Tonstudio Tessmar's immersive mixing rig, featuring three Neumann KH 420 tri-amplified mid-field studio monitors (L/C/R) and two Neumann KH 310 three-way near-field monitors (LS/RS) in a 3/2 arrangement.

Neumann has always been known for making world-class microphones, but the Berlin-based company has expanded in recent years to offer top-notch studio monitors, headphones, and an immersive-capable audio interface. And the industry has taken notice: five out of six albums nominated for the Best Immersive Album at The Grammys were mixed using Neumann monitors.

If you’ve been thinking about an immersive upgrade for your studio, Neumann now has everything you need to start working in Dolby Atmos, Ambisonics, and other immersive formats. Here’s how to put together an all-Neumann immersive system, starting with everyone’s favorite part: a whole bunch of speakers.

Neumann KH-Series Monitors

Neumann released their first loudspeaker, the KH 120, in 2010; and they’ve been iterating on the KH series ever since. Today, the KH line contains eight models of varying types, from the affordable KH 80 to the massive three-way KH 420, and three different subwoofer options. All of these share the same general design, sonic DNA, and many of the same features, so you can easily mix and match models to create a custom system that fits your room and your price range.

KH 80 DSP: A light and compact monitor with a 4-inch driver, DSP, and network connectivity. An excellent choice for overheads when space is limited.
KH 120 II: A capable all-purpose 5-inch monitor for mains, surrounds, and even overheads. Features analog, S/PDIF, and network connectivity as well as built-in DSP.
KH 150: Larger than the 120, with a 6.5-inch woofer for deeper bass. Ideal for mains, surrounds, or overheads in larger studios. Built-in DSP and analog, S/PDIF, and network connectivity.
KH 310: A three-way horizontal monitor with an 8-inch woofer, 3-inch midrange driver, and 1-inch tweeter. The top choice for nearfield monitoring, especially L/C/R channels.
KH 420: The largest of the monitors, with a 10-inch woofer, rotatable midrange driver, and tweeter assembly. Loud enough for midfield use, with excellent dispersion characteristics.
KH 750: A relatively compact, unported subwoofer with tons of flexibility for different setups.
KH 810: Similar to the 750, but with porting and other improvements for even more accuracy.
KH 870: A massive subwoofer with dual 10-inch drivers for greater output and plenty of I/O for multichannel systems.

All of Neumann’s monitors feature Mathematically Modeled Dispersion (MMD) waveguides which provide excellent spatial imaging and broad coverage for a generous sweet spot, even in immersive arrays. The DSP models can connect to your computer via a standard network switch, providing remote control and automatic EQ and delay correction using the Neumann MA-1 Monitor Alignment Microphone.

Neumann MT 48 USB-C Interface

Neumann’s debut audio interface market is compact and streamlined, but still powerful enough to be the nerve center of your immersive studio. Created in collaboration with Merging Technologies, the MT 48 is designed to get the best performance out of Neumann’s mics, headphones, and speakers with ultra-clean, high-headroom inputs and outputs.

While it’s only got four analog outputs, the ADAT output provides an extra eight channels when hooked up to an external converter, giving you twelve total channels—just enough for a 7.1.4 system. The main outputs are for the left and right channels, while the dual Line Outputs handle the center and LFE channels, and the optical output carries the remaining eight surround and overhead channels. Plus, the high-impedance headphone outputs are excellent for binaural mixing.

Neumann recently updated the MT 48’s operating system with the “Monitor Mission” upgrade, which added advanced routing and monitor control functionality for immersive and surround formats. That means you can use the MT 48’s volume knob and mute button to control all of your speakers at once, configure bass management via the touchscreen interface, and easily switch between immersive, surround, and stereo downmixes with the touch of a button.

Metropolis Studio's immersive mixing rig, featuring three Neumann KH 420 tri-amplified monitors with one KH 420 and twin Neumann KH 870 400 W subwoofers. Surround monitoring is handled by 17 Neumann KH 120 compact bi-amplified studio monitors.

Setting it All Up

When using all Neumann products, setup becomes incredibly easy, even for large multichannel systems. Since everything is designed to work together, it can take as little as an afternoon to mount your speakers, connect everything, and calibrate

Monitor Installation

Neumann loudspeakers feature universal mounting hardware for wall or ceiling installation, making all sorts of setups possible in different types of spaces. For midfield rooms, the KH 420 can even be flush-mounted into walls to save space. If using any of the DSP-enabled models, you’ll want to run Ethernet cables to a network switch along with the audio connections during installation.

Interface Setup and Routing

Using Monitor Mission on the MT 48, you can easily configure the outputs to match your speaker layout. For the surround and overhead speakers, you have the choice of running the optical output to an eight-channel D/A converter for analog connections or an optical-to-S/PDIF converter for digital connections. At this stage, you can also set up bass management if your setup requires it.

Speaker Calibration and Alignment

The final piece of the puzzle is calibrating your system to achieve phase accuracy and a flat response or target curve such as the Dolby Atmos Music Curve. Using the MA-1 Alignment Microphone plugged into the MT 48, you can perform automatic delay and EQ correction measured from the center of the listening position or from multiple points for greater accuracy. Now you can be confident that your system will give you an accurate picture of your mixes.

mediaHyperium's immersive mixing rig, featuring an 18-speaker Neumann KH Line studio monitor system.

Get Started in Immersive Audio with Neumann

Whether you want to start small or go all-in, an all-Neumann system is an excellent way to get started working with Dolby Atmos, Ambisonics, and other immersive audio formats. Take a look at Neumann’s active monitor range, learn more about the MT 48, and start planning your immersive upgrade today. When you’re ready to step into the future of mixing, get in touch with a Vintage King Audio Consultant to get the process rolling.

If you’re interested in building an immersive mixing rig for your studio or have questions about Neumann products, we're here to help! Contact a Vintage King Audio Consultant via email or by phone at 866.644.0160.

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How To Build An Immersive Mixing Rig With Neumann Gear

Neumann KH-Series Monitors

Neumann MT 48 USB-C Interface

Setting it All Up

Get Started in Immersive Audio with Neumann