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Genelec 8550A headphones

Hmm, well for that price you could buy almost any flagship headphone out there and use your own EQ on it as needed. I already have a monitor controller and headphone amps / calibration etc. so I wouldn't be super interested in buying that twice. The headphones also don't really look all that 'premium' to me. Not a huge deal but I noticed it. I guess for someone fully invested in the Genelec ecosystem this might make more sense; too bad it's a 'walled garden'.
 
I agree that it might make more sense for someone who already fully invested in the Genelec ecosystem. I don't know about the build quality of the headphone. If it's the same as their monitors it will be premium.
 
Genelec seems to be unusually focussed on non traditional recording spaces. First they pioneer speakers with room independent response so that you can get accurate sound in a bedroom or office. Next, they offer the same level of room independence with the output levels of a soffit mounted monitor. Now this.

ATC would never.
 
As you already stated, they are pioneers.
Creating the Genelec UNIO ecosystem is a smart move in the pro audio world.
 
Its targeted for that market.
 
Except most pros I know already have an established space with a monitor controller / headphones / DSP etc. I guess the market will decide if this is a good idea or not, my interest is definitely waning the more I learn, but I'd still love to hear them someday.
 
Do I need Genelec speakers also?

Given the consistency of Genelec product performance, it seems Iike the controller+headphone could be thought of like a Stax, Sonoma HPEL, or even the Sennheiser HE1 style approach with amp and headphone together.
 
MTZ said:
Its targeted for that market.
Click to expand...
So are countless of products from Genelec and others) reviewed here. When they are objectively good then, we (the ASR collective) have purchased these and similar (Neumann, JBL, et al.).
Now for the notion of "calibration". What is the reference? Their reference?
Waiting for the price of admission... And an ASR review to know what they bring to the table.

Peace.
 
According to their information it is calibrated with the headphone amp in the controller.
The review on ASR was one of the reasons i bought my setup. So far Genelec did not disappoint me. If the headphone is as good as their monitors i see no risk in buying one.
The reviews and comments on ASR helped me a lot so far.
 
Interesting but seems very proprietary. All the DSP is in the controller. The headphone hardware themselves doesn't look too interesting. Looks heavy and clunky. Would be interesting to see how they measure. I am guessing they are tuning them all via the controller based on some kind of calibration file the unit downloads against the serial number.
 
Sacha said:
Except most pros I know already have an established space with a monitor controller / headphones / DSP etc. I guess the market will decide if this is a good idea or not, my interest is definitely waning the more I learn, but I'd still love to hear them someday.
Click to expand...

So what?
Almost everyone (except total beginner level -rookies and/or homeless mobile hobos) have already some of those.
Because many people already have some stuff, bringing new improved stuff to market wouldn´t be worthwhile?

Target group of this is traveling pros needing top quality PORTABLE studio. And generally anyone in need of top notch headphone monitoring solution, with maximal confidence and minimal quessing/googling/trying back and forth around.

Great unconsistency factor is removed by using individually factory calibrated Genelec -headphones. Pros can now finally throw their third party headphone gear, internet copied generic EQ-settings and third party charlatan -"calibrations" out of window and work with reliable Genelec -manner.

No more EQ-guestimations i.e. "best EQ-soup recipe" -selections between typical sources between oratory/AutoEQ/other Authorized Internet Equalizers. And do those suit exactly my headhphone individual i.e. not.

Also very handy to put up temporary studio for some hotel room etc. very compromised acoustical space. When on the road, for example.
Now pros can take their DAW + UNIO -kit along when they leave studio.

Or bring work home, and get consistent results. Without the need to build 1000000 € soundproofed branch-studio -room first.


No other manufacturer offers individually factory calibrated headphones and personal HRTF -capable (AuralID) interface as a package. Which also doubles monitor (speaker) controller.
 
Pekka Perämoottori said:
So what?
Almost everyone (except total beginner level -rookies and/or homeless mobile hobos) have already some of those.
Because many people already have some stuff, bringing new improved stuff to market wouldn´t be worthwhile?

Target group of this is traveling pros needing top quality PORTABLE studio. And generally anyone in need of top notch headphone monitoring solution, with maximal confidence and minimal quessing/googling/trying back and forth around.

Great unconsistency factor is removed by using individually factory calibrated Genelec -headphones. Pros can now finally throw their third party headphone gear, internet copied generic EQ-settings and third party charlatan -"calibrations" out of window and work with reliable Genelec -manner.

No more EQ-guestimations i.e. "best EQ-soup recipe" -selections between typical sources between oratory/AutoEQ/other Authorized Internet Equalizers. And do those suit exactly my headhphone individual i.e. not.

Also very handy to put up temporary studio for some hotel room etc. very compromised acoustical space. When on the road, for example.
Now pros can take their DAW + UNIO -kit along when they leave studio.

Or bring work home, and get consistent results. Without the need to build 1000000 € soundproofed branch-studio -room first.


No other manufacturer offers individually factory calibrated headphones and personal HRTF -capable (AuralID) interface as a package. Which also doubles monitor (speaker) controller.
Click to expand...
Lots of hyperbole and assumptions in your post there but by all means, if this is the best product ever yet made for you I hope you enjoy it. I'd still be curious to hear them.
 
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