Mmmmh, I'm having a hard time decide what surround speakers I should buy.
I currently own a pair of 8351B and a 7360A sub.
I own a GLM kit too.
I'd like to buy 4 surround speakers for a 7.1 setup without a center channel.
It's for a PC setup and the surround speakers will be used while playing video games.
I guess the best would be to buy 4x8340A since they match the 8351B SPL capabilities and can be used in a bigger room later if I need them 2 meters away from the MLP.
But...
I feel like spending 5000€ for those 4 surround channels is quite crazy as they will certainly play sound effects 90% of the time. Yet, I need those speakers to be SAM compatible.
So here I am investigating and looking the 8320A, the bill will go from 5000 to 2000€. I guess 4x8320A along with the sub will be fine for surrounds, GLM will make sure they sound "true" and are perfectly integrated with the main speakers. But when I'm looking the review on the 1st page, I see they're not intended to play at 90dB SPL and this is 1 meter away. In my context those surrounds will be set between 1.50m and 2m (5ft and 6.5ft). On another hand, when 4 of them are playing sound, each of them are adding +3dB (SPL?) to the global sound level. Finally, are there really many scenes in movies/games when the surround speakers are playing loud?
All these questions make me confuse about whether I should consider 8320A over 8340A.
Moneywise, personally I would not hesitate to choose 8320`s. You have several variables in your system. The actual
SPL for 8320 is 100dB https://www.genelec.com/8320a (one speaker measurment, without sub or room effects). With your listening distances, I very much doubt that SPL could couse any problems. Your system has glm mic, so you can check avarage/max SPL`s in your use?
Also in avarage, consider this if SPL is in consideration (with Genelec monitors), measurments are are made;
"In free-field conditions (no walls, floor, or ceiling) the sound volume drops 6 dB when the distance doubles." https://www.genelec.com/correct-monitors
For surrounds, You don´t have to match main speakers in SPL. With SAM-system, 8320 is itself easily integrated to same (SAM) system.
Your main speakers and sub, will handle most of the need for power, no matter what surrounds You will choose.
From what I have heard (with measurments), 8351B is very good speaker.
Edit2; and of course, Your avarage/max SPL don´t have to match surrounds