Genelec W371A + The Ones : My quest for the Grail is over

[Behrelec 37]

As a master series owner myself and a friend who is a1 kilometer away from me also owns a large master series, when we listened to the w731 and 8351a models together in a studio a few months ago at a very high volume, it unfortunately did not match the dynamics of rhythmic music that you get from the master series speakers. Of course, it is a very good combination of course! when you use it to make music behind a desk, but overall, this did not reach the joy and sorrow of music in our opinion in sufficient value when the volume levels were raised and we made our notes comparing the two starting points.

We firmly believe that the mid-range dynamics, 10-15 db stronger, is the biggest source of attention and benefit in the master series, which differs greatly from these one 83xx series egg speakers, which do not match the fact that there really is even better available, especially when we listen to live sound.

 

[Behrelec 37]

I have no intention of promoting Genelec sales. It is not my business to sell their models one millionth of a percent. I do not benefit from anything. But from my own hifi hobby experience of 30 years of different sized Genelecs and also from my friends' experiences, I share information from here in Finland for those who doubt or who do not know how to relate different things or even different brands to each other. The Ones series is an absolutely great product, but unfortunately it has small technical limitations that no one talks about very loudly anywhere.

Mainly the sound pressure in the bass, and the slight lack of momentum in the midrange in connection with live sound when the volume levels rise and electronic rhythm music enters the picture, for example on YouTube or in video live broadcasts, which are a wild ride with music heard on electric guitars and drums recorded. These ones aluminum egg 83xx products are very beautiful to listen to if you listen at moderate sound pressures, even at high volumes they certainly sound beautifully and dynamically in stereo. As a multi-channel, then you go completely digital in my opinion, like flying in ecstasy to the moon in the super uniformity of the sound layers. It is absolutely incomprehensibly beautiful to experience it.

But I would argue that many super passionate hi-fi enthusiasts would like to hear that galloping rhythm and kick of a horse and a certain temperamental character where the sound image carpet, rhythm and melody grow to remarkably large dimensions while staying together beautifully. As if the sound image altar were the equivalent of a large limousine car in your living room for the ones 83xx series, the master 12xx series increases the sound image carpet to the size of a large truck or even larger, if the settings are precisely optimized for your room.In other words, the wall of your living room/studio moves away from your eyes, and a large sound source of spatial magnitude takes its place.

 

[patoulol]

Yeah i’m listening to my baby system these days the 8341 + 7360. With all the room treatment put into a smaller room. I’ve learned to be satisfied with lower levels. I’ll get the one 8361 and w371 repaired and bring it to this smaller room at some point.

Ah, I thought you only had an issue with the W371 — is there a problem with the 8361 as well?

 

[Behrelec 37]

patoulol.

I haven't heard 8361a and W371 together. As far as I know, these are even better suited together. At least that's what we've been told by several different sources here in Finland.

 

[srrxr71]

As a master series owner myself and a friend who is a1 kilometer away from me also owns a large master series, when we listened to the w731 and 8351a models together in a studio a few months ago at a very high volume, it unfortunately did not match the dynamics of rhythmic music that you get from the master series speakers. Of course, it is a very good combination of course! when you use it to make music behind a desk, but overall, this did not reach the joy and sorrow of music in our opinion in sufficient value when the volume levels were raised and we made our notes comparing the two starting points.

We firmly believe that the mid-range dynamics, 10-15 db stronger, is the biggest source of attention and benefit in the master series, which differs greatly from these one 83xx series egg speakers, which do not match the fact that there really is even better available, especially when we listen to live sound.

Joy and sorrow. Well said. A trip to Lisalmi has been in the works for years. Maybe this summer or next. Until then I shall suffer with these egg speakers.

 

[srrxr71]

Ah, I thought you only had an issue with the W371 — is there a problem with the 8361 as well?

No there is no problem with them. I experienced a surge last year that took out one side even though I had connected to a Furman power conditioner. I got surgex now for when I get them repaired. I’m in no hurry because when I lost them I discovered the joy of leveling up. This is absolutely end game level. So I’d rather take me time discovering them. If it turns out I need to get main monitors and and an acoustic engineer at some point so be it.

 

[srrxr71]

Funny anecdotal story. When the surge took them down it also took down my air conditioning. So I ended up in some local beach town and found myself locking eyes on a dance floor.., like irl stuff.

 

[patoulol]

Yeah i’m listening to my baby system these days the 8341 + 7360. With all the room treatment put into a smaller room. I’ve learned to be satisfied with lower levels. I’ll get the one 8361 and w371 repaired and bring it to this smaller room at some point.

How is the difference (I'm talking about the difference in feel, your opinion) between the pair 8341 + 7360 and the pair 8361 + W371? Even if the room is different.

 

[Sokel]

If it turns out I need to get main monitors and and an acoustic engineer at some point so be it.

My crystal ball agrees 100% .

 

[srrxr71]

How is the difference (I'm talking about the difference in feel, your opinion) between the pair 8341 + 7360 and the pair 8361 + W371? Even if the room is different.

It’s impossible to know. Aural memory being what it is. Sometimes good enough is enough.

