bringing to the front, Science in Audio reproduction.




P.S. As a parting shot: Not sure how at a MLP, 1.5 m one can qualify the KH 310 .. even one single unit, as "not loud enough".. Those darn things could easily deafen the unsuspected, so cleanly and so loudly they can play ... Yes, there were subs .. still ...

 

[muslhead]

I guess I am the only dissenter here.
My problem is the highs are like someone scratching on a chalkboard for me.
This was doing multiple iterations with dirac trying to tame them. Its probably me and not the speakers and why i have hung on to them. Hoping one day to get it right.
Am currently using them for the l & r speakers in my video room.

 

[Chr1]

I think that this must either be you or your recordings.

You could also test decreasing the gain on the tweeter. Perhaps you have a preference for a bit less high frequency output.

 

[jhaider]

Hi

I visited about 2 days ago during a trip, a recording/mastering/mixing studio with 3x KH310 for LRC, 8 x KH 120 for SIde, Rear and ceiling Atmos, one KH805, and 2 other subwoofers... DIY or custom made.

…

I also understand even better, the value of a well set-up audio (or video) system. This studio is Dolby Atmos certified by Dolby.. and it did sound as good as one would suspect: Flat out spectacular and accurate, massive wall of sound and ... an immersion that needs to be experienced to fully understand.

I have heard several so-called High End systems, most, if not all of these, 2-channel. some (most?) with cables (lol) ... costing more than this entire studio (itself not cheap by any strtech), and these are jokes compared to this studio, which cost a fraction of those HEA systems. Some will clalim it was nearfield vs far-field.. nah.
And yet....

Yep. It’s a disappointing that more people don’t try to really get immersive right. It’s not just for whiz bang boom whatever.

 

[Geert]

Not sure how at a MLP, 1.5 m one can qualify the KH 310 .. even one single unit, as "not loud enough".. Those darn things could easily deafen the unsuspected, so cleanly and so loudly they can play ... Yes, there were subs

The KH310 isn’t powerfully enough in the low end for certain types of music, so you answered your own question. (And the limitation is really not at ear deafening level).