SOUND ON SOUND

[Mike Shand]

Is this really true? My observation/tests showed no influcence of the standby level and the frequency of sporadic wakeups.

I certainly found the standby level had no apparent influence on frequency of wake ups.

[air2k]

Appropos of nothing one of mine just switched itself off mid-playback this arvo. And didn't come back on automatically, had to go round the back and switch off and on.

Although Auto-Standby is enabled? That's strange.

However, I turn Auto-Standby off, then I have the same behavior - but then the KH80 are always-on which I'd like to avoid (but didn't reboot/poweroff so far).

[blinddrew]

Appropos of nothing one of mine just switched itself off mid-playback this arvo. And didn't come back on automatically, had to go round the back and switch off and on.

Although Auto-Standby is enabled? That's strange.

Yes, first time it's failed to re-awaken, only the second time it's gone to sleep mid play.
If it becomes more regular i'll just switch off the auto-standby.

[blinddrew]

Just a quick update to say that they've started turning off whilst playing more frequently so auto-standby has gone off.

[Hugh Robjohns]

I have to say I am so disappointed with the whole KH80 auto-power saga. It's the kind of thing that is almost impossible to detect in a typical review period, and I'm glad users are reporting the issues here (and elsewhere) -- but they should all really be bombarding Neumann with complaints about this as it's clearly not a design that's fit for purpose. A proper solution is required.

Thankfully, it doesn't affect the speaker's core usability and it remains, of course, a superb sounding monitor speaker, but it does cast a nasty shadow both on the speaker and the manufacturer IMHO.

[blinddrew]

Yes, for me it's not really a black mark, more of a smudge. I still have a really nice sounding set of monitors, I just have the first-world-problem of having to manually turn them off. ;)

[Hugh Robjohns]

:D Quite.

Neumann presumably added the auto-power mode to comply with the EU green energy requirements, but the poor circuitry implementation means the function won't actually be used and it has downgraded the appeal of the speaker for many to boot! Double whammy... :think:

[adambier]

:D Quite.

Neumann presumably added the auto-power mode to comply with the EU green energy requirements, but the poor circuitry implementation means the function won't actually be used and it has downgraded the appeal of the speaker for many to boot! Double whammy... :think:

I think that conclusion is inescapable, unfortunately. I ultimately gave up trying to get standby to work on the KH 80s and instead bought one of these (which is a U.S. version but I'm sure there are similar things in the UK and EU):

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005R2UFUG/

My KH 750 sub is connected to the control socket and the KH 80s are set to always-on and connected to the relay sockets.

The KH 750 both has marginally better signal-detection circuitry (probably because there's a third ground) and I'm currently connecting to it via an SPDIF connection, which is even more binary in terms of on or off state.

Note that in order for that approach to work, your interface or other digital source has to either connect via coax or your TOSLINK-to-coax converter has to be smart enough to disconnect voltage from the coax output when no valid audio signal is present on the optical input; many cheap boxes on Amazon will continue to pass ones and zeros over the copper wire anytime the photoelectric sensor is receiving light of any kind.

This item works about 80% of the time (with false wakes maybe 2-3 times a day):

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B084T4QDFP/

I've also ordered one of these, which is supposed to be much smarter:

https://www.tindie.com/products/beni_sk ... io-switch/

[Kayvon]

I have to say I am so disappointed with the whole KH80 auto-power saga. It's the kind of thing that is almost impossible to detect in a typical review period, and I'm glad users are reporting the issues here (and elsewhere) -- but they should all really be bombarding Neumann with complaints about this as it's clearly not a design that's fit for purpose. A proper solution is required.

Thankfully, it doesn't affect the speaker's core usability and it remains, of course, a superb sounding monitor speaker, but it does cast a nasty shadow both on the speaker and the manufacturer IMHO.

It would be nice to have some official word at least.

I guess I always coped before (energy bill wise and just the thought that something was sitting there imbibing the Earth's resources) but having had and being reassured by the feature it's bothersome to have to bypass it.

Oh well, i guess in the grand scheme of things it's not even a drop in the ocean in comparison to the energy and resources we will devour over the course of our lifetimes.

It's like a small pout in the right direction and generations to come will collectively and helplessly add to the waste to an obscenely damaging degree before we can learn be respectful and mindful enough to sustain ourselves on this planet without mashing it up.

Makes you wonder about that next vintage remake at the low low.

[melodnb]

I was driven here by word of mouth that someone had found a way to bypass the stupid DSP control requirements of an ipad or the ma-1 mic. Mr. air2k I would pay you to simply develop an app that lets me disable the LED logo. These things are blinding.

[MarkBerlin]

Hi, I asked Google why my new Neumann KH80 DSP speaker randomly switches off (and on) while the music is playing and Google led me to this thread.

Random switching off (and on again) happens only on the one of the two speakers, at listening levels (not too hot, but definitely not so quiet that auto stand-by function should kick-in).

So, I guess there must be something to it. It's sounds like the very same issue that OP and some others have described.

My KH80 DSP speakers are made in Czech Republic, btw (not Ireland). Maybe the change in the production site also brought some QC issues?

How do you guys go about contacting Neumann/Sennheiser and filing a complaint?

@Neumann/Sennheiser - are you listening? Help!

Best, Mark

[Hugh Robjohns]

How do you guys go about contacting Neumann/Sennheiser and filing a complaint?

Start by contacting your local distributor:

https://en-de.neumann.com/distributors

[Bob Bickerton]

Without reading the entirety of the thread.... if the problem is the auto standby function just switch it off! I'm not inclined to use it anyway. Either I'm using the speakers or I'm not, so they're either switched on or they're not - there's no need for such trickery - especially if it's malfunctioning.

Bob

[Hugh Robjohns]

That is, of course, the obvious pragmatic solution, Bob. But for some purchasers the auto power feature was a key element of their buying decision, and I think a manufacturer should be held to account when so many are apparently having the same problem.

[Bob Bickerton]

Fair enough.

Bob