Short answer: the Neumann KH80 DSP for nearly the same sound at a fraction of the price, the KH120 MKII only if you need the extra headroom and bass reach. These rank #2 and #4 out of 108 powered bookshelf speakers, $700 apart, one of the widest price gaps between two similarly-ranked speakers in this class.
The measured difference between them is small. ASR’s Klippel data gives the KH120 MKII a 1.5dB response span from 300Hz to 5kHz with a listening-window deviation of just 0.208, while the KH80 DSP measures a 1.4dB span with virtually no on-axis tilt, essentially tied on tonal accuracy. Preference scores back that up: 6.49 standalone and 8.44 with a subwoofer for the KH120 MKII versus 5.89 and 8.25 for the KH80 DSP. Both share the same vertical crossover sensitivity around 2kHz that makes consistent listening height matter.
Where the KH120 MKII pulls ahead is bass and headroom. It reaches -3dB at 46Hz and -10dB at 36Hz, against the KH80 DSP’s 57Hz and 51Hz, a real difference for anyone mixing bass-heavy material. Max SPL is 116.8dB versus 110.7dB, and output power is 245W against 140W. The KH120 MKII’s cons still flag distortion increasing below about 50Hz at high output on both models, so a subwoofer helps either system.
Everything else matches: both use XLR-only input, MA 1 app-based alignment, DSP-driven EQ, and no Bluetooth.
Buy the Neumann KH80 DSP if you want Neumann’s house tuning at a fraction of the cost and don’t need the deeper bass extension or extra SPL headroom.
Buy the Neumann KH120 MKII if your room or material demands the lower bass reach and higher output, and the price gap doesn’t rule it out.
Want more options? Browse the full Powered Home rankings.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Neumann KH120 MKII | Neumann KH80 DSP | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,898.00 per pair | $1,198 per pair |
| Ranked | #2 of 108 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #4 of 108 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 36Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 51Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 46Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 57Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 11.3”H x 7.2”W x 8.9”D (287 x 182.9 x 226.1 mm) | 13.6”H x 10.8”W x 9.6”D (345.4 x 274.3 x 243.8 mm) |
| Inputs | XLR | XLR |
| Drivers | 5.25” woofer, 1” titanium fabric dome tweeter | 4.1” woofer, 1” fabric dome tweeter |
| Weight | 14.6 lbs (6.6 kg) each | 9 lbs (4.1 kg) each |
| App | Yes (MA 1 alignment) | Yes (MA 1 alignment) |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| DSP | Yes | Yes |
| EQ | Yes (via DSP) | Yes (via DSP) |
| Frequency Response | 44Hz - 21kHz (±3dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 57 Hz - 25 kHz (+-3 dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | 245W (145W woofer + 100W tweeter) | 140W (90W woofer + 50W tweeter) |
| Maximum SPL | 116.8dB @ 1m (manufacturer specified) | 110.7dB @ 1m (manufacturer specified) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.49 | 5.89 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 8.44 | 8.25 |
| XLR Input | Yes | Yes |
| RCA Input | No | No |
| TRS Input | No | No |
| Optical Input | No | No |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | No |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Sensitivity | - | 91.9dB (measured at 0.3V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
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