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

[Mort]

85-90 avg at 1M for bass-heavy music isn't that far off spec.

• Rated Long term max SPL is 99db a 1M
• That's only between 100hz and 3k, so not real world, although a sub might take some of that burden if crossed higher. (Mine isn't.)
• Minus 6db for GLM headroom (possibly more, we don't know.)
• The clipping indicator comes on before max is reached. (we don't know how much but 5-8db would do it.)

 

[Miguelón]

It's not a problem. The 8331a's are very nice, and adequate for desktop listening, but no real headroom even with a small subwoofer.

Some in this thread have said the 8331a are good for rooms (with a subwoofer). I can't imagine using them for a room, they barely feel powered enough for a desktop.


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But this depends on the preferences of the listener…

I have G Threes, when I push them to compression I also feel they are too loud to my confort level.

Is there an average of SPL preference in music?

 

[Mort]

But this depends on the preferences of the listener…

I have G Threes, when I push them to compression I also feel they are too loud to my confort level.

Is there an average of SPL preference in music?

The original post specified loud bass-heavy music preference.

 

[tmtomh]

Just as an FYI, the first comment in this thread (post #2) claims that these speakers are a poor value because they are dynamically limited, and that comment came from, if memory serves, the same member who has claimed the 8351b's compress at the drop of a hat. It is important to note that this claim, as I read it, is far more overarching and indicts the performance capabilities of the 8331 and 8351b well beyond what most commenters in this thread are saying, and well beyond any available data that I'm aware of.

 

[Miguelón]

The original post specified loud bass-heavy music preference.

Thanks and sorry, haven’t red the post

 

[Miguelón]

Just as an FYI, the first comment in this thread (post #2) claims that these speakers are a poor value because they are dynamically limited, and that comment came from, if memory serves, the same member who has claimed the 8351b's compress at the drop of a hat. It is important to note that this claim, as I read it, is far more overarching and indicts the performance capabilities of the 8331 and 8351b well beyond what most commenters in this thread are saying, and well beyond any available data that I'm aware of.

I was surprised, specially because the listening distances recommended by Genelec are on the “prudent” side.
I mean I listen them at 3m without sub and never felt they are out of range and compressed (G Three, by memory I remember 8331 to be on the same SPL range).

Obviously they’re not speakers for a big living room but the “near field monitos” classification should give some clue to the customers

 

[Sokel]

Have anyone listened to any of their big main monitors or any other comparable size quality speaker?

The one thing that sticks to it and makes these things worth every cent is the exact same thing I read about over and over about smaller gear, that pushing them they feel too loud for one's ears.

Well, mains don't do that, you can go to 95-100dB (C) average (so maybe 110dB max and 120dB (Z) peaks) or higher at 3 meters or more and all you feel is the event come closer and more impact, nothing intolerable. I always wondered why is called "volume" and not "level" control. Listening to this stuff explains a lot.

The higher you get without a hint of clipping the closer the event comes, again. not louder, closer. So...

 

[Frank Dernie]

I would imagine trying to fill, even partially, a null using DSP would overload the bass of such a small speaker straight away.

I don't know if GLM tries to do this but hopefully not.

 

[Sancus]

I think rather than jump on my measurements, which makes for tedious reading, let's stay on my main point.

I'm my opinion, these are not suited for a room, even small, if you like base-heavy content at loud volume.

Fair enough, I agree. They're not made for that, but they may work for some folks depending on content and SPL preferences.

It's not too surprising that a subwoofer doesn't add much output to this speaker either because as Erin's measurements clearly.show,.it compresses at 100-400hz at the same if not even lower SPL than at 100hz. So you will end up bottlenecked by that no matter how much the sub is helping below.

 

[Mort]

At the risk of making my own tedious point, after your post I noted today that the Genelec Kit microphone reports a 10db higher spl than either my phone or my Tadeto Spl meter, both of which are within a few db of each other and yeah, it's all DbA. I have not used the Genelec microphone for anything except calibration.

 

[Miguelón]

Have anyone listened to any of their big main monitors or any other comparable size quality speaker?

The one thing that sticks to it and makes these things worth every cent is the exact same thing I read about over and over about smaller gear, that pushing them they feel too loud for one's ears.

Well, mains don't do that, you can go to 95-100dB (C) average (so maybe 110dB max and 120dB (Z) peaks) or higher at 3 meters or more and all you feel is the event come closer and more impact, nothing intolerable. I always wondered why is called "volume" and not "level" control. Listening to this stuff explains a lot.

The higher you get without a hint of clipping the closer the event comes, again. not louder, closer. So...

