Welcome to Monitor Monday.

Today we’re diving deep into the world of subwoofers.

Whether you’re mixing in a home studio or working in a professional environment, adding a subwoofer can dramatically upgrade your monitoring. Let’s take a closer look at how that works.

What does a subwoofer actually do?

A subwoofer extends the bass response of your system. It allows you to hear and feel low-end frequencies more accurately. At the same time, it takes load off your studio monitors. This gives you more headroom and reduces distortion.

Another advantage is flexibility. You can place the subwoofer where bass reproduction works best, while keeping your studio monitors in the most practical listening position.

In addition, a subwoofer is essential for the LF channel in surround and immersive systems. This is the “.1” in setups like 5.1 or 7.1.4.

LF channel explained

The LF channel is not just extra bass. It is a dedicated low-frequency effects channel used for elements like rumbles or explosions in film sound.

With intelligent bass management, you can use a single subwoofer both for extending the low end of your monitors and for LF playback.

Common concerns and how to solve them

Some users are hesitant about subwoofers. There are indeed a few aspects to consider.

One potential issue is phase alignment. If the subwoofer and monitors are not perfectly in sync, the sound can become muddy.

Another point is level alignment. If the subwoofer is too loud or too quiet, it feels disconnected from the rest of the system.

With the right tools, however, these challenges are easy to solve.

Neumann DSP subwoofers

This is where Neumann’s DSP-controlled subwoofers come in.

They offer automatic room correction and system alignment. They also work seamlessly with both analog and DSP-controlled KH line monitors, bringing Neumann precision to your entire setup.

MA 1 automatic monitor alignment

The best way to set up Neumann subwoofers is in combination with MA 1 Automatic Monitor Alignment.

This system consists of a calibrated measurement microphone and software with intelligent algorithms. It guides you through the entire setup process and aligns your system automatically.

MA 1 provides precise room correction and phase linearization. It adapts your monitors perfectly to your room.

At the same time, it ensures accurate phase and level alignment across all speakers. This is crucial for precise stereo imaging and reliable mixing decisions.

With Neumann bass management, your subwoofer and monitors work together seamlessly to deliver a consistent full-range sound.

Subwoofer models for every setup

Neumann offers a range of subwoofers for different room sizes. They reach down to 16 Hz, so you don’t just hear the bass, you feel it.

KH 750 DSP
Ideal for small rooms and home studios. Recommended for KH 80 and KH 120 II. It is also a significant upgrade for older analog KH 120 models, thanks to its powerful DSP for full system room correction.

KH 805 (Gen 2)
Perfect for medium-sized rooms and monitors like the KH 150 or KH 310. It delivers roughly twice the output of the KH 750.

KH 810 (Gen 2)
Offers similar performance to the KH 805, but adds multichannel support for immersive setups up to 7.1.4. Ideal for Dolby Atmos workflows.

KH 870 (Gen 2)
Designed for large rooms and high-output systems like the KH 420. With dual 10-inch drivers, it delivers up to twice the output of the KH 810. It also supports advanced bass management and can handle immersive setups with up to 11 additional speakers.

Connectivity and integration

All Neumann subwoofers offer both analog and digital outputs for flexible integration.

Many models are also available with AES67 connectivity. This allows you to connect your entire system to an interface like the MT 48 using a single network cable.

Conclusion

Whether you are mixing music, film scores or immersive audio, a Neumann subwoofer adds clarity, power and precision to your low end.

Thanks for watching. See you next time.

Monitor Monday: KH 80 DSP, KH 120 II & KH 150

Hi and welcome to Monitor Monday.

Today we’re taking a closer look at three Neumann studio monitors: the KH 80 DSP, the KH 120 II and the KH 150.

Whether you’re producing music, editing podcasts or mixing for video, these monitors let you hear every nuance of your tracks. You work more efficiently. And even after long sessions, you can make reliable decisions, finish mixes faster and create productions that translate well across different playback systems.

Neumann’s monitoring philosophy

Neumann’s philosophy is simple. Every monitor should deliver a perfectly balanced sound across the entire frequency spectrum.

But even the best loudspeaker only sounds as good as the room allows. That’s why all models offer options for manual fine-tuning and built-in room correction.

The models at a glance

Let’s take a closer look at the three monitors.

KH 80 DSP
Ideal for very compact setups and short listening distances. It’s portable, so you can take reference-grade sound with you wherever you go.

KH 120 II
A strong all-rounder for small to medium-sized rooms. It offers deeper bass down to 44 Hz and higher SPL. The ideal listening distance is between one and two meters.

KH 150
Designed for larger setups or genres that require extended low end and higher playback levels. It reaches down to 39 Hz and works well at listening distances of up to six meters.

What sets them apart

The main differences between these models are maximum SPL and bass extension.

Since all KH line speakers use the same tweeter, they are tonally very consistent. This makes it easy to combine different models in immersive or surround setups.

Flexible mounting options provide additional versatility.

Room adaptation and MA 1

On the back of each monitor, you’ll find acoustic controls for fine-tuning:

• Bass, low-mid and treble adjustments on the KH 120 II and KH 150
• A desktop filter on the KH 80 DSP

The most effective way to adapt your monitors to your room is Neumann’s MA 1 Automatic Monitor Alignment.

