So, are we saying 8030C is no good for home theater setup due to it being a "desktop speaker" and sounding small from a distance? If you couple them with a couple of subs is that still the case?
So, are we saying 8030C is no good for home theater setup due to it being a "desktop speaker" and sounding small from a distance? If you couple them with a couple of subs is that still the case?
Genelec are like the dream audio equipment company. I can’t believe how useful, detailed, and honest all the info they provide is. Also how they have zero gimmicks and never cut corners anywhere in the products themselves. Heartening to see a just strandup and straight forward company do as well as they do. I guess some of it is the difference between pro audio and home audiophilia. Products for pros are for people who have dedicated their lives to music and sound and whose livelihoods depend on doing it well. Home audio is as much about romance and image as it is about sound itself, maybe. In a way, they’re polar opposites. In home audio you’ll see people,waxing poetic about thousand dollar cables with “warm” sound, but you’ll never see detailed guides like this candidly detailing every last aspect of performance.
Genelec are like the dream audio equipment company. I can’t believe how useful, detailed, and honest all the info they provide is. Also how they have zero gimmicks and never cut corners anywhere in the products themselves. Heartening to see a just strandup and straight forward company do as well as they do. I guess some of it is the difference between pro audio and home audiophilia. Products for pros are for people who have dedicated their lives to music and sound and whose livelihoods depend on doing it well. Home audio is as much about romance and image as it is about sound itself, maybe. In a way, they’re polar opposites. In home audio you’ll see people,waxing poetic about thousand dollar cables with “warm” sound, but you’ll never see detailed guides like this candidly detailing every last aspect of performance.
Genelec are like the dream audio equipment company. I can’t believe how useful, detailed, and honest all the info they provide is. Also how they have zero gimmicks and never cut corners anywhere in the products themselves. Heartening to see a just strandup and straight forward company do as well as they do. I guess some of it is the difference between pro audio and home audiophilia. Products for pros are for people who have dedicated their lives to music and sound and whose livelihoods depend on doing it well. Home audio is as much about romance and image as it is about sound itself, maybe. In a way, they’re polar opposites. In home audio you’ll see people,waxing poetic about thousand dollar cables with “warm” sound, but you’ll never see detailed guides like this candidly detailing every last aspect of performance.
I am using one size bigger for my living room home theather. I use 8340 as LCR and 8330 as surrounds with 2 SVS SB-12 NSD. I am sitting 3.5 meters from the screen. I am super happy on the way it sounds in my non optimal living room (big glass doors to the terrace). Movies are excellent and I would say even better than my local cinema hall. I also had similar doubts. I asked experts in this forum. I read a forum member using JBL LSR705P at 4 meters and he was happy.So, are we saying 8030C is no good for home theater setup due to it being a "desktop speaker" and sounding small from a distance? If you couple them with a couple of subs is that still the case?
I am using one size bigger for my living room home theather. I use 8340 as LCR and 8330 as surrounds with 2 SVS SB-12 NSD. I am sitting 3.5 meters from the screen. I am super happy on the way it sounds in my non optimal living room (big glass doors to the terrace). Movies are excellent and I would say even better than my local cinema hall. I also had similar doubts. I asked experts in this forum. I read a forum member using JBL LSR705P at 4 meters and he was happy.
It depends on your listening distance. They never sounded small to me with or without a sub. I use them as TV/living room speakers combined with a 10" sealed subwoofer. I wouldn't use them as mains in a larger theater though, that would be asking too much of a what ultimately is only a 5" woofer.
I am looking to build a living room home theater, listening distance is about 2.5m away. I thought paired with two subs should be more than enough output. Listening levels are typically -20 or lower with TV content.
Genelec are like the dream audio equipment company. I can’t believe how useful, detailed, and honest all the info they provide is. Also how they have zero gimmicks and never cut corners anywhere in the products themselves ... I guess some of it is the difference between pro audio and home audiophilia. Products for pros are for people who have dedicated their lives to music and sound and whose livelihoods depend on doing it well.
Got the 8030Cs today. I first replaced the Revel M16 in my living room with these - miniDsp xover at 80Hz with a B&W tiny sub. First impressions were - bright & small sounding; the word "shrill" comes to mind. I didn't adjust any tone controls on the Genelecs. There was more "air" to the highs. I know - sue me, but I don't know how else to describe it. Very clear sounding overall. This was very easy and quick - the Revels back on the stands right away. The Genelecs sound small and boxy compared to the Revels.