Of course, a big enclosure (well made) and more power, woofer size … will make loud music sound better, less harmonic distortion, less resonances, better directivity.

Until certain point, loudness confort is different for each listener.

I agree that certain people turn down the volume pot when the speaker begins to show the teeth… then they feel is “louder than confort”.

But most of public that buy Genelecs or Neumann to home listening, we are aware that will not offer a lot of headroom so in average I guess we’re on the 70 -75 db @ 1m SPL.

At least in my case I bought G Threes given the fact that I have a small living room, my listening level is moderate and want at least 26 dB in the reserve for transients and dynamic variations .

 

[Sokel]

Of course, a big enclosure (well made) and more power, woofer size … will make loud music sound better, less harmonic distortion, less resonances, better directivity.

Until certain point, loudness confort is different for each listener.

I agree that certain people turn down the volume pot when the speaker begins to show the teeth… then they feel is “louder than confort”.

But most of public that buy Genelecs or Neumann to home listening, we are aware that will not offer a lot of headroom so in average I guess we’re on the 70 -75 db @ 1m SPL.

At least in my case I bought G Threes given the fact that I have a small living room, my listening level is moderate and want at least 26 dB in the reserve for transients and dynamic variations .

No objection at all, one weights it's own needs and decide.
Genelec even has charts to choose according to your listening distance and room volume given that the room is fairly treated (they are pro company, let's not forget that, their gear have such destination)

And it's really good that you put factors like headroom, EQ, RC, etc in the equation.

 

[Miguelón]

No objection at all, one weights it's own needs and decide.
Genelec even has charts to choose according to your listening distance and room volume given that the room is fairly treated (they are pro company, let's not forget that, their gear have such destination)

And it's really good that you put factors like headroom, EQ, RC, etc in the equation.

Only need a sub

But was aware of that, hesitating between Genelec sub or SVS

 

[Sokel]

Only need a sub

But was aware of that, hesitating between Genelec sub or SVS

Take it from your speaker's engineer advice and get two (even smaller ones) to play with.

 

[Miguelón]

Take it from your speaker's engineer advice and get two (even smaller ones) to play with.

2 small subs better than 1 big?

 

[Sokel]

2 small subs better than 1 big?

Seems that you have lot's to explore.
Start here, read the comment.

You can then go to "bass and subwoofers" thread and you can end up at the last pages of the sole most interesting conversation here:

Totem Acoustics Rainmaker Speaker Review

This is a review, listening tests and detailed measurements of Totem Acoustics Rainmaker Speaker. It is on kind loan from a member. It was released back in early 2000s for around $1,000 (pair): The look and feel of the speaker lands in "good" category with nice use of wood/veneers which you...

www.audiosciencereview.com

(4 last pages of so)

 

[Miguelón]

Seems that you have lot's to explore.
Start here, read the comment.

You can then go to "bass and subwoofers" thread and you can end up at the last pages of the sole most interesting conversation here:

Totem Acoustics Rainmaker Speaker Review

This is a review, listening tests and detailed measurements of Totem Acoustics Rainmaker Speaker. It is on kind loan from a member. It was released back in early 2000s for around $1,000 (pair): The look and feel of the speaker lands in "good" category with nice use of wood/veneers which you...

www.audiosciencereview.com

(4 last pages of so)

I won’t be bored…

Thanks!

 

[Sokel]

I won’t be bored…

Thanks!

Nope, you won't.
And the recent paper of the said engineer:

https://assets.swoogo.com/uploads/4646601-673c03ab61c93.pdf

 

[Mort]

With a g three, I would not get a Genelec sub. Too expensive unless you are getting GLM.

Two might be better than one, but one is even better than none.

 

[jdg78]

It's enough but if I could do it again, I'd probably not get them. My partner doesn't hear enough improvement over G Three's. They are better but... maybe not enough.

Interesting. How close do you think the G Threes get in terms of relative performance? I currently have the G Threes and have toyed with the idea of upgrading to the 8331's at some point, but at more the 3x the cost, I would expect a fairly obvious improvement to justify such a large additional outlay.

As far as the SPL goes, my own experience running a pair of G Threes with dual subs in a medium size room (approx. 13'x15' w/ 9' ceilings), is that I have no issues achieving satisfying (for me) SPL levels without even coming close to maxing out the volume or feeling like I've run out of headroom. Anything beyond around the 70% mark on my preamp gets uncomfortably loud for normal listening.

Although I should caveat that I have no idea how loud others like to listen, and that my listening preferences run mainly towards acoustic and classical (orchestral, small ensemble, solo piano) and certainly not "loud, bass heavy" music. And without the subs it would probably be quite a different story.