Genelec 8361A Review (Powered Monitor)

[Dgob]

Apologies, only just saw the above responses, with which I concur.

 

[Esprit]

Anyone here use them as such? Thanks!

The month that I had them on trial I used them without distinction for listening to music and watching films.
Zero problems obviously.

 

[GameAudioPen]

sigh... my current speaker stand has a top dimension of 230mm by 230mm. You guys think a 8361 will be able to comfortably sit on it?

 

[Distordera]

I am planning to replace my Sonos bar with these or maybe the 51’s.
Can you guys guide me in how to make the G’s work app based with as good quality as possible?

It’s a quality of life thing.

No need to house and turn on a big avr and such.
Maybe lying in the bed and turn on the music from a phone.

Or use the apple tv remote to change volume when watching tv.

I have need for radio (using Sonos app today), Spotify and Roon (have a NUC with core today).

Is this possible?
Thanks!

 

[staticV3]

I am planning to replace my Sonos bar with these or maybe the 51’s.
Can you guys guide me in how to make the G’s work app based with as good quality as possible?

It’s a quality of life thing.

No need to house and turn on a big avr and such.
Maybe lying in the bed and turn on the music from a phone.

Or use the apple tv remote to change volume when watching tv.

I have need for radio (using Sonos app today), Spotify and Roon (have a NUC with core today).

Is this possible?
Thanks!

TV->Toslink->WiiM Pro->Coax to AES cable->8361A
or
TV->HDMI (ARC)->WiiM Ultra->Coax to AES cable->8361A

The WiiM will automatically switch between TV input and streaming input.

 

[RobL]

sigh... my current speaker stand has a top dimension of 230mm by 230mm. You guys think a 8361 will be able to comfortably sit on it?

It’ll sit on there fine but the isopod will overhang the sides a bit (~8mm) at the back. Be sure the base of the stand is large enough to be stable with a 32kg speaker on it though.

 

[MAB]

It’ll sit on there fine but the isopod will overhang the sides a bit (~8mm) at the back. Be sure the base of the stand is large enough to be stable with a 32kg speaker on it though.

Or perhaps @GameAudioPen can get the base-plates, attach them to existing stands. The base-plates do make things a bit more secure, but add an additional ~$300.

 

[GameAudioPen]

Or perhaps @GameAudioPen can get the base-plates, attach them to existing stands. The base-plates do make things a bit more secure, but add an additional ~$300.

I looked at that solution last night. The issue is the current base has a M20 thread, and 8361A base uses a 3/4 thread.
Thread adapter won't work due to the sizing too close.

Perhaps I'll Velcro the isopod to the current plate for more stability. There is a bit of space below that allows me to do so.

The base is sturdy enough, rated for 90 LB, they will also be stuck under part of the desk's feet, so the chance of it to swing around is not exactly high.

 

[Distordera]

TV->Toslink->WiiM Pro->Coax to AES cable->8361A
or
TV->HDMI (ARC)->WiiM Ultra->Coax to AES cable->8361A

The WiiM will automatically switch between TV input and streaming input.

Ok that sounds good. So the Wiim can replace the Sonos functions or do I have to get something else?

 

[staticV3]

Ok that sounds good. So the Wiim can replace the Sonos functions or do I have to get something else?

The WiiM can do streaming, casting, and multiroom playback.

Though keep in mind that AirPlay support is missing from the Ultra.

 

[Ciobi69]

The WiiM can do streaming, casting, and multiroom playback.

Though keep in mind that AirPlay support is missing from the Ultra.

I got an iPhone myself what’s positive about AirPlay? Does it stream lossless? Thanks

 

[RobL]

Or perhaps @GameAudioPen can get the base-plates, attach them to existing stands. The base-plates do make things a bit more secure, but add an additional ~$300.

I see Thoman has them for $66/each but won’t ship to US…strangely they will send them here (Canada)

 

[GameAudioPen]

I got an iPhone myself what’s positive about AirPlay? Does it stream lossless? Thanks

easy to use for ppl with iphone. It's lossless up to 24bit/48 kHZ.

 

[GameAudioPen]

I see Thoman has them for $66/each but won’t ship to US…strangely they will send them here (Canada)

yeah it's some high way robbery of Genelec related items here.

