SOUND ON SOUND

[Zukan]

Firstly apologies if this has been discussed elsewhere. My searches haven't turned this question up so...

I have/will have a medium-sized well treated good room and want/need some good monitors.

My shortlist is the KH310 or KH120 plusd an 805 sub

Ive read elsewhere someone saying that the KH120a with the 805 sub is a better option than the KH310a.

Any thoughts about which will give me the better monitoring system? thanks, John

John, what type of music are you writing/producing?

[baward]

As the happy owner of some KH80's, a bit like Hugh) don't feel the need for a sub at all. Terrific monitors, highly recommended if your space isn't huge.

[dickiefunk]

I’ve been reading various reviews of the KH80dsp and this makes want a DSP version of the KH120’s even more. However, I’ve been offered a fantastic deal on a pair of KH310’s that are only a few months old. If I knew Neumann will definitely be releasing KH120DSP monitors I would wait and go that route but as there’s no guarantee they will be doing this I am worried I may miss out on a fanatic deal on the KH310’s :-|

Dickie, if it's working for you why change?

Well I’m regularly looking to improve the quality of my studio and room acoustics and monitors are top of my list. I have heard so many great things about the KH310’s saying they are a noticeable step up from the KH120’s and the deal I’ve been offered is a real bargain.

[Hugh Robjohns]

Sounds like its too good a deal to miss, and the 310 really is a crackingly good speaker. I'd say go for it.

[Zukan]

I’ve been reading various reviews of the KH80dsp and this makes want a DSP version of the KH120’s even more. However, I’ve been offered a fantastic deal on a pair of KH310’s that are only a few months old. If I knew Neumann will definitely be releasing KH120DSP monitors I would wait and go that route but as there’s no guarantee they will be doing this I am worried I may miss out on a fanatic deal on the KH310’s :-|

Dickie, if it's working for you why change?

Well I’m regularly looking to improve the quality of my studio and room acoustics and monitors are top of my list. I have heard so many great things about the KH310’s saying they are a noticeable step up from the KH120’s and the deal I’ve been offered is a real bargain.

Then grab it. I would if the opportunity arose. BUT sort your room out or there's no point in getting the 310s.

[dickiefunk]

Hi guys. I haven't bought the KH310's yet as I'm hanging on to see if there is any news regarding DSP versions of the KH120's as this is what I'd really prefer for my setup.
One thing I haven't taken into consideration is the desk I would be mounting the KH310's on. At the moment I have my KH120's mounted on some IsoAcoustics ISO-155 stands which. I was quite surprised how much difference these made to the overall clarity compared to having them directly on the desk. The bass is less boomy and more defined and the mids have also noticeably improved. I'm also Because the KH310's go lower than the KH120's I'm wondering I'm wondering if I would be better off with smaller monitors on my desk even if I'm using IsoAcoustics stands? I've also found that having the sub take care of the lowest frequencies helps with the mid-range on the KH120's.

[Hugh Robjohns]

Mounting any speaker on a decent isolation stand will always bring great improvements compared to just plonking it directly on the desk, for a variety of reasons.

And those IsoAcoustics stands are extremely good and I happily recommend them. You'd need different (or reconfigured) stands for the KH310, though, because of its wider base. It would probably be a little unstable on stands built for the KH120.

But critically, the KH310 is quite a different beast to the KH120. It's a sealed cabinet and a three way design, and they are significant factors.

Yes, it has a greater bass extension... so in most situations you just don't need a subwoofer at all, and thus don't need to be concerned about the matching intricacies of blending a sub with the satellites.

If you really want the flatter mid-band frequency response and tighter impulse characteristic that a notional KH120 DSP would provide, then either buy KH80s now -- there is no practical difference in usability between the KH80 and KH120 when used for nearfield monitoring -- or invest in one of the third-party room correction systems.

Easy peasy...

Personally, I'm a huge fan of the Trinnov Optimiser... because although it's not cheap, it really does do the best possible job!

However, staying in the antiquated world of analogue speakers for a moment, the KH310 provides a noticeable step up from the KH120 in terms of mid-range clarity and resolution, as well as a greater bass extension... There are genuine benefits to separating the bass, mid and treble to their own optimised drivers. And it may well be that these speakers can provide you with whatever it is you're seeking....

Decisions, decisions....

The one thing I can say is that if you can buy the KH310s at a good price, you're unlikely to lose money on them if you decide to move them on and stick with what you have now, or invest in KH80s instead...

[dickiefunk]

Looks like the deal on the KH310’s was too good to be true so it looks like I won’t be getting these.
Think I’ll hang on now to see if Neumann release KH120 DSP’s.

[dickiefunk]

Hi Hugh,

If I added the Neumann KH750 sub to my KH120’s would this add the same latency as just using the KH80DSP monitors?
I currently have an Eve TS108 sub which I really like and have just read that this has DSP built in? Whilst I’m not noticing any latency when using this sub, will the DSP in the TS108 be adding latency like the Neumann KH80DSP (and possibly KH750)?

[Hugh Robjohns]

Anything with DSP will add latency, the more complex the processing (particularly in terms of sorting out the system impulse response) the longer the latency.

[Zukan]

Love that ST2Pro: https://www.trinnov.com/st2-pro/

We need a review Hugh!

[jaminem]

Just to chip in, i'm doing a lot of EDM style music atm and can confirm that you really don't need a sub with the KH310's - They are capable of huge low bass. In fact most people think I HAVE got a sub, but all they are listening to is the 310's!

[Hugh Robjohns]

Love that ST2Pro: https://www.trinnov.com/st2-pro/

It's a fabulous piece of genuinely innovatiove technology. I love it too. I had a multichannel version here many years ago on review for my late lamented broadcast magazine, Line Up and it was utterly amazing.

We need a review Hugh!

What? You mean like this one from Phil Ward in July last year? :crazy:

https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/trinnov-st2-pro

The only problem is that a stereo rig costs around £5k... You can do a lot of acoustic treatment for a fraction of that...

And here's my own LineUp review from 2008

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6t-QlBod0gkTEtYUnV0OFRFMlU/view

[Zukan]

Brilliant! Thanks. I'll attack those today.

[orbita]

How does the 80dsp and 750 compare with the 310?
I'm looking for a new set to upgrade from old mackies. I'm in a small room (2.4m x 3.7m) and sit about 1m from speakers. I made techno and drum n bass. Looking for a nice blend for producing/ mixing that will guide and translate well in a small room that I’m about to treat fairly extensively.

Shortlist is
kh80+750
Kh310
Pmc result6
Aps klasik 2020
Hedd 07/20
Eve 305/307/3070 (has 3070 been reviewed yet?)

Which would your top recommendation be?