Neumann KH805/810/870 II Subwoofer: Confused Naming, Premium Pricing

Neumann's speaker naming scheme has always been a proper headache for me. The 5-inch model began life as the O104 (that's the letter O), was then upgraded to the O100 and O110, and eventually became the KH120 after Sennheiser's acquisition.

The 6-inch model began as the O108, later upgraded to the O200, and was rechristened the KH150 post-acquisition... Meanwhile, what we now know as the KH310 originally went by the designation O198...

In short, there's absolutely no rhyme or reason to it.

This makes you wonder whether Klein + Hummel's demise wasn't partly down to users searching for pure numbers like "0104" or "0198" and finding absolutely nothing.

As for subwoofers, back in the Klein + Hummel days, the only 10-inch sub was the O818 - hardly memorable, but at least it wasn't completely baffling.

However, the naming scheme after Sennheiser's acquisition has been equally confusing, if not worse: KH750, 805, 810, 870 - all of these are 10-inch subwoofers...

If you're determined to find a pattern, there is one: the KH750's frequency response happens to be exactly 18-750Hz/±3dB, whilst the other models all manage 18-310Hz...

Anyway, Neumann has recently updated their subwoofers to the second generation, adding the suffix "II" to the rear panel. They've currently launched three updated models: the 805 II, 810 II, and 870 II.

Let's hope nobody makes the mistake of searching for pure numbers like "80511" or "81011" this time... I'm genuinely nervous for Neumann...

Let's have a look at the official video first:

The KH805 II and KH810 II look identical to the previous generation, but the KH870 II has had two front-firing ports removed, resulting in a cleaner appearance.

The KH805 II hasn't changed dramatically in terms of features - the new generation has dropped the footswitch input and EQ. The most obvious difference is the removal of the cooling vents from the rear panel.

This is likely because the previous generation used heat-intensive Class AB amplification (or possibly inefficient Class D). Either way, we can confirm that the second-generation amplifier runs more efficiently, and lower heat generation will, to some extent, improve noise floor, distortion, and provide longer service life.

The KH810 II has changed considerably compared to its predecessor - it's virtually eliminated all physical switches, relying entirely on software for adjustments.

This is the complete opposite of Genelec's design philosophy for similar products. The smaller Genelec 7350 features almost no physical controls, whilst the larger 7360 includes physical adjustment options.

You might notice that the analogue connections on the new KH810 II's rear panel have been significantly "streamlined" - surely they haven't been "completely eliminated"?

No, those XLR connections have all been integrated into DB25 connectors.

This is the first time we've seen this type of connector on a monitoring product of this size (or perhaps we're just behind the times)... But this design certainly saves considerable space on both the rear panel and inside the subwoofer itself...

Theoretically, a single DB25 connector can support 8 analogue channels, but given that the KH810 II's second DB25 only handles 4 channels, the 810 II features a "12 input/12 output" configuration.

This means it can natively support up to 7.1.4 for immersive audio at most. If you want to use it in a 9.1.6 system, you'll have to implement it as LFE (third-party bass management).

As usual, I've compiled a specifications table, though even whilst compiling it, the chaotic naming convention becomes apparent...

For instance, the KH750 and 810 II list 10% THD power figures, whilst the 810 II and 870 II provide 1% THD power data.

If the former refers to peak power, we can convert using a 0.7 ratio:
The KH750 would be 180W RMS, whilst the 810 II would be 150W RMS.

Actually, the official product descriptions are equally confusing - the KH800 series subwoofers all mention "16Hz" low-end extension and "automatic calibration" capabilities for KH series analogue monitors.

However, if you open the KH750's product page, you'll discover that the KH750's low-end extension is identical to the KH800 series, and it also supports "automatic calibration" for analogue monitor models.

This might well be intentional on Neumann's part... After all, if even the KH750 can achieve these features, the KH805 II's value proposition doesn't look quite so impressive...

Another point worth noting is that the KH750 DSP and KH810 II now share the same user manual.

The new manual states that the Neumann Control iPad app has been discontinued, yet the 2024 version of the manual and the KH750 DSP's official page still describe this app's functionality.

So, if you're a KH750 DSP user, please be aware not to rely on this app any longer!

As for pricing, personally I feel only the KH750 DSP is reasonably affordable... I'm not sure why Neumann hasn't developed a mainstream 8-inch compact subwoofer, which would help bring the price point down a bit...

After all, the total cost of ownership extends well beyond just the speakers and subwoofer themselves.

Suppose you're going for the KH810 II. In that case, you'll likely need to purchase the MA1 measurement software and microphone ($299), possibly the MA1 multi-channel expansion pack ($299), plus four sets of DB25 cables (for a sub this expensive, you'd want at least Mogami and Neutrik)...

And that's just a rough estimate...

Based on the "driver parity" principle, the ideal match for 4-inch KH80 monitors would actually be an 8-inch subwoofer...

Finally, we've noticed one interesting detail - Neumann's second-generation subwoofers are now manufactured in the Czech Republic, rather than Ireland.

The Czech Republic's GDP per capita is only one-third of Ireland's. Whilst not a precise calculation, moving production from Ireland to the Czech Republic could save at least 60% in labour costs.