Genelec 8361A Review (Powered Monitor)

[Hephaestus]

This is my 8361a and my Kef Ref 2c.

Both duel concentric up to the mid driver and similar dispersion. Where the tweeter, mids and woofer of the 8361a are more distinct, the Kef 2c is more homogeneous. And because of this it has a more cohesive sound signature.
I much preffer the sound of cymbals, kick drum and bass from the kef.
Both excellent with mids.

And you compared them in a controlled ABX test?

Late discussion in this thread has started to remind me of senseless mouth flapping in some "audiofoolery" forums.... Just my opinion though...

 

[Purité Audio]

Preference is preference , but given the choice of those two I know which I would choose.
Keith

 

[FrantzM]

Hi

Yep!

Sometimes, the written word is less clear than the spoken word!

On the merits of the 8361A's bass response (alleged deafness and equipment faults not withstanding! ) the following might prove useful in clarifying my perspective:

Anecdotes, also, not withstanding?

This review and @amirm conclusions

Conclusions
Do I honestly need to write this? That this is one of the most perfectly executed speakers both objectively and subjectively. No longer does a powered speaker have a limit in either deep bass or loudness. I was testing just a single one. I can just imagine a pair being able to bring the house down with perfect clarity and dynamics. $5,000 sounds like a lot of money but you are getting multiple levels of amplification and DACs for free plus in-built DSP, room EQ, etc., etc. Buy a pair for $10K and you are done with your journey as an audiophile.

It is my absolute pleasure to strongly recommend the Genelec 8361A. I killed my back (and that of my wife's) carrying it around to measure and listen to but it was all worth it. If you can afford it, run, don't walk to get them for your system!

keeps on haunting me.
Then there are those too

On the question of gelling:

If they weren't so aesthetically low in WAF (and high in £££'s), 'maybe' this is where I would reintroduce a subwoofer that is worthy of the 8361A's!

perhaps....

Peace.

 

[Impossible]

And you compared them in a controlled ABX test?

Late discussion in this thread has started to remind me of senseless mouth flapping in some "audiofoolery" forums.... Just my opinion though...

What would you consider a controlled ABX test?
How Amirm listens at the end of a review? Or something else?

 

[Impossible]

I forget threads like this are like going to a concert and saying something negative about the band in front of the fans who see them as gods.

 

[Purité Audio]

Ultimately the only factor that really matters is your subjective opinion, objectively the Gens are better speakers.
Keith

 

[Esprit]

Do they measure better then salon ultima 2? If so why keep the salon ultima instead of getting the genelec?

[…] Conclusions
Do I honestly need to write this? That this is one of the most perfectly executed speakers both objectively and subjectively. No longer does a powered speaker have a limit in either deep bass or loudness. I was testing just a single one. I can just imagine a pair being able to bring the house down with perfect clarity and dynamics. $5,000 sounds like a lot of money but you are getting multiple levels of amplification and DACs for free plus in-built DSP, room EQ, etc., etc. Buy a pair for $10K and you are done with your journey as an audiophile.

It is my absolute pleasure to strongly recommend the Genelec 8361A. I killed my back (and that of my wife's) carrying it around to measure and listen to but it was all worth it. If you can afford it, run, don't walk to get them for your system […]

 

[Esprit]

I much preffer the sound of cymbals, kick drum and bass from the kef.
Both excellent with mids.

It's subjective.

 

[Impossible]

"Dynamics and Competition with Revel Salon 2
There has been a lot of talk about how these two speakers compare in the forum. I find the conversion odd as we are comparing a bookshelf speaker to a full blown tower. Still, I decided to compare the two since I own the Salon 2.

The Salon 2 quickly showed its difference in taller image that was not so focused and centered as the Genelec. This of course could be an optical illusion of the Genelec pulling your eye toward its tweeter. Still, I stand by this observation. The other thing that stood out was that the highs were more prominent in Salon 2 bringing more realism to high frequency notes. The Genelec sounded subdued in this front. Perhaps there is some peaking in my Salon 2 (have not measured it yet).

Where one could not doubt a difference was the power capability and bass extension. On sub-bass heavy tracks the Genelec held its own at lower volume. As you turned up the level the bass driver started to make this annoying "furrrrring" sound on heavy bass notes. You could easily hear it if you stood on top of the speaker and listened through the slot on top. Turn up the volume a bit more and the red clipping indicator would come on.

The Salon 2 was in entirely different class. Powered with 1000 watts of amplification, it provided a level of belly shaking that the 8351B could not even dream about reproducing. And it would keep getting louder and louder with zero distortion and strain. It simply was not a fair fight even though the 8351B tries hard.

Overall, the Salon 2 provides that large, dynamic sound that a statement speaker needs to provide to fill a large space. The 8351 is for more intimate and more focused listening."

