Neumann KH 420 G Users Manual

PRODUCT SELECTION GUIDE STUDIO PRODUCTS

georg neumann gmbh · leipziger str. 112 · 10117 berlin · germany
tel [phone] · fax -50 · [e-mail] · www.neumann.com

Introduction

The choice of a loudspeaker or subwoofer from the Studio Systems range depends on a number of factors:

 System configuration
 Listening distance / room volume
 Required low frequency cut-off / replay level
 Available space
 Budget

Furthermore, the system should be balanced, i.e. one component in the system is not weaker than the rest of the system. For example, a system with under-specified
subwoofer(s) will have limited low-frequency headroom. Or a system with small rear loudspeakers will struggle with high level sound panned to the rear channels.

It is possible to deliberately under-specify the entire system whilst keeping it balanced: the cost of this is limited maximum SPL and/or LF cut-off, but the system will
be smaller and cheaper. Alternatively, one can deliberately over-specify the entire system whilst keeping it balanced: the advantage is that the system’s distortion will
be lower for a given replay level, however the cost is higher and more space is required.

One exception to this is over-specified subwoofer(s), which will have reduced low-frequency distortion resulting in a cleaner sounding bass.

Bass Management

Bass management redirects the LF energy of the main channels and some, or all, of the LFE channel energy to the subwoofer(s) in the reproduction system.
The advantages of bass management are:

 Subwoofer extends the LF cut-off of the system downwards
 Higher maximum system SPL
 Lower distortion
 Same phase, level, and frequency response of low frequency energy of the main and LFE channels
 Same coupling of the low frequency energy to the room on all main channels
 More flexibility in coupling the low frequency energy to the room as the subwoofer can be moved.

A block diagram of the 7.1 Channel High Definition Bass Manager™, as fitted to the KH 810 and KH 870 subwoofers, is shown on the next page.

Product Selection Guide

1

7.1 High Definition Bass Manager™

Product Selection Guide

2

Listening Distance

To choose the appropriate front loudspeakers for your system, first use the listening distance to the front loudspeakers to find a model in the table below that fits
within the recommended listening distance range column. Do not select a model where the listening distance is less than the minimum or greater than the maximum
values shown. In all cases, the front loudspeakers (including the center) should be the same as each other.

Listening Distances
Product Most Common Application Minimum Recommended Maximum
KH 420 Midfield Monitoring 1.25 m (4’) 1.5 - 3.0 m (5’ - 9’) 11 m (33’)

KH 310 Nearfield Monitoring 0.75 m (2.5’) 1.0 - 2.5 m (3’ - 8’) 6 m (18’)
KH 120 Nearfield Monitoring 0.75 m (2.5’) 1.0 - 2.0 m (3’ - 6’) 4 m (12’)

In a studio application, the loudspeakers should be placed according to the ITU-R BS.775-1 recommendations so there is consistency of reproduction when compared
to other listening environments. For movie applications, ANSI/SMPTE 202M is the preferred standard for system setup. For home use, as materials are mixed in
ITU style rooms, one should get as close as possible to this configuration to maximize replay authenticity.

Loudspeaker Name ITU-R BS.775-1 Angel ANSI/SMPTE 202M Angel
Left -30° -22.5°

Center 0° 0°
Right 30° 22.5°
Left Surround -110°±10° An array to the left
Right Surround 110°±10° An array to the right

For two-channel stereo, ±30° should be used. There are currently no internationally agreed standards for 6.1 or 7.1 formats. However common practice is to use one or
two loudspeakers in the centre back location of a 6.1 system. In a 7.1 system common practice is to place side loudspeakers at ±90° and to push the surround
loudspeakers back to ±150°.

The loudspeaker should be placed on a circle to ensure equal time of arrival of the audio from all loudspeakers. Failing this, appropriate electronic time delays should
be added between the subwoofer and each loudspeaker to compensate for time of flight differences.

Product Selection Guide

3

Balancing the System

Next, the other loudspeakers in the system (if required) should be chosen to match the main loudspeakers chosen.

Rear loudspeakers are typically the same model as the front loudspeakers, although it is possible to reduce the specification if space or budget is limited.

The subwoofer(s) should have sufficient output to keep up with the main loudspeakers, but can be over-specified for improved low-frequency system performance.
Over-specifying the subwoofer section of system leads to lower LF distortion (cleaner audio), as each subwoofer does not have to work as hard.

Multiple smaller subwoofers (2 - 4 depending on the width of the room) distributed along the front wall create a plane wave that propagates from the front to the back
of the room. This has the effect of reducing the interaction of the plane wave with the side wall. The consequence is less excitation of the side-to-side room modes and
a better time-domain response. From a sound quality point of view, the low frequency reproduction will be tighter and cleaner. This is called a Plane Wave Bass
Array™ (PWBA™).