Now they are sitting on my computer desk replacing B&W MM-1 (I've had these for almost a decade I think). Desk has tempered glass top. Boomy bass but the smallishness is gone prolly cos my ears are 3-4 feet away. Adjusted the tone controls as recommended for the "Desktop" situation in the manual. Its a lot better.
I won't even bother comparing with 708Ps. Plus it will mean re-running Dirac calibration so I don't have much incentive - these will not match the SPL and dynamics.
Annoyances:
- I have a longish RCA-XLR adapter and it interferes with pushing the stand back for inclination. RCA-XLR cables are on their way so this should not be a problem I hope.
- Dip switches - really? Feels so '80s. But whatever, they work. Had to go find a tiny tool to reach them as they are recessed.
- I hate toggle power switches. This is a button. One of the speakers came powered on so when I plugged it in, a disconcerting thump. Not a good first experience. Its so easy to toggle it when fiddling with the back side - safe thing would be to unplug the power cord. Poor lazy design IMO. These are not cheap monitors.
- Manual is unclear about the sensitivity setting. The lowest -6db is the default setting. It gets far too loud with my Khadas Tone Board Dac even with Windows volume at 10. I am afraid to adjust this - don't want to blow it up. Not necessarily Genelec's fault if this is obvious to pro users.
Overall - they are good for computer speakers, for me.
Hope that helps.
That might be the case. Every time I have gotten "better" speakers, they appear bright at first and then ... my ears break in. Or something like that. This is all getting too subjetivy for my taste. I have 30 days to return, so no rush. Thanks to sweetwater.
The flatter the frequency curve, the brighter they will sound at first if you've gotten used to speakers that roll-off high frequencies sooner.
Got the 8030Cs today. I first replaced the Revel M16 in my living room with these - miniDsp xover at 80Hz with a B&W tiny sub. First impressions were - bright & small sounding; the word "shrill" comes to mind. I didn't adjust any tone controls on the Genelecs. There was more "air" to the highs. I know - sue me, but I don't know how else to describe it. Very clear sounding overall. This was very easy and quick - the Revels back on the stands right away. The Genelecs sound small and boxy compared to the Revels.
Now they are sitting on my computer desk replacing B&W MM-1 (I've had these for almost a decade I think). Desk has tempered glass top. Boomy bass but the smallishness is gone prolly cos my ears are 3-4 feet away. Adjusted the tone controls as recommended for the "Desktop" situation in the manual. Its a lot better.
I won't even bother comparing with 708Ps. Plus it will mean re-running Dirac calibration so I don't have much incentive - these will not match the SPL and dynamics.
Annoyances:
- I have a longish RCA-XLR adapter and it interferes with pushing the stand back for inclination. RCA-XLR cables are on their way so this should not be a problem I hope.
- Dip switches - really? Feels so '80s. But whatever, they work. Had to go find a tiny tool to reach them as they are recessed.
- I hate toggle power switches. This is a button. One of the speakers came powered on so when I plugged it in, a disconcerting thump. Not a good first experience. Its so easy to toggle it when fiddling with the back side - safe thing would be to unplug the power cord. Poor lazy design IMO. These are not cheap monitors.
- Manual is unclear about the sensitivity setting. The lowest -6db is the default setting. It gets far too loud with my Khadas Tone Board Dac even with Windows volume at 10. I am afraid to adjust this - don't want to blow it up. Not necessarily Genelec's fault if this is obvious to pro users.
Overall - they are good for computer speakers, for me.
Hope that helps.
I am using one size bigger for my living room home theather. I use 8340 as LCR and 8330 as surrounds with 2 SVS SB-12 NSD. I am sitting 3.5 meters from the screen. I am super happy on the way it sounds in my non optimal living room (big glass doors to the terrace). Movies are excellent and I would say even better than my local cinema hall. I also had similar doubts. I asked experts in this forum. I read a forum member using JBL LSR705P at 4 meters and he was happy.
My screen size is 300 cm or 120'' diagonal. I live in Europe as well so lower ceiling height. Attached are some picture.I have the exact same listening distance in European flat (higher ceilings than US). Thanks for sharing speaker sizing choice. Just out of curiosity, what size screen do you use for that distance? I'm debating 65" OLED (small side for distance) vs an UST projector. They're about the same price but OLED has better PQ and projector larger display.
Is there an equivalent in electronics? RME?
My screen size is 300 cm or 120'' diagonal. I live in Europe as well so lower ceiling height. Attached are some picture.