Genelec 8341A SAM™ Studio Monitor Review

[Sparky]

I would sell them if they didn't sound so good!

 

[Sparky]

Quick question guys. Am I right in saying that, regardless of the PRE/DAC/ADC I feed my 8341's with, I will always hear the DAC in the speakers.
So £100 DAC vs £2000 DAC would make zero difference?

 

[Frank Dernie]

Quick question guys. Am I right in saying that, regardless of the PRE/DAC/ADC I feed my 8341's with, I will always hear the DAC in the speakers.
So £100 DAC vs £2000 DAC would make zero difference?

You will always be listening "through" the DACs in the speakers whatever source you use. Whether you can "hear" it is not likely though you will be benefitting from the DSP crossover and FR linearisation which it enables

 

[Sparky]

You will always be listening "through" the DACs in the speakers whatever source you use. Whether you can "hear" it is not likely though you will be benefitting from the DSP crossover and FR linearisation which it enables

Hi Frank. So, selling my miniDSP SHD in favour of the new RME ADI-2 PRO EX will have no tangible benefit to me at all?

 

[hvbias]

Quick question guys. Am I right in saying that, regardless of the PRE/DAC/ADC I feed my 8341's with, I will always hear the DAC in the speakers.
So £100 DAC vs £2000 DAC would make zero difference?

Genelec GLM plus their volume control will only use Genelec's D->A conversion

 

[Sparky]

Genelec GLM plus their volume control will only use Genelec's D->A conversion

I use the 8341's in stand-alone mode with the volume fixed. MiniDSP deals with volume for me but yeah, the 8341's will always be the endpoint regardless of source.....

 

[Frank Dernie]

Hi Frank. So, selling my miniDSP SHD in favour of the new RME ADI-2 PRO EX will have no tangible benefit to me at all?

Unless it has features or ergonomics you want, extra inputs you need, or connections that are more suitable no. Not for SQ in my experience.

 

[Sparky]

Unless it has features or ergonomics you want, extra inputs you need, or connections that are more suitable no. Not for SQ in my experience.

Yeah, I agree with you. The ONLY thing that the RME has that no other device I'm aware of has is, a loudness feature. Although the loudness feature is fantastic, is it £1,700 worth of fantastic? I think not. It does however have a genuine AES/EBU output which works in sync with the analogue output but again, the cost for these two items cannot be justified when my existing coax 110-ohm adapter works just fine.

 

[HiMu]

It doesn't work I can assure you.
I've had cases where I've applied a 100hz crossover within the GLM bass management and measured the result in REW.
GLM applies the crossover ok but it's as if it instead just introduces a huge null at 100hz then still allows the mains to play full range.

Essentially, you get full range output with a massive null at 100hz. Crazy

Have you tried to do a factory reset to the speakers (Hold power button for ~10s) and run the calibration again on a completely new file created on the newest version of GLM and speaker firmware?
And of course if everything else fails, contact their support, they are very responsive and helpful.

 

[Yari]

I love my 8341s. The room is untreated, but with the GLM kit I’m incredibly happy with them. I’m limited in terms of options for actual treatment, as I recently already did some work on the room and don’t really want to redo it all.

If I want to get a sub in the future, Genelec said the 7360 is the perfect match here. But the room is small to medium-sized, and I sit close. I don’t really have space for a 7360 under my desk without it getting in the way. I don’t need the higher SPL it offers either; it mostly comes down to its wider frequency range, and I’m not sure if I would actually miss that in use. It’s just for entertainment purposes.

Of course, a 7360 would be great if I can make it work, but I don't really want to sacrifice convenience just to fit one in. I think I'd have a much easier time placing two 7350s than a single 7360, though it's also possible that a single 7350 would already be more than enough for my needs. I'm just wondering how much that difference in low-end extension actually matters in practice. What would I really be missing out on?

 

[Breeze98]

I don’t really have space for a 7360 under my desk without it getting in the way.

If you don't have space directly under the desk, I'd be inclined to place two 7360a's either side of your 8341a's, and positioning them to the outside of the monitors is fine if space dictates that. Having owned the 7350a and now the 7360a, I would recommed the latter, as the extra headroom is nice to have. If you can't afford two, then get one and start saving for a second even if it takes a year or so. Just imo..

