Genelec 8030C Studio Monitor Review

[Miguelón]

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.

Which is the advantage of onboard DSP?
Sorry, I’m a little bit out of the thread topic, but apart from proprietary algorithms as GLM or Neumann’s MA-1 I can’t see any advantage over an external software.

But perhaps am I wrong and didn’t consider some other benefits…

 

[Mort]

They aren't all the same. DiracLive is much easier to get a curve. GLM handles phase much better. Wiim is the cheapest.

 

[Miguelón]

They aren't all the same. DiracLive is much easier to get a curve. GLM handles phase much better. Wiim is the cheapest.

This is the point: JBL 705P has an EQ, but not a proper room compensation software, reading the website specifications.

That’s nothing special you can do with the monitors that you can’t do in your computer, and this doesn’t justify the 1.200€ per unit that it costs.

Total cost with reasonable DSP subwoofer will go up to 3.000€.

For this price one has Genelec 8330 + GLM kit + Genelec 7350 sub (which you mentioned).

For 200€ more you have Neumann kh 120 ii + MA-1 kit + Nemann kh 750 sub.

Both combinations are great desktop speakers with fine automatic phase-frequency alignment software and calibration mic.

 

[Mort]

JBL 705P has an EQ, but not a proper room compensation software, reading the website specifications.

Understood. I thought it had proper room compensation.

It does have PEQ slots so with a free tool like REW, you can adjust the speakers. The 8030c doesn't do that.

At that price point I would skip all of it and get a g three, svs-2000 sub and a MiniDsp with DiracLive for $2500.

 

[Miguelón]

Understood. I thought it had proper room compensation.

It does have PEQ slots so with a free tool like REW, you can adjust the speakers. The 8030c doesn't do that.

At that price point I would skip all of it and get a g three, svs-2000 sub and a MiniDsp with DiracLive for $2500.

Nice combo!

I will take note of the SVS 2000, I have G Threes and looking for a sub to them.

EDITED: Also like Mini DSP contribution with REW but for instance my priority is the sub, for the couple of modes I have my WiiM Ultra does well (not the automatic correction that is quite messy, just correcting the modes by REW and a a mic)

 

[Miguelón]

Understood. I thought it had proper room compensation.

It does have PEQ slots so with a free tool like REW, you can adjust the speakers. The 8030c doesn't do that.

At that price point I would skip all of it and get a g three, svs-2000 sub and a MiniDsp with DiracLive for $2500.

How about the SVS-3000 micro? I love the small factor

 

[Mort]

How about the SVS-3000 micro? I love the small factor

It's more of a woofer than a subwoofer

 

[Kain]

So, if high SPL is a major factor, the JBL 705P + LSR310S is the preferred setup? If sound quality is the main factor, the Genelec 8030C + 7050C (or the SAM equivalents) is the better combo? The thing is, I listen LOUD when I get the chance and thus am a little worried if the Genelec combo (especially the Genelec subwoofer) can keep up with my SPL requirements.

 

[Miguelón]

So, if high SPL is a major factor, the JBL 705P + LSR310S is the preferred setup? If sound quality is the main factor, the Genelec 8030C + 7050C (or the SAM equivalents) is the better combo? The thing is, I listen LOUD when I get the chance and thus am a little worried if the Genelec combo (especially the Genelec subwoofer) can keep up with my SPL requirements.

Can you measure how loud you listen? Take the average and add 20 dB for headroom, 26 dB in classical.

At 1 m (3 feet) most people don’t go over 80 dB, and this seems quite loud (on average). If you listen, say, at 85 dB then yes: the 7050 is not enough. Then go to JBL set.

I very rarely listen at more than 70-75 dB @ 1m so for me the G Three (home edition of 8030C) were enough.

Edited: consider also the G Three plus an SVS subwoofer that @Mort mentioned: is a very good choice

 

[Breeze98]

How about the SVS-3000 micro? I love the small factor

That particular sub has dual opposed woofers, which put less energy into the room (as in mechanical vibration), which could be an advantage when living in an apartment when you want to minimise disturbance to neighbours. As outlined here by Mr Toole.

A Broad Discussion of Speakers with Major Audio Luminaries

The propagating "wave front" attempts to eliminate length modes only, but the initiating subwoofers do not launch a plane wave. The width and height modes are separate issues, and in their installations they are attenuated, not eliminated, by locating the subwoofers at locations 25% in from the...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[Miguelón]

That particular sub has dual opposed woofers, which put less energy into the room, which could be an advantage when living in an apartment when you want to minimise disturbance to neighbours. As outlined here by Mr Toole:

A Broad Discussion of Speakers with Major Audio Luminaries

The propagating "wave front" attempts to eliminate length modes only, but the initiating subwoofers do not launch a plane wave. The width and height modes are separate issues, and in their installations they are attenuated, not eliminated, by locating the subwoofers at locations 25% in from the...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Is my case, living room is 4x5 meters but has some divisions (kitchen bar) that complicate things.

