When comparing Yamaha HS8 vs Neumann KH 120 A, the Slant community recommends Yamaha HS8 for most people. In the question“What are the best high-end studio monitors? ” Yamaha HS8 is ranked 1st while Neumann KH 120 A is ranked 3rd. The most important reason people chose Yamaha HS8 is:
These speakers are great for those who want to get accurate audio without spending thousands of dollars. The HS8 produce neutral and accurate sound that is great for mixing. The highs are clean and airy, but do not get harsh. The mids sound natural and full, so vocals and guitars can clearly be heard. The bass is tight and has a great punch yet never gets out of control.
Specs
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Pros
Pro Neutral and balanced sound
These speakers are great for those who want to get accurate audio without spending thousands of dollars. The HS8 produce neutral and accurate sound that is great for mixing. The highs are clean and airy, but do not get harsh. The mids sound natural and full, so vocals and guitars can clearly be heard. The bass is tight and has a great punch yet never gets out of control.
Pro You can adjust the sound to fit your room
It’ll be easy for you to get the most accurate audio output from these speakers. The HS8’s Room control switches allow you to cut down volume levels to minimize sound reflections if your room is not acoustically treated.
Pro Treble levels can be tweaked
You can easily tweak the treble levels to your liking. At the back of each HS8 speaker is a High Trim switch which gives you the option to increase or decrease treble levels by 2dB.
Pro They can produce high volume levels
These speakers can easily fill a medium to large-sized studio with sound. The 8-inch woofers and 1-inch tweeter are able to pump out high levels of volume without distorting, so you aren’t likely to find the sound lacking.
Pro Multiple wired input options available
These speakers will work with most pro-level mixers and audio interfaces. The input options are balanced XLR and TRS which should cover a wide range of studio devices.
Pro Solid build quality
The HS8 speakers give the impression that they will last you many years of use. The cabinets are made out of thick wood and are quite heavy.
Pro Accurate sound, room controls and good build quality at a great price
The HS8 studio monitors are able to deliver a flat sound that is good enough for mixing along with room adjustments and solid build quality, but at a price that is significantly less than other high end options.
Pro Very accurate and detailed sound
If you are looking for accurate audio representation, then these do deliver. The KH 120 A monitors are flat sounding and reveal every detail of the music. The highs are very clear and airy. The mids are natural and full-sounding, while the bass has great depth and punch but never gets bloated, even with bass heavy tracks.
Pro You can tweak the sound to your liking
It’ll be very easy for you to customize the audio output of the KH 120 A to suit your needs. You get acoustic control switches for the Bass, Low-Mid and Treble frequencies, which you can easily reach at the top-rear section of the speakers.
Pro Excellent build quality
These speakers will last many years of use. Instead of wood, the outer casing of the KH 120 A is made from aluminum. These are very durable and feel premium too.
Pro Can be positioned flush against the wall
You can push these speakers up against the wall if needed. The input and power connectors are vertical and so don't stick out beyond the frame of the speakers.
Cons
Con Only High Trim controls are available
You won’t be able to customize the sound as extensively as the older model, the HS80m. Those speakers had Mid and Bass trim options, which allowed more sound tweaking.
Con Bass might not be enough
If you are a bass head, then the tight and controlled bass output may not be powerful enough for you. A subwoofer like the Yamaha HS8S would be a good companion to the HS8s if you want deep and more powerful low-end.
Con Only one XLR input
Connecting multiple source devices to the KH 120 A can be a bit difficult, as there is only one XLR in connection. You may also need special cables or adapters if your source devices do not have XLR outs.