SOUND ON SOUND

[ConcertinaChap]

One small thing. The basic volume of the speakers is determined by an input gain pot and an output level switch with four values. In both cases I have to have these on their minimum values or else I am limited in the control I have earlier in the chain. It's not a problem (and certainly doesn't affect my liking for these monitors) but it would be nice if both pot and switch allowed lower values. The Genelec 8030 has just one front mounted volume control and this certainly can go lower than the Neumanns.

CC

[Guy Johnson]

I should have mentioned that the KH 120s are very quiet.

[Forum Admin]

I should have mentioned that the KH 120s are very quiet.

By "very quiet" do you mean they are not very loud, or that they don't exhibit much background noise?

[Hugh Robjohns]

:D I'm pretty sure he means the latter! ;)

[AdrianTatar]

The Genelec 8030 has just one front mounted volume control and this certainly can go lower than the Neumanns.

CC

The Genelecs have front mounted volume control but on the rear panel are used dip switches that can't be used without a screwdriver, and this is a model to be used as a mobile device but you are not able to change the settings on different location.
Like Hugh says a few months there is no day and night.

[Forum Admin]

The Genelecs have front mounted volume control but on the rear panel are used dip switches that can't be used without a screwdriver, and this is a model to be used as a mobile device but you are not able to change the settings on different location.

Err, just take the screwdriver with you on location too? No biggie...

[Mixedup]

Err, just take the screwdriver with you on location too? No biggie...

Yes... I do think the title 'engineer' is a little overused these days ;)

[ConcertinaChap]

:D I'm pretty sure he means the latter! ;)

Quite so. My problem is to get them to be quiet enough ...

Like Hugh says a few months there is no day and night.

Que?

CC

PS Actually that's a low shot. I use the 8030s not on the road, which is a normal use for them. Even on the road a ballpoint pen would suffice to make adjustments. They are really excellent monitors. It is a measure of the quality of the KH120s that they are better.

[Hugh Robjohns]

:D I'm pretty sure he means the latter! ;)

Quite so. My problem is to get them to be quiet enough...

I don't really understand why, Chris. With the output level set at 94dBSPL, and the input sensitivity at the minimum -15dB, the actual output level will be 79dB SPL at 1metre with a 0dBu input level.... Which is not loud, and is one of the recommended acoustic reference levels for small rooms.

These Neumann monitors reveal their Germanic design in their precise level calibration options, based on receiving standard reference input levels. And that being the case, have to assume that either you are working with them extremely close to your listening position, you like monitoring at unusually low levels, or your source signal is extremely hot -- and I suspect the last is the most likely.

If you can't adjust the gain structure of the monitoring chain easily, some 10dB inline pads migh make life easier!

H

[ConcertinaChap]

Fair comment. I've got the speakers fairly but not abnormally (I would have said) close and I've calibrated them for my preferred level of 70dB using the volume control of my Apollo 8. As I've said, with the controls on the monitors at minimum it isn't a problem. What would make the issue irrelevant would be if the speaker trim controls on my MC2.1 were actually accessible, but that's also a discussion we've had before :)

Cheers,

Chris

Edited to add PS, it's all trivial stuff really, I don't want to take away from some excellent monitors and an excellent monitor controller.

[Hugh Robjohns]

As I've said, with the controls on the monitors at minimum it isn't a problem.

Fair enough. One of the nice Neumann chaps contacted me about this thread and pointed out that the Genelec 8030's front panel volume control goes from about -60dB up to 0 dB of attenuation. In contrast the KH 120 has back panel controls that adjust the sensitivity of the loudspeaker to the input signal. It's a different technical approach. In the view of Neumann (and I agree with them!), volume control should be done at the source. The problem with the 8030 approach is that setting the two loudspeakers in a pair to precisely matched levels is very hard unless you leave the pots on max.

What would make the issue irrelevant would be if the speaker trim controls on my MC2.1 were actually accessible, but that's also a discussion we've had before :)

:) Yes... Of course, once set up correctly they no longer need to be accessible -- it's a set once and forget kind of deal -- but I do appreciate how hard they can be to get at when configuring the system initially! I just turned it over and laid it on its lid while setting things up...

Edited to add PS, it's all trivial stuff really, I don't want to take away from some excellent monitors and an excellent monitor controller.

Quite right. There is no such thing as perfection! (although I'm very hard pressed to find fault at all with my Crookwood monitor controller or KH310s... :) )

H

[John Willett]

I used the forerunner K+H O110 for many years (before I upgraded to the Geithain RL906) and compared the O110 to the KH120A when they first came out.

The differences were so minimal that they were almost the same.

The KH120A would still be my No.1 choice for a pair of monitors at the £1k mark.

Numann now do the KH805 sub if you need to go lower than the 53Hz of the 120 - but the 120 are clean and accurate down to the point where they run out of steam.

[forumuser793939]

The genelecs and the Neu's are both very good.

Though I preferred the ADAM A7X in my tests so bought them. They translate very well. They also look a hell of a lot better too. :bouncy:

[Hugh Robjohns]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder! :wave: :lol:

H

[ConcertinaChap]

Nah, much too fussy ... ;)

[Hugh Robjohns]

:-) yep... I think I agree! I prefer the more rounded design of the KH120 to the angular ADAMs... But as I said, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.