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Genelec 8331A Powered SAM Studio Monitor Review (by Erin)

Also I already have the flex and one SVS sub so not much more to spend... That probably tips it tbh
If you fancy a change, I have a mint, lightly used, still quite newish 7350a, GLM kit, and 9101AM-B remote for sale. UK
 
I use Dirac with a miniDSP DDRC-24, 8030s + 2 SVS subs (desk) and NAD C658, 8351Bs + 3 SVS subs (living room).

GLM kit is still sat in the box.

Personally, it was more convenient and cheaper for me to go this route. In addition to the expensive subs, don't you need to buy some expensive device to control volume? Not ideal from the sofa!
 
Ugh Genelec making another good speaker what a surprise, can't they come up with something new for a change???
I spoke to their CEO, he understands your criticism. The entire board of directors has jumped on board, they are going to make an expensive piece of cr@p to solve this problem. Their only concern is there is SO MUCH competition in that field...
 
Can be Kef LS50 wireless a good alternative for 8331 to home listening? I’m thinking about a system to my office, I move constantly from sweet spot so coaxials maybe be the way to go.

Love so much Genelecs, I have 4 at home, but 4.000€ overcome my budget
 
can anyone tell me if this is good or bad? I am about to purchase used 8331 for 2800 the pair. I dont listen over 84-86dB and only use them in a ultra nearfield scenario (0,2-04 meter). not sure how to read that graph


Genelec 8331A Harmonic Distortion (86dB @ 1m).png
 
0.2m is too close. You will sit with your face right in front of them. 0.5m is more realistic (that's how I use them). They will easily deliver 85 to 90 dB in such a scenario.
 
That's a great price on a great monitor. I wouldn't use that graph in particular to eval this speaker. Overall it tests very very well.
 
can anyone tell me if this is good or bad? I am about to purchase used 8331 for 2800 the pair. I dont listen over 84-86dB and only use them in a ultra nearfield scenario (0,2-04 meter). not sure how to read that graph


View attachment 438480
Is a good monitor for sitting extra close, because your lesser displacement will place your head more away from sweat spot in angle: coaxial has wider listening window.

Also at that distance you’ll loose coherency woofer-tweeter in a 2-way monitor. Congratulations you have the speaker I wanted but I couldn’t afford, I’m jealous…

Don’t reveal your source or I will purchase them in a minute :)
 
If you ever want to use them in a room, they simply lack output. I had a pair for a week but playing at louder levels caused the clipping light to blink red.
 
not sure how to read that graph
The lower the harmonic distortion (HD), the better.

-30dB = 3% HD
-40dB = 1% HD
-50dB = 0.3% HD
-60dB = 0.1% HD

In the chart the red trace is total harmonic distortion (THD). The THD represents the combination of the various harmonic distortions, which are represented by the other different colors on the chart. The 2nd harmonic is double the fundamental frequency (i.e., the frequency being played), the 3rd harmonic is tripple the fundamental frequency, etc.

The higher order harmonics tend to be more audible than lower order harmonics if they are at the same level, and some people are bothered more by odd harmonics (3rd, 5th, etc.) than by even harmonics (2nd, 4th, etc.).
 
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I dont listen over 84-86dB and only use them in a ultra nearfield scenario (0,2-04 meter).
They have plenty of output for this use case. I would not use them further than 1m, but I have them at 0.5m and have never seen a clipping light.
 
can anyone tell me if this is good or bad?
It is very good! At 86dB/1m it maintains less than 1% THD above about 110Hz, and less than 3% THD above 49Hz. That is fantastic for a speaker its size. Also, most of the distorion content at the lower frequencies where the THD rises is 2nd harmonic, which is the least offensive.
 
It is very good! At 86dB/1m it maintains less than 1% THD above about 110Hz, and less than 3% THD above 49Hz. That is fantastic for a speaker its size. Also, most of the distorion content at the lower frequencies where the THD rises is 2nd harmonic, which is the least offensive.
Combined with 7360 and these are a dream
 
Partner got a pair of 8331a's paired with an SVS 3000 micro subwoofer. There is a lot to like about them. The white is attractive as are the stands. (I need to take off the feet.)

They are more precise and detailed than the G Three or anything else I've had there. I don't get the full cohesive feeling I get from the 8361a's but that is to be expected. They are more sensitive to head movement and stereo imaging than I hoped but that may be a factor of nearfield listening.

They are significantly volume limited compared to the 8361a's, and one can predict that from the specs. I would not consider them for a room, only for nearfield listening unless there was a suitable subwoofer. Even then, I'm not sure it would work if you liked bass-heavy music which, I could only get to 80-85spl at 3 feet before the red light flashed indicating clipping and compression. That's without any GLM or other DSP and crossed at 50hz. The 8361a's go much louder with bass-heavy music, even though they are listed at 13db more, its capabilities are even greater in the lower frequencies.

I will try to get a 7350a Genelec subwoofer in there under the desk and benefit from GLM maybe.

1744400244975.png
 
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Partner got a pair of 8331a's paired with an SVS 3000 micro subwoofer. There is a lot to like about them. The white is attractive as are the stands. (I need to take off the feet.)

They are more precise and detailed than the G Three or anything else I've had there. I don't get the full cohesive feeling I get from the 8361a's but that is to be expected. They are more sensitive to head movement and stereo imaging than I hoped but that may be a factor of nearfield listening.

They are significantly volume limited compared to the 8361a's, and one can predict that from the specs. I would not consider them for a room, only for nearfield listening unless there was a suitable subwoofer. Even then, I'm not sure it would work if you liked bass-heavy music which, I could only get to 80-85spl at 3 feet before the red light flashed indicating clipping and compression. That's without any GLM or other DSP and crossed at 50hz. The 8361a's go much louder with bass-heavy music, even though they are listed at 13db more, its capabilities are even greater in the lower frequencies.

I will try to get a 7350a Genelec subwoofer in there under the desk and benefit from GLM maybe.

View attachment 443692
how did you go from "maybe I'll get the 8361" to "genelec everywhere"? :p
 
how did you go from "maybe I'll get the 8361" to "genelec everywhere"?
I already had several Genelec's mostly 8030a and G two/three. These are my first 'Ones'. I think I'm good now, once I get the subwoofer.
 
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