I also thought as a pair of Genelec 7040, because I don’t listen to electronic music and 30 Hz is enough to me.

 

[Kain]

Can you measure how loud you listen? Take the average and add 20 dB for headroom, 26 dB in classical.

At 1 m (3 feet) most people don’t go over 80 dB, and this seems quite loud (on average). If you listen, say, at 85 dB then yes: the 7050 is not enough. Then go to JBL set.

I very rarely listen at more than 70-75 dB @ 1m so for me the G Three (home edition of 8030C) were enough.

Edited: consider also the G Three plus an SVS subwoofer that @Mort mentioned: is a very good choice

I can hit 90-95 dB average with the speakers 2.5 feet way and the subwoofer about 3 feet away. Seems like this would be too much to handle for the 8030C + 7050C.

 

[Miguelón]

I can hit 90-95 dB average with the speakers 2.5 feet way and the subwoofer about 3 feet away. Seems like this would be too much to handle for the 8030C + 7050C.

Absolutely, any decent transient will clip the sub. The monitors can handle about 108 dB as a pair. You can account for some extra decibels due to reflections in the bass region but better ensure you the higher SPL of the JBL.

Be careful with this SPL… you have recommendations about time listening per SPL to take care of your ears

 

[Mort]

can hit 90-95 dB

Measured with a meter? What do you have now?

 

[Kain]

Absolutely, any decent transient will clip the sub. The monitors can handle about 108 dB as a pair. You can account for some extra decibels due to reflections in the bass region but better ensure you the higher SPL of the JBL.

Be careful with this SPL… you have recommendations about time listening per SPL to take care of your ears

What Genelec subwoofer should I look at that can at least meet my SPL requirements?

I don't too often listen this loud. Only once in a while.

 

[Kain]

Measured with a meter? What do you have now?

RadioShack SPL meter from the early 2000s.

I have LSR305 speakers and the LSR310S subwoofer. Thing with the first generation LSR305 speakers is that they don't have a limiter built in. I've had them for 10 years now (bought in 2015) and while I was really cranking the SPL level some days ago, I smelled the right LSR305's tweeter burning (don't know if the tweeter cannot handle it or if the other electronics/amplifiers are failing now after 10 years because this never happened before). That's why I am now looking to replace them but with something that can handle the high SPLs.

 

[Miguelón]

What Genelec subwoofer should I look at that can at least meet my SPL requirements?

I don't too often listen this loud. Only once in a while.

It doesn’t worth going to Genelec subs, they are dedicated to studio levels and they don’t excel in SPL: you will expense a kidney in a gigantic subwoofer and I don’t think the result will be so much better.

If you finally go with 8030C I advice you to buy the home version (G Threes) which is less noisy and less sensitive, and go to the SVS sub. Specs are detailed here

SVS SB-2000 Pro vs SB-3000 Subwoofer Review

Full review can be found on my site here: https://www.erinsaudiocorner.com/subwoofer_testing/svs_sb3000_vs_sb2000pro/ SVS SB-2000 Pro vs SB-3000 Subwoofer Shootout Tuesday, Mar 16, 2021 Foreword / YouTube Video Review The review on this website is a brief overview and summary of the...

audiosciencereview.com

If you go with the JBL 705 P better consider the subwoofer indicated by the brand. It will surely match the monitors SPL.


EDITED: I red your last post, you have the JBL 310 subwoofer that goes to a max 113 dB SPL. Then probably you should go to the JBL 705 P, the probability of being happy will be higher

 

[Mort]

I don't know the JBL line well. I do know the current Genelec monitor line fairly well from 8010a to 8361a and most things in-between.

The 8040b will have the SPL you want and you don't need a genelec sub. Same price as the 705p, which I agree you should be considering.

 

[Kain]

Thanks a lot for the replies.

I think I'm just going to go with the 705P + LSR310S (JBL doesn't have a dedicated subwoofer for the 7 Series speakers so I have to use the subwoofer from the 3 Series). That way I can ensure that I will have the SPL I need. Secondly, the 705P is a good speaker too. It's not like I am compromising "too much" by going with it vs. the 8030C. If I had a higher budget, I'd get something from The Ones.

 

[Kain]

I don't know the JBL line well. I do know the current Genelec monitor line fairly well from 8010a to 8361a and most things in-between.

The 8040b will have the SPL you want and you don't need a genelec sub. Same price as the 705p, which I agree you should be considering.

The reason why I wanted the Genelec subwoofers is because they have built in bass management (just like the LSR310S).

However, as mentioned in my post before this one, I am just going to go with the 705P + LSR310S.