Neumann KH120 MKII vs Genelec 8330A

Short answer: the Neumann KH120 MKII. It ranks #2 of 48 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality at $2000; the Genelec 8330A ranks #5 and costs $2250, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.

What the Neumann KH120 MKII gets right: CEA2034 spinorama is about as flat as the reviewer has measured, with excellent directivity aside from a small blip around 2kHz, and bass response that stays flat almost down to 50Hz. Set against that: A minor directivity blip appears around 2kHz. Vertical directivity narrows quickly above the reference axis, so the reviewer recommends staying right at it.

What the Genelec 8330A offers: Sits between the compact 8320A and the larger 8331A in Genelec’s SAM lineup, with a die cast aluminum Minimum Diffraction Enclosure and Directivity Control Waveguide that deliver a measured 55.7Hz extension point, well beyond the 8320A’s smaller cabinet. The catch: On axis deviation measures 0.324dB average, rougher than several similarly priced monitors in this catalog, and listening window smoothness sits at a moderate 0.38.

Buy the Neumann KH120 MKII. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Genelec 8330A and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.

Specifications Side By Side

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The Two Speakers In Full

Neumann KH120 MKII: $2000 Bhphotovideo

Pros: CEA2034 spinorama is about as flat as the reviewer has measured, with excellent directivity aside from a small blip around 2kHz, and bass response that stays flat almost down to 50Hz. Predicted in-room response is superb despite not being strictly valid for a near-field monitor at this distance. Horizontal beamwidth of about ±50 degrees is nice and well controlled. Distortion at 86dB SPL/1m is exceptionally low. Even at 96dB SPL/1m - just 1dB before the clipping indicator engages - it stays very clean outside of deep bass.

Cons: A minor directivity blip appears around 2kHz. Vertical directivity narrows quickly above the reference axis, so the reviewer recommends staying right at it. Distortion rises substantially in the deep bass under 50Hz at higher output (96dB SPL/1m). Cumulative spectral decay (waterfall) shows a resonance in the upper midrange. High price.

Full Neumann KH120 MKII review and specifications →

App	Yes (MA 1 alignment)
Bass Extension (-10dB)	36Hz (measured, Audio Science Review)
Bass Extension (-3dB)	46Hz (measured, Audio Science Review)
Bluetooth	No
DSP	Yes
Dimensions	11.3"H x 7.2"W x 8.9"D (287 x 182.9 x 226.1 mm)
Drivers	5.25" woofer, 1" titanium fabric dome tweeter
EQ	Yes (via DSP)
Frequency Response	44Hz - 21kHz (±3dB) (Manufacturer specified)
Inputs	XLR
Max SPL	116.8dB @ 1m
Output Power	245W (145W woofer + 100W tweeter)
Weight	14.6 lbs / 6.6 kg each

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• Links
  • Official Neumann KH120 MKII Product Page
• Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
  • Audio Science Review Measurements
  • Audio Science Review Measurements (spinorama.org)
  • Reddit Search for Neumann KH120 MKII Review
• Head-to-Head Comparisons
  • Neumann KH120 MKII vs Genelec 8030C
  • Neumann KH120 MKII vs Genelec 8331A
  • Neumann KH120 MKII vs Kali Audio SM-5
  • Neumann KH120 MKII vs Genelec 8020D
  • Neumann KH120 MKII vs Neumann KH80 DSP
  • Neumann KH120 MKII vs Kali LP-UNF
  • Neumann KH120 MKII vs Focal Alpha 50 EVO
  • Neumann KH120 MKII vs JBL 305P MKII
  • See all 17 comparisons

Genelec 8330A: $2,250/pair Bhphotovideo

Pros: Sits between the compact 8320A and the larger 8331A in Genelec’s SAM lineup, with a die cast aluminum Minimum Diffraction Enclosure and Directivity Control Waveguide that deliver a measured 55.7Hz extension point, well beyond the 8320A’s smaller cabinet. The bass alignment is well damped at a measured Q of 0.379, so the low end rolls off cleanly rather than peaking near the tuning frequency.

Cons: On axis deviation measures 0.324dB average, rougher than several similarly priced monitors in this catalog, and listening window smoothness sits at a moderate 0.38. GLM room calibration requires the separate 9320A SAM Reference Controller or GLM Calibration Kit, an extra cost on top of the speaker price. At $1,125 each it costs roughly double the smaller 8320A for a moderate step up in bass extension and output.

Full Genelec 8330A review and specifications →

Bass Extension (-10dB)	44.9Hz (measured, Audio Science Review)
Bass Extension (-3dB)	55.7Hz (measured, Audio Science Review)
Country	Finland
Dimensions	11.8"H x 7.4"W x 7"D (299 x 189 x 178 mm) (11.8 x 7.4 x 7.0 in)
Drivers	0.75" metal dome tweeter, 5.1" cone woofer
Enclosure	ported
Frequency Response	45Hz-23kHz -6dB
Max SPL	104dB
Power Output (Watts)	100W total (50W woofer, 50W tweeter, Class D)
Warranty	2 years (5 with product registration)
Weight	11.2 lbs / 5.1 kg (11.2 lbs) each

As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.

• Links
  • Genelec 8330A Official Page
• Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
  • Audio Science Review Measurements (spinorama.org)
  • Reddit Search for Genelec 8330A Review
• Head-to-Head Comparisons
  • Genelec 8330A vs Genelec 8020D
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  • Genelec 8330A vs Genelec 8331A
  • Genelec 8330A vs Genelec 8320A
  • Genelec 8330A vs JBL 305P MKII
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