I've been obsessive with these speakers for a few days now, trying to get their best in my small room.
They've replaced a pair of PSI A17 which were already setting the bar quite high. The project was to get bass extension with a sub to go full range. But sub integration require (at least to me) the right tools and Genelec provides such tools thanks to the GLM kit. Reading reviews of the Ones, I was also curious to see if medium/treble, details and stereo image would be improved.
At this time I have "simply" put the 8351B at the exact same place than the PSIs, and I calibrated them with GLM (both for sub integration and EQ+phase setup). On top of that I EQed the system just like I did with the PSI (using a DEQ2496 which surprisingly was giving me great results).
I wasn't planning to use the DEQ2496 before I found that I wasn't pleased with GLM v4. It was better calibrated than not so GLM is still fine, but I still had some troubles with the 125hz frequency which was still too strong (that's my strongest mode). So I tried the DEQ on top of GLM's settings and the result was as good as with my PSI A17s.
From here, treble/medium are... equal. I have spent hours hours and hours listening to tracks I have been listening every week in my life for now decades. I know nearly every frequency of every note in these tracks so I know when one is triggering a mode in my room I know the exact frequency...
Anyway.
As I said, it's surprising to see PSI and The Ones as equal bass extension aside. But, I am not here to say PSI is outstanding, I don't plan to get my PSIs back on the desk: my point is I feel like I don't get the best out of my Gens. There's something I really have to improve: my desk. Getting a bigger room would improve a lot of parameters too, especially in the bass region, but I can't change the room, so let's change the desk first
I was already getting better résultats from the PSIs when putting "foam" (kind of butt pillows I use for the dining room) on the desk right in front/below the speakers. It breaks LOTS of early reflections, especially in the 1-2khz range. Of course the best way to get rid of those reflections would be to avoid putting the speakers on the desk.
On a small note it's weird to hear the PSIs with a worse vertical dispersion have less troubles with those reflections... with the Gens I really noticed the sound is very HARSH without the foam on the desk, way more than the PSIs. I can't explain this as a better dispersion is supposed to help/give better results... anyway.
I have 2 possibilities from here:
1) put the speakers on desk pods but those should be quite tall to have a sufficient effect with reflections and the sound will inevitably come from "above" as the speakers will be higher than my head.
2) change the desk and use a narrower one so the sound won't bounce on the desk and the speakers will be set on stands.
FYI, I'm in a 10m² room at the best spot and rockwool is all around to help with frequencies down to 200-250hz. GLM is doing a great work with bass EQing and subwoofer integration.
I guess option 2 will give the best results but I like having lots of space when working... or maybe would you know great narrow desks to buy available in the European Union?
Option 1 will be easier for me to setup, and easier on the budget, so if you know great tall desk stands for 8351B I'm all ears
