Neumann KH120 MKII vs Kali Audio SM-5

Short answer: the Neumann KH120 MKII. It ranks #2 of 42 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality at $2000; the Kali Audio SM-5 ranks #4 and costs $3400, 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. The catch: A minor directivity blip appears around 2kHz.

On the Kali Audio SM-5 side: True coaxial design with the tweeter mounted inside the midrange. Set against that: Bass output is limited by the 5” mid-bass driver - don’t expect much excursion or high-SPL low end, though extension itself is reasonable for the size.

Buy the Neumann KH120 MKII. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Kali Audio SM-5 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
  • Reddit Search for Neumann KH120 MKII Review
• Head-to-Head Comparisons
  • Neumann KH120 MKII vs Genelec 8030C
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  • See all 16 comparisons

Kali Audio SM-5: $3400 Sweetwater

Pros: True coaxial design with the tweeter mounted inside the midrange, and an unusually large waveguide that extends into the front baffle itself - directivity is excellent both horizontally (about +/-55 degrees) and vertically (+50/-40 degrees), so off-axis and low-seated listening positions still get a consistent tonal balance. Overall linearity is very good with in-room extension to about 40-45Hz. Distortion at 96dB is very low through the midrange, with only a mild, expected breakup around 3kHz tied to a small dip in the response there. Built-in DSP with free downloadable software lets you EQ each speaker individually for placement or room correction without an outboard processor, and the cabinet is wall-mountable - useful for surrounds, front heights, or tight desk setups. Compares very favorably to Kali’s own IN-8: similar raw linearity and distortion, but without the IN-8’s diffraction issues above 7kHz.

Cons: Bass output is limited by the 5” mid-bass driver - don’t expect much excursion or high-SPL low end, though extension itself is reasonable for the size. A mild high-Q resonance lingers around 2.5-4kHz in burst decay, though not strong. Instantaneous dynamic range is limited to roughly 96-102dB at 1m before compression sets in.

Full Kali Audio SM-5 review and specifications →

App	Kali Audio DSP software (free download)
Bass Extension (-10dB)	39Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner)
Bass Extension (-3dB)	45Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner)
Bluetooth	No
Dimensions	15.7"H x 7.9"W x 9.8"D (400 x 200 x 250 mm) (15.6 x 7.9 x 9.8 in)
Drivers	1" coaxial tweeter, 4" coaxial midrange, 5" mid-bass woofer
EQ	Yes, per-speaker DSP
Frequency Response	39Hz - 35kHz ±10dB (47Hz - 21kHz ±3dB, Manufacturer specified)
Inputs	XLR/TRS, AES/EBU (BNC), RJ45 network control
Max SPL	117dB
Output Power	150W total
Weight	20.9 lbs / 9.5 kg (21 lb) each

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

• Links
  • Official Kali Audio SM-5 Product Page
• Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
  • Erin’s Audio Corner: Kali Audio SM-5 Review (With Sound Clips!)
  • Reddit Search for Kali Audio SM-5 Review
• Head-to-Head Comparisons
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