The Neumann brand is a brand that has been producing high quality PA speakers since 1928 and recently headphones . The company is committed to producing high-end speakers for listening to music. One of these monitoring speakers is the Neumann KH 120. Find out what it is in this article.
Product overview Neumann KH 120
The Neumann KH 120 is a compact hi-fi speaker ideal for an active studio or listening room. The fact that it is a compact monitoring speaker makes it a very easy device to move around .
It is also a speaker that faithfully reproduces sound . It is therefore the ideal device to accompany your mixing desk or the speakers of your home cinema. If you want monitors that offer good value for money, you won't be disappointed with this one. The Neumann KH 120 delivers precise sound and gives you a perfect listening session when using it.
A two-way monitor with biamplification
The Neumann KH 120 loudspeaker system is a two-way monitor system 5.25-inch composite sandwich cone . This sound precision is also due to the titanium fabric dome tweeter 1 inch magnetic shielding
The Neumann KH 120 subwoofers do not have an integrated amplifier, but 80 Watt AB power with thermal shielding . This characteristic limits the risk of overheating and provides stability to the Bass speakers.
You are probably thinking that a subwoofer powered with only two amplifiers must produce sounds poorly? You are on the wrong track. With its two amplifiers, the Neumann KH 120 produces a clear and truly precise sound that you will struggle to differentiate with a subwoofer with three amplifiers.
Thanks to a robust aluminum design, the speaker housing is resonance-free. In addition to this, both the subwoofer and the tweeter are protected by a high-strength metal grille.
By the way, you can also discover our test guide and review of the Genelec 8040 BPM . This guide presents the sound quality of this monitoring speaker, its technical characteristics, its positive and negative points, as well as its mode of use, and our opinion on the 8040 BPM from Genelec.
Mathematically Modeled Dispersion or MDD
The Neumann KH 120 loudspeaker is equipped with a waveguide with mathematically modeled dispersion ( MDD ). This allows the speakers to distribute sound more clearly and directly horizontally and vertically , in rooms with different acoustic variations.
This dispersion guide also gives a very regular response and even off-axis. A character that allows it to adapt to all conditions and acoustic environments.
Yet another great advantage of this subwoofer is that you can use it in any room in the house, regardless of its size. The horizontally distributed sound range is wider. It is therefore easier to place it in a more or less narrow place without risking destroying the sound.
On the other hand, vertical sound disperses more narrowly. This reduces the amount of distortion caused by a table, musical instrument or any object that can degrade sound quality. It is also for this vertical range of sound that the Neumann KH 120 loudspeakers must be placed at height.
Of course, the sound pressure in each room also has a big impact on sound quality. Therefore, you must always take acoustic treatment into account during your listening sessions. Especially since the acoustics of the studio are also important if you are doing a recording session.
The acoustic conditions and vibration of the room create the conditions for perfect sound recording. It is therefore essential to accompany the Neumann KH 120 with deep sound-absorbing membranes and diffuser front panels . Also, if your studio contains several glass surfaces, you must place thick and dense acoustic curtains in front of these surfaces.
A wide frequency range
The Neumann KH 120 monitor has a wide frequency range that can even reach very low levels, down to 52 Hz . You will no longer need a specific power amplifier for low frequencies.
But as with every subwoofer and monitoring speaker, the size of the room is essential for the sound system, and the place of the speaker. Generally, when you have a large studio, you will probably need a line amplifier like the Chandler Limited Redd 47 or a subwoofer for your Neumann KH 120.
Zoom on the sound quality Neumann KH 120
The Neumann KH 120 monitor is one of those speaker monitors with very clear sound for a very affordable price. The sound of this monitor is very clean thanks to flat frequency transmission . It responds very well to low frequencies, but also to high frequencies.
The size of the Neumann KH 120 monitor makes you hesitant about its volume? Don't worry, its volume can reach 114 dB whether your studio is small, medium or very large. On the other hand, large studios may request an additional subwoofer. But it also depends on the number of speakers.
The bass sound of the Neumann KH 120 is very intense and excellent . With a very honest sound, it produces both bass and treble sounds. Because of this very clear sound, there may be errors in your mixing or mastering work. However, you can very well correct them with your PC speaker.
Technical characteristics of Neumann KH 120
If the Neumann brand is better known for the design of microphones (only citing the famous Neumann TLM 102 and the Neumann U67) for sound recordings , it has now launched into the creation of loudspeakers which have an output of its very precise.
The Neumann KH 120 speaker monitor features German sound technology. Which gives it this great sound precision . Every little detail and characteristic of the hi-fi speaker is carefully studied so that the product is of quality and functional. It is therefore a very well designed monitoring speaker.
Despite the fact that it is compact, the Neumann KH 120 monitor is one of those microphones that produce excellent sound, like picture (with its Focal Shape 65 speaker ) or Dolby. The Neumann KH 120 hi-fi speaker can also be used as an amplifier or rear speaker with the multiroom system . For this, you must use a TNT HDMI tuner since the Neumann KH 120 is not a Bluetooth speaker.
