Neumann NDH 20 Black Edition

I eagerly awaited this colour Black. Thomann were brilliant and one of the 1st to stock them (based on my research)!

I was really impressed with how they were packaged. And most importantly the headphones look great and build quality is superb!

I am left handed so the right side headphone lead is preferable for me. Unlike with the silver (original NDH 20) option, only one cable is supplied which is straight cable. Whilst that is still my preference to use, I would however have liked the coiled option to be included (especially at this price point). The ear cups even though they are circular are comfortable for me, but may not be the case for those with larger ears. The headphones clamp tightly on my head and surprisingly also are very comfortable when wearing glasses…..Now to how do they sound?!! Transparent and high frequencies were a little harsh upon first listen, but I put this down to previous headphones HD650 being much more subtle in the higher register. Bass is there but again less then I am used to, but I like this for mixing as they are close to that of the Neumann KH80’s, so it’s easy to work with them both, without nothing drastic changing on either option. I did also try these with Sonarworks ID with which work great in combination with HD650, but really didn’t like using it with the NDH20, as it removed any low end and made higher frequencies even more harsher and abrasive.

Overall, I am happy with my purchase. They lose a point for not including coiled cable as well as flimsy storage pouch-would have liked something a little more robust. That being said these headphones really do compliment my workflow and allow me to trust my mixes when working with them.

The sound is nowhere near flat. The bass is super hyped and there is a weird peak around 3-4k. These factors make the headphones unsuitable for mixing/mastering purposes, and also a little bit fatiguing. I personally don't find them enjoyable either, even just for sitting down and listening to music. They are good but for the price, I definitely expected more. My favorite headphones (Sennheiser HD600s) cost half the price and deliver better in almost every aspect. Neumanns have better imaging and lower bass extension (which is too much for my taste). So if you're a bass head go for it, but if you listen to music with distorted guitars, be aware.

The comfort is surprisingly bad. The headphones are very heavy and the headband is quite hard. After an hour you will feel like taking a break. The ear cups are big enough but I wish they were oval shape, rather than round.

Overall, its a pretty good closed back headphones. If you are restricted to closed backs, this will probably be a great choice. But if you can open backs, there are much better options out there for cheaper prices.