Genelec 8030C Studio Monitor Review

[Drew456]

Agreed. There was a significant improvement after moving 8330a's from quite close to the wall (around 15cms) to just 5cms. The wall in question is only thin partition type but it still improves regardless.

Actually, I have a question related to my earlier post. When Genelec say a minimum distance of 5cms to the wall, do they mean from the middle of the port area, inline with the back of the speaker obviously, or the nearest metal part of the speaker to the wall, which will be the inner side of the speaker if it's toed in? Cheers guys.

 

[Kain]

Quick update:

I've decided to just keep my 2 x JBL LSR305 + 1 x JBL LSR310S for now.

 

[apoplous]

Do you think it will make any sense to have Presonus Eris sub8 BT with 8030c? I am sure 7050c is the best solution, and Kali ws6.2 seems a very good option at half the price. But for less than 200 someone can test what a sub does in a room with genelecs. Do you think it will be a big "bottleneck" in the clarity and quality of 8030s?

​

 

[Miguelón]

Do you think it will make any sense to have Presonus Eris sub8 BT with 8030c? I am sure 7050c is the best solution, and Kali ws6.2 seems a very good option at half the price. But for less than 200 someone can test what a sub does in a room with genelecs. Do you think it will be a big "bottleneck" in the clarity and quality of 8030s?

​

7050 is optimized for 80XX series, the crossover matches very well those of 8030c and usually is recommended to go with subs built for the specific speaker.

I agree that Genelec sub are quite expensive given the frequency and SPL, but is not difficult (not so) to find one pre-owned. They are built like tanks, can get scratches but remember me the Toyota Hilux that Top Gear tried to deliberately destroy without success …

Eris sub8 has not enough SPL for your speakers, Kali WS 6.2 has it so it will be better option.

Consider also JBL 310 S, is a good sub with plenty of power and around 500 €

 

[Oldson]

any of you 8030 owners using the "8000-406" desktop stands?

i am looking at these speakers but want to price up all that i need.
it does not seem clear, to me, from their website if the stand comes with a top plate for the 8030, it just states "compatible with".
it does state that the "408" plate is needed for the bigger speakers.
so is their a plate that fits the 8030 included in the box with the stand?

 

[Oldson]

any of you 8030 owners using the "8000-406" desktop stands?

i am looking at these speakers but want to price up all that i need.
it does not seem clear, to me, from their website if the stand comes with a top plate for the 8030, it just states "compatible with".
it does state that the "408" plate is needed for the bigger speakers.
so is their a plate that fits the 8030 included in the box with the stand?

its ok i have found the answer

 

[Miguelón]

any of you 8030 owners using the "8000-406" desktop stands?

i am looking at these speakers but want to price up all that i need.
it does not seem clear, to me, from their website if the stand comes with a top plate for the 8030, it just states "compatible with".
it does state that the "408" plate is needed for the bigger speakers.
so is their a plate that fits the 8030 included in the box with the stand?

Nope, you need the Z8030-408 plate, should buy it appart.

EDITED: I just red your second post, you already found the sad truth… I spent 150€ per floor stand on my set up, same system.

Only thing I can say is the quality is very good, heavy bases and solid plate-isopods link.

 

[Oldson]

my next speaker choice is a 2 horse race now, between the AE500 from Acoustic Energy and the 8030.
currently i am trialling the AE500 and, for nearfield use, i do not need a sub.
hoping the same when i try the 8030 in a few days time.

 

[Mort]

my next speaker choice is a 2 horse race now, between the AE500 from Acoustic Energy and the 8030.
currently i am trialling the AE500 and, for nearfield use, i do not need a sub.
hoping the same when i try the 8030 in a few days time.

Those are passives? I didn't look at them closely. They have the same diameter woofer. A pair of 8030c have 200w total amplification which should be enough to duplicate anything the AE500 is doing in Bass at desktop listening levels. Tonally, it'll be just as good or better.

Anyway, report back. Have fun.

 

[Oldson]

Those are passives? I didn't look at them closely. They have the same diameter woofer. A pair of 8030c have 200w total amplification which should be enough to duplicate anything the AE500 is doing in Bass at desktop listening levels. Tonally, it'll be just as good or better.

Anyway, report back. Have fun.

yeah the AE500 is indeed passives.
if i go this route i will have to keep my Fosi V3 monos.
which is not ideal as i am trying to streamline my destop gear

 

[TurtlePaul]

Anyone else think the Genelec stands are a little too expensive for short mic stands? I personally bought a couple of 5" wood cubes and some rubber washers to raise my 8030c off the desk. Less than $60/pair.

 

[Oldson]

when raised off the desk like this or on the genelec desk stands does this mean you can turn off the "desktop" dip switch?

 

[unpluggged]

when raised off the desk like this or on the genelec desk stands does this mean you can turn off the "desktop" dip switch?

You engage these switches to mitigate the desk reflection, not to compensate for acoustical axis misalignment.

 

[TurtlePaul]

when raised off the desk like this or on the genelec desk stands does this mean you can turn off the "desktop" dip switch?

I use one notch of bass tilt to get flattest response but not the desktop switch (it is too high above the desktop). My 8030c are also fed by a DSP enabled DAC (a Topping D50III). Used 8030s from Guitar Center and an open box D50 III from Apos was a much cheaper option that buying the GLM monitors.

 

[Oldson]

finally ordered a pair of these after weeks of deliberating.
should arrive day after tomorrow, can return free if they dont suit.

 

[Oldson]

well the 8030s arrived yesterday, a day earlier than expected.
had a looooooooong 3 hour wait for Amazon to deliver my xlr cables, so i was really chomping at the bit when they arrived.

having recently had the Acoustic Energy AE500 on home trial and being really impressed by them, i was expecting to be even more impressed with the Gens.
all i can say was i was totally underwhelmed by them !
this is the first "flat" measuring speaker i have ever heard and i thought "if this is what flat sounds like, you can stick it!"

today i thought, right lets give them another try before giving up and re-packing them for return.
nothing had changed obviously.

then the penny finally dropped........ a voice in my head said "just try the desktop dip switch"
i had chosen to ignore it up to this point, which is even worse than forgetting about it.

flicked the switches and fired them back up and i got one of those "OH SH1T" moments like a massive kick up the backside!

i cannot believe the difference, NOW I GET IT.
lesson i have learned here...... just trust the tech, that switch is there for a damn good reason.
really enjoying these now.

 

[Ktacos]

If you're using any speaker on a desk, you really need to employ some more focused DSP EQ to alleviate the reflections. The dip switches on the genelec are very broad EQ filters which typically don't entirely fix desk issues. The major ~150hz reflection can reach magnitudes of 12db and more sometimes.

 

[Pancreas]

8030c with ps5 sounds glorious, almost as if I had a subwoofer which I don't

I have ps5 connected to SMSLpo100 via USB, then that connected to my Motu Ultralite MK5 via optical.

Doing it this way, the SMLpo100 is read as headphones on the ps5 and you can use the ps5 3D audio which is surround simulation, it helps a lot

Since I can't afford the $5000 Genelec 8331a which is crazy expensive.

I want to use sonarowkrs but is overpriced as hell i may just buy mic and torrent lmao

 

[Oldson]

am i right in thinking that any "break-in" "burn-in" period for these is nonsence?

 

[ivayvr]

You are 100% right!