They also won't ship the speaker here, it's price protected in USA apparently. SO we are paying for some hefty extras comparing to Canada.

 

[Ciobi69]

easy to use for ppl with iphone. It's lossless up to 24bit/48 kHZ.

Didn’t know it was lossless I got a receiver with AirPlay cool stuff

 

[Gene LeClair]

Apologies, I accidentally deleted my original post, so I'll attempt to repost it here in briefer form.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Prior to the release of the Genelec 9320A controller, Amir had suggested that I might be able to increase the performance of my Genelecs by foregoing the use of a DAC and preamp and adopting the (then) forthcoming controller.

Eureka!!

Fast forward some years, and I met with Steve Jones at Genelec, London - who has subsequently been helping me to optimise my Genelec set-up. This culminated in his suggesting a way that I could improve performance by removing my DAC, preamps and NUC streamer. It was here that things came together with my removing my high end Topping stack and my Intel NUC (on which I ran my Roon ROCK). I therefore went completely digital (AES/EBU) in my simplified set-up, by introducing the RDL HR-DSX4 digital selector running into a Genelec 9320A controller.

Put simply, the quality of improvement in the performance of my 8361A monitors and 7360A subs, when run in this way, far exceeded my wildest expectations; so much so that I'm now actually questioning the need to upgrade from my 7360A subs to the W371A's. And that is really, really saying something!

Interestingly, the huge improvement of the Genelecs when the system is run in pure digital mode is clearly suggested by Marcel Schechter's recent YouTube videos (regarding setting up the 9320A controller). Here, his noting of the superiority of digital set-up definitely complies with my own experience and seems worthy of deep consideration!!

All I can say with absolute certainty is that I genuinely had no idea just how incredible my monitors were - prior to adopting a pure digital set-up and removing the need for a DAC and preamp. For those Genelec owners who have not yet made that move, I highly recommend that you try it out. Once tried, I strongly believe that you won't go back.

To that end, I hope the underlying Steve designed attachment can help anyone else who might be interested in optimizing their Genelecs.

Over-joyed!

What kind of setup do you have? Do you have multiple different sources or why do you need the switch?

 

[Dgob]

What kind of setup do you have? Do you have multiple different sources or why do you need the switch?

Excuse the delayed response, but we've been away for the festivities.

Anyway, my set-up is given in the diagram at the end of the above noted post. It shows that my Roon based Laptop, CD player, LG TV, and (now) FM/DAB Tuner all run through the RDL HR-DSX4 and 9320A. It makes an amazing difference - probably due to the reduction in conversions of the original digital signals.

 

[AMR78]

I am taking a stab at continuing this thread in 2025 - a happy new year to everyone.

I have just further reduced my system and replaced my trusted Auralic Aries mini connected to RME ADI-2 Pro FS with an Auralic Aries S1. Now the Aries S1 is digitally feeding directly into the 8361s and I am using the digital volume control of the Aries.

While I am quite pleased with the minimal and purely digital setup (even my UST laser TV is connected digitally to the Aries S1) I have to do some more listening. My current impression after a few hours is that the RME sounded more refined, more detailed, with tighter bass than the onboard DAC of the Genelecs.
Has anyone else impressions of the onboard DAC vs. external DACs?

Best,
Andreas

 

[Sokel]

I am taking a stab at continuing this thread in 2025 - a happy new year to everyone.

I have just further reduced my system and replaced my trusted Auralic Aries mini connected to RME ADI-2 Pro FS with an Auralic Aries S1. Now the Aries S1 is digitally feeding directly into the 8361s and I am using the digital volume control of the Aries.

While I am quite pleased with the minimal and purely digital setup (even my UST laser TV is connected digitally to the Aries S1) I have to do some more listening. My current impression after a few hours is that the RME sounded more refined, more detailed, with tighter bass than the onboard DAC of the Genelecs.
Has anyone else impressions of the onboard DAC vs. external DACs?

Best,
Andreas

Its internal DAC chip has a 100dB SINAD,is more than ok not to present any audible differences against any other nice DAC.

 

[PatriceA]

Feeding with analog signal, 8361 would do ADC - DSP - DAC/Amp. There should not be any audible difference.