K&H vs genelec

[fafalio]

hello friends,
it is time to change my monitor yamaha msp5.

i have the possibilities to buy second hand and save a lot of money (that i don t have) between:

k&h O300
genelec 1032A

for me the genelec is more simple to buy because they are more famous here in italy.

but a recording engineer told me that he want to change K&m 0300 for superior model (410 i think).

is better to wait for k&m when they will be available or to buy quickly genelec?

considering i want a very flat monitor for classical monitoring and mastering.

obviuolsy i will listen the two monitors, but i can't listen side by side...

so i want listen what the expert think.

thanks a lot!

probably there are other great monitor, as ATC, but for me they are too much expensive also on second hand.

Alessandro.

[Teddy Ray]

K+H distribution is em...

[beingmf]

Please listen to them first. I personally don't like the Genelec's, to me they sound hard and a little too boomy, I've never had fun mixing on them.
The K+H's OTOH do sound very nice, a little "distant" maybe if your room is not top notch.
I am a Tannoy guy myself (passives), so maybe take the bigger "Ellipse" series into consideration?
But I would never buy monitors without having listend to them in the best possible setup (i.e. not in a shop ).

Good luck!

[Sheikyearbouti]

I have done recordings and mixes on many different Genelec systems including the 1032 and never liked them and can't say that they sound natural either. For me they are way too coloured and I would think of different options especially for classical.

[doorknocker]

Originally Posted by Teddy Ray

K+H distribution is em...

Don't get me started! I have several pairs of old K+H OY monitors, they are still great sounding though I only use them for live room playback and not for mixing.

Without going into the boring details, I wanted to buy a replacement midrange chassis from K+H and the whole process was sheer heel. GROSSLY overpriced shipping (actually I sent it back as shipping for a $100 item was about $200!!) and more stupidity. They sold me the midrange chassis perfectly knowing that the (irreplacable) bass chassis would almost certainly also go out. And sure ebough it did about 2 days later! In the end and after much hassle I could return the chassis but it took ages for the money to come back and there wasn't wasn't much after expenses anyway.

Also very unfriendly and arrogant 'customer service' on the phone. Of course YMMV but K+H is not a company I would ever want to support again.

To get back OT: I'm not sure about the Genelec 1000-series, never liked those personally. I really like the 8040s I have now though, VERY different sounding with great translation. And I don't find them to be fatiguing at all.

[John Willett]

Originally Posted by doorknocker

Don't get me started! I have several pairs of old K+H OY monitors, they are still great sounding though I only use them for live room playback and not for mixing.

Without going into the boring details, I wanted to buy a replacement midrange chassis from K+H and the whole process was sheer heel. GROSSLY overpriced shipping (actually I sent it back as shipping for a $100 item was about $200!!) and more stupidity. They sold me the midrange chassis perfectly knowing that the (irreplacable) bass chassis would almost certainly also go out. And sure ebough it did about 2 days later! In the end and after much hassle I could return the chassis but it took ages for the money to come back and there wasn't wasn't much after expenses anyway.

Also very unfriendly and arrogant 'customer service' on the phone. Of course YMMV but K+H is not a company I would ever want to support again.

To get back OT: I'm not sure about the Genelec 1000-series, never liked those personally. I really like the 8040s I have now though, VERY different sounding with great translation. And I don't find them to be fatiguing at all.

This does not sound typical to me

Did you deal with the local dealer in Switzerland? If so, the drivers would have been shipped to him on a normal shipment and you would not have had to pay such a large shipping price?

Oh - and how long ago was this? K+H are now handled by Neumann in Berlin (since the beginning of this year).

[doorknocker]

Originally Posted by John Willett

This does not sound typical to me

Did you deal with the local dealer in Switzerland? If so, the drivers would have been shipped to him on a normal shipment and you would not have had to pay such a large shipping price?

Oh - and how long ago was this? K+H are now handled by Neumann in Berlin (since the beginning of this year).

