Genelec 8361A Review (Powered Monitor)

[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.

 

[staticV3]

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.

The thing is, even when you were using the RME, you were still listening to the Genelec's onboard DAC.

Currently, you're doing Auralic->Genelec DSP->Genelec DAC->Genelec Amp.

Before, you were doing RME DAC->Genelec ADC->Genelec DSP->Genelec DAC->Genelec Amp.

There is simply no way that inserting an additional D->A and A->D conversion via the RME resulted in more refined, more detailed sound with tighter bass.

Modern converters are fantastic, but no conversions at all is still better.

Ergo, what you're experiencing is 100% placebo, confirmation bias.

 

[Esprit]

It's probably me who doesn't understand:
Why not connect the RME to the Genelec "directly" via AES/EBU?
Why buy other products?

 

[Ciobi69]

if i had the chance i would only go digital

 

[staticV3]

It's probably me who doesn't understand:
Why not connect the RME to the Genelec "directly" via AES/EBU?
Why buy other products?
View attachment 421768

Maybe @AMR78 wanted to use the Auralic's streaming features.

Though even then, I'd do Auralic->AES3->RME->AES3->Genelec, to make use of the RME's equal loudness compensation.

 

[Esprit]

if i had the chance i would only go digital

Now he connects digitally thanks to a new product when he could have done so without spending more money.

 

[Esprit]

Maybe @AMR78 wanted to use the Auralic's streaming features.

Maybe
I always prefer to use a Mac/PC as a streamer (and not only...).

 

[Ciobi69]

Now he connects digitally thanks to a new product when he could have done so without spending more money.

currently digital connection is the best available on the market, top of the top

 

[Esprit]

I was able to try the 8361, here at my home, with RME (same distributor Genelec and RME here in Italy).

 

[Ciobi69]

I was able to try the 8361, here at my home, with RME (same distributor Genelec and RME here in Italy).

i am from italy too, the 8361 was my alternative choice, in the end i bought the kef blade2 meta used.

 

[MTZ]

I use the 8361's in a complete digital setup with a Mac and Wiim ultra both digitally connected. I believe Genelec advises to use the digital inputs to prevent the additional D->A and A->D conversion.

 

[AMR78]

Thank you all for your feedback, appreciate that.

Just some more background to my setup/change of setup. The RME served as central machine into which all inputs were fed such as from TV and the Aries mini streamer. From the RME the signal was fed to the 8361s via AES. The Mini does not have AES. I wanted to upgrade the Mini for a long time. The Aries S1 now is a Streaming Processor which includes digital inputs and AES outputs, so now I do not need the RME as central machine into which all signals from other devices are fed. If the Aries S1 would haven been available at the time I got my 8361s, I would not have acquired the RME in the first place.

As regards the internal DAC and the RME DAC and sound differences, thank you for confirming what my thinking is - there should not be a sonical difference. In any case, I enjoy listening to this setup, even though I was somewhat hesitant to use a digital volume control.

 

[MTZ]

I think the Aries S1 must be a great streaming transport . The digital inputs and aes/ebu output are a perfect solution for a fully digital setup.

 

[Pearljam5000]

i am from italy too, the 8361 was my alternative choice, in the end i bought the kef blade2 meta used.

Could you compare 8361 to KEF Blade 2 Meta?
Thanks

 

[AMR78]

Now he connects digitally thanks to a new product when he could have done so without spending more money.

Wrong, connection was already purely digital before with the RME.

 

[staticV3]

Wrong, connection was already purely digital before with the RME.

Here's what threw us off:

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?

If the connection was already purely digital, then you were never using an external DAC in the first place, making any considerations regarding internal vs external DAC not applicable.

The RME's DAC is only used for its analog outputs. Digital outputs bypass it completely.

 

[AMR78]

Here's what threw us off:


If the connection was already purely digital, then you were never using an external DAC in the first place, making any considerations regarding internal vs external DAC not applicable.

The RME's DAC is only used for its analog outputs. Digital outputs bypass it completely.

Now, this makes me look like an i***, but the truth can be ugly

And my understanding was that the RME does something to the signal - obviously not via the Dac as there is no digital to analogue conversion happening. Any idea? Reclocking, anything when using a digital signal in and also out?

 

[staticV3]

Now, this makes me look like an i***, but the truth can be ugly

And my understanding was that the RME does something to the signal - obviously not via the Dac as there is no digital to analogue conversion happening. Any idea? Reclocking, anything when using a digital signal in and also out?

If you weren't using any of the RME's DSP features like Crossfeed, Parametric EQ, Equal loudness, then no part of its operation could possibly lead to a more refined, more detailed sound with tighter bass.

Generally, I'd advise you to first make sure that what you perceived actually exists, rather than taking your perception as fact and trying to find viable explanations.

Basically, you got the scientific method all mixed up