Neumann NDH20 Review (Headphone)

[phoenixsong]

I wonder how audible super-narrow spikes in distortion (up to 104dB in this case) are?
*Since there is a dip in the FR probably not much if at all?

 

[restorer-john]

I have to say that they look damn good on Amir's photo.

I agree. They look really nice to me too.

 

[pozz]

Neumann’s NDH20 headphones rock — both in and out of the studio

When the NDH20 studio headphones were announced at NAMM this year I was quite surprised. Neumann’s been around for nearly 100 years without making a pair of headphones and, considering the company is owned by Sennheiser, it seems strange to

thenextweb.com

Apparently the same as: https://www.sonarworks.com/soundid-reference/blog/reviews/neumann-ndh20-headphone-review/#sound

Neumann NDH 20

I posted my subjective impressions of the Neumann NDH20 in the previous post. Following are our measurements of it: Fig.1 Neumann NDH20 frequency response Fig.2 Neumann NDH20 frequency response, compared to the Harman AE/OE Target In Fig.2 above, you can see the Neumann NDH20's frequency...

www.head-fi.org

Dropbox

www.dropbox.com

 

[Kyle / MrHeeHo]

Wonder if someone can send in a Sennheiser HD 630VB to compare since this is a rebrand of that without the adjustable bass (image courtesy of amazon)

 

[thewas]

Its deficiencies are long known, here from one more good source

Dropbox

www.dropbox.com

Imho a poor effort of the Sennheiser group obviously modifying their long discontinued market flop Sennheiser HD630VB and selling it a much higher price under the name Neumann

HD630VB

back to Sennheiser back to measurements home Published: Jul-11-2017, updated Feb-01-2026 NO SMOOTHING is applied to the shown plots. Most measurement sites have some smoothing applied which ‘irons …

diyaudioheaven.wordpress.com

 

[pozz]

I remember reading somewhere a justification for the target response but I can't find the link now.

 

[maverickronin]

I was quite surprised by this response. Given Neumann's heritage for neutrality in speakers, I expected a flat and bass shy response. Instead we have plenty of bass but then a suck out in the 1 to 3 kHz.

The NDH20 is just a retuned version of the flopped/discontinued Sennheiser 630VB to give Neumann a headphone under their own branding.

 

[sarumbear]

I wonder how audible super-narrow spikes in distortion (up to 104dB in this case) are?
*Since there is a dip in the FR probably not much if at all?

Where do you see that stupendous value?

 

[MikeJ]

So it actually happened exactly once? He's just saying, cuz literally everytime there is a bad measurement 50% of the comments are "oh it must be a defective unit"

And it rarely actually is.

Yes it happened to me once, that's why I asked, is it wrong to ask such question when you doubt something at first sight? I'd rather double check. Now that I personally own NDH 20, that distortion peak just surprises me, ehm. It's even more funny because even the studio pros I know and Neumann guys say praises about these headphones, with regards to resonances, extremely low distortion, etc. At least in my experience, the drivers in these headphones are fast settling and bass distortion sounds mostly even-harmonic to me, which can be a normal thing at proper SPLs. But I would definitely want to hear Neumann's take on these ASR measurements.

 

[Merkurio]

Neumann’s NDH20 headphones rock — both in and out of the studio

When the NDH20 studio headphones were announced at NAMM this year I was quite surprised. Neumann’s been around for nearly 100 years without making a pair of headphones and, considering the company is owned by Sennheiser, it seems strange to

thenextweb.com

Apparently the same as: https://www.sonarworks.com/soundid-reference/blog/reviews/neumann-ndh20-headphone-review/#sound

Neumann NDH 20

I posted my subjective impressions of the Neumann NDH20 in the previous post. Following are our measurements of it: Fig.1 Neumann NDH20 frequency response Fig.2 Neumann NDH20 frequency response, compared to the Harman AE/OE Target In Fig.2 above, you can see the Neumann NDH20's frequency...

www.head-fi.org

View attachment 158352

Dropbox

www.dropbox.com

Almost identical to Amir's results smoothed to 1/3 octave:

 

[Zensō]

There’s no spinning a story about that massive dip between 1-3 kHz - it shows up in almost all of the measurements I’ve seen.

It’s a shame that these are essentially a rebranded Sennheiser. Would be great if they’d design a headphone from the ground up that’s in the same league as their studio monitors.

 

[usern]

The NDH20 is just a retuned version of the flopped/discontinued Sennheiser 630VB to give Neumann a headphone under their own branding.

How do you know that? Maybe they just reused manufacturing tooling for the housing and implemented new driver?

 

[Kyle / MrHeeHo]

Yes it happened to me once, that's why I asked, is it wrong to ask such question when you doubt something at first sight? I'd rather double check. Now that I personally own NDH 20, that distortion peak just surprises me, ehm. It's even more funny because even the studio pros I know and Neumann guys say praises about these headphones, with regards to resonances, extremely low distortion, etc. At least in my experience, the drivers in these headphones are fast settling and bass distortion sounds mostly even-harmonic to me, which can be a normal thing at proper SPLs. But I would definitely want to hear Neumann's take on these ASR measurements.

If there's anything I've learned on this forum it's that "studio pros" are just as poor at judging what makes a good headphone/loudspeaker as the average audiophile is

 

[phoenixsong]

Where do you see that stupendous value?

I was referring to the playback/testing values

 

[617]

Surprised to see Neumann diluting their brand with a rebadged headphone.

 

[Skinner001]

Thought about these for quite a while, but ultimately said NO.

Even with the smoothing, elevetad bass + that hole starting at 500-700 depending on where you look up the FR measurement) up until 3k pretty much guaranteed I'd not like it and seems even with EQ they're no where near worth the price.


And besides, Zeos raves that these are neutral perfection which is a deterrent in and of itself

 

[pozz]

Almost identical to Amir's results smoothed to 1/3 octave:

I can't speak for all the reviewers I posted but I know oratory1990 applies averaging. 5x if I remember right.

 

[napilopez]

Neumann’s NDH20 headphones rock — both in and out of the studio

When the NDH20 studio headphones were announced at NAMM this year I was quite surprised. Neumann’s been around for nearly 100 years without making a pair of headphones and, considering the company is owned by Sennheiser, it seems strange to

thenextweb.com

Apparently the same as: https://www.sonarworks.com/soundid-reference/blog/reviews/neumann-ndh20-headphone-review/#sound

Neumann NDH 20

I posted my subjective impressions of the Neumann NDH20 in the previous post. Following are our measurements of it: Fig.1 Neumann NDH20 frequency response Fig.2 Neumann NDH20 frequency response, compared to the Harman AE/OE Target In Fig.2 above, you can see the Neumann NDH20's frequency...

www.head-fi.org

View attachment 158352

Dropbox

www.dropbox.com

Scaling and smoothing folks. I make it a habit to always closely look at the x and y axes before really looking at the curves.

 

[SoundsGood2Me]

Amir, Thank You for staying so consistent with all your tests. I'm starting to pick up what you're laying down with speakers / headphones. AND IT IS SO MUCH EASIER BECAUSE YOU ARE SO CONSISTENT WITH HOW YOU REPORT DATA. Every report starts and proceeds in the same orderly fashion, with the same data points in the same order every time. That's great for helping me understand.

Please keep up the awesome work, I look forward to every review.

 

[Helicopter]

Thanks Amir.

Woof! Lots of opportunity for improvement here.