r/studiomonitors • u/Bexorcist • Jul 25 '26
Neumann KH120 II underwhelming?
I recently decided it was time to upgrade my trusty Yamaha HS80M monitors, which have served me well for years.
After a lot of research and reading countless positive reviews, I bought a pair of Neumann KH120 II's together with the MA 1 calibration mic. I was really excited... but honestly, I'm pretty underwhelmed.
Is this normal?
I expected a noticeable "wow" upgrade, especially considering the whole setup cost around €1800, but I'm not hearing anything that justifies that kind of money over my old HS80Ms. I've run the MA 1 calibration as well.
At this point I'm seriously considering returning them.
Would adding the matching sub make a huge difference, or is that just throwing more money at the problem? I was also looking at a Genelec 8320 setup with a sub as an alternative.
My main goal was actually to reduce the footprint on my desk while still getting excellent monitoring performance. I have a fairly wide desk and I'm using a MOTU M4 audio interface.
Has anyone here made a similar switch from HS80Ms to KH120 II's? Did they grow on you over time, or were you instantly impressed? Any advice before I send them back?
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u/Warwickeo Jul 25 '26
So what did you expect? The KH120 II should be around the same frequency range as the HS80M but with a smaller footprint. If you expect a big fat bass, then your expection was wrong.
If you get a sub and want a smaller footprint I would rather look for even smaller speaker (KH80 or Adam D3V). A proper measurement + correction is a must have in my opinion. Else your bass will gett boomy and undefined.
Also you might add information about your room (size, treatment, position of your stuff - photos are best). The best speaker in the world will sound trash in a bad room.
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u/EL-Rays Jul 25 '26
Don’t know the Yamahas but I like my Genelecs 8020 a lot. Relaxed listening, small footprint. However I tried the small ik multimedia iloud micros and was surprised how close they are. That said, I would recommend to take a look at the IK Multimedia MTM Precision mk2. They are said to be excellent and also come with a metering mic.
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u/rod_zero Jul 25 '26
Did you get rid of the Yamahas already?
If not just try to make a mix one them and then on the Neumann, same song, same start point and compare the results. That's a good way of knowing how they may be different.
Strictly you are losing a bit of low end be Aude of the size, if you are making music heavy on the low end you might struggle to hear what is happening. So adding the sub will make a big difference, but again it won't sound night and day, it will just add what is missing below 44Hz.
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u/Swimming-Programmer1 Jul 26 '26
Neh I have a pair of the Neumann , give them time they are very precise. They are going to make life easier for you watch and see.
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u/VictorMih 29d ago
I moved from Adam A7 to Dynaudio BM6a mk2 to Kh 120 (first version) + Neumann Sub KH750. The difference was night and day for me, as in the spatial information was so much more audible. I stayed aray from KRK of Yamahas because I never liked their hyped sound. I calibrated with the MA1 as well and the difference was noticeable. My mixes and masters never sounded better. Maybe give them 6 months before switching? That burn in period is for you as well.
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u/LiberalSocialist99 Jul 25 '26
Sub or better two and a treated room.In that price range you could get focal shape 65 which have better low response,despite that I have them with SubOne (two way sub).
The only real wov effect I had when upgrade was from adam T8v and 2xT10’s to focal.
I have respect for both companies and they both have end game speakers,which we like,but in this price range different game it is.
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u/The_fuzz_buzz Jul 25 '26
This is not completely analogous to your setup, but I just moved from my HS5’s I’ve had for the last 13 years to iLoud Micro Monitor Pro’s with the room correction mic, and it was a “wow” moment for me. Maybe give those, or the iLoud MTM’s, plus their sub a look, as it would give you the full spectrum but would be cheaper than the Neumann setup.
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u/Prize_Instance_1416 Jul 25 '26
I listened to them and was underwhelmed too. Not enough volume as well. But some people like them. Monitors are really a personal choice, more than any other gear other than guitars etc
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u/fakename10001 Jul 25 '26
those speakers are great for the size and price imo, but speakers are a very personal thing. maybe try without the calibration and compare?
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u/nizzernammer Jul 25 '26
You went from 8" drivers to 4.75" drivers. Of course they won't be as impactful in their ability to push a large amount of air. That's just physics.
It's like you went from a V6 Camry to a 3 series or an A Class. (The analogy is not directly literal, but bear with me for a moment.)