Yes the above has been taken from 8351b review but it has the same mids, tweeter, more bass and measures apart from some more bass very similar.

This was also my experience with the 8361a, I wish Amirm had compared the salon 2 to the 8361a review as well. But I guess he realised after the first review that he needed to clarify after everyone started to loose their marbels, comparing a high end large tower to a large monitor.

 

[Esprit]

8351 250 watts for the woofers
8361 700 watts for the woofers

Are they similar?
Ok, have a nice evening

 

[Purité Audio]

It is subjective a friend had a pair of Salon 2’s twin Benchmark AHB2s and he wanted to try the Grimm LS1s in his room, it was interesting to switch between them, in his room he preferred the Grimms set up with the severe toe on Grimm recommend.
He has smaller Gens in another for work.
Keith

 

[Impossible]

8351 250 watts for the woofers
8361 700 watts for the woofers

Are they similar?
Ok, have a nice evening

Yes they are similar, I quite clearly mentioned they had some more bass.

Do they have as much bass as a large tower like the salon 2. No absolutely not.

I also share the same sentiment about the highs as Amirm.

 

[Purité Audio]

Contemporary designs can of course be adjusted to taste, as Amir did.
sure about the bass?
Keith

 

[Impossible]

Contemporary designs can of course be adjusted to taste, as Amir did.
Keith

So are you saying it's not all about measuments?

 

[Impossible]

Contemporary designs can of course be adjusted to taste, as Amir did.
sure about the bass?
Keith

Salon 2
±3 dB from 23 Hz to 45 kHz ±0.5 dB from 29 Hz to 18 kHz ±1.0 dB from 26 Hz to 20 kHz

8361a
±1.5 db from 30hz to 20khz

 

[Purité Audio]

Specs aren’t measurements.
Keith

 

[FrantzM]

"Dynamics and Competition with Revel Salon 2
There has been a lot of talk about how these two speakers compare in the forum. I find the conversion odd as we are comparing a bookshelf speaker to a full blown tower. Still, I decided to compare the two since I own the Salon 2.

The Salon 2 quickly showed its difference in taller image that was not so focused and centered as the Genelec. This of course could be an optical illusion of the Genelec pulling your eye toward its tweeter. Still, I stand by this observation. The other thing that stood out was that the highs were more prominent in Salon 2 bringing more realism to high frequency notes. The Genelec sounded subdued in this front. Perhaps there is some peaking in my Salon 2 (have not measured it yet).

Where one could not doubt a difference was the power capability and bass extension. On sub-bass heavy tracks the Genelec held its own at lower volume. As you turned up the level the bass driver started to make this annoying "furrrrring" sound on heavy bass notes. You could easily hear it if you stood on top of the speaker and listened through the slot on top. Turn up the volume a bit more and the red clipping indicator would come on.

The Salon 2 was in entirely different class. Powered with 1000 watts of amplification, it provided a level of belly shaking that the 8351B could not even dream about reproducing. And it would keep getting louder and louder with zero distortion and strain. It simply was not a fair fight even though the 8351B tries hard.

Overall, the Salon 2 provides that large, dynamic sound that a statement speaker needs to provide to fill a large space. The 8351 is for more intimate and more focused listening."

Yes the above has been taken from 8351b review but it has the same mids, tweeter, more bass and measures apart from some more bass very similar.

This was also my experience with the 8361a, I wish Amirm had compared the salon 2 to the 8361a review as well. But I guess he realised after the first review that he needed to clarify after everyone started to loose their marbels, comparing a high end large tower to a large monitor.

At this point in time my endgame would be one of those 2 speakers: Revel Salon 2 or the Genelec 8361A. Leaning toward the Salon because it's passive...

Yet, it bears to re-read this comment, from this review of the 8361 by @amirm:

The increased bass performance was phenomenal. So much so that in some tracks my room mode at 105 Hz became a bit much so I dialed it down as you see. Once there, I was greeted with a level of clean and deep bass which I had never experienced with any other speaker I have tested.

I suppose, he has "tested" in some ways , in the same room.... his own speakers, the Salon 2...

Peace.

 

[Impossible]

Specs aren’t measurements.
Keith

You think genelec and the harman group is making up these spec or by taking measuments?

 

[Impossible]

At this point in time my endgame would be one of thsoe 2 speakers, the Salon 2 or the 8361A. Leaning toward the Salon becasue it is passive...

Yet, it bears to re-read this comment, from this review of the 8361 by @amirm:

I suppose, he has "tested" in some ways , in the same room.... his own speakers, the Salon 2...

Peace.

I don't think he has tested them, as they are too big. Could be wrong.

But @amirm can you give your thoughts on this kindly

 

[Purité Audio]

You think genelec and the harman group is making up these spec or by taking measuments?

I have posted the Salon’s anechoic measurements.
Keith