Neumann KH 310 II and KH 350: What Actually Changed

A few bits of trivia nobody asked for:

• First mass-produced passive 3-way loudspeaker: the Klipsch Klipschorn (1946)
• First mass-produced active 3-way loudspeaker (bi-amplified): the Klein + Hummel OY (1967)
• First mass-produced active 3-way loudspeaker (tri-amplified): the Genelec S30 (1978)

Thirteen years after the original, the KH 310 has finally moved to its second generation —

•  KH 310 II is available now (full details on Neumann's own product page).

Except "second generation" undersells it a bit. Count the O-series models it descends from, and this is really the fifth generation of the same lineage.

• Here's Neumann's own walkthrough:

Launched alongside it is a genuinely new model:

• the 8-inch three-way KH 350 (full details on Neumann's own product page).

• Neumann's walkthrough for this one too:

Many people are reading the KH 350 as a completely new model. It isn't, really — it's better understood as an update to the old O400.

Back when the O400 was updated to the O410, the woofer grew from 8 inches to 10. The same logic applies here: KH 350 is the 8-inch line continuing on, while the 10-inch line lives on as the KH 420.

• We've put together a full spec comparison:

The headline upgrade on the KH 310 II is the amplifier: Class AB is out, Class D is in, and power has gone up by roughly 50% on top of that.

• That brings two obvious changes. First, the finned heatsink on the back panel is gone — Class D doesn't need it.
• Second, low-frequency extension has gained... about 1Hz.

In theory, the extra headroom from the new amplifier could have pushed extension down by 2–3Hz. In practice, Neumann nudged the low-mid crossover point upward instead (650Hz → 700Hz), which eats into most of that gain — and shifted the mid-high crossover point down as well (2kHz → 1.7kHz), which meaningfully lightens the load on the midrange driver.

If you actually want deeper low-frequency extension, that's what the KH 350 is for. This "new" model reaches down to 30Hz at −3dB.

The trade-off is that the KH 350 is a ported (bass-reflex) design, so its bass doesn't move quite as fast as the sealed-cabinet KH 310 II — worth thinking about if you're a mix engineer chasing transient accuracy.

For most enthusiasts, though, speed isn't really the deciding factor. An extra 3Hz of extension is the difference you'll actually hear.

The other headline upgrade: KH 310 II finally supports calibration, via Neumann's MA 1 measurement system.

It also gains an adjustable auto-standby function.

Put together, this generation finally closes the one feature gap that mattered most against its peers.

One change people are likely to overlook entirely:

• manufacturing has moved to the Czech Republic.

The KH 120 II and KH 150, both launched in recent years, are already Czech-made. Last year's second-generation subwoofer line — the KH 805 II, KH 810 II and KH 870 II (our write-up here) — is Czech-made too.

Even the KH 80 DSP, which hasn't been updated at all, has quietly moved its production to the Czech Republic. Which leaves...

• the KH 420 as the last model still built in Ireland.

Would Neumann really keep an entire factory running for one product line? Genuine question.

The KH 420 dates back to 2014. If it gets a second generation next year, it's a safe bet that one will be Czech-made too

• which would mean the Irish factory's days are very likely numbered.

So what would that manufacturing shift actually mean for buyers?

Right now, the KH 310A is still available through online retailers, while the KH 310D has already been discontinued for some time.

On the surface, the second generation looks like a $500 price hike. But the KH 310D was already selling at $2,999 before it was discontinued.

• So, more precisely, the KH 310 II is really the successor to the 310D, not the 310A.

If the Irish factory does wind down, the KH 310A's days as a current product are numbered too.

• If you want that "zero-latency," "purely analogue," classic AB-amplifier sound, this is likely your last realistic window to pick up a pair.

Finally, a look at where the KH 310 II sits against similarly priced three-way nearfield/midfield competitors.

• With roughly $6,000 to spend on a pair, which of these would you actually go for?