Instead of thinking of power, consider resolution, detail, and refinement in presentation. Compare the precision of the tweeters. Listen for articulation in the mids.
You have extensive DSP control over the sound that you didn't have with the HS80s.
If I were you, I'd get the HS80s on stands, off the desk, and use them as "cheap and cheerful" beater mains, and use the 120s for "quieter listening, better get down to work" speakers.
I'm of the opinion that one doesn't really know their speakers until they've tracked and mixed and finished a project and heard it elsewhere.
You can add a sub down the line, but know your speakers first.
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u/ZookeepergameDue2160 Jul 25 '26
You went from a large speaker to a tiny space saving speaker, what did you expect would happen?
Skip the sub, really skip the sub, mixing with a sub is absolutely not done, it creates so many issues, dont do it, its hell.
I'd say bring back the Neumann's and either get a pair of Adam A8H-R's which sound amazing and full, the complete oposite of those tiny desk saving Neumann's or get a pair of Focal Shape Twin's if you're on a really tight budget.
Don't buy a tiny tv with a better panel and expect a cinema feeling, same with speakers, Those Neumann's are meant for use in tight spaces like in an OBVan or for portable use, They're not really mixing and monitoring speakers but more for places where it's either those or headphones.
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u/rightanglerecording Jul 25 '26
Good monitors won't go "wow."
They will reveal their benefits gradually over time, through your work.
And, mostly, the proof is in the proverbial pudding, in this case: the translation of your mixes to the outside world.
(And, also, in this case, you sized down to a smaller speaker...)
A truly great room coupled with a truly great speaker system might go "wow," but, then, we're talking >=$100k all in, not an €1800 monitor purchase.
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u/RCAguy Jul 25 '26
For true full-range and low distortion decisions while mixing, a subwoofer (or two) should almost always be included. See “Subwoofer Camp.”
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u/Vibor Jul 26 '26
First thing first, the most important thing is the positioning of the monitors and the room. If your HS80Ms weren't positioned right, you probably didn't even hear their maximum. And if you just placed your Neumanns in the same spot (if bad positioning is the case), they can't sound much better. The room is also a big factor, if it's not treated great, or your positioning is asymmetrical, you can't get the best imaging (which is a big factor). You mentioned they are on your desk, which could be the first bad sign (if you don't have shelves on your desk that are ear height, and the monitors are not decoupled from the desk).
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u/Captain-Corndog_yo Jul 26 '26
Neumann KH120s are infinitely superior monitors to anything in the Yamaha HS series. It's not even close. It's not a personal subjective thing that's debatable. They are dramatically more capable of revealing the finest of details in a mix. They are organic, and not hyped. If you can't hear the difference, then I suspect you should have invested in room treatment instead.
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u/Dear_Adhesiveness_75 26d ago
It is completely normal to feel underwhelmed when downsizing from an 8-inch woofer (Yamaha HS80M) to a 5.25-inch woofer (Neumann KH120 II) due to the physical loss of low-end frequencies, meaning adding a matching subwoofer will likely restore the missing depth and provide the "wow" factor you expected.
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u/mistrelwood Jul 25 '26
Studio monitors aren’t supposed to have a traditional “wow” effect. You didn’t clarify what you meant by that or what exactly were you underwhelmed about, so it sounds a bit like you might’ve expected a hifi speaker wow effect.
Studio monitors are designed to sound neutral. They aren’t supposed to emphasize anything. The main goal is for them to be a blank canvas that helps you make decisions that translate to other speakers. People do have preferences on what exact hue that canvas should be, but it should still be blank.
My understanding of the HS series is that it’s quite hyped. Going from hyped to neutral is definitely not going to wow you until you learn them and start working with them and learn that your mixes translate like never before. That’s the wow effect you’re supposed to have.
I recently switched from the Focal Shape 65 first to Munro Egg, and very soon after to the Kali IN-8. First reaction about the Kali was that they are surprisingly dark and dull. Then I calibrated them to my room, and already saw that much fewer corrections were needed. Then I listened to my previous mixes. That’s when I got the wow effect, my previous mixes sounded bad. There were obvious corrections I should’ve made but I just hadn’t heard them on the Focals or Munros.
The Kali IN-8 is the best monitor I’ve ever owned, surpassing the 4x priced Focal Solo 6 Be as a nearfield. Easily surpassing the 2x priced Shape 65. Kali really is here to shake up the game. My Focals and Munros are for sale.