Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/78511
Close & The speed-dating guide to near-fields. By Jennifer Walden If you're ready to break-up with your old monitors, or if you're just look- Critical ing to spice things up with a new set, here's a quick guide to some note-worthy monitors that are new to the market. Choosing a set of near-fields can be a daunting task. You're going to spend a lot of time with them, and you don't want to make any hasty decisions before settling down with one pair. It's always a good idea to spend some time with new monitors to see if they'll be a good fit. Trust your ears. If you can find a retailer with a decent return policy, you might want to think about auditioning a set (or two, or three) for a few weeks before finally committing. ACTIVE 2-WAY NEAR-FIELDS For decades, Neumann has been a household name, thanks to its microphones. Their mics are known for superior versatility and reliability when it comes to capturing sound. The Neumann name is now nudging its way into the studio monitor crowd. With the backing of their parent company, the Sennheiser Group, Neumann has taken over the Klein + Hummel brand. Klein + Hummel monitors had a faithful fol- lowing in German-speaking countries, but insufficient sales on an international level led the Sennheiser Group to dissolve K + H into the Neumann studio monitor systems. It's a good fit for Neumann, since microphones and speakers are both electro-acoustic transducers. Their new logo for the monitor division is the Symbiosis Symbol, which resembles a ying-yang of a microphone and speaker. It represents a coming together of the two ends of the audio signal chain. Vital Stats: Neumann KH 120 (www.neumann-kh-line.com) Cost: $749 each Two-way bi-amplified monitor with 80W + 80W class A/B amplifiers 1" tweeter, 5.25" woofer Dimensions: (H x W x D): 10 7/8" x 7 1/8" x 8 5/8" Weight: 14.1lbs Frequency response: 52Hz – 21kHz (+/- 3dB) Crossover frequency: At 2kHz Max SPL: 111dB 44 Post • August 2012 www.postmagazine.com