Genelec 8050 treble dip

[TomLynas]

Hi everyone!

For a while now I have been using 2 Genelec 8050s. I bought them second hand and have had very little issues with them. They sound great, have great bass and smooth mids, but lack in treble. It isn't that they aren't detailed, they are, it's just that they lack energy in the high end.

I have got SoundID on my mac, which allows me to take 37 frequency sweeps of each speaker from different positions around my room. In every single room that I have put them in, all varying in size and shape, there is a distinct lack of treble. When taking these measurements I use a reference microphone which I bought brand new and have the frequency response for, and even factoring that in doesn't compensate for the lack of treble.

Tuning them with SoundID does pretty much fix the problem but I am curious as to why this might be happening in the first place as I know they are meant to have a very flat response, even in their high end reproduction.

I have attached screenshots of the frequency responses. I know that the bass is very dependant on the room which is why that is a bit all over the place, but that isn't the same for treble. You can see in each measurement the dip in the high end.

Any comments or insight would be really appreciated, thank you.

 

[CJH]

Check these out:

Measurements for speaker Genelec 8050B

www.spinorama.org

Genelec 8050B Review (Studio Monitor)

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Genelec 8050B powered studio monitor (speaker). It was kindly purchased by a member used and drop shipped to me. It costs US $1895 each when new. I was horrified when I noticed the speaker was simply put in a plastic bag, dumped into a much...

www.audiosciencereview.com

CJH

 

[Mort]

There is a +2db treble boost switch on the back.

Those graphs don't look bad. Most want that kind of slope.

 

[dfuller]

So in-room you actually want a slope down from bass to treble. Flat in-room sounds very, very bright - mostly because with monopoles a flat in-room response pretty much invariably means the on-axis is tilted up pretty good.

 

[OldHvyMec]

It isn't that they aren't detailed, they are, it's just that they lack energy in the high end.

Not to get off the subject, how are the ears?

When I use any anti-inflammatory for the first 2 hours, I have a problem with any type of flat or tipped-up treble. After an hour or so I lose the ability to hear as clearly as I normally do with a good lunch and a big glass of water.

Check the ears, and watch what you consume before the listening session.

Just a personal observation.

BTW, no riding home with the window down.

Regards

 

[TomLynas]

So in-room you actually want a slope down from bass to treble. Flat in-room sounds very, very bright - mostly because with monopoles a flat in-room response pretty much invariably means the on-axis is tilted up pretty good.

Thanks for the reply.

I do agree, you want a downward slope but I still find it lacks the treble I want, and tuning it with Sonarworks does sound much better as it brings the treble up.

After looking at the graphes that @CJH provided it looks like that's just how the it is meant to sound, a bit disappointing really as they are so expensive. The treble dip also doesn't show up on any of the measurements that genelec provide themselves.

I also think that the predicted in room response, which I see a lot, is actually just really inaccurate.

Thank you everyone.

 

[RobL]

Looks textbook for an in-room measurement of an anechoically flat speaker.

 

[TomLynas]

Looks textbook for an in-room measurement of an anechoically flat speaker.

I understand why the speakers being in an untreated room will affect the low end and mid range a lot, but why does it affect the high end so much?

 

[Mort]

I understand why the speakers being in an untreated room will affect the low end and mid range a lot, but why does it affect the high end so much?

Carpets, textiles all reduce the high end.

 

[Leporello]

Just a thought: have you checked the positions of the dip switches behind the speakers?

 

[heflys20]

What are you comparing these to that makes you think they are lacking in terms of treble? I find a lot of people come from hyped speakers that claim to have "detailed" highs or mids, and convince themselves that this is good sound. When they actually encounter a neutral speaker, something seems missing. Not saying that's the case here, but I've encountered this a lot.