The Genelecs Files

Discussion in 'Speakers' started by GoodEnoughGear, Jan 23, 2017.

  1. Changeling

    Changeling Tube Slut

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    Interesting and thanks for sharing!

    I don't find the 8020's I have bright at all.
    I actually think they're very musical yet neutral sounding. Once I got to measure and adjust the placement properly I was super happy with my 2.1 setup and I see no need for EQing them
    (This is with with RME ADI-2 Pro fed from Lynx AES16).
     
  2. Armaegis

    Armaegis Friend

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    I reviewed a couple small bookshelf options here: http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=149789.0
    I'm actually looking to sell the JB3 if you're interested.

    If looking to save money on the Genelec, I think the older model is called the 1029.

    Other monitors:
    Mackie CR3 or CR4 (a bit canned to my ears, but others have liked them here)
    M-Audio AV40 or AV42 (I liked it better than the AudioEngine A2... but it's more of a side grade and larger size)

    A silly recommendation, but this is what I've been using for a computer setup for years: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Model-Twelv...565019?hash=item2cc4c152db:g:BhQAAOSwcmhZlKXK
    It's not a miracle worker, but probably the best compact 2.1 system I've heard. It doesn't measure up to my regular speakers, but heck the entire suitcase is smaller than one of my speakers.

    Probably too big, but this is nice... http://www.philharmonicaudio.com/Mini-Monitor.html
     
    Last edited: Aug 17, 2017
  3. Hrodulf

    Hrodulf Prohibited from acting as an MOT until year 2050

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    Got a pair of 8050A's. Acoustically they're the same as 8050B's sans the stand-by mode.

    First impression - they're made from cast aluminium. Like pebble shaped engine blocks with woofers.
    Second impression - there's something seriously wrong with one of them. Bass seems rolled off with high THD/noise apparent during sweeps.

    Contacted the seller and Genelec. Both reacted admirably - Genelec was pretty straight forward saying that I could send the faulty speaker to Finland for check-up or y'know... open it up and repair it myself. No "I'm responsible for my life and won't sue them if electrocuted" papers to sign, just unscrew these four main bolts, check stuff out and put everything back like it was. Which I did and now both of the speakers perform up to spec.

    Now onto integrating the sub...
     
  4. Armaegis

    Armaegis Friend

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    So what was wrong with the speaker?
     
  5. Hrodulf

    Hrodulf Prohibited from acting as an MOT until year 2050

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    During shipping the woofer had come loose from the chassis. It's held by four metal tabs which are bolted on the inside of the case. And three of the bolts might've vibrated loose. Luckily nothing too serious.
     
  6. Beam

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    Resurrecting an old thread...
    Got a pair of 8030C at a very good price for my small home office, connected to an Yggdrasil through an SPL Volume 2. I was just going to use them as an alternative to my L700 when I'm handling paints but the sound is amazing (especially considering the size and switching power supplies and class D amplifiers) and that made me consider something like a SAM 8351 or 8350 when the time comes to replace the system in the living room.
    Which would be better, a 8050 with a good balanced DAC, or a 8350?
    With SAM I guess it wouldn't make sense to use an external DAC, how good is the DAC in SAM monitors?
    Even if the DAC itself is not at the same level, something must be gained with room calibration and with no pre-amps/volume control and no analogue signal through cables 2 or 3 m long. So in the end, what would be an equivalent DAC?
    The 8260 has a few years, the 8351 was released 2-3 years ago, do you know if the DAC-DSP sections are being updated without releasing new monitor models (B, C, ...)?
     
  7. Collusion

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    ^ 8331 and 8341 are supposedly more advanced DSP wise than the older and bigger 8351 model. Same logic applies between 8351 and 8260, since the latter is older. I have home demoed a 8331 pair. Electroacoustically they are ahead of their analog counterparts, as I was able to compare them to my 8030b pair. Soundstage is more focused and stable. Drivers seem to integrate together slightly better. This true when listening in a near field configuration even without enabling the integrated DSP, but I don't know what happens at larger distances. When it comes to other factors, like timbre, dynamics, tonal balance, overall detail and "musicality" / sweetness, it really depends on your preamp and dac. I think you can do better with the analog models, but at what cost. Something like a RME ADI-2 DAC is comparable IMHO when talking about equivalent dacs (performance and sound signature wise).

