Hi, I have an ADAM S3V studio monitors, I would like to buy other monitors for a second listening. Something smaller. I have looked for I am between Genelec and Neumann. Can someone give their opinion? Any pros or cons? Thank you very much.

 

It's probably not the answer you would like to receive, but it's true. YOU're the only one who's able to answer this question.
Order both if possible, test them A to B, go for the ones you like better in your room. You're taking this decision and this will be the right one.

 

Owan said it best, but I would go for Neuman's because they're just so flat mamma mia! Well, I'm talking KH 120A. Are 80 as flat? Probably. That's the second pair of monitors I'm kinda saving for.

Dynaudio BM12A are so pleasant to listen to, but they do deceive a little. However, after years of usage, you really know what they sound like, and that's another part of the equation: someone who knows their monitors well can make a better sounding mix than you with the best monitors in the world that you're not familiar with. That's why when I have to mix somewhere else, I always take them home after the session for a check up, then correct things that need to be corrected, and trust me there is always something to correct, but especially when you're working with monitors you have never heard before.

Cheers!

 

Last edited: Jan 31, 2021

I prefer the Neumanns over the Genelecs. With that said, the Neumanns perform their best at low to moderate volumes. When cranked high up they tend to sound slightly boxy and distorted (of course this is due to the small cabinet and big for the size amp choice). Still, at initial hearings you will be surprised at the Neumann's bass response which at this size, along with its detailed stereo image and near flat response are its biggest strengths -imho. And it also depends which 8020 model you put them against, Genelec has 3-4 models of the 8020 and the 8320s (~1000 euros/pair) which to my ears they are about equal to the Neumanns, after all in the bottom line it's a matter of preference.
Cheers
PS: I did mix half an album on the KH-80 for a friend at his nice -but still home- studio. The tracks translated to real world listening really well, you just have to be careful not to overdo it with frequency tweaks and pursue a flat mix response. In my case the genre helped a lot which was mainly acoustic with some electric instruments like Rhodes, Hammond organ and a few clean el. gtrs and some drum machine snippets.

 

Last edited: Jan 31, 2021

I understand that it is important to be able to listen and thus compare. But I also like to ask and read opinions. Listen to people who have tried them.

 

I have those Genelecs and Ive been quite pleased with them. I dont have a perfectly treated room but I still seem to get mixes that translate well between mediums on them. Ive never tried the Neumanns but this article has my attention to get a pair and see what I think.

 

Sale what you have and but a better version of either those models, you need to know one monitor system inside out rather than jump between few, the second perspective is what headphone is for

 

i liked the Genelec, i didnt like any of the smaller Neumanns
but i wasnt looking for a secondary speaker.

bit of topic but are you sure you "need" a second pair of monitors?
maybe a pair of "trashy" speaker might suffice

to my suprise i always got the best Level mix on my cheap kitchen speakers
placed under the main monitors (like bad placed speakers)
and nowadays it should probably be some "mono" wireless speaker

maybe you can even pimp your battlestation

 

I can't talk about the Neumanns but I can about the Genes. It's a love hate relationship it seems. They're very accurate but the "shrillness" seems to put people off. But the accuracy is _very_ good across the range. The 8020s are prefect for small room monitors IMO.

Regardless you have to spend a few hours just listening to them.

 

Just my personal taste .Can't say much on this. Only that I hate whatever monitor has plastic cabinet.

 

I have a pair of Neumann KH120's and they are excellent for tracking/mixing, with perceptable bass and awesome mids & highs for their size. I haven't tried the KH80's but i don't doubt they sound good too.

That being said (as indicated above) there will always be issues around monitor placement and personal taste, so (if you can) do try see if you can find a dealer to audition the genelecs and neumanns side-by-side in a decent listening environment.

 

hmm, for a second listening i would get something like average general use decent "consumer" speakers. you already have nice monitors that go pretty deep in bass and hopefully they are also decent in the higher freq if so the genelecs are very detailed but the 8020s are small so you will get their powerful detail profile but very little bass.

it depends really on what that "second listening" is supposed to achieve. what is it you are wondering or curious to explore with it

 

I do the same

 

I own the KH80's and use them every day, although I use them with the KH750 sub, which basically negates the issues that others above have talked about - namely bass extension, headroom, etc.

Translation is excellent, and they make you really work hard to get a good mix - if something's off, it will sound really off on them.

Transient response is fantastic (benefits of a 4" woofer) as is stereo imaging.

Whether they'll work for you in a secondary pair role depends on what you're looking for them to do - if you're looking for something that's just smaller, but still very accurate, that you can make confident eq/dynamics decisions on, then they'll be perfect.

However, if you're looking for more 'real world' / grotbox type secondaries, I'd look elsewhere, because these don't know how to sound bad! :D

 

I don't have an opinion about the Neumanns, but I love the 8020s. They translate so well that I don't need to check the mix anywhere else. If there is any problem in the mix, they show it to you and you just have to go fix it. Balancing the volumes is easy with them. They have various switches at the back to best suit your listening environment. This can be useful.

PS. I do use a sub and work the details of the lows on headphones. It's a small room and I have to be strategic, so bigger monitors are less honest in here. I have more speakers around the room, but they rarely if ever switch on for checking the mix.