Genelec 8030C Studio Monitor Review

[MZKM]

And here is vertical:

Unlike the more expensive Genelecs with coaxial drivers, vertical directivity is not nearly as good but this is very typical. We have rather large variations with that single "eye" above our axis so try to stay more or less at the tweeter height (or tilt it up so it points at you).

Measurement axis is the recommended upper part of the woofer ring, not my usual tweeter axis.

Seeing as how the hot red in the treble is below 0-degrees, maybe you didn't go low enough (maybe caused by being so close).


Looking at my vertical graph:

-10-degrees fills in that 2-4kHz region while keeping the upper treble basically the same. I would wager the Spinorama would look reference quality if it was re-measured, and the preference rating would be even a bit higher.

I mean, I don't wanna make more work for you, but...

 

[daftcombo]

One more pro monitor that doesn't meet the "flat down to 50 Hz" requirement of @NoAudiophile though. :-(

 

[q3cpma]

With deep bass yes. I noted that in the listening section.

Yes, same here, I guess buying a subwoofer will really enhance them. For now, being stuck to the wall helps a good amount (-4 dB switch on).

 

[amirm]

Noticing how the dark red is shelved down below 0-degrees in the treble, I decided to look at the manual, and it states the acoustic axis is the midpoint:

I set the reference axis to where they show in the manual. I noted that in the review. Do you mean something else I am not following?

 

[MZKM]

I set the reference axis to where they show in the manual. I noted that in the review. Do you mean something else I am not following?

I edited my comment, I think you didn't go low enough. Because the dip fills in real nicely at -10 degrees (there are some issues ~5kHz, so maybe -5 degrees).

 

[daftcombo]

Genelec 8030 CP
Thomann: € 518 x2

Customer reviews
https://www.thomann.de/ie/genelec_8030_cp_reviews.htm?ar=409809&page=1&order=latest&rating=0&reviewlang[]=all

CP means it's the grey version. CW is for the white one, a bit more expensive.

https://www.thomann.de/gb/genelec_8...iLCJjdXJyZW5jeSI6IjQiLCJsYW5ndWFnZSI6ImVuIn0=

 

[amirm]

I edited my comment, I think you didn't go low enough. Because the dip fills in real nicely at -10 degrees (there are some issues ~5kHz, so maybe -5 degrees).

Well, that is not a CAD drawing. So no way to set anything that precise. Nor would it be appropriate to mandate such.

 

[amirm]

I edited my comment, I think you didn't go low enough. Because the dip fills in real nicely at -10 degrees (there are some issues ~5kHz, so maybe -5 degrees).

On second thought, this speaker does not have a straight angle anywhere. So it was very hard to align and position. I used the included rubber feet so maybe the angle was off or something.

 

[daftcombo]

@amirm , could you report how is the sound on the desktop with the Desktop 160 Hz -4dB setting?

 

[edechamps]

Reading this review was an emotional experience for me… my main system has been running Genelec 8030As for almost 10 years! Glad to see another confirmation that I made the right choice.

I have added the Genelec 8030C to Loudspeaker Explorer where it can be compared to other speakers.

This speaker shows surprising instability within the listening window at 3 kHz, especially in the vertical direction. Keep these speakers at ear height! The rest of the spectrum is impeccable though:

On second thought, this speaker does not have a straight angle anywhere. So it was very hard to align and position. I used the included rubber feet so maybe the angle was off or something.

That might explain the issues around 3 kHz - as shown above, the speaker seems to be very sensitive to positioning in that region. It's not hard to imagine that even a slight offset could have flattened that curve (or make it worse). However I agree that no user should be expected to be this precise (especially for a nearfield speaker), so it's fair to judge the speaker on these terms.

(By the way, thank you @amirm for taking reference axis considerations into account when measuring this speaker! It made quite a difference in this case. Much appreciated.)

 

[LightninBoy]

I know it's been said before, but the distortion analysis, for me, really completes the picture. Thank you for adding this.

 

[AndrewDavis]

I am not surprised in the least that Genelec products do very well. Happy to see my pre-existing bias survived testing!!

 

[phoenixdogfan]

These reviews just keep getting better and better.

 

[gr-e]

I set the reference axis to where they show in the manual. I noted that in the review. Do you mean something else I am not following?

Did you find out how to change the reference axis? Or are you just changing the expansion point?

 

[Senior NEET Engineer]

Thanks for the review. I'm currently using these as surround speakers in my gaming room. One nitpick is that I can hear the tweeter hiss from 5 feet away whereas the 8341A is near silent from same distance. For a general desktop speaker I'd prefer something quieter, but it's definitely not a deal breaker.

 

[TimVG]

Great review as always @amirm
Completely reflects my own experience as an owner of the 8030C, and also several Revels including the M105. Still remember my mono evaluation of the pair and how well they both did.

I also noticed (and measured) the dip, I remember trumpets especially sounding a bit less 'present' than on the Revels, but in turn, the Genelecs did other things better. There was no real loser.

The Genelec's on-axis and listening window are so close to one another that just 6 small filters make it as flat as a pancake. I'll be trying these out tomorrow myself.

 

[tmtomh]

One nitpick is that I can hear the tweeter hiss from 5 feet away whereas the 8341A is near silent from same distance. For a general desktop speaker I'd prefer something quieter, but it's definitely not a deal breaker.

Five feet away? Yikes - that's a deal-breaker IMHO. @amirm , did you hear tweeter hiss like that from the unit you tested?

 

[Thomas savage]

No way to determine that.

Good enough.

 

[q3cpma]

Thanks for the review. I'm currently using these as surround speakers in my gaming room. One nitpick is that I can hear the tweeter hiss from 5 feet away whereas the 8341A is near silent from same distance. For a general desktop speaker I'd prefer something quieter, but it's definitely not a deal breaker.

Are you sure it's not the source? Do you have the input gain at its minimum? Personally, I can't hear anything past 1 m and I'm still young. At 50 cm, there's something, but I barely hear it unless I point an ear directly at it.
Both the 8341A and 8030C are specced at < 5 dB(A) at 1 m, which would indicate not too much difference between both models.

 

[Thomas savage]

This speaker will give you magic experience with no self touching .