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Im OCD just enough to doubt the 20eur usb to aes converted regarding audio fidelity,
OCD would be a reason to choose digital input into the Genelecs over analog.

If you use digital input, and you get smooth audio playback without stutter, then you can be sure that you're getting the best possible fidelity, even if the DDC that you're using cost 20€.
 
Genelec on using impedance matching converter

What is the best method to connect SAM-monitors to S/PDIF?

To use Genelec Digital monitors with S/PDIF input signals, best method is to use impedance matching converters (available for example from Neutrik) and short cable lengths because the S/PDIF link is not designed to travel long distances. The Neutrik converter takes care of the fact that the terminating impedance of S/PDIF is 75 ohms and that of AES/EBU is 110 ohms. This is the most robust solution to connect our SAM-monitors directly to S/PDIF.
 
Yesterday was the day! I got them. I set them up in my living room without stands- one plate is coming today- and gave them a go. Holy sh** the clarity and the soundstage and the details… Both me and my girlfriend (she thinks they even look nice??) were in awe, I forgot to eat for a couple of hours haha. Its really like i hear some music for the first time and alot of it for the last time because they really do show what is made poor, even for my average ear. I dont have any fancy audio terms about the sound but things do sound right. Except for the low end which is not as much in my chest as i thought it will be. When I went to demo 8351A i could hear and feel alot more lows, like alot of users said. I dont think its the speakers because if i bypass the calibration the house wants to collapse which i suppose is the 60hz peak the GLM tames. I also have a null at around 100hz (if i read the glm report correctly) so that is what needs to be tackled first when i set them up in a dedicated room with same dimensions. Im very happy i went with the 61s and not 51. The problem i have at 100hz would not be ideal to solve with subwoofer and as people here advised me- if you get enthusiastic with volume the extra SPL is really nice to have. I also saw that the idea i had to go with the 9320a controller is not bad at all and i think im returning the GLM kit and getting the controller. I say that with a grain of salt but i did get the feeling thatj the uad apollo twin is the bottleneck of the system. It felt (atleast) that sound would be even better if i fed them digital. Also I never believed the comments saying “you are not prepared for how big they are”—-they are VERY big. The weight is not a problem for me- I used to carry VOC AC30c2 2x per week to jam with my friends haha. But I do see how it is a major deciding factor.

Thank you lovely people from ASR for all the advice and help. If you have any tips for me for setting them up better please do tell (could I see any benefit to setting them horizontally so the woofers are not on the same axis?)

I also have some trouble finding the aes ebu cables on thomann. It seems like all the cables are for lights (DMX?) So if anyone has a quick link to where I can buy proper Aes ebu cables, please.

Forever grateful, now I cant wait for the work to end so I can go home and listen to them.

Have a great day!
 
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On the topic of cabling, cables with 110 ohms of impedance are used for both DMX and AES, that's why Thomann displays it like that. I bought cables labeled as "DMX cable" for my 8351Bs and it works perfectly. After all it's just data that's transferred through them, whether it's DMX commands or an AES audio stream.
 
On the topic of cabling, cables with 110 ohms of impedance are used for both DMX and AES, that's why Thomann displays it like that. I bought cables labeled as "DMX cable" for my 8351Bs and it works perfectly. After all it's just data that's transferred through them, whether it's DMX commands or an AES audio stream.
There is no good or bad or better cable with aes too then? thank you
 
Yesterday was the day! I got them. I set them up in my living room without stands- one plate is coming today- and gave them a go. Holy sh** the clarity and the soundstage and the details… Both me and my girlfriend (she thinks they even look nice??) were in awe, I forgot to eat for a couple of hours haha. Its really like i hear some music for the first time and alot of it for the last time because they really do show what is made poor, even for my average ear. I dont have any fancy audio terms about the sound but things do sound right. Except for the low end which is not as much in my chest as i thought it will be. When I went to demo 8351A i could hear and feel alot more lows, like alot of users said. I dont think its the speakers because if i bypass the calibration the house wants to collapse which i suppose is the 60hz peak the GLM tames. I also have a null at around 100hz (if i read the glm report correctly) so that is what needs to be tackled first when i set them up in a dedicated room with same dimensions. Im very happy i went with the 61s and not 51. The problem i have at 100hz would not be ideal to solve with subwoofer and as people here advised me- if you get enthusiastic with volume the extra SPL is really nice to have. I also saw that the idea i had to go with the 9320a controller is not bad at all and i think im returning the GLM kit and getting the controller. I say that with a grain of salt but i did get the feeling thatj the uad apollo twin is the bottleneck of the system. It felt (atleast) that sound would be even better if i fed them digital. Also I never believed the comments saying “you are not prepared for how big they are”—-they are VERY big. The weight is not a problem for me- I used to carry VOC AC30c2 2x per week to jam with my friends haha. But I do see how it is a major deciding factor.

