Neumann MA-1 calibration for complicated room

[Miguelón]

I purchased a pair of Neumann KH 80 with DSP, quite satisfied with them with the little adjustments I tried by experience with the ipad app and dip switches.

Has anybody tried the MA-1 alignment set? It will worth the money in non professional setup? Issues or bugs with the software?

Thanks for helping!

 

[lsanbourne]

I noticed no one replied to you. I have KH 150 with DSP + MA-1 alignment set. I just used it tonight for the first time. It is quite a long and annoying process to calibrate, but it enormously helped my mixing - and everything sounded better too.

 

[Miguelón]

I noticed no one replied to you. I have KH 150 with DSP + MA-1 alignment set. I just used it tonight for the first time. It is quite a long and annoying process to calibrate, but it enormously helped my mixing - and everything sounded better too.

Finally returned the Neumanns, and get Genelecs 8030 cpm but thanks for your feedback!

I don’t mix, just listening and using them with a digital piano so I decide to don’t spend money on DSP monitors as dip switches are enough for me to the typical room issues.

 

[Miguelón]

I noticed no one replied to you. I have KH 150 with DSP + MA-1 alignment set. I just used it tonight for the first time. It is quite a long and annoying process to calibrate, but it enormously helped my mixing - and everything sounded better too.

Welcome to ASR by the way! I’m not here since long time ago, but apparently I’m “senior” member so I take the honor to give you the welcome if no other member has done it

 

[lsanbourne]

Welcome to ASR by the way! I’m not here since long time ago, but apparently I’m “senior” member so I take the honor to give you the welcome if no other member has done it

Thank you for the warm welcome!! Do you have experience with Genelec's smallest monitor speakers? Would love something good enough for adjusting mic positions on location...

 

[Miguelón]

Thank you for the warm welcome!! Do you have experience with Genelec's smallest monitor speakers? Would love something good enough for adjusting mic positions on location...

Yep! I tried 8010 and 8020, both are quite precise.

8010 is super portable, lacks a little bit in SPL and distorts bass when rising volume (see Amir’s review for that). At 80-85 dB at 1 meter is ok; don’t push it louder

The 8020 is more like a serious monitor and still very compact, no review here on ASR but Is just a little bit under the 8030s. I didn’t notice any issue when going 90 dB

Probably the 8010 is more a computer on desk monitor, if you’re using like so no problem. The 8020 is more versatile, and more linear too

 

[YSC]

I purchased a pair of Neumann KH 80 with DSP, quite satisfied with them with the little adjustments I tried by experience with the ipad app and dip switches.

Has anybody tried the MA-1 alignment set? It will worth the money in non professional setup? Issues or bugs with the software?

Thanks for helping!

Oops, didn't notice it back in the day, but in all seriousness, I think in most cases, GLM/ MA1 will make more difference in an untreated room as there will be way more reflections and issues to deal with the random stuffs inside the room below schroeder frequency. Are you using a PC as a source? if so personally I've bought a UMIK-1 to use with EQ APO and REW in my home computer setup with 8030C +7040A, best investment personally yet as it transform the bass to low mids below 200hz from good to very good in the MLP

 

[Miguelón]

Oops, didn't notice it back in the day, but in all seriousness, I think in most cases, GLM/ MA1 will make more difference in an untreated room as there will be way more reflections and issues to deal with the random stuffs inside the room below schroeder frequency. Are you using a PC as a source? if so personally I've bought a UMIK-1 to use with EQ APO and REW in my home computer setup with 8030C +7040A, best investment personally yet as it transform the bass to low mids below 200hz from good to very good in the MLP

I use a streamer without EQ but has constant connection issues, so probably I will get the Wim Ultra with EQ. I can try the mic and some corrections with the PEQ for the big issues…

How about your experience with 7040 + 8030s? It worth the money? I red comments about lack of SPL of the 7040 but I never listen over 80 dB so I think is enough to my home

 

[YSC]

I use a streamer without EQ but has constant connection issues, so probably I will get the Wim Ultra with EQ. I can try the mic and some corrections with the PEQ for the big issues…

How about your experience with 7040 + 8030s? It worth the money? I red comments about lack of SPL of the 7040 but I never listen over 80 dB so I think is enough to my home

