Best mid-tier monitors : Genelec 8350A vs Neumann KH310

[Kervel]

Sure, 8350 is a tad better than a DSPed 8050. The point is that genelec subs are expensive, so if you need one you need to compare the whole package of all genelecs versus alternative DSP solution with sub and mains.

 

[richard12511]

JBL 708p is another option that's a little cheaper, not much less in terms of fidelity, and has even better max output.

In terms of fidelity(disregarding price, and assuming you have EQ), my money would be on the KH310(for reasons others have already mentioned).

 

[stevenswall]

Maybe I'm terrible at following tutorials, but I've used REW and a MiniDSP with several speakers and subwoofer sytems... I've never gotten close to GLM results with subwoofer integration or bass correction.

There's a large value for me in GLM taking 15 minutes to play with and even EQ to taste, vs spending ~10 hours over a week on a system following tutorials, reading, calibrating, measuring, and repeating.

If anyone has used Dirac and GLM and prefers Dirac, then long term that will save money because of the expense of Genelec SAM speakers and subs... Even used, a dual 12" Genelec 7271 is $2500, and for that you could get a dual 15" Rythmik G25HP.

 

[monkeyboy]

The cheapest one...once installed in a room I doubt you can tell the difference...

 

[fredstuhl]

I‘ve chosen the Genelecs. Of course it‘s a matter of taste, but the white 83x0 series is one of the coolest looking/ most living room friendly speaker lines I know. Calibrating with GLM is a breeze. With room gain when placed close to a wall, they don’t drop off before 30 Hz. Was a bit concerned about max SPL after Amirs review, but after accidently playing them with near max volume once when fiddling with GLM, I just pray that I never forget to set an appropriately low start volume for the speakers ever again. Class D amps and auto-sleep are convenient energy savers and hence very welcome. I planned to order and test a bunch of other speakers, but I was just so happy with the whole package that I didn‘t feel the need to compare further.

 

[temps]

The cheapest one...once installed in a room I doubt you can tell the difference...

nope you definitely can

you'd have to be insane to pick the Gennies over the KH310s

 

[Pearljam5000]

nope you definitely can

you'd have to be insane to pick the Gennies over the KH310s

Why?
How is the KH310 better?

 

[temps]

Why?
How is the KH310 better?

Excellently implemented 3 way instead of 2 way. Sealed instead of ported. Better vertical directivity. Flatter throughout the range with practically no resonances. Subjective opinion here but the KH 310 is notably better through the midrange & vocal region than any 2 way I've heard.

I will say it is kind of a pain not having the auto-sensing power on/off from my old monitors... it'd be really nice to have that back. I'm nearfield so it's only a minor inconvenience but farfield I think it'd be almost in dealbreaker territory, but I wouldn't consider bookshelves for farfield listening anyway. GLM is great if you don't have a different room correction already. Can't remember if the 8350 has a phase linearizer option or not... would probably do quite a bit to improve its sound at the cost of some latency.

edit: also to add onto this more, the Genelec 8331 is in this price category as well. I would strongly prefer those + subwoofers in an untreated room over either the 310 or 8350.