Neumann KH80 different sound from each speaker?

[herecomesthemoon]

So my KH80's came.

They sound great tho one thing I have noticed is there is a difference in sound between speakers. It is a frequency difference.

One seems to have more low end. I thought maybe was my hearing but I swapped both speakers around position-wise and still the same problem.

I only got them so before I decide to send one back I was wondering if anyone has encountered such?

Cheers

[Mike Stranks]

One seems to have more low end. I thought maybe was my hearing but I swapped both speakers around position-wise and still the same problem.

To be clear on this: Do you mean when you swapped them L-R the sound discrepancy changed sides?

[MOF]

Have you checked the settings are identical?

[herecomesthemoon]

Swapped left and right

Also moved the speakers from right position to left and vice versa.

Settings are identical.

[Hugh Robjohns]

Have you also checked the software settings accessible from the app?

There is a factory reset that would be well worth trying:

To reset the KH 80 DSP internal controls to their factory default values:

Switch on the KH 80 DSP.

While the Logo is flashing during the boot up phase, move the SETTINGS switch up and
down repeatedly.

The Logo will then light up with a rosé flutter flash before reverting to white.

So look out for a 'rosé flutter flash' !

[Mike Shand]

Yes, make sure the switch settings are the same. And make sure they are both set to local control, not network control. I know mike senior reported that his review samples had some strange settings in the DSP. Very unlikely, but local will eliminate it.

Then try swapping the signal cables to make sure you are feeding them with the same signal.

Mike

[herecomesthemoon]

I don't have an IPAD so I can't use that app

Another I noticed were the Neumann light that lights up white.

One is very bright and the other is a lulled white

[Hugh Robjohns]

One is very bright and the other is a lulled white

The brightness is configurable from the app. It would seem that that particular speaker has been setup to something other than the factory default at some point prior to your receiving it.

Try the reset procedure I mentioned previously.

[Music Wolf]

From the manual the logo is 'dimmable via Neumann Control', so it looks as though some of the settings are different.

[Drew Stephenson]

The switches on the back don't have the most positive of actions, when I've made changes I've always moved them all the way to one extreme and then carefully back one notch at a time to the right place.
And as Mike says, make sure the left switch is set to one of the local control options.

[herecomesthemoon]

When the speakers boot up the red light doesn't flash it just is red then turns white

How fast do I have to move the settings switch?

[Hugh Robjohns]

I suspect they made a small change to the firmware after the book was written. I imagine you need to flip the settings switch back and forth while the light is showing red during the boot-up phase. Keep going until it either turns solid white (meaning it's ignoring you!), or does the rose flutter thing and then turns white (meaning it has loaded the default factory settings)!

[herecomesthemoon]

I suspect they made a small change to the firmware after the book was written. I imagine you need to flip the settings switch back and forth while the light is showing red during the boot-up phase. Keep going until it either turns solid white (meaning it's ignoring you!), or does the rose flutter thing and then turns white (meaning it has loaded the default factory settings)!

So I boot it. Flipping the switches. It does nothing and just stays at the dimmed white.

Contacted Neumann, nothing back yet.

These cost me well beyond my budget so I would send it back if this continues which I know might seem lame but for close to 900 quid I think such problems shouldn't be there.

[herecomesthemoon]

How could I test the sound of the speakers correctly?

When swap the speakers I am still getting the sound slightly more to one speaker.

Example being- Kick more to my left ear/left speaker, when I swap left speaker to right side kick is more in my right ear/speaker.

The speaker that appears louder is also the speaker that has the dimmed light.

So it's hard to tell should I send both speakers back or just one? and which one at that

[Drew Stephenson]

Can you confirm the switch settings on the back of the monitors please? (And that they're both the same ).
But at the moment I'd say sadly you are looking at a return, but see what Neumann say first.

[herecomesthemoon]

Can you confirm the switch settings on the back of the monitors please? (And that they're both the same ).
But at the moment I'd say sadly you are looking at a return, but see what Neumann say first.