The table on the next page ensures a well balanced system.

Table Notes:
 The “Recommended” column specifies the minimum recommended subwoofer solution to balance the entire system. Selecting a smaller subwoofer will limit the

maximum output of the system.

 The “High Performance” column gives +6 dB of headroom over the recommended minimum subwoofer solution. The lower required replay level from the

subwoofer(s) results in a substantially reduced low-frequency distortion. This specification is recommended for reproducing bass-heavy material in large and well­damped rooms.

 The “Plane Wave Bass Array™” column specifies two to four subwoofers (three to four for larger systems) that should be positioned along the front wall to

generate a plane wave down the room. This reduces the side wall interaction thereby improving the side-to-side bass reproduction. The number of subwoofers
arranged in a bass array depends on the width of the room: wider rooms, more subwoofers.

 If the system will eventually be upgraded for a larger channel count, select the loudspeakers and subwoofer(s) from the subwoofer(s) from that section.

 The same subwoofer specification is appropriate for 5.1 to 7.1 multichannel systems, even if the main channels are run full range, i.e. not bass managed.

 If space is insufficient for large cabinets, two KH 810 subwoofers may be substituted in place of one KH 870.

Product Selection Guide

4

Fronts Rears Subwoofer - 3 dB LF Cut-off (Max SPL at 3% THD)

2- Channel Stereo
(2.0)

Recom-

mended

KH 420 - - KH 870 2 x KH 870 3-4 x KH 810 30 Hz (120.0 dB) 18 Hz (120.0 dB)

KH 310 - - KH 810 KH 870 2-4 x KH 810 35 Hz (112.8 dB) 18 Hz (112.8 dB)

KH 120 - - KH 810 KH 810 2-4 x KH 810 52 Hz (111.1 dB) 18 Hz (111.1 dB)

Smaller Recom-

mended

High

Performance

Plane Wave

Bass Array™

Without Sub With Sub

Matrix Multichannel
Dolby Surround
(3/1.0)

Discrete Multichannel

5.1 (3/2.1)

6.1 (3/3.1)

KH 420 KH 420

KH 310 KH 310 KH 120 KH 810 KH 870 2-4 x KH 810 35 Hz (112.8 dB) 18 Hz (112.8 dB)

KH 120 KH 120 KH 120 KH 810 KH 810 2-4 x KH 810 52 Hz (111.1 dB) 18 Hz (111.1 dB)

KH 420 KH 420

KH 310 KH 310 KH 120 KH 870 2 x KH 870 2-4 x KH 810 35 Hz (112.8 dB) 18 Hz (112.8 dB)

KH 310,

KH 120

KH 310,

KH 120

KH 870 2 x KH 870 3-4 x KH 810 30 Hz (120.0 dB) 18 Hz (120.0 dB)

2 x KH 870 3 x KH 870 3-4 x KH 810 30 Hz (120.0 dB) 18 Hz (120.0 dB)

7.1 (3/4.1)

KH 120 KH 120 KH 120 KH 810 KH 870 2-4 x KH 810 52 Hz (111.1 dB) 18 Hz (111.1 dB)

Larger Systems Please contact your local distributor or Neumann for guidance as we have much experience with custom designed solutions for

special applications

.

Product Selection Guide

5

Checking the System Solution

Finally, using the table, check that the chosen system fulfills the requirements for LF cut-off and maximum SPL. If the chosen system does not satisfy the specification,
a larger system will be required.

Also check interconnectivity:

 If you have analog outputs, choose “A” versions of the products (e.g. KH 120 A and KH 310 A). If you have digital outputs, choose “D” versions of the products

(e.g. KH 120 D and KH 310 D).

 The KH 420 is fitted with an analog input as standard.
 The KH 810 and KH 870 subwoofers have analog inputs and outputs only.

Systems for Movie Mixing

The above table assumes that all the channels in the system are bass managed – typical in the broadcast and music industries. In the movie industry, the main
channels are produced entirely by the main loudspeakers, and only the LFE channel is reproduced by the subwoofer(s). In addition, each rear channel is often
reproduced using multiple loudspeakers over, typically, half the listening distance. Each channel should reproduce long-term pink noise at a level of 85 dB(C) at the
listening position. Use the table below for this type of system:

Number of surround loudspeakers and type per channel

Front Loudspeakers Subwoofer (s) for LFE only 1 2 3 4

KH 420 KH 870 KH 420 KH 310 KH 120 KH 120
KH 310 KH 810 KH 120 KH 120 KH 120 KH 120
KH 120 KH 810 KH 120 KH 120 KH 120 KH 120

Product Selection Guide

6

Mounting Hardware Selection Matrix

n

Our mounting hardware range philosophy is to supply the parts required to mount our loudspeakers onto commonly available third-party mounting products. For each
product is listed in the table below the hardware that may be used to mount the loudspeaker in the specified way. Note that the hardware combinations are listed in
the order in which they are attached to the product: starting with the cabinet and ending with the stand or surface to which it will be mounted.

