Genelec 8010a vs 8020d as PC speakers?

[staticV3]

They have also usb c audio input, making more clean digital to analogue path.

You'd think, but for some reason the D3V has an internal DAC up- and downstream of the DSP Xover.

So USB in is USB->DAC->ADC->DSP->DAC->Amp->Drivers

 

[Miguelón]

You'd think, but for some reason the D3V has an internal DAC up- and downstream of the DSP Xover.

So USB in is USB->DAC->ADC->DSP->DAC->Amp->Drivers

Cannot understand why… Maybe to avoid potential issues at the DSP unit by handling various formats and resolutions?

 

[AnalogSteph]

That, plus you can have the DAC be bus-powered and not draw any power when not in use. Any kind of switching, mixing etc. tends to be easier in the analog domain, too. Not exactly high-tech but it works. ADAM's design philosophy in terms of electronics seems to be keeping them as simple and generic as possible, which helps keep cost down and should improve repairability.

 

[Miguelón]

That, plus you can have the DAC be bus-powered and not draw any power when not in use. Any kind of switching, mixing etc. tends to be easier in the analog domain, too. Not exactly high-tech but it works. ADAM's design philosophy in terms of electronics seems to be keeping them as simple and generic as possible, which helps keep cost down and should improve repairability.

Got It, seems that the intention was to give a practical and unexpensive low-problematic digital input for tablets and smartphones, in case of OTG use of the speakers.

POST EDITED: I wonder if the new WiiM Sub Pro have the same topology with respect to its digital WIFI input...

 

[Breeze98]

So USB in is USB->DAC->ADC->DSP->DAC->Amp->Drivers

Would you be reducing the total number of conversions (or overall signal path) if using Adam's 1/4" inputs, despite necessitating an external dac if the source is digital?

 

[staticV3]

Would you be reducing the total number of conversions (or overall signal path) if using Adam's 1/4" inputs, despite necessitating an external dac if the source is digital?

Afaik you'd be substituting the D3V's internal DAC for an external one.

Number of conversions would stay the same.

 

[Breeze98]

Number of conversions would stay the same.

That makes sense, so the shortest route would be using an analogue source. Need to dust off that Teac reel to reel in storage


(only joking)

 

[sheeple]

I do not see any sense in this 8010 vs 8020 comparison. What 8010s and 8020s suffer from equally is lack of sub bass, which can only be fixed by a sub. SPL of the 8010s is much higher than you would ever need at the desktop listening distance. 8030s can pass as a sort of full range system, but they are a bit large for a desk.

 

[Miguelón]

I do not see any sense in this 8010 vs 8020 comparison. What 8010s and 8020s suffer from equally is lack of sub bass, which can only be fixed by a sub. SPL of the 8010s is much higher than you would ever need at the desktop listening distance. 8030s can pass as a sort of full range system, but they are a bit large for a desk.

Not agree, It sounds reasonable but the fact is that 8020 is one of the best sellers at Thomann.

Many people, as me for example, they want a desktop setup that can easily transform in a home setup if wanted.

Of course, in small rooms, cannot fill a 20x20 feet living room with those littles.

My solution to a quick transformation of my Office (physiotherapist) when I have no patients and want to listen jazz or rock, or even classical at 1.5 - 2 meters:

Take BOTH speakers in one single movement, place them on hidden floorstands I have in a closet, and connect the sub. Set the preloaded room correction in my WiiM and enjoy


Even more, I'm considering to try a WiiM Sub Pro, the range of bass I need in my office only goes to 40 Hz with some authority at 80 dB @ 1m.

Cannot do that with 8010s.

Reading posts and comments at Thomann, It seems Genelec 8010 to 8030 covers the following uses:

8010: desktop with laptop, travel setups, small cabins in studio.

8020: desktop with PC, home setup or behind-desktop in small rooms.

8030: desktop with PC, home setup in medium sized rooms.

All three NEED a sub: don't use 8030 as full setup, the 50-60 Hz range is not at the level of the rest of the speakers. They do the job, that's all.

 

[sheeple]

Reading posts and comments at Thomann

No disrespect: I am not reading comments at Thomann. I have 8010, I listened on the 8030 for years, and I have highly capable main speakers comparable to the Genelec S360. I base my judgement on listening experience.

8030s will adequately work as an almost-fullrange speaker for HiFi listening at home levels. The 8020 do not, nor do the 8010, and if adding a sub is mandatory, the 8010s will do just as well for HiFi listening at home.

At Thomann, consumers justify their purchases and expenditures in the literary form that is know to us as "reviews." It is largely fiction, projection, whishful thinking, or serves a number of other psychological and social functions unrelated to actual speaker performance.

 

[Miguelón]

No disrespect: I am not reading comments at Thomann. I have 8010, I listened on the 8030 for years, and I have highly capable main speakers comparable to the Genelec S360. I base my judgement on listening experience.

8030s will adequately work as an almost-fullrange speaker for HiFi listening at home levels. The 8020 do not, nor do the 8010, and if adding a sub is mandatory, the 8010s will do just as well for HiFi listening at home.

At Thomann, consumers justify their purchases and expenditures in the literary form that is know to us as "reviews." It is largely fiction, projection, whishful thinking, or serves a number of other psychological and social functions unrelated to actual speaker performance.

