RECORDING November 2022 - 14

REVIEW
Style and Comfort
Objectively speaking, the NDH models
are on the large and beefy side. The
big circular ear cups give off a vintage
broadcast booth/1970s home hi-fi appearance.
Subjectively, I appreciate their
classic elegant familial appearance and
all-metal build. I also find them balanced
and very comfortable for hours-long listening
sessions. I also like how the cups
surround but don't touch the ears.
The NDH 30 is a bit less " clampy "
feeling, and I prefer the fuzzy ear cups
compared to the NDH 20.
Sound
Neumann NDH 30
Unapologetically studio-focused, open-back headphones
REVIEW BY PAUL VNUK JR.
I
n our September 2019 issue, we introduced our readers to the NDH 20,
the first Neumann headphone. They were „an impressive debut, " and our
reviewer was „curious to see where Neumann takes its new headphone
line in the future. " The wait is over ... introducing the Neumann NDH 30.
Building on a Strong Foundation
Identical to the first-born Neumann
headphone, the NDH 30 is primarily
made of metal with minimal plastic
accents. Its steel headband and aluminum
ear cups sport a finish similar to the
company's microphones.
The 4 " memory foam ear cups swivel
90º, allowing the headphones to
lay flat for transport and storage. The
NDH 30 comes in a foam-lined display
box with a cloth pouch and a 9.8' fabric-wrapped
locking cable with a 1
1/4
/8
" to
" adaptor that attaches to the rightside
ear cup. Note the NDH 20 offered
a second coiled cable option.
Let's Be Open
Where the NDH 20 is a closed-back
model, the new NDH 30 is its open-back
sibling. As such, the black covering of
the ear cup on the NDH 30 is vented
versus a sold silver end cap. Also, the
foam ear cup on the NDH 30 is a fuzzyvelour-like
material compared to its predecessor's
tight velvet feel.
Both models are circumaural (surround
the ear) designs featuring 38mm Duofol
14 RECORDING November 2022
drivers and high-strength neodymium
magnets offering a high sensitivity and a
smooth frequency response. Of course,
there are some notable differences in each
model's overall specs and performance.
The NDH 30 has a 12 Hz to 34 kHz
frequency response, 120Ω impedance
and a 104dB SPL sensitivity (1 kHz/1V
RMS) compared to the 5 Hz-30 kHz,
150Ω, 114dB SPL NDH 20. The .77 lb
NDH 30 is also a tad lighter than its .86
lb predecessor.
While the NDH 20 was designed to offer
34dB (above 4 kHz) of isolation (for tracking
and such), as an open-back design
isolation is not really a thing with the NDH
30. Still, despite being an open-back headphone,
the leakage is less than many other
open-back models in my collection.
At 120Ω, the NDH 30 is a fairly high
impedance headphone and performs best
when driven by a robust headphone amp.
However, it had no issues with entry-level
audio interfaces, mixers and keyboards.
In each case, the signal was solid without
an audible breakup or sounding like the
headphones were working too hard.
Price: $649 More from: neumann.com
In the NDH 20 review, we were reminded
that most studio-style headphones tend
to be hyped to offer enhanced " clarity. " In
contrast, the NDH 20 focused on smoothness
and balance, similar to " listening to
unhyped studio monitors. " Similarly, the
NDH 30 is voiced to be even, neutral and
smooth. While I would not call them flat,
they are devoid of hype. The magic of the
NDH 30 lies in its mid-range translation.
I was constantly impressed by the lush
representation of mid-focused sources-
all with zero low-end smearing or top-end
harshness. While the NDH 30 exhibits
a delicate hint of warmth, the lows and
highs are still nicely represented, just not
pushed or excited. It is worth noting that
the NDH 30 is not as airy and „not there, "
as some other open-back headphones.
Where the NDH 20 has a balanced,
pillowy, focused tonality, the NDH 30 is
more relaxed with a tad more dimension-like
the NDH 20 let out a gentle sigh.
Similar to the NDH 20, the NDH 30 is an
excellent mixing headphone. If I overcook
the lows or highs on them, I know I have
pushed them too far. Conversely, on many
" hyped " studio cans, I tend to undermix
those same elements, and the NDH 30 is
also a huge help in that realm.
Where the NDH 20 lives in my world
solely as a favorite tracking and mixing
tool, the NDH 30 are also pleasant to
just listen to music.
Wrap Up
Neumann had already crafted a headphone
worthy of its legacy. The NDH 30
is another excellent entry that offers users
a gently more open, natural-sounding option
while retaining what made the previous
model a studio-focused success.
http://neumann.com
RECORDING November 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of RECORDING November 2022