I dealt with K+H directly. The 'midrange chassis issue' was ultimately blamed on a 'inexperienced' office girl there by the authority I eventually spoke to in person.

This was about 4 years ago. I don't want to make a big deal about it but my experience was what it was.

[Don S]

Originally Posted by fafalio

hello friends,
it is time to change my monitor yamaha msp5.

i have the possibilities to buy second hand and save a lot of money (that i don t have) between:

k&h O300
genelec 1032A

for me the genelec is more simple to buy because they are more famous here in italy.

but a recording engineer told me that he want to change K&m 0300 for superior model (410 i think).

is better to wait for k&m when they will be available or to buy quickly genelec?

considering i want a very flat monitor for classical monitoring and mastering.

obviuolsy i will listen the two monitors, but i can't listen side by side...

so i want listen what the expert think.

thanks a lot!

probably there are other great monitor, as ATC, but for me they are too much expensive also on second hand.

Alessandro.

I know some very fine engineers who have done excellent work on 1032. If you're doing mostly classical and prefer Genelec, I would listen the S30 with the ribbon tweeter. However, most do move on. The Lipinsky 707 or the 0300 seems to be easier mix with according to those who have taken that route. On a more general note, you will want a sub with 0300's while one is not needed on the 1032.

[fafalio]

thanks to all.

i've decided for the O300, i will have them next week in my home :-D
but i will put them in a room that is not so good so i ask you the best software or strategy to calibrate the monitors with the room in order to have the right frequency's diagram (flat).
i know O300D (digital version) have a solution for this, but they are too expensive. so i ask a solution for O300 analog input.

thanks a lot,

Alessandro.

[Teddy Ray]

Originally Posted by John Willett

This does not sound typical to me

Did you deal with the local dealer in Switzerland? If so, the drivers would have been shipped to him on a normal shipment and you would not have had to pay such a large shipping price?

Oh - and how long ago was this? K+H are now handled by Neumann in Berlin (since the beginning of this year).

it is all too typical now, John. K+H distribution has gone south...very much so. ESPECIALLY since Neumann took over.

K+H has been removed from my "potential purchase" list. They make good speakers, but the service/distro is pretty bad.

[John Willett]

Originally Posted by Teddy Ray

it is all too typical now, John. K+H distribution has gone south...very much so. ESPECIALLY since Neumann took over.

K+H has been removed from my "potential purchase" list. They make good speakers, but the service/distro is pretty bad.

That's sad, but there should be no change since this year when Neumann took over as there was no change in the people involved.

Sent from my iPhone using Gearslutz

[Teddy Ray]

Originally Posted by John Willett

That's sad, but there should be no change since this year when Neumann took over as there was no change in the people involved.

Sent from my iPhone using Gearslutz

I don't know what happened, but it wasn't good, whatever it was. It is a pity.

[Don S]

Please let us know what you think of the 0300's.

[Remoteness]

O300s sound excellent.
The only problem I have them is the fact that I cannot get them loud enough.

I would have bought them in a NY minute if they did.

With regard to their service, I've haven't needed a lot of service, but I always received the proper care.

[hereticskeptic]

Originally Posted by Teddy Ray

it is all too typical now, John. K+H distribution has gone south...very much so. ESPECIALLY since Neumann took over.

K+H has been removed from my "potential purchase" list. They make good speakers, but the service/distro is pretty bad.

This kind of news, coupled with a 1-year warranty (on $4000 monitors???), are likely enough to steer me away from the O300's. They were my top choice up until right now, though I'd already been concerned about the terribly short warranty period. Hate to make such a decision based on one or two opinions, but after dealing with bad customer service this past year, I am seeking to avoid it like the plague. Damn...

[John Willett]

Originally Posted by hereticskeptic

This kind of news, coupled with a 1-year warranty (on $4000 monitors???), are likely enough to steer me away from the O300's. They were my top choice up until right now, though I'd already been concerned about the terribly short warranty period. Hate to make such a decision based on one or two opinions, but after dealing with bad customer service this past year, I am seeking to avoid it like the plague. Damn...