I win you: I have all 3 entry level 80xx in different setups.

Going serious, connecting my 8020D or my 8030C (G Three B but is the same) to a sub makes barely no difference in SPL. They have same amp, by the way.

It depends exclusively on your listening distance and your preferred loudness, 8030 goes 4 dB louder.

8010A is a very different beast: it cranks at 75 dB @ 1 m, you should be closer to don’t be rewarded by serious compression.

8020D does perfectly well at 2 meters (if you listen at moderate volume, I have not problem to play Metallica or Beethoven Violin Sonatas. Can go just slightly fuller with 8030C, more natural mid-highs also.

Low end… to me none of the 3 reach deep enough. 8030C wants to get there, but it cannot. Around 50 Hz it distorts a lot, you never have the real thing, Genelec protects very well the woofers make a steep cut-off.

Once I bought my first subwoofer, I never looked to my Genelecs as the same again. I need to feel the warmth of the piano lows (yes, is literature, but we’re talking about music), the bass guitar in jazz, drums kicking…

I use a very little sub, just the minimum to ensure the 40 to 50 Hz that both 8020 and 8030 cannot handle. Maybe the 8040, never tried, I don’t trust monitors at their 10 Hz lower end. Except 3 ways, of course.

 

[sheeple]

I listen to them from 3 meters and can turn them to levels unpleasantly loud, before disengaging the -6 dB switch (that, I did not dare because the whole unit would listen with me then).

Use them close to boundaries and wall-mounted when not used on the desk.

Desk real estate being a premium (...)

!

 

[Miguelón]

I listen to them from 3 meters and can turn them to levels unpleasantly loud, before disengaging the -6 dB switch (that, I did not dare because the whole unit would listen with me then).

Use them close to boundaries and wall-mounted when not used on the desk.



!

Hmm, 3 meters maybe too much for 8020D with respect to those extra 4 dB of 8030C. That depends also on the characteristics of the room.

“The unit” means you live in an apartment?

I used dip switches before having a mic and a room correction correction software, but I never liked how they sounded.

8030C are insanely good, but you only notice how excellent they are when lightering the speakers of those 45 to 70-80 Hz: then they are superb. I recommend you trying a sub if you don’t have already one

 

[sheeple]

I meant the 8010

 

[Miguelón]

I meant the 8010

That means that your maximum SPL is around 65 dB, if your “unpleasant” threshold is that number, you’re well more sensitive than average.

8010 is useless to majority of listeners at this distances.

 

[sheeple]

How do you arrive at 65 dB?

 

[Miguelón]

How do you arrive at 65 dB?

View attachment 508721

Notice that particular SPL “average between 100 and 3 kHz in half space” that is not the standard way of specifying SPL in a speaker.

See the Amir review for the behavior of the speaker above 75 dB @ 1m, it throws a tone of port resonance and huge compression.

You can test it by yourself playing a pure sine tone at, for example, 80 Hz: it will sound as a helicopter above those 70-75 dB

I subtracted 10 dB from 3 meters, so around 65 dB you will find the limits of the low end of the speaker.

 

[Mort]

Good talk.

 

[sheeple]

standard way of specifying SPL in a speaker

Please provide your standard. To my knowledge, averaging SPL over this specific bandwidth is a common way to define it. Half space is a use case sensitive presentation, as these speakers will mostly be us sitting or standing on a desk. Simply deduct 6 dB.

Amir's review shows acceptable performance at 85 dB. This is 75 dB at a 3 meter LP. Too loud for my ears.

JBL 708 port resonance is much worse and the speaker is considered very good: port is masked.

 

[Miguelón]

Please provide your standard. To my knowledge, averaging SPL over this specific bandwidth is a common way to define it. Half space is a use case sensitive presentation, as these speakers will mostly be us sitting or standing on a desk. Simply deduct 6 dB.

Amir's review shows acceptable performance at 85 dB. This is 75 dB at a 3 meter LP. Too loud for my ears.

JBL 708 port resonance is much worse and the speaker is considered very good: port is masked.

I think we're missing some direction in our conversation... I love 8010s, phenomenal desktop speakers.

What I'm discussing is your particular use of these monitors, mainly to don't get confused the readers.

8010 has 91 dB@ 1m maximum long term SPL, excluding all below 100 Hz (Genelec mentioned explicitely the compression).

If you interpret this graph as "good behavoir at 86 dB", I find no reason to continue the discussion.

I copied Amir auditon impression that is coherent to the graph, with mine, and probably with most of the potential buyers:

"There is however a major flaw: hit anything with deep bass and the 8010A will complain with the worst crackle you can imagine. It goes from amazing to wow, this thing just broke!"

My conclusión, having a pair at home and tested with same results:

At 3 meters 70-75 dB, the 8010 is only capable to reproduce from 150 Hz and above, with a nice amount of compression.

The use of 8010 as main monitors at 3 meters is anecdotical and cannot be recommended. This is a desktop speaker and produce very good amazing response (for it's sized and no DSP) at 1 m or below.

8020D have twice the power, are also quite flat and better suited for 2 meters listening, maybe 3 with a subwoofer if you're not so exigent.

At 3 meters, your ancient 8030 was the recommended, with a sub.