    I personally think the achilles' heel of Genelec SAM speakers is actually the way they need to be set up to get the optimal sound quality. You'd be feeding them only digital signals, preferably aes/ebu. And to do so from multiple different sources, you'll need a digital preamplifier, which are still quite rare even today. Even more so if you want a multichannel setup. Controlling volume without the external GLM set is a real pain in the ass too.

    Buying a pair of analog models and a external preamp/dac/AIO is just so much easier based on my own experiences. Plus, you get to utilize your dac, for example, with your headphones, too.
     
    Last edited: Feb 11, 2019
  8. Hrodulf

    Hrodulf Prohibited from acting as an MOT until year 2050

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    My money's on the 8350. It's phase linear through most of the range and the breakup spike at 22kHz is fully attenuated. The 8050 has a certain roughness in the highs which I'd attribute to the breakup introducing IMD spikes into the audible spectrum. At the same time - at 8350 prices I'd rather get the KH310 for a fully analog 3-way.

    Of course, it won't be able to tango with the best of them out there, but you will never have a way to directly compare. If you think that it is something that keeps you up at night, go analog.

    The newer models like 8341/31 have the most advanced electronics. I wouldn't, however discount the 8351/8260 because of this. Acoustic design usually is more audible than electronics. If you wan't full range sound, you need to get the 8260, no way around it. The 8351 is considered to be a marginally better sounding speaker, but won't go as loud and low.

    If you have a set of SAM monitors, then having the GLM box is a no-brainer, imo.
     
  9. Dr J

    Dr J Friend

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    [QUOTE="Buying a pair of analog models and a external preamp/dac/AIO is just so much easier based on my own experiences. Plus, you get to utilize your dac, for example, with your headphones, too.[/QUOTE]

    Second that.

    I went back and forth between 8260 and 8050 until I realized the DSP in 8260 (and the other DSP models?) cannot be bypassed, leading to additional a/d-d/a for analog inputs. That was a showstopper as I wanted to be able to later upgrade to a killer DA converter.

    Briefly considered 1038 or 1037 as next step up in Genelec analogue line portfolio but came to my senses... Is 1032 still around as an option?

    If you need the room correction, AntiMode 2.0 or some Dirac stuff from MiniDSP that does the correction in digital domain before the DAC would work. And 8050+AntiMode 2.0 might actually be even less expensive than 8260 or the newer fancier models... That's what I used (with preamp) before getting a dedicated acoustically treated room.
     
  10. Beam

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    When you say back and forth, just trying to decide or actual listening?
    The best comparison would probably be between the 8050 and the 8350 since it's the same monitor without and with DSP-DAC. The price difference is around 1000 GBP for the pair which is roughly the cost of a Gungnir Multibit or the RME ADI-2. The GLM can be cheap within a pack, and it's probably not going to be more than a volume control/pre-amp. Has anyone had the opportunity to compare the 8050 with the 8350 (or equivalent monitors on 40 or 30 size) with a 1000-2000 GBP DAC on the 80xx? I know versatility, upgrades, etc, are important factors to consider but the integration in the 8350 may better the sum of the parts in the 8050.
     
  11. Psalmanazar

    Psalmanazar Most improved member; A+

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    If the DSP Genelecs are the speakers you like the sound of best, then get the DSP Genelecs if you like their sound better than the non DSP ones, irregardless of if they have DSP or not.

    Old Genelec 10XX sound different from modern Genelecs too so be careful. They have front facing ports so can be used closer to a wall but the tweeter is much more etched. They're less normal sounding for sure so do not buy without trying them. Old Genelecs typically cost way too much used too so aren't a good bang for buck option.
     
  12. Dr J

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    Deciding based on being able to use a separate DAC, not by listening side by side. Although I did hear both separately, and in one setup the 8260 was pretty awesome as I recall. Really wished that there was a way to run them fully analog...

    FWIW, I am very happy with the 8050s in my current system. Which was heavily influenced by a set of recommendations in this forum: Auralic Aries - AES - Yggdrasil 2 - XLR - Freya (passive mode) - XLR - 7060 (sub) - XLR - 8050.
     
  13. Dr J

    Dr J Friend

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    Agree, important to hear them before deciding.
     
  14. infinity

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    I currently have regular genelecs, but i´m curious about SAM monitors. After you´ve calibrated them, do you still need to have them connected to the GLM box/mic?
     
  15. Metro

    Metro Friend

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    The calibrations can be stored into the speakers and operate without the GLM box. However, you may still want to use the GLM box for volume control. See page 57 in the manual:
    https://www.genelec.com/sites/defau...tware/GLM 3/glm_3_system_operating_manual.pdf
     

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