Location of Loudspeaker KH 420 KH 310 KH 120
Flush Mounted REK 4 and CP

On a Floor Stand
(tripod, TV spigot, or with a 5/8" thread)

On a Stand
(table or mic with a 5/8" thread)
On a Subwoofer
(fitted with a flange)

LH41+LH28
LH41+LH36+LH28
LH41+LH29
LH41+LH36+LH29
LH41+K&M26795
LH41+ LH36+K&M26795

- -

(KH 870)
LH41+LH37
LH41+LH36+LH37
LH41+LH28+pole
LH41+LH36+LH28+pole

n

for electronics

- ­LH25+LH28

LH25+LH29
LH41+LH28
LH41+LH29
LH 41+LH36+LH28
LH 41+LH36+LH29
LH25+LH48+K&M26795
LH41+K&M26795
LH41+LH36+LH48+K&M26795
LH25+LH61+LH48+K&M26795

(KH 870)
LH25+LH37
LH41+LH37
LH41+LH36+LH37
LH25+LH28+pole
LH41+LH28+pole
LH41+LH36+LH28+pole

LH61
LH61+LH28
LH61+LH29
LH31+LH48+K&M26795

LH61

(KH 870)
LH61+LH37
LH61+LH28+pole

Product Selection Guide

7

On a Meter Bridge or Table Top
On a Wall LH42+LH45 LH25

Off a Ceiling LH42+LH43

Off a Lighting or Truss Bar LH42+LH29 LH25+LH29 LH29+LH61
On an Omnimount bracket --LH64
On a VESA mount bracket --LH64

The description “pole” in the table means a customer supplied pole (outside diameter = 35mm, 1.4”) to lift the main loudspeaker above the subwoofer. For stability
reasons, the recommended maximum distance between the subwoofer and the loudspeaker 65 cm (2’).

Recommended König & Meyer (www.k-m.de) Stands and Accessories

Loudspeaker Stands 21435 (max 35 kg) 21436 (max 35 kg) 21450 (max 50 kg) 21455 (max 40 kg) 21460 (max 50 kg) 26720 (max 35 kg)

-

LH42+LH46

No hardware required LH65

LH32
LH25+LH43
LH25+LH47+LH45
Included rear panel brackets
LH25
LH25+LH47+LH43
LH25+LH47+LH46

LH45+LH47+LH61

LH61

LH46+LH47+LH61

LH43+LH47+LH61

26740 (max 35 kg) 26750 (max 35 kg) 21300 (max 50 kg) 21302 (max 30 kg) 26795 (max 35 kg)
Microphone Stands 19900 20000 20120 20130
Table Stands 22110 23200
Wall mounts 24100 (max 50 kg) 24110 (max 50 kg) 24150 (max 50 kg) 24471 (max 15 kg) 24481 (max 25 kg)

Product Selection Guide

8

*

502256

LH 29

503908

LH 46

LH 47

v07 (Sep-2014)

G-Clamp

LH 43

501715

Mounting Hardware Matrix for KH-Line

Wall

Mic

Stand

503908

*

**** Not needed with LH 41

**

Floor

KH 870

*** LH 25 + LH 43 and LH 61 + LH 43 without L H 47 is a lso possibl e

VESA Mount

*

LH 32

501718

503936

LH 61

503909

****

LH 43

502256

Wall

LH 25

501450

OmniMount

*

503935

LH 64

KH 310 KH 120

503938

LH 65

Desktop

LH 43

502256

**

***

LH 47

LH 61

503936

501450

LH 25

503909

501461501716501715 503910

35 mm Pole

*

LH 28LH 48 LH 37LH 29

Floor Stand

*

LH 46

LH 29

G-Clamp

*

Ceiling

501715

KH 420

LH 41

502255

LH 42

LH 45

502294

Wall

502254

LH 36

501460

Product Selection Guide

****

K&M Design

Monitor Stand

*

Lighting Stand

*

* Sourced from 3rd parties ** Must be screwed onto a solid surface

9

LH 25 LH 28 LH 29 LH 32 LH 36

LH 37 LH 41 LH 42 LH 43 LH 45

LH 46 LH 47 LH 48 LH 61 LH 64

LH 65 REK 4 REK 3

Product Selection Guide

10

Version: 10
Date: 2-Sep-2014

Features and specifications are subject to change • Errors excepted, subject to changes