I still rate K+H / Neumann very highly, but if you want something different I would look at Geithain and ATC.

[LeMauce]

Originally Posted by Remoteness

O300s sound excellent.
The only problem I have them is the fact that I cannot get them loud enough.

I would have bought them in a NY minute if they did.

With regard to their service, I've haven't needed a lot of service, but I always received the proper care.

Putt a second hand sub 0800 with them and GONE are you problems... well not all... The problem to go deaf.
I have the MSP5 also as second monitor system to have a bit more... SPIKED/Hyped mid/highs freqs. If you have ear fatique on the yammie msp5.. you fall in love with the 0300... so easy to mix on.

[David Spearritt]

Originally Posted by John Willett

I still rate K+H / Neumann very highly, but if you want something different I would look at Geithain and ATC.

or these ...
Principal Audio Monitors

[Russell Dawkins]

Originally Posted by Teddy Ray

it is all too typical now, John. K+H distribution has gone south...very much so. ESPECIALLY since Neumann took over.

K+H has been removed from my "potential purchase" list. They make good speakers, but the service/distro is pretty bad.

So - I'm curious - what was the experience that caused you to dismiss K+H/Neumann speakers based on distribution/service problems?

Did you ever get a chance to compare any K+Hs with your Jazz Modules?

Russell

[Remoteness]

Originally Posted by hereticskeptic

This kind of news, coupled with a 1-year warranty (on $4000 monitors???), are likely enough to steer me away from the O300's. They were my top choice up until right now, though I'd already been concerned about the terribly short warranty period. Hate to make such a decision based on one or two opinions, but after dealing with bad customer service this past year, I am seeking to avoid it like the plague. Damn...

I know you don't want to base your purchase decision on just one post, but this is an unanswered post from over a year ago, right?

How many others have had problems with Neumann / K&H outside this thread...?

Perhaps you weren't really digging the speakers in the first place, but I don't know.

FYI, I'm pretty partial to the new Neumann KH120As.
They pack a big punch for such small speakers.
And, you cannot beat their price point; big bang for the buck.

That being said, I too hate bad customer service.
It's just not acceptable at any price range, so I totally empathize with you on that front.

Originally Posted by LeMauce

Putt a second hand sub 0800 with them and GONE are you problems... well not all... The problem to go deaf.
I have the MSP5 also as second monitor system to have a bit more... SPIKED/Hyped mid/highs freqs. If you have ear fatique on the yammie msp5.. you fall in love with the 0300... so easy to mix on.

Yeah, but I ended up grabbing a bunch of KH120As instead.

I don't monitor that loud for that long, so I really don't have to worry too much about going deaf.

...Huh? What did you say? Can you repeat that?

The last pair of Yamaha speakers I mixed on (80s & 90s) were NS10s and not NS10Ms mind you. I powered them with a Yamaha P2200 power amp that had a slew rate of about a week, so I never had to place tissue paper on the tweeters. In any event, those speakers were simple awesome for detail and definition. Over the years, I tried mixing on other (models of) Yammies, but I wasn't hearing it.

Believe it or not, they are still in used today, but I don't listen to them; they're in use as door stoppers. You cannot beat them for that!

The two pairs of speakers I like to mix on most these days are Focal Twin6 Be and the Neumann KH120A (as my NS10 with bottom) speakers.

IMHO, the KH120A got the detail and definition I like with the punch I always missed on those door stoppers;-)

I still feel good about tracking on Genelecs and even (the original) sMackie HR824s when applicable.

YMMV, but think about the cost of fuel these days and make your own decision!

Originally Posted by Russell Dawkins

So - I'm curious - what was the experience that caused you to dismiss K+H/Neumann speakers based on distribution/service problems?

Did you ever get a chance to compare ant K+Hs with your Jazz Modules?

Russell

Man, I'd love to hear what Teddy has to say, but when's the last time he posted on this board?

IMO, I don't think he's feeling this community anymore, and that's a real drag.