 

[Yari]

If you don't have space directly under the desk, I'd be inclined to place two 7360a's either side of your 8341a's, and positioning them to the outside of the monitors is fine if space dictates that. Having owned the 7350a and now the 7360a, I would recommed the latter, as the extra headroom is nice to have. If you can't afford two, then get one and start saving for a second even if it takes a year or so. Just imo..

It's just that a single 7360 would be a challenge to fit already, I think 2 of them will be impossible. I'll see if I can somehow work with a 7360. First need a different desk that will open up the space underneath a bit more. Hopefully it'll be possible after that.

 

[Mort]

It's just that a single 7360 would be a challenge to fit already, I think 2 of them will be impossible. I'll see if I can somehow work with a 7360. First need a different desk that will open up the space underneath a bit more. Hopefully it'll be possible after that.

Do you listen at high volume? What kind of music?

 

[Breeze98]

First need a different desk that will open up the space underneath a bit more

I was presuming that your desk wouldn't take up the whole width of the front wall, so there would be space either side of it?

 

[Yari]

I was presuming that your desk wouldn't take up the whole width of the front wall, so there would be space either side of it?

It's a bit of a messy setup in that I have a desks next to eachother but one has a desk cabinet underneath which allows no space for the sub, and then on the other side I'm right next to a wall. So if I make it happen, then it'll be right underneath the main desk. So some puzzling required that I'm going to have to figure out. But with a 180x80cm desk, I hope to fit both the PC (28cm width) and the sub underneath and hopefully not lose too much on comfort.. but I can't say until later. The 7350 sounded nice in that I can shove it pretty deep underneath and it would not be in my range at all.

Tldr; Unfortunately not, can only do it underneath my main desk.

Do you listen at high volume? What kind of music?

Not really no, I dont really turn it up a whole lot. It doesn't get too loud. Kind of music I would say there is definitely some variety there from pop/rock/classical. And for other usage it would just be movies and gaming. Honestly might just be overkill for what I am actually using it for but I can do it now, and I hope they will last me a long time.
I guess what I was mainly wondering if it I'd get that extra "punch" in adding a sub or is that not really what I should be expecting with a subwoofer with these monitors.

I'm getting the stands tomorrow and I guess I will have to recalibrate for that, after that I also want to add in the stream deck for slightly easier volume control with that.

 

[Mort]

I own both models and the 8341a as well. Unless you are listening at high volume or really bass heavy content the 7350 will be a noticable addition. I would get the 7360 before getting two 7350.

 

[Mort]

Also regarding size - I would not want the 7360 under anything but the largest desk but the 7350 works under a medium one pretty well.

 

[Yari]

I own both models and the 8341a as well. Unless you are listening at high volume or really bass heavy content the 7350 will be a noticable addition. I would get the 7360 before getting two 7350.

Appreciate the insight, thanks. I'm going to keep it into consideration. I have a TV with loudspeakers and the inclusion of a sub was noticable and appreciated there. I can only imagine that with GLM calibration, it would only be even more interesting to have here too. It's just such a big unit that I don't quite know if I can make it work yet until I actually get a different desk. That's something for later then.

Edit: Yeah, I already measured it for both models and I quickly came to the conclusion that a 60 would be a terrible difficult fit under my current, and the 50 would work reasonably well. It's just a bit too much of a sacrifice in leg space is what I am concerned for.

 

[Mort]

I can only imagine that with GLM calibration

It's pretty great. GLM calibration is very underrated imo.
It's shown very good results.
But it's expensive to aquire the necessary subs.

 

[Yari]

It's pretty great. GLM calibration is very underrated imo.
It's shown very good results.
But it's expensive to aquire the necessary subs.

Interesting read and findings, good stuff thank you. Yeah, I was happy with how low effort it was.
And as for the impact it had on much more enjoyable the speakers are after running the calibration, that was just insane. You go from these are decent, to these are absolutely amazing. I don't know if I would keep them if the calibration wasnt a thing, but with it? I haven't even used my headphones since I've got them.