Thank you lovely people from ASR for all the advice and help. If you have any tips for me for setting them up better please do tell (could I see any benefit to setting them horizontally so the woofers are not on the same axis?)

I also have some trouble finding the aes ebu cables on thomann. It seems like all the cables are for lights (DMX?) So if anyone has a quick link to where I can buy proper Aes ebu cables, please.

Forever grateful, now I cant wait for the work to end so I can go home and listen to them.

Have a great day!
Cool! One note about the bass amount and calibration, GLM flattens the curve to a flat line but then you should further adjust the ends of the spectrum to your taste. In Group Preset menu there's Sound Character Profiler mode, where you have two shelves to use. Good starting point in my case is usually a low shelf below 200Hz +3dB and when the room is not damped enough a high shelf around 8-10kHz at -2dB. This creates a bit of a downward slope with enough bass yet still bright enough to not sound EQ-ed. I'm not using the high shelf at my studio though as I have quite a lot of absorption around, but +3dB low shelf is vital at the levels I work with, which is around 80dB on average
 
Cool! One note about the bass amount and calibration, GLM flattens the curve to a flat line but then you should further adjust the ends of the spectrum to your taste. In Group Preset menu there's Sound Character Profiler mode, where you have two shelves to use. Good starting point in my case is usually a low shelf below 200Hz +3dB and when the room is not damped enough a high shelf around 8-10kHz at -2dB. This creates a bit of a downward slope with enough bass yet still bright enough to not sound EQ-ed. I'm not using the high shelf at my studio though as I have quite a lot of absorption around, but +3dB low shelf is vital at the levels I work with, which is around 80dB on average
Thanks. I actually tried the low shelf at 60, 80 and 100hz. Oddly I didnt notice any more punch. I will set the speakers up in a dedicated room soon with back wall dampened with 3 closets full of clothes. Then i will do some measurements and start treating the room from there.
Thank you
 
Hello all! Thanks for your help. Im getting the 8361a’s delivered tomorrow (i will use them in a bigger room mid field).
Now i have another question: I currently have uad apollo twin mk2 which only has analog outs. I think going digital is the way. Can someone please recommend me some usb to aes solutions? I think going for the Genelecs 9320a is a good way to go since genelec atleast in my eyes knows whats best for their monitors. But i cant find any good reviews about it and even if the added benefits of their controller are nice i dont want to be sacrificing audio quality for them.

Thank you in advance,

have a great day!
Congrats on the monitors.

My chain is fully digital into the 8361‘s. I am using an RME ADI-2 PRO FS R BLACK EDITION that feeds the 61‘s via aes/ebu (Grimm cable). The RME receives it’s signals digitally from a streamer/music server and a beamer. Maybe that’s an option for you, if you want to build a completely digital chain up to the 61‘s.
 

According to Genelec, the optimal listening distance for the 8361 is 2.9m
This is not "optimal distance", but distance where direct sound from monitor and reverberand sound is equal in "volume". This monitors are usable from ~60cm. If You are closer to monitor, the direct sound from monitor have higher "volume" than "reflected" from "room acoustics". So closer = better, but not too close (red markings in genelec materials - where sound from tweeter and bass, are not "merged" in 100%):

correct-monitors-direct_sound_dominance-chart.jpg

What is the best method to connect SAM-monitors to S/PDIF?
S/PDIF -> AES/EBU converter (like Mutec MC-1.1+)
 
This is not "optimal distance", but distance where direct sound from monitor and reverberand sound is equal in "volume". This monitors are usable from ~60cm. If You are closer to monitor, the direct sound from monitor have higher "volume" than "reflected" from "room acoustics". So closer = better, but not too close (red markings in genelec materials - where sound from tweeter and bass, are not "merged" in 100%):

correct-monitors-direct_sound_dominance-chart.jpg


S/PDIF -> AES/EBU converter (like Mutec MC-1.1+)


What is the best method to connect SAM-monitors to S/PDIF?

To use Genelec Digital monitors with S/PDIF input signals, best method is to use impedance matching converters (available for example from Neutrik) and short cable lengths because the S/PDIF link is not designed to travel long distances. The Neutrik converter takes care of the fact that the terminating impedance of S/PDIF is 75 ohms and that of AES/EBU is 110 ohms. This is the most robust solution to connect our SAM-monitors directly to S/PDIF.
Yes, the Mutec MC-1.1+is another impedance matching converter.
 
SPDIF coax have not only different impedance (75 Ohm) than AES/EBU (110 Ohm) but signal level too (max 7V AES/EBU vs 0,6V SPDIF):
There is "bit/flag" diffrences too.
So only impedance matching is "stopgap". If You want do this GOOD, You need real converter (Mutec or something like that)
 
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