Genelec 8341A SAM™ Studio Monitor Review

[Hephaestus]

What's more important to me (and confusing) is:
8260A :
23 Hz - 40 kHz ("-6 db")
8361A:
Response
30 Hz - 43 kHz (-6dB)

You would expect the newer model to go lower, or at least as low as the older model.

I asked about this from Genelec rep and it was a design choice to allow higher SPL for 8361A. ( or that is how I understood it...)
8260A max 113db
8361A max 118db

 

[andreasmaaan]

I don't see the directivity differences between all these models as particularly significant. And I wouldn't expect the 8351 to have better directivity than the 8341 necessarily, but simply to play a bit lower, louder, and cleaner.

 

[richard12511]

I don't see the directivity differences between all these models as particularly significant. And I wouldn't expect the 8351 to have better directivity than the 8341 necessarily, but simply to play a bit lower, louder, and cleaner.

Agreed. We're talking about very small differences, here.

 

[Pearljam5000]

I asked about this from Genelec rep and it was a design choice to allow higher SPL for 8361A. ( or that is how I understood it...)
8260A max 113db
8361A max 118db

That's unfortunate because the 8260 is truly full range and the 8361 is not, but I guess you can't have everything.

 

[q3cpma]

I don't see the directivity differences between all these models as particularly significant. And I wouldn't expect the 8351 to have better directivity than the 8341 necessarily, but simply to play a bit lower, louder, and cleaner.

Why? Isn't it a basics that bigger cabinets leads to a lower baffle step all thing equal (like layout and distance from driver to walls)? I know it's nitpicking, but the difference with the 8351A is still glaring: way smoother but vertical is completely different from 250 to 750 Hz.
After more spec reading, it is now obvious to me that the woofer to mid crossover frequency going from 470 (A) to 320 (B) Hz is the culprit, the midrange not benefiting from the slot loading mechanism. So they traded smoothness and SPL/distorsion for LF directivity control, which makes sense (especially if you want to sell the W371A, hehe).

 

[andreasmaaan]

Why? Isn't it a basics that bigger cabinets leads to a lower baffle step all thing equal (like layout and distance from driver to walls)?

Sure, but the differences in baffle dimensions are in the order of 5cm. Not so significant in relation to other aspects of the design that have changed.

After more spec reading, it is now obvious to me that the woofer to mid crossover frequency going from 470 (A) to 320 (B) Hz is the culprit, the midrange not benefit from the slot loading mechanism. So they traded smoothness and SPL/distorsion for LF directivity control, which makes sense (especially if you want to sell the W371A, hehe).

I think that nails it

 

[Senior NEET Engineer]

I have a general question
You can get the 8341 and a sub, or the 8351 without a sub for about the same budget I guess.
Obviously 8341 will perform great because the sub takes care of the lowest end... And the system will probably have more bass than the 8351 without sub, but it's still a smaller monitor than the 8351.
So.. Basically what I'm asking is, will the 8341 with a sub will sound smaller than the 8351 without a sub?

Going sub vs no sub is out of the question imo.

There is some spatial information in sub bass region that these speakers can't produce on their own. Try experimenting with EQ. In my experience, reducing the bass extension will reduce the soundstage depth and make the speaker sound smaller. Dispersion width also has an impact depending on room size, but these speakers are very similar in that regard.

Low sub bass producing instruments are not exclusive to synthesized music either. Pipe organ and piano goes very deep for example. A good low tuned sealed sub or few can get you 5hz extension if your room is small enough.

 

[onion]

What is the best way of dealing with the room mode? There appears to be one at around 38Hz as shown in the picture below. This is using a single 7350 sub with a pair of 8341s. Would the best solution be:
- bass trap
- second SAM subwoofer connected to GLM
- combination of the two
- something else

 

[Colonel Bogey]

I have just received a pair of 8341s with a single 7350a sub. This seems to put out more than 10db more than a pair of 8341s alone (108db vs 95/96db). The latter combination would turn red above 96dB). With the sub, I haven't hit the red zone yet. So the big benefit is for SPL and headroom.

Great system! I have a 7360 to go with my 8341's and realize it's overkill. Planning to downgrade to a 7350.

 

[o7_brother]

I have a 7360 to go with my 8341's and realize it's overkill. Planning to downgrade to a 7350.

Just curious, what are your room dimensions, that you consider the 7360 overkill?

 

[Colonel Bogey]

Just curious, what are your room dimensions, that you consider the 7360 overkill?

The room is 6 by 6 meters with a "dent" that makes it somewhat L-shaped, quite a difficult room really. I only listen to classical music, not very loud and never challenge the system. Thats why the the 7360 is a bit too big, even though it from a max SPL perspective is supposed to be the best match for the 8341's.

But its fun to have had that capacity available. When listening to organ music with a lot of deep bass (say the 2:nd movement of Bach's first organ sonata), turning up the volume knob reaaly high (and maybe also the bass knob on the RME) is exciting. But I guess I could listen to most of my preferred music with no sub at all. The 7350 will do fine.

 

[Pearljam5000]

Do you feel the 8341's have a big enough soundstage and instrument speration for classical orchestras?

 

[Colonel Bogey]

Do you feel the 8341's have a big enough soundstage and instrument speration for classical orchestras?

It took some tweeking with placement of the speakers, but yes, the instruments and instrument groups are well separated. The speakers make it easy to "read" complex, polyphonic music.

 

[Pearljam5000]

Please someone send 8351B and 8361A to amirm for review, I'm addicted to these reviews
Anyways I'm really disappointed the 8341A are not loud especially for the price.

 

[Senior NEET Engineer]

Please someone send 8351B and 8361A to amirm for review, I'm addicted to these reviews
Anyways I'm really disappointed the 8341A are not loud especially for the price.

There is no need for additional reviews. Spinorama will be similar. SPL specs are on their website. 8351B is 3 dB louder above 100hz, 8361A is 8 dB louder. If you need high output below 100hz, then you must use a subwoofer.

 

[onion]

Please someone send 8351B and 8361A to amirm for review, I'm addicted to these reviews
Anyways I'm really disappointed the 8341A are not loud especially for the price.

As I mentioned earlier, I'm getting 105+ dB at 3m listening distance, this with 8341 + single small sub (7350). Plenty loud for me

 

[Pearljam5000]

There is no need for additional reviews. Spinorama will be similar. SPL specs are on their website. 8351B is 3 dB louder above 100hz, 8361A is 8 dB louder. If you need high output below 100hz, then you must use a subwoofer.

I somewhat agree.. And disagree
The guy from Genelec said that the 8361A although close in specs to 8351B sounds very different.
So specs aren't everything (;

 

[sweetchaos]

Look forward to testing its larger brother at some point in the future.

Amir even said so in the review. If anyone has 8351B and 8361A, please send to Amir.

 

[hege]

As I mentioned earlier, I'm getting 105+ dB at 3m listening distance, this with 8341 + single small sub (7350). Plenty loud for me

Sorry but posting vague dB values is of no use. I doubt this is dBC/Z slow measurement?

Most likely you are quoting some vague "peak" value. It would be impossible to get average 105+ dB from 8341A which are specced 101dB long term RMS. And that doesn't even include bass.

 

[onion]

Sorry but posting vague dB values is of no use. I doubt this is dBC/Z slow measurement?

Most likely you are quoting some vague "peak" value. It would be impossible to get average 105+ dB from 8341A which are specced 101dB long term RMS. And that doesn't even include bass.

That's with the sub