Genelec 8330A Review (Studio Monitor)

[WOLFAGRAM]

Price difference is more than 50% and I don't like spending my money on feature I done need (or probably I use only once but volume knob I can buy and connect to GLM is an interesting invention tbh )

I am thinking about getting myself the whole 8330 + 7350 + GLM combo. Having similar thoughts about my money well invested, but also not sure if the conventional wisdom of "Use only once" applies here. The thing is, being used ONLY ONCE can be seen as a proof that the GLM is doing it's work properly. If you do not change listening spaces, a good calibration system is a "Fit and forget" solution. Also, something being used this many or that many times tells nothing about the magnitude of difference in performance before/after the use. If they sound horrible before GLM and great after it, it is probably money well spent even in "Used only once" situation (depending on the budget - competition offerings considerations).

 

[YSC]

I am thinking about getting myself the whole 8330 + 7350 + GLM combo. Having similar thoughts about my money well invested, but also not sure if the conventional wisdom of "Use only once" applies here. The thing is, being used ONLY ONCE can be seen as a proof that the GLM is doing it's work properly. If you do not change listening spaces, a good calibration system is a "Fit and forget" solution. Also, something being used this many or that many times tells nothing about the magnitude of difference in performance before/after the use. If they sound horrible before GLM and great after it, it is probably money well spent even in "Used only once" situation (depending on the budget - competition offerings considerations).

If I were not using my setup in a computer setup I may go that route also, use once and forget is nice, but life changes and genelec products usually last long, so say in some renovation or changing in room setup, one quick sweep and get the job done is really a nice to have when needed capability IMO

 

[HiMu]

so say in some renovation or changing in room setup, one quick sweep and get the job done is really a nice to have when needed capability IMO

If one decides to place acoustic treatments or otherwise fine tune their listening spot, the GRADE report is quite handy tool for basic problem solving.

 

[nocturne]

I am thinking about getting myself the whole 8330 + 7350 + GLM combo. Having similar thoughts about my money well invested, but also not sure if the conventional wisdom of "Use only once" applies here. The thing is, being used ONLY ONCE can be seen as a proof that the GLM is doing it's work properly. If you do not change listening spaces, a good calibration system is a "Fit and forget" solution. Also, something being used this many or that many times tells nothing about the magnitude of difference in performance before/after the use. If they sound horrible before GLM and great after it, it is probably money well spent even in "Used only once" situation (depending on the budget - competition offerings considerations).

I've used my GLM kit hundreds of times, experimenting with loudspeaker placement and different rooms. You'll be surprised how much you use it honestly. Outside of the calibration it's crammed with features that are useful and just plain fun to play with the volume knob makes the system very comfy to use as well.

 

[vavent_]

Hi! Can someone please help me to understand how I can connect 8330A to my desktop? After long research here and on other resources I decided to jump on Genelec 8330A as my first speaker system and hope they will be my end game for a long time. So now to the connection problem, currently I have Element III that is connected to my Audeze headphones, it has only RCA outputs and will not be suitable for connection to the speakers. I'm currently on Mac and have only 4 usb-c ports, what is the cheapest and reliable and also convenient way to transfer digital signal from my Apple Music to the speakers? I have found somewhere Topping D10s mention + sum special cable from spdif to EBU/AES, is this a correct way? Can someone tell me and provide names/links with what they are using with 8330A to transfer digital signal from computer to speakers and how much it can cost?

 

[Xyrium]

It would appear that your best option is a cable that takes RCA out to XLR analog in on the speaker. It's not a great solution, but until you get an interface that can do digital out, this might be the best option
.

 

[vavent_]

It would appear that your best option is a cable that takes RCA out to XLR analog in on the speaker. It's not a great solution, but until you get an interface that can do digital out, this might be the best option
.

