Genelec 8030C Studio Monitor Review

[Mort]

Is it okay to be using 2vrms for the G3? with RCA outputs on the Ultra

Yes.

 

[ChrisG]

Just a passing note that I, too, can hear hiss from my 8030Cs. They were purchased new a few months ago, and are fed from an RME UCX-II.

For me, it isn't an issue, but I can imagine that others might find it annoying.

 

[YSC]

Interesting, I've heard quite a few 8030c's over the last few years and none of them were quiet. That is, in a very silent room I could tell they were on from two meters away. Whether they were connected to a source or not - did not matter. That said, I can totally imagine people being immune to this, so it is more of a nuisance for the sensitive ones, like myself.

Actually, for 5 years of daily use of the 8030C, I cannot hear any hiss, coz I used it in the lowest sensitivity setting (turn the knob to +6dbu), if I leave the sensitivity in middle or high gain, the hiss is very apparent

 

[Head_Unit]

all of which exhibited hiss

How in this day and age have we not banished hiss?!? Seriously, it's ridiculous. I totally HATE hiss, it's one factor that paranoiacally keeps me from buying monitors.

 

[unpluggged]

How in this day and age have we not banished hiss?!? Seriously, it's ridiculous. I totally HATE hiss, it's one factor that paranoiacally keeps me from buying monitors.

Neumanns are near-silent.

 

[Miguelón]

Is it okay to be using 2vrms for the G3? with RCA outputs on the Ultra

Yep. They’re made for RCA 2 volts output.

For very strong balanced DACs they have a dip switch that reduces 10 dB the input gain.

If you struggle with digital volume too low in the Ultra you can reduce output on the app: audio output >> Line out >> Line out level

 

[Miguelón]

How in this day and age have we not banished hiss?!? Seriously, it's ridiculous. I totally HATE hiss, it's one factor that paranoiacally keeps me from buying monitors.

You can go to G Three B speakers. Hiss is more tiny

 

[dimedrol]

Actually, for 5 years of daily use of the 8030C, I cannot hear any hiss, coz I used it in the lowest sensitivity setting (turn the knob to +6dbu), if I leave the sensitivity in middle or high gain, the hiss is very apparent

mine are in that setting as well which I find already to be too much, I have to dial down the DAC to -40db for casual listening. Also, they are not hissing, the self noise is more like white noise.

 

[Mort]

I have the G Three and 8040b, and I neither recall adjusting down the sensitivity, nor hiss. Is this unique to the 8030c? I suppose, I may not have noticed it?

 

[Miguelón]

I have the G Three and 8040b, and I neither recall adjusting down the sensitivity, nor hiss. Is this unique to the 8030c? I suppose, I may not have noticed it?

Not hiss in my G Threes but I had it in my ancient 8030C (I returned and exchange by G Three).

Don’t know why, Genelec told me that acoustically are the same, so guess something in the electronic. Amplifier is meant to be the same also and crossovers, some gear on the input side?

 

[Kain]

I don't have time to read the 100+ pages in this thread right now so would greatly appreciate it if someone could tell me if the Genelec 8030C is a better speaker than the JBL 705P (when both are used with a subwoofer)? I think the 705P has the 8030C beat when it comes to SPL capabilities but what about everything else?

 

[Miguelón]

I don't have time to read the 100+ pages in this thread right now so would greatly appreciate it if someone could tell me if the Genelec 8030C is a better speaker than the JBL 705P (when both are used with a subwoofer)? I think the 705P has the 8030C beat when it comes to SPL capabilities but what about everything else?

As you mentioned higher SPL and more bass extension (if you want to turn out the sub from time to time). Has DSP also.

Genelec 8030C is more correct in linearity, very pleasing for listening. Close to perfect FQ and good horizontal directivity, and not bad vertical for a 2 way monitor. On the downside is a pure analogue active monitor so no DSP.

My vote goes to Genelec 8030C with sub hands down, I would hesitate more standalone

 

[Mort]

With a subwoofer, SPL will be very close. 8030c is flatter, but Amrim couldn't hear the gaps in the JBL. JBL has room correction which could be really useful.

What kind of subwoofer?
Desktop/nearfield?

 

[Miguelón]

With a subwoofer, SPL will be very close. 8030c is flatter, but Amrim couldn't hear the gaps in the JBL. JBL has room correction which could be really useful.

What kind of subwoofer?
Desktop/nearfield?

But preference score with sub is 6,6 JBL against 8,5 Genelec, not just a hair of difference…

 

[Kain]

With a subwoofer, SPL will be very close. 8030c is flatter, but Amrim couldn't hear the gaps in the JBL. JBL has room correction which could be really useful.

What kind of subwoofer?
Desktop/nearfield?

With the 8030C I'll be using the 7050C. With the 705P I'll be using the LSR310S.

This is for a near field computer desk (2-2.5 feet away from the speakers).

 

[Mort]

But preference score with sub is 6,6 JBL against 8,5 Genelec, not just a hair of difference…

Personally I would get the Genelec but I don't think those preference scores are very meaningful. I was only referring to SPL comparison anyway.

The point holds nonetheless. For instance I'd rather have functioning room correction even at 3 feet than extra two points on that preference score.

7050C

New, that small analog Genelec sub is $1k more than the JBL and I'm sure it's better but it's not worth it imo

If you really want genelec, get a used pair of 8320a and the 8350a 8" sub with GLM kit.
Those models work with the Genelec room correction. I've seen total costs around $2k.
Genelec is very durable so you usually don't have to worry about used.

 

[unpluggged]

the 8350a 8" sub

What?

 

[Miguelón]

What?

He refers to the 7350 sub

 

[Kain]

New, that small analog Genelec sub is $1k more than the JBL and I'm sure it's better but it's not worth it imo

If you really want genelec, get a used pair of 8320a and the 8350a 8" sub with GLM kit.
Those models work with the Genelec room correction. I've seen total costs around $2k.
Genelec is very durable so you usually don't have to worry about used.

I don't know if the Genelec subwoofer sounds better than the JBL (any thoughts on this?), but according to the specs Genelec and JBL provide, the JBL gets a whole lot louder.

LSR310S specs just state max peak SPL is 113 dB without providing any other context or information.

7050C SPL specs (7350A is just 1 dB louder according to Genelec):

 

[Mort]

Genelec makes good subwoofers, but they are really big and very expensive. If they come with GLM capability, it's often worth it. But the base analog subs are not worth it to me.

I doubt you'll need that much loudness 3 feet from the speakers.