Neumann KH 120 vs Dynaudio BM6A

**bigtree** · 11-16-2011, 09:24 AM

This has just been posted by Thor:
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FWIW, I auditioned both these just last week, at B&H (horrible untreated room) and Dale Pro Audio (designed and treated listening room). My impression of both was the same in both places. The Dynaudio's have some sort of weird bass boost, somewhat scooped mids and extremely harsh treble, while the Neumanns (neé Klein & Hummel) sounded muffled and lifeless (set flat, we did try different setting to see if that would help the balance). Oh, they (Neumanns) also had some peak resonance that had the bass/kick on a few tracks jumping way out in front of everything. Truly unsettling...

I was hoping to audition the Focal Solo 6 Be as well as the ATC SCM20SL and brand new Pelonis 4288, but none of these were available, unfortunately. The Pelonis 42's sounded amazing, considering it's basically a tweeter in a box (i.e. within the limited range of frequencies it covered, it did so really well), but with no sub it was impossible to say how the system would sound in real world use. A pair of ADAM's was the closest to neutral I was able to find (and as much as I liked ADAMs when they first arrived on the scene, I like a lot of other monitors better).

This was with several CD sources of good recordings, not some harsh low bitrate MP3s :-)

Just my 2 cents, YMMV, etc.

Cheers,
Thor

**bigtree** · 11-16-2011, 09:26 AM

Its always good to hear other opinions. I disagree on your findings though but thanks just the same.

Monitors this great couldn't be that bad, no way

I'm thinking the songs you listened to were revealing how poor they were actually mixed and how good those babies are! What did you listen too?
Hearing monitors in your studio at the right sitting position is one thing I recommend because you are using them in there. You choose monitors for your room not how they sound is a retail shop.
Q: Were all the monitors you listened to, near fields? Did the pro audio room have other sizes in their room or were all the monitors basically near fields like these?

The KH120 sound amazing to me and are not coloured. I'm thinking they are revealing a lifeless production.

I think your heard the facts but are interpreting this as a negative when in fact, you actually heard what a bad mix sounds like in a bad room, serious!

I'll have to research those Pelonis 42.

Cheers!

**bigtree** · 11-16-2011, 09:26 AM

NOTE: We had a database error during this thread and lost some posts so I'm reposting what we could from a backup cache. This has just been posted by thor:

I didn't mean to be extreme. All of the monitors were fine. None were great. Some sounded flawed (in different degrees - from slightly to very).

The differences were obvious, but everybody's ears are different. Our assistant engineer was with me, and heard things pretty much the same as I did. We listened to a variety of excellent sounding commercially released CDs as well as some stuff we've done and know very well. I.e. stuff with detail, dynamics, wide frequency range and excellent players. Not your typical hypercompressed pop/rock stuff (although we listened to that, too!)

While I took what I heard at B&H with a hugh handful of salt, the listening room at Dale is basically a treated control room. It sounds fine. Unfortunately, since I don't have my studio in NYC, I'm not able to audition speakers in my own room. The shipping alone to bring over a few for audition would be as much as one of these pairs...

We listened to near fields since we're in the market for nearfields. Studio A has full range panels and sub, 700W monoblocks all in a purpose built room. I'm not expecting something of that caliber in the B room, but would like something fairly neutral and well balanced, and that doesn't subtract or add anything. I had high hopes for several monitors we tried, based on what I'd read, and was ultimately disappointed. Seeing the review here was timely, as the memory was fresh (I was there last week).

Again, tastes, especially as far as monitors go, is extremely subjective. I'm only saying what I heard. YMMV, and one should always check out for themselves before buying - ideally in your own room, as you point out.

Definitely do check out the 42s. You might find them a bit forward and bright, which I think is mostly a result of no bass or low-mids being reproduced (we were able to pick out bass lines on a few recordings, on others the entire bottom end was missing, depending on the mix). Unfortunately the sub wasn't available when we were there to listen, but it should be interesting to hear it and how it integrates with the speakers.

Best regards,
Thor

**bigtree** · 01-29-2012, 04:07 PM

Any of you guys have a chance to listen to these? Despite Thor's much appreciated review, I still love them after months. very detailed mids IMO. I'm adding some subs in the next week which should really finish these off.
Using the Dangerous Music, Monitor ST lets me use one sub for 3 sets of speakers, now does that ROCK! I'm choosing Dynaudio BM9.

**thatjeffguy** · 01-29-2012, 04:42 PM

Hi Bigtree...

I just got my KH 120's last week to replace my Mackie HR824's. BIG improvement in several areas. By comparison, the Mackies, as we know, have an exaggerated low end. The KH 120's have a much tighter, better defined low end. The Mackie low end is mushy by comparison.

The best way to describe the significant characteristic of the KH 120's is to say they are DETAILED and 3-DIMENSIONAL compared to the Mackies. Everything has more depth and clarity. The low end is balanced not exaggerated.

They have great dynamics, translating to punch and thump that the Mackies lacked. All in all this is a substantial improvement over an acknowledged winning set of monitors (the Mackies).

I don't think I've been happier with a purchase decision (well, maybe until my LA2A arrives!). I can now install the Mackies for playback in my live room. They were a little large for my control room anyway, which is only about 9' w X 10' d & properly treated. My listening position is only 3.5 ft. from each speaker, so these Neumanns are better suited to my use.

I can't imagine what Thor was experiencing hearing these as "flat". Perhaps someone had hit the 'mono' button on the desk by accident? Anyway, very happy with the KH 120s here!

Jeff

**bigtree** · 01-29-2012, 04:50 PM

right on!

oo la la, and I can't WAIT for your comments when you plug that LA-2A in... OMG! It will change a man forever. I do not need a woman anymore lol. Well, in the control room anyway

**bigtree** · 02-10-2012, 10:23 PM

I've ordered the Dynaudio BM9s for a sub. Should be here any day now. I'll let you know how they work.

**bigtree** · 02-15-2012, 08:39 PM

BM9 arrived and so far I love it. Its a beautiful match for the KH120's and the Dynaudio BM6A's.

I bought the Dangerous Monitor ST last year for various reasons. Namely, its incredible sounding and packed full of every feature you need.
One excellent feature worth mentioning here: The Monitor ST has the ability to use one SUB for 3 sets of monitors and does it ever work great! I can switch between 3 nearfields and one sub with perfect phase and matching levels. Everything is programmable with this. I highly recommend this too.

Cheers!