sonitus mirus
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How much louder and why, if you don't mind me asking. I probably already asked AI, but it would be nice to read another opinion.
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Genelec 8361A Review (Powered Monitor)
- Thread starter amirm
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I don't have exact figures but artists like to listen loud and there is less room gain than in a typical domestic environment.
sonitus mirus
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That makes sense. I tend to think it’s less about a specific SPL number and more about how cleanly the system behaves at the level you’re listening. Studios often run louder, but that’s usually about preserving headroom and dynamics, not loudness for its own sake. In a home or residential setting, you can often get the same impact at lower measured levels if the system stays linear.
Sometimes the joy of music lovers brings things into sharper perspective. I laughed when I noticed the other speaker options within the listening room:
I believe that they use the AES/EBU digital audio standard, which has a nominal signal voltage of up to 3 volts peak-to-peak. The digital input sensitivity is set so that a 0 dB FS digital input produces a theoretical 130 dB SPL at 1 meter in an anechoic room. And that can of course be loud, enough!
On the final part of your observation, you might want to think of it this way: comparing those two voltages is like comparing the speed of a car to the speed of an internet connection—the numbers look similar, but they're doing totally different jobs. That 3V digital signal isn't actually 'louder' than your Denon's 2V analogue out; it’s just the voltage used to move data. At the end of the day, how loud the speakers actually get comes down to how you’ve tweaked the volume and gain settings inside the Genelecs themselves.
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Hi!
I think I am ready to take a big leap forward and order a pair of 8361a (current setup: Kef LS50 wireless + SVS 3000 Micro).
A couple of questions though:
I think I am ready to take a big leap forward and order a pair of 8361a (current setup: Kef LS50 wireless + SVS 3000 Micro).
A couple of questions though:
- I have seen a couple of reviews mentioning some "fatigue" during extended listening sessions. Has anybody experienced anything like that?
- My bigger concern is the source: does it make sense to go for a Wiim Ultra and use a SPDIF/AES converter? Or better go for a streamer that would already have balanced outputs? Any recommendations here?
- Last, the speakers will be placed on a bookshelf with very little room on the sides and back. Is that a red flag or will GLM help correct it anyway?
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There's nothing better in the streamer arena than Wiim as far as I'm concerned, so that plus SPDIF to AES makes sense to me.
The only issue is that the speaker is ported, so you need enough room behind it for the port -- IIRC, the port's distance to the wall should be at least the same as its diameter. Otherwise, closer to the wall is actually better and any exaggerated bass response due to boundary reinforcement should be taken care of by GLM.
CMB
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- I still love them. No fatigue at all. You get used to it. Today I prefer a rather flat curve. Have different systems, but it is still the best. Love to come back to them, so reliable correct.
- I use Eversolo, but I also have 2 Wiims. I have less wifi or app issues with the Eversolo and also love the larger screen.
- Same configuration here. Works fine for me, hence it is not a studio environnement.
Hope that helps.
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I listen for hours and hours every day with no fatigue.
Your current setup is already very good. In case you already apply room-correction and have properly integrated the sub, I wouldn't expect a night and day difference in perceived sound quality from the upgrade apart from the obviously much higher SPL capability.
Regarding your questions:
- FWIW, I have the much more mundane 8030C and find them slightly on the bright side, which I suspect is due to their wider high-frequency dispersion than, e.g., some Neumann or KEF designs. I listen to them near-field and do not find them fatiguing though. In any case, with GLM you could tilt the top end down slightly to taste.
- As @kyuu mentioned, a WiiM with digital out is an excellent choice and avoids unnecessary (albeit likely transparent) AD/DA conversions. If I remember correctly, if you keep the cable run short, you might not even need a proper SPDIF/AES converter. A simple rca/coax -> XLR will probably suffice.
- GLM can help a lot, especially in the bass region, but it cannot fix SBIR issues or asymmetric early reflections caused by compromised placement. If I were spending ~10k on a pair of speakers, I would definitely also think carefully about placement and at least some mild room treatment.
Enjoy your new endgame speakers! Cheers!
terryforsythe
Major Contributor
A SPDIF/AES converter will work, but I would research to make sure you get one that is low noise/distortion. Another option with the WiiM Ultra is to use a USB to AES converter, but again do your homework when selecting one.
As you noted, another option is a streamer that has balanced outputs, but I don't know of a cost effective one that offers all of the features of the WiiMs, including room correction/EQ. That doesn't mean there is not one out there, though.
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