Thanks! But speakers will arrive only in 10 days, so I have time in advance to find out proper solutions with digital out already

 

[Xyrium]

My apologies, I thought you had the speakers already, I missed that. Are you planning to take advantage of GLM? I don't know if you need digital input to take advantage of GLM, but if so then the solution in my opinion would be to change your interface. To do this you could use a low cost interface like the Topping E30II

Otherwise I'm not so sure there would be a benefit to go from analog to digital just for the sake of going into the digital inputs on the speaker. However others may chime in to advise better on this.

 

[mkt]

Hi! Can someone please help me to understand how I can connect 8330A to my desktop? After long research here and on other resources I decided to jump on Genelec 8330A as my first speaker system and hope they will be my end game for a long time. So now to the connection problem, currently I have Element III that is connected to my Audeze headphones, it has only RCA outputs and will not be suitable for connection to the speakers. I'm currently on Mac and have only 4 usb-c ports, what is the cheapest and reliable and also convenient way to transfer digital signal from my Apple Music to the speakers? I have found somewhere Topping D10s mention + sum special cable from spdif to EBU/AES, is this a correct way? Can someone tell me and provide names/links with what they are using with 8330A to transfer digital signal from computer to speakers and how much it can cost?

Congrats! Many options, none are "bad"
- Balanced DAC (e.g., Topping D10) -> 8330 (TRS/XLR cable)
- USB -> SMSL PO100 PRO -> coax cable -> canare transformer (maybe not 100% needed) -> AES -> 8330

2nd option avoids an extra D/A
PS. GLM is good

 

[vavent_]

My apologies, I thought you had the speakers already, I missed that. Are you planning to take advantage of GLM? I don't know if you need digital input to take advantage of GLM, but if so then the solution in my opinion would be to change your interface. To do this you could use a low cost interface like the Topping E30II

Otherwise I'm not so sure there would be a benefit to go from analog to digital just for the sake of going into the digital inputs on the speaker. However others may chime in to advise better on this.

Yeah, I just heard that with these models that allow digital input and have DAC inside it's better, someone on ASR forums related to Genelecs mentioned that sound is a bit more clean in comparison with analog input, but I don't remember the reason of it

 

[vavent_]

Congrats! Many options, none are "bad"
- Balanced DAC (e.g., Topping D10) -> 8330 (TRS/XLR cable)
- USB -> SMSL PO100 PRO -> coax cable -> canare transformer (maybe not 100% needed) -> AES -> 8330

2nd option avoids an extra D/A
PS. GLM is good

Thanks! Definitely, I bought SAM model just because of GLM, heard too many praises and how simple and effective it is so I ordered GLM set too together with Genelecs in one day, just to clarify, I see on this SMSL PO100 Pro 1 coaxial output, so I need two of such devices to connect each monitor respectively? Or there is cable that split from coax cable to two AES? Sorry for noob question, compared to my previous experience with IEMs and headphones, where my DAC/amp have only one input and one output, this digital connection to 8330A seems a bit more complicated

 

[mkt]

AES/EBU carries two channels so, just just one wire (is daisy-chained the term?).

Volume control is another consideration. Using a balanced DAC might give you that easily.

Or there's this guy, which I like on the desktop. The feel is very nice.

Again, I don't think any of these choices impact sound quality, just choosing the layout of little boxes and wires that you like.

 

[vavent_]

AES/EBU carries two channels so, just just one wire (is daisy-chained the term?).

Volume control is another consideration. Using a balanced DAC might give you that easily.

Or there's this guy, which I like on the desktop. The feel is very nice.
View attachment 375088
Again, I don't think any of these choices impact sound quality, just choosing the layout of little boxes and wires that you like.

Thanks a lot for the illustration! It's really helpful for me to understand finally the whole set up, a few more questions to clarify:
1) Can I use SMSL PO100 AK instead of PRO? Because pro version unavailable in my country, I would need to wait for month to get it delivered
2) What cables I need to buy? One coax cable into the SMSL output and another end into the canary transformer, than connecting into this transformer one AES/EBU cable on one end and on other end to first monitor. Finally one more cable AES/EBU from first monitor to the second? So in sum 3 cables? Are there any recommendation of good reliable cables for this?

 

[mkt]

I would guess that SMSL PO100 AK or anything with a coax (SPDIF) output is fine.

