New Neumann MA 1 - Automatic Monitor Alignment

[Chimiel]

Can you please explain to me what is "uniform subwoofer drive mode"?
Is it on the MA1 software

Yes, it's in the software; at the start of the software, you can create a new setup, in the pull down options you can select either uniform or stereo subwoofer drive mode. I think uniform subwoofer drive mode is the default one.

 

[NeoZs99]

Yes, it's in the software; at the start of the software, you can create a new setup, in the pull down options you can select either uniform or stereo subwoofer drive mode. I think uniform subwoofer drive mode is the default one.

Thank you!!

 

[Qu@rk]

I haven't tried this yet. I am still using 6 XLR cables (analog) and two Y-adapters to connect my two monitors and my two subwoofers. I haven't touched my setups in a very long time.

From what I have read now, 4 cables would be sufficient:
DAC L -- XLR cable -- 1st KH750 L -- XLR cable -- KH420 L
DAC R -- XLR cable -- 2nd KH750 R -- XLR cable -- KH420 R

And with this configuration I would be able to calibrate a stereo subwoofer setup or a double-mono subwoofer setup, correct?

Is it easily possible to load the different calibrations (e. g. stereo sub, mono sub) one by one into the subs and compare them?

I would assume all that requires a firmware update of the subwoofers and the MA1 software will perform the update automatically?

Thanks.

I thought about the two different analog setups, the dual-mono sub with necessary 6 cables and Y-adapter and the much simpler stereo sub setup with only 4 cables.

It is impossible to use the simpler stereo sub setup as a dual-mono sub setup because each sub only "knows" one channel. From my understanding with an analog setup you have to decide which configuration you prefer first, there is no way to use both and compare or change. You would have to rewire everything to change.

That is different with a digital setup, because each spdif connection carries both channels. That's the reason why @Chimiel is able to calibrate both configurations with the same setup.

 

[Fongus]

And with this configuration I would be able to calibrate a stereo subwoofer setup or a double-mono subwoofer setup, correct?

Yes.

Is it easily possible to load the different calibrations (e. g. stereo sub, mono sub) one by one into the subs and compare them?

AFAIK, stereo sub and mono (uniform) sub is configured in the system layout part of the MA1 software so it's not as straightforward to switch between alignments because you would have to be switching between layouts first before you can load their respective alignments.

I would assume all that requires a firmware update of the subwoofers and the MA1 software will perform the update automatically?

Yes.

All the info you need, you can find in the MA1 online manual:

https://ma1.neumann.com/manual

 

[Qu@rk]

Thank you for your feedback.

In my opinion the analog stereo subwoofer setup illustrated in the manual (4 cables) will only work for a stereo calibration in MA1 because each subwoofer has only one channel and there is no second channel to sum up for the so called "uniform" (dual-mono-sub) calibration.

For example how would the right subwoofer get the signal from the left channel to create a mono signal?

Only both channels L + R connected to each subwoofer would allow a dual-mono (uniform) configuration, therefore 6 analog cables + Y-adapter.

Please let me know, if I am wrong.

 

[Fongus]

Thank you for your feedback.

In my opinion the analog stereo subwoofer setup illustrated in the manual (4 cables) will only work for a stereo calibration in MA1 because each subwoofer has only one channel and there is no second channel to sum up for the so called "uniform" (dual-mono-sub) calibration.

For example how would the right subwoofer get the signal from the left channel to create a mono signal?

Only both channels L + R connected to each subwoofer would allow a dual-mono (uniform) configuration, therefore 6 analog cables + Y-adapter.

Please let me know, if I am wrong.

I emailed Neumann and they told me that the stereo subwoofer alignment is only possible with analog connections between the sub and studio monitors. For digital SPDIF connections between subs and loudspeakers, one would have to use uniform subwoofer drive mode and they referred me to the latest revision of the KH750 user manual for the connection options.

I'm guessing that's because the SPDIF protocol can digitally carry both L and R signals within a single cable.

 

[Qu@rk]

MA1 2.9.9.5095 Windows

During 5th measurment clipping detected but the message box will never disapear if I click on "Repeat All" in that message box. The Software is stuck. In the background the main window changes back to all measurements but I am not able to reach the main window because the message box with the clipping message will not close. I have to close the MA1 software and start all over again. Very disappointing after so many releases.