For me it's worth every cent, not because of how easy it is to be integrated with the 8030, but that in my space it basically takes up the valuable leg room beneath the desk, so the slimmer the better. and in my really tiny room (around a parking lot size), with all those concrete wall loading it gets more than enough bass for me, in room it goes flat post EQ to ~25-28hz, so not an issue to me. But if you live in anywhere without space constrain, I would say go for the 7050 at least or some SVS, easy to do integration with basic EQ

 

[Miguelón]

For me it's worth every cent, not because of how easy it is to be integrated with the 8030, but that in my space it basically takes up the valuable leg room beneath the desk, so the slimmer the better. and in my really tiny room (around a parking lot size), with all those concrete wall loading it gets more than enough bass for me, in room it goes flat post EQ to ~25-28hz, so not an issue to me. But if you live in anywhere without space constrain, I would say go for the 7050 at least or some SVS, easy to do integration with basic EQ

Thank you very much for you answer! Glad to read so good frequency response.

My room is not so bigger and have a neighbor downstairs, also I don’t listen to music so bass demanding: 30 Hz is more than enough for me. Also I prefer something compact and visually not so invading.

Your comments orient me more to the 7040 than to 7050, very useful!

 

[YSC]

This is my post EQ to 200 hz result in untreated gaming station, just taken a while ago to see with all the crap lying around what will be the effect, 1/24 smoothing, but without some EQ it should be less plateau like in the bass region though. But if budget is enough and placement space isn't a concert personally in your shoes I will still opt for the 7050, or a pair of 7040, since 7050 can get you even deeper bass at lower volume utilizing boundary gain, you can't go as deep in the 7040 (though practically still adequate for most cases). back then I struggled beween the KEF KC62 and 7040, but price + a few cm more leg room turns me into the 7040.

 

[Miguelón]

This is my post EQ to 200 hz result in untreated gaming station, just taken a while ago to see with all the crap lying around what will be the effect, 1/24 smoothing, but without some EQ it should be less plateau like in the bass region though. But if budget is enough and placement space isn't a concert personally in your shoes I will still opt for the 7050, or a pair of 7040, since 7050 can get you even deeper bass at lower volume utilizing boundary gain, you can't go as deep in the 7040 (though practically still adequate for most cases). back then I struggled beween the KEF KC62 and 7040, but price + a few cm more leg room turns me into the 7040.

View attachment 375906

Nice work! This is on axis or average room response? I guess the later, if is on axis for the type of music I listen for and to use with my digital Kawai piano I will put dip switches on -6 dB low shelving

Actually I don’t use barely 20% power of the Genelecs: gain at the + 6 dB minimum and 75 dB peaks for the pair at 1,5 meters.

Don’t you still think that 7040 will be enough for my setup?

 

[YSC]

Nice work! This is on axis or average room response? I guess the later, if is on axis for the type of music I listen for and to use with my digital Kawai piano I will put dip switches on -6 dB low shelving

Actually I don’t use barely 20% power of the Genelecs: gain at the + 6 dB minimum and 75 dB peaks for the pair at 1,5 meters.

Don’t you still think that 7040 will be enough for my setup?

This is extremely near field, single sweeep of L and R channel separately, approximately 0.75m from the speakers at my ear level. since the space is so confined and the chair I use have no wheels, so I just put the damn mic on a tripod on the chair and click the measure button. and since I am pretty locked in the space I can basically just point EQ the bass to make it as flat as it is shown, but if your space may move around, less aggressive EQ should be used IMO

 

[Miguelón]

This is extremely near field, single sweeep of L and R channel separately, approximately 0.75m from the speakers at my ear level. since the space is so confined and the chair I use have no wheels, so I just put the damn mic on a tripod on the chair and click the measure button. and since I am pretty locked in the space I can basically just point EQ the bass to make it as flat as it is shown, but if your space may move around, less aggressive EQ should be used IMO

I think you have done a really good tuning given your space limitations!

Actually I have no mic so I tuned by ear with the piano (Kawai’s samples are totally flat and goes from 27,5 Hz to 3500 Hz or so) but it seem my room is way more easier than yours.

Probably I should buy a mic when getting the sub, otherwise it will be a nightmare to adjust.

Thanks again for sharing your results