People on this site (for instance here) say you don't need a transformer for short cable runs, and Genelec seems to say the same thing here: We recommend to keep the cable length less than 8 meter

So two cables are likely enough. (Any cables that are not broken are fine.) Something like this XLR male to RCA male to connect the coax to the Genelec (double check that the digital in is indeed male) and then something like this XLR female to XLR male.

I am not an expert (and have bought the wrong cable more than once), but this approach reasonable and fairly common.

 

[vavent_]

I would guess that SMSL PO100 AK or anything with a coax (SPDIF) output is fine.

People on this site (for instance here) say you don't need a transformer for short cable runs, and Genelec seems to say the same thing here: We recommend to keep the cable length less than 8 meter

So two cables are likely enough. (Any cables that are not broken are fine.) Something like this XLR male to RCA male to connect the coax to the Genelec (double check that the digital in is indeed male) and then something like this XLR female to XLR male.

I am not an expert (and have bought the wrong cable more than once), but this approach reasonable and fairly common.

Very appreciate for the links, now I have all the knowledge related to cables, two more questions about Genelec volume control and stands.
1) What is the correct model number for this volume controller? Is this 9310B that I can buy to control volume on both speakers? Where should I plug it? Into 3.5mm port of my desktop system?
2) What is the optimal stand for those speakers for desktop use? From my research 8000-323 stand should be the best option?

 

[mkt]

Very appreciate for the links, now I have all the knowledge related to cables, two more questions about Genelec volume control and stands.
1) What is the correct model number for this volume controller? Is this 9310B that I can buy to control volume on both speakers? Where should I plug it? Into 3.5mm port of my desktop system?
2) What is the optimal stand for those speakers for desktop use? From my research 8000-323 stand should be the best option?

9310B Wired Volume Controller is correct. It plugs into the GLM box. GLM box is connected via USB to computer (only required for calibration etc) and via ethernet cables (included) to the speakers.

The 8000-323 looks like a good option. Genelec accessories are expensive in the US (less so in elsewhere?) but solid.

 

[vavent_]

9310B Wired Volume Controller is correct. It plugs into the GLM box. GLM box is connected via USB to computer (only required for calibration etc) and via ethernet cables (included) to the speakers.

The 8000-323 looks like a good option. Genelec accessories are expensive in the US (less so in elsewhere?) but solid.

Hi again! Finally speakers have arrived and I'm really excited to perform today first critical listen and I have connected them to my Mac as you suggested with Mac -> usb-c -> SMSL PO100AK -> coax-to-aes/ebu -> first Genelec speaker -> second Genelec speaker and the sound played (for now without GLM, it's still in the box)! But I'm almost lost my hearing to how loud it played I stopped it after 0.5s, I put my digital signal on Apple Music and in system settings to the lowest setting possible, but it's still so loud, do I understand correctly that without GLM I can't lower the volume on the speakers? Now I'm scared to play sound through them again in order to not lose my hearing

 

[mkt]

Volume control is another consideration. Using a balanced DAC might give you that easily.

Or there's this guy, which I like on the desktop. The feel is very nice.
View attachment 375088
Again, I don't think any of these choices impact sound quality, just choosing the layout of little boxes and wires that you like.

Congratulations!

I use this or in the past I used the DAC volume. In theory, the Mac system volume should work but I have not relied on that because it seems chancy.

 

[Kervel]

The 8330a should have dip switches on the back for the sensitivity I recall; Edit: no they dont.
But in my opinion, hook up the GLM kit ASAP for room correction and setting default max volume. I have mine at -30db that works well: digital volume on PC at 50% sounds nice, and gives sufficient headroom.

 

[mkt]

The 8330a should have dip switches on the back for the sensitivity I recall; you could try those. But in my opinion, hook up the GLM kit ASAP for room correction and setting default max volume. I have mine at -30db that works well: digital volume on PC at 50% sounds nice, and gives sufficient headroom.

I thought they had dip switches but I’m not seeing them? Am I bad at finding/seeing things?