 

[Qu@rk]

Well, even though the software still has a few bugs, the alignment results are very impressive.

I did my last alignment more than two years ago, when there was no stereo subwoofer setup yet, and that was already very good (2 x KH 310 + 2 x KH 750).

Today, I finally completed my second setup, 2 x KH 420 + 2 x KH 750, as a stereo subwoofer setup. Fortunately, I can position my two subwoofers so that each one does not produce any cancellations on its own and therefore does not need to be compensated for by the second subwoofer.

The result is really fantastic!

In addition to the above-mentioned problem of the message box not closing after the detection of clipping, there was a problem with the FW update of the subwoofers in that the subwoofer was no longer recognized afterwards, so I had to start all over again. The same thing happened with the second subwoofer again.

It would be nice if the software could offer the firmware updates before starting the entire procedure. Of course, there may be a reason why it is the way it is now.

 

[HoleyMole]

Hello!
Am I wrong or the MA-1 software doesn't allow you to apply custom delay to speakers?
I have two SVS subwoofer connected to a minidsp and, of course, I can apply a delay to the subwoofer, but the problem is that the audio from the KH150 is arriving with 5 ms in advance compared to subwoofer.

I'm using a Topping A70 Pro as pre-amplifier: XLR output to Neumann KH150 and RCA output to MiniDSP 2x4HD to PEQ/crossover/align subwoofer.
I can't find a solution, any help would be really appreciated!

 

[solawind]

Am I wrong or the MA-1 software doesn't allow you to apply custom delay to speakers?

it measures delay for each spaker and uploads it to the speakers itself so each one can compensate. But you cant specify delay manually IIRC

 

[HoleyMole]

it measures delay for each spaker and uploads it to the speakers itself so each one can compensate. But you cant specify delay manually IIRC

Setting a fake distance during the measurement/alignment won't help in any way, right?

 

[krdetroit]

Anyone having issues? I'm getting crashes on Mac OS 26.2 and both the MA-1 .99 and .97 versions after it sees the monitors. "If it crashes at this stage → USB speaker enumeration bug on macOS 26.2." Just reset my studio too

 

[NeoZs99]

Anyone having issues? I'm getting crashes on Mac OS 26.2 and both the MA-1 .99 and .97 versions after it sees the monitors. "If it crashes at this stage → USB speaker enumeration bug on macOS 26.2." Just reset my studio too

Same for me after updating to the latest version

 

[NeoZs99]

Does anyone have a previous version of the MA1 software? I've been looking for the windows 2.4.5.4417 version

 

[custom]

Does anyone have a previous version of the MA1 software? I've been looking for the windows 2.4.5.4417 version

I've these version on my download folder.

MA 1 - Automatic Monitor Alignment 2.2.1.1168.dmg
MA 1 - Automatic Monitor Alignment 2.3.1.1695.dmg
MA 1 - Automatic Monitor Alignment 2.3.2.1880.dmg
MA 1 - Automatic Monitor Alignment 2.3.3.2574.dmg
MA 1 - Automatic Monitor Alignment 2.4.2.2735.dmg
MA 1 - Automatic Monitor Alignment 2.9.4.4476.dmg

 

[NeoZs99]

I've these version on my download folder.

MA 1 - Automatic Monitor Alignment 2.2.1.1168.dmg
MA 1 - Automatic Monitor Alignment 2.3.1.1695.dmg
MA 1 - Automatic Monitor Alignment 2.3.2.1880.dmg
MA 1 - Automatic Monitor Alignment 2.3.3.2574.dmg
MA 1 - Automatic Monitor Alignment 2.4.2.2735.dmg
MA 1 - Automatic Monitor Alignment 2.9.4.4476.dmg

Hey could I have 2.2 and 2.4 please? That would be so much helpful!!

 

[NeoZs99]

Anyone having issues? I'm getting crashes on Mac OS 26.2 and both the MA-1 .99 and .97 versions after it sees the monitors. "If it crashes at this stage → USB speaker enumeration bug on macOS 26.2." Just reset my studio too

The earlier measurements that were stored on my pc were causing the crash.. (for windows, it's in the constellation subfolder where the measurements are stored). Trying backing up your earlier measurements and deleting whatever there is in the folder.