MA 1 uses a calibrated measurement microphone and intelligent software to align your speakers to your specific room and listening position. It ensures a linear phase response, resulting in clear detail, precise stereo imaging and overall transparency.

Even in acoustically treated rooms, the improvement is noticeable.

The processing power for MA 1 is built directly into the speakers. So you don’t need software running in the background. After calibration, it’s simply set and forget.

Extending the low end

Need more bass?

You can of course add a Neumann subwoofer. Another option is to place your monitors closer to the front wall. In combination with MA 1, this can extend the low-frequency response and make better use of your room acoustics.

Connectivity

For flexible connectivity:

• KH 120 II and KH 150 offer analog and S/PDIF inputs
• AES67 versions are available with redundant Audio over IP connectivity
• Compatible with standards like Ravenna and Dante

Conclusion

Whether you’re working in a compact setup or a full studio environment, the Neumann KH line delivers precision, clarity and consistency across all models.

And by the way, all monitors are available in dark grey and white.

If you found this helpful, subscribe for more audio insights. And check out the links in the description for more on Neumann subwoofers and room calibration.

Monitor Monday: KH 310

Three-way precision for professional monitoring

Hi and welcome to Monitor Monday.

Today we’re taking a closer look at the Neumann KH 310. A legendary reference monitor built for precision, power and clarity.

Designed for accuracy

The KH 310 features a three-way, tri-amplified design. This ensures fast and accurate transient response. The bass is tight, controlled and extends down to 34 Hz.

At the heart of the system is a dedicated midrange section. It uses an ultra-sensitive 3-inch dome driver. This delivers exceptional resolution and precision in the critical midrange, with extremely low distortion.

Detail across the spectrum

The 8-inch woofer provides solid and punchy low frequencies.

At the same time, the midrange dome adds depth and detail to voices and instruments. The result is a highly resolved and natural sound image.

Neumann’s carefully engineered waveguide around the 1-inch alloy tweeter creates a wide and accurate sweet spot. It also helps to reduce reflections from nearby surfaces such as a desk or ceiling.

Built for real-world use

The KH 310 is designed for horizontal placement. This ensures the waveguide performs as intended and delivers consistent imaging.

Inside, you’ll find Class AB amplifiers. Each driver is protected by its own independent limiter. When a limiter engages, the Neumann logo lights up red. A small detail that gives clear feedback during demanding sessions.

For room adaptation, the monitor includes acoustic control switches for bass, low-mid and treble. In addition, input and output level controls help you fine-tune the system to your environment.

Expanding your system

If you pair the KH 310 with a Neumann DSP subwoofer such as the KH 750 or KH 805 (Gen 2), you unlock the full potential of your setup.

Using MA 1 Automatic Monitor Alignment, your entire system can be calibrated precisely to your room and listening position.

The subwoofer extends the low end down to 16 Hz. It also adds additional SPL headroom, giving you more flexibility in demanding productions.

Conclusion

Whether you are recording, mixing or mastering, the KH 310 delivers the natural, high-resolution reference sound Neumann is known for.

Monitor Monday: KH 420 & KH 870 II

Full-Range Monitoring with Power, Precision and Control

Hi and welcome to Monitor Monday.

Today, we’re going big. And we’re getting loud.

The Neumann KH 420, together with the KH 870 II, forms a powerful monitoring system. It delivers precision, depth and full control across the entire frequency range.

Full-range sound with system alignment

Thanks to the DSP capabilities of the KH 870 II subwoofer, you can align your entire system using Neumann’s MA 1 Automatic Monitor Alignment.

This results in a flat frequency response down to 16 Hz, with phase linearity precisely matched to your room. The outcome is a consistent and reliable monitoring environment.

KH 420 in detail

The KH 420 is a three-way, tri-amplified studio monitor designed for midfield and main monitoring. It performs best at listening distances between 1.5 and 3 meters.

Its low-frequency driver delivers tight and punchy bass down to 25 Hz.
The large 3-inch midrange dome ensures high resolution and accuracy in the critical midrange.
The 1-inch alloy tweeter adds clarity and fine detail.

The carefully designed waveguides provide a wide and even horizontal dispersion. This gives you flexibility in your listening position. At the same time, the narrower vertical dispersion helps reduce reflections from desks, consoles or ceilings.

A practical feature is the adjustable driver orientation. By rotating the midrange and tweeter section, the KH 420 can be used both horizontally and vertically.

Adapting to your room

On the back, the KH 420 offers acoustic controls for bass, midrange and treble. It also includes a parametric equalizer to address room modes.

This allows precise adaptation to different acoustic environments.

KH 870 II: extending the low end

When paired with the KH 870 II, low-frequency content is handled by the subwoofer. This reduces the load on the main monitors.

The result is higher headroom and lower distortion.

The KH 870 II extends the system response down to 16 Hz. It does not just reproduce bass. It makes it tangible.

Two long-throw 10-inch woofers operate in a rigid bass reflex enclosure with protective metal grilles. This ensures controlled and low-distortion performance even at high SPL levels.

Designed for stereo and immersive workflows

The KH 870 II is DSP-controlled and supports automatic calibration with MA 1.

It also features bass management for up to 11 speakers. This makes it suitable for immersive setups up to 7.1.4.

Conclusion

Together, the KH 420 and KH 870 II deliver a powerful, high-resolution monitoring experience.

From the deepest bass to the finest d