When designing the loudspeaker system, Neumann experts used new technologies in electronic and acoustic simulation and measurement. Thanks to this, the monitoring speaker has only a low distortion rate , a high restitution rate with high frequency reproduction . In addition to these characteristics, the Neumann KH 120 monitor also has other specific features:
Acoustic characteristics
- Bi-amplification active monitor
- Frequency responsive in free field: 52 to 21,000 Hz and more or less 3 dB ,
- Responsive in free field and bandwidth: 54 to 20,000 Hz and more or less 2 dB ,
- Noise level produced by the monitor, that is to say the input gain for the position 100 dB SPL , therefore for the initial position: 20 dB at 10 centimeters ,
- Sound pressure level for a sinusoidal signal, measured at 1 m, for THD less than 0.5%: 95 dB SPL , therefore 100 Hz
- Maximum sound pressure level, at half space, for 3% THD, averaged between 111.1 dB SPL and 100 Hz to 6000 Hz
- Great flexibility of acoustic compensation settings
- Class AB amplifier
- Multiple input formats for speaker cables,
Another review guide : Golden Age Project R1 active MK3 ribbon microphone . Discover in this guide our complete test on this ribbon microphone , the sound quality produced by the microphone, its technical characteristics, as well as our opinion on this ribbon microphone and some demos of sound recorded with the microphone.
Technical characteristics
- Fabric and titanium tweeter to generate high power, with low distortion reproduction in the treble: 1 inch and 80 W
- Elliptical waveguide: Mathematically Modeled Dispersion or MMD,
- Sandwich cone with composite materials for better damping of splitting modes: 50 Watts and tip 80 Watts ,
- Long excursion woofer allowing distortion below high sound pressure level,
- Large diameter vents on the front: this allows reduced bass compression, easy installation in small spaces such as a car subwoofer
- Compact aluminum cabinet to reduce resonances and limit heat build-up. This feature allows the monitor to last longer
- Wide horizontal dispersion
- Narrow vertical dispersion to reduce reflections from above
- Non-parallel enclosure walls to attenuate internal standing waves
- One-piece, seamless front panel to reduce diffraction and provide a smoother frequency response
- High-power analog amplifier with extended dynamic headroom for good transient response
- Low manufacturing tolerance: a Neumann KH 120 can be matched with any other Neumann KH 120, but difficult with other brands
- Four different positions of acoustic compensation settings: bass, low mid and treble for great versatility in various acoustic environments,
- Very wide adjustment of input sensitivity and output level: the Neumann KH 120 speaker adapts very well to several signal sources,
- Two-color Neumann logo with adjustable brightness and brightness to better see the operating status and activation of the protection circuit
- A ground lifting selector to limit background noise in locations with high levels of electromagnetic pollution and to eliminate ground loops
- Universal power supply from 100 to 240 Volts : this is a version that adapts to all countries with mains voltages of any value
- Different thermal protection circuits for the woofer and tweeter: this guarantees high reliability of the device,
- Electronic peak limiters,
- New mounting and securing options to make the monitor easier to use. Above all, this allows for flexible installation. In addition, the Neumann KH 120 can be used as a wall-mounted speaker or in-wall speaker thanks to its flat box.
- Input and output impedance: 75 Ohms
- Robust speaker grille to prevent mechanical damage
- Electrical power: 80 watts
- Sound pressure: 111 dB
What are the advantages and disadvantages of the Neumann KH 120?
The Neumann KH 120 hi-fi speaker is a device for professional use in recording studios and professional listening rooms. However, it can also be used very well in domestic use . It is therefore a very versatile monitor in addition to being a coaxial speaker.
Its characteristics allow it to reproduce very clear bass and treble thanks to its equalization corrector . In addition, it is also possible to adjust the frequency according to your needs. It is also thanks to all these features that the speaker can output very good quality sounds.
Despite all these advantages, we can still note some weak points with this monitor. For a compact monitor, it is quite heavy. In addition, it can seem bulky if you place it in a room that is too small. Finally, it is not very comfortable to find the settings and the ignition system on the back of the Neumann KH 120.
If you have a large enough budget, this is a purchase that you will not regret despite these few small discomforts.
What does your Neumann KH 120 monitor come with?
Your monitor enclosure is not delivered to you by itself. In addition to the Neumann KH 120 speaker, you will also have:
- Two European and American type sector cables
- A user manual
- A product warranty voucher
Our Overall Opinion
Overall Sound Quality
Value for money
Global mark
Our opinion on the Neumann KH 120 microphone
The Neumann KH 120 speaker is one of the preferred monitors for home studios. It produces very clear, precise and honest sound for faithful and active reproduction on stage.
Users have expressed a little doubt about its size, but it still performs well in the depths of the spectrum. It has no difficulty reproducing low or high frequency sounds, even at very high volumes.
If for a large studio it is better to use an additional subwoofer, you can still get low frequency sound. Indeed, the Neumann KH 120 already has an integrated amplifier.
Thus, the Neumann KH 120 active studio monitor is a recommended microphone for reproducing good sounds during mixing and mastering.
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