Yep. Both the same.

[herecomesthemoon]

Can you confirm the switch settings on the back of the monitors please? (And that they're both the same ).
But at the moment I'd say sadly you are looking at a return, but see what Neumann say first.

I meant to say

Settings - Lock control On..both speakers
Acoustical Control- Free Standing-Both Speakers

[Drew Stephenson]

Ok, and the final, getting desperate, thing, I assume when you've swapped the speakers you've swapped which power source they're being supplied by? I.e. you've eliminated any chance of it being a dodgy socket or power cable.

[Hugh Robjohns]

These cost me well beyond my budget so I would send it back if this continues which I know might seem lame but for close to 900 quid I think such problems shouldn't be there.

Of course they shouldn't, and clearly something is very amiss here.

I'd contact your dealer as a first step, explain the situation, and ask for a replacement. These speakers are sold individually as the factory matching is so tight, so I'd probably just return the one with the dimmed badge, but if you're not happy, send them both back. Note the serial numbers so you can check that you receive new ones.

I imagine that particular speaker with the dimmed badge has been used and modified by someone else before it came to you. If you could borrow an iPad to run the app you might be able to see what's mis-set and fix it, but your dealer should have sent you factory-straight speakers.

Not sure why the reset procedure isn't working... I'll see if there's an update to the manual.

[herecomesthemoon]

These cost me well beyond my budget so I would send it back if this continues which I know might seem lame but for close to 900 quid I think such problems shouldn't be there.

Of course they shouldn't, and clearly something is very amiss here.

I'd contact your dealer as a first step, explain the situation, and ask for a replacement. These speakers are sold individually as the factory matching is so tight, so I'd probably just return the one with the dimmed badge, but if you're not happy, send them both back. Note the serial numbers so you can check that you receive new ones.

I imagine that particular speaker with the dimmed badge has been used and modified by someone else before it came to you. If you could borrow an iPad to run the app you might be able to see what's mis-set and fix it, but your dealer should have sent you factory-straight speakers.

Not sure why the reset procedure isn't working... I'll see if there's an update to the manual.

I contacted them today when I first seen the problem and said I would try and solve it first and if not shall return them.

Who would have modified it you think? Brand new from Thomann.

Thank you, that would be great if you could come up with anything

[Hugh Robjohns]

Who would have modified it you think? Brand new from Thomann

Ex-dem? Returned item? Did the packaging look exactly the same on both?

It's possible it's faulty, of course, but Neumann's QC is normally very good and thorough.

Apparently Neumann are on reduced service due to covid, so you will get a response from them, but it may take a little longer than normal. And my contact has suggested it would be best to return both as its hard to know which is right/wrong.

Things like this can really dent your confidence, but I hope that, ignoring the oddity with the different bass response for a moment, the general impression meets with your expectations.

H

[herecomesthemoon]

Who would have modified it you think? Brand new from Thomann

Ex-dem? Returned item? Did the packaging look exactly the same on both?

It's possible it's faulty, of course, but Neumann's QC is very good and thorough.

H

Yes both speakers had the Neumann tape on them. One of the tape was a bit off in that it was peeled up a bit.

A bit slippery if was an ex-demo and sold.

Yeah I was thinking best to return both.

It's bit annoying cos I was hoping nothing would be wrong with them as it's well out of my budget. Annnoying but I guess there is worse things in life.

[ef37a]

Hugh, am I to understand that the KH80 will only talk to an iThing?

Not a PC, not an Android? If so they are getting scratched off my wish list!

Dave.

[herecomesthemoon]

Hugh, am I to understand that the KH80 will only talk to an iThing?

Not a PC, not an Android? If so they are getting scratched off my wish list!

Dave.

Yep, just an ipad. Insane

[herecomesthemoon]

Quick update on the speakers

The one speaker that has dimmed light also won't turn off automatically after the 90's or so.

So I am guessing that is the one I should return as clearly there is something going on with the speaker.