Genelec 8341A SAM™ Studio Monitor Review

[Fluffy]

Their website claims the amplification is " 250W Bass (Class D) + 150W Midrange (Class D) + 150W Treble (Class D) ". How is this not enough power?

 

[Vintage57]

The 8361 shows worse performance as per their own measurements. the 8351 is better.
There Main Monitors are all worse looking (trade-of for high SPL and bass).

I wasn’t aware, thanks.

 

[mhardy6647]

boy howdy. That is impressive.

Their website claims the amplification is " 250W Bass (Class D) + 150W Midrange (Class D) + 150W Treble (Class D) ". How is this not enough power?

Between any signal processing and the intrinsic electrical efficiency of the drivers, those watts get invested pretty heavily with limited return on investment in terms of SPL (but much more in terms of flatness of response). Looks like an example of Hoffman's Iron Law to me.

 

[pavuol]

Their website claims the amplification is " 250W Bass (Class D) + 150W Midrange (Class D) + 150W Treble (Class D) ". How is this not enough power?

Boss is a little deaf from all the years in industry, but don't tell him..

 

[amirm]

Their website claims the amplification is " 250W Bass (Class D) + 150W Midrange (Class D) + 150W Treble (Class D) ". How is this not enough power?

They may be applying a lot of boost to correct issues in the woofer, causing it to run out of juice. The evidence of the red LED coming on though is hard to dispute. Unless you want to dispute my hearing.

 

[Doodski]

Any other one-bedroom apartment dwellers drooling?

No, not drooling. I am more inclined to go with a good Class A 70+ watts/channel amp and a nice pair of passive speakers.

 

[Rja4000]

SPL with a stereo pair will be higher anyway...

 

[amirm]

SPL with a stereo pair will be higher anyway...

Ah, that is a good point.

 

[Sancus]

They may be applying a lot of boost to correct issues in the woofer, causing it to run out of juice. The evidence of the red LED coming on though is hard to dispute. Unless you want to dispute my hearing.

In this case, since 'it doesnt get loud enough' seems to be the only real issue, it might be good to do a basic measurement of what SPL is required at 1m to get the red light to turn on.

That would help people evaluate whether it's really "loud enough" for their own standards. I have noticed in various posts on here that people listen at quite significantly varying volumes, between ~70db to as high as 90-95db(above HT reference ?!?!).

 

[Jimster480]

$6000 for speakers and they don't even get that loud?
I suppose these are really for "studio" work and should be a hard pass for everyone else.
$6000 is really a joke price to pay for any piece of audio equipment unless its specifically for music production where they are delivering something of "reference" that can be used for mastering.

 

[amirm]

In this case, since 'it doesnt get loud enough' seems to be the only real issue, it might be good to do a basic measurement of what SPL is required at 1m to get the red light to turn on.

I am hesitant to run steady state signals in such conditions. This is not a cheap speaker to replace!

 

[carlob]

In another thread I wrote that small studio monitors are engineered for studio use and most of the time, even if they perform flawlessy, are not that good for home use in particular if your listening point is 2/3 meters away or if you have a mid/large size room. Seems to me that it's confirmed. Benchmark FR but at 1 meter.

 

[Tks]

$6000 for speakers and they don't even get that loud?
I suppose these are really for "studio" work and should be a hard pass for everyone else.
$6000 is really a joke price to pay for any piece of audio equipment unless its specifically for music production where they are delivering something of "reference" that can be used for mastering.

I'm one of those people who thinks everything is too loud these days in terms of audio.

These sound right up my alley, though that price... ehh, I'm not too sure

 

[thefsb]

6 grand and they don't get loud? So they're near field only. Probably gotta move up to the $8000 8351B for mid-field.

No. Those are also for near field work. For loud, switch to the main monitors, e.g. for 130 dB SPL you could use the https://www.genelec.com/1236a

 

[Rja4000]

From Genelec specs:
"Long term max SPL ≥101 dB
Maximum long term RMS acoustic output in the same conditions with IEC weighted noise (limited by driver protection circuit) at 1 m."

1032C is given for 104dB for same measurement, and, in my office, a pair can be... VERY loud at 1.5m.
RED light may appear though, on some bass-heavy content.
101dB is half the power...

 

[aarons915]

SPL with a stereo pair will be higher anyway...

Not only that but high passing them at 80Hz probably takes a huge load off of them anyway, I'm sure they get plenty loud with subwoofers in the mix. We also have no idea how loud they were playing before the light came on, it could have been louder than 99% of us listen, in which case it doesn't really matter.

 

[AudioSceptic]

Got it. Dual woofers, one behind each vent.

Not square though. Not oval either, but more like the venerable KEF B139, although not with the flat diaphragm.

 

[Rja4000]

No. Those are also for near field work. For loud, switch to the main monitors, e.g. for 130 dB SPL you could use the https://www.genelec.com/1236a

I know those beasts.
They are very impressive to listen to.
Or, rather, to listen through.

 

[thefsb]

I know those beasts.
They are very impressive to listen to.
Or, rather, to listen through.

If Amir gets it on the Spinorama, I want to see a video of the install.

 

[Rja4000]

If Amir gets it on the Spinorama, I want to see a video of the install.

Usually, you build the walls around them, not the reverse.