I’m thankful to be in a position to take the lessons from either 8361/w371 or 8341/7360 and apply them in life.

It doesn’t matter imho otherwise. 99% of people would be grateful to have 8341. Assuming their lives and possibly childhoods were taken care of by music like today’s kids are by whatever crap shows up on their iPads.

They are enough of a launchpad to channel your love for music into a love for life.

 

[patoulol]

It’s impossible to know. Aural memory being what it is. Sometimes good enough is enough.

I’m thankful to be in a position to take the lessons from either 8361/w371 or 8341/7360 and apply them in life.

It doesn’t matter imho otherwise. 99% of people would be grateful to have 8341. Assuming their lives and possibly childhoods were taken care of by music like today’s kids are by whatever crap shows up on their iPads.

They are enough of a launchpad to channel your love for music into a love for life.

I’m a bit puzzled by your reply, probably because English isn’t my native language, so I don’t understand all the subtleties. But I gather that it’s impossible to choose between the two systems — you like both.

 

[srrxr71]

It’s impossible to know. Aural memory being what it is. Sometimes good enough is enough.

I’m thankful to be in a position to take the lessons from either 8361/w371 or 8341/7360 and apply them in life.

It doesn’t matter imho otherwise. 99% of people would be grateful to have 8341. Assuming their lives and possibly childhoods were taken care of by music like today’s kids are by whatever crap shows up on their iPads.

They are enough of a launchpad to channel your love for music into a love for life.

It involves understanding why we care so much about music reproduction. It it an end in itself or a means to an end?

 

[patoulol]

It involves understanding why we care so much about music reproduction. It it an end in itself or a means to an end?

Uh, I didn’t mean to get into a philosophical question. I do mastering, I just wanted to get your subjective opinion on the differences between the two systems — it’s rare to have both at home.

 

[srrxr71]

I cannot answer your question. However know that your work affects us in philosophical ways.

 

[patoulol]

I cannot answer your question. However know that your work affects us in philosophical ways.

thanks
I think you’ve changed your mind since 2024 — I remember a post where you advised saving up for a (two) W371.

 

[srrxr71]

thanks
I think you’ve changed your mind since 2024 — I remember a post where you advised saving up for a W371.

Yeah of course. Room treatment or not. I’ll get them fixed. But when it matters in the due course of things. I mean the w371 is easy. Just remove the electronics. But this 8361. I’ll have to hire a professional to pack and ship that.

 

[srrxr71]

I took my time with this room I didn't even put room treatment until maybe 6 weeks ago. now this room has "absorbed" 70% of the room treatment and it's 1/3 the size and volumetrically even more. That plus Trinnov Nova. For example Lars Fox uses Genelec mains with some Trinnov.

 

[patoulol]

I took my time with this room I didn't even put room treatment until maybe 6 weeks ago. now this room has "absorbed" 70% of the room treatment and it's 1/3 the size and volumetrically even more. That plus Trinnov Nova. For example Lars Fox uses Genelec mains with some Trinnov.

And so, what can you tell us with these improvements?

 

[srrxr71]

Mostly I would say the bass is just so tight it blows my mind. So quick yet tuneful. Also this year I’ve started attending live concerts (lots of Meyersound equipment) both indoor and outdoor. So I’ve heard some really nice bass out there.

There is no way a home system in an urban area is going to match that impact however this bass is very impactful. It’s sort of strange how applying all this treatment has caused the bass to be perceived as so impactful. It’s almost oxymoronic.

With all this extra treatment it seems my room modes are now down around 30Hz. So it doesn’t affect most music and even that mode decays pretty quickly.

Of course it’s not just the bass everything just decays incredibly fast. I could shout in this room and there would be no echo. Which was too much say for my old room. Even with nearly wall covered there was always some echo. I can’t even imagine at this point what it would cost to outfit that room with room treatment that matches this room.

I’m probably going to move that system up here because that’s just easier than to try to treat that space.

 

[patoulol]

Good evening everyone

After many listenings for 2 years, B&W, Paradigm, Tad, Revel, Focal ... my quest for the musical Grail is finally over.
I had the great pleasure of being able to attend yesterday the first (a first 8351B W371A duo has already been installed in France in September 2020 by LARKA from HCFR) calibration in France of an 8361A + W371A set at the Chopin Center with David and Gilles from Audio-Technica the importer.
View attachment 128573
What can I tell you.
The magic of listening to different modern and classical music: HANS ZIMMER, YOU SUN NAH, MAXWELL, HERBIE HANCOCK, BACH ...
Shivers ... just think about it

I’ll also take this opportunity to mention that I had my second listening session with the W371, this time at @Bernard 54 s place. The advantage was that I already had a sonic reference in mind (Genelec JAPAN) . On first listen in Bernard room, I noticed a lack of weight and presence in the bass, along with somewhat bright highs—confirmed later by the GLM measurements.


I had brought my UMIK to run some REW measurements, but unfortunately Bernard’s PC wasn’t connected to his MUTEK. After installing version 5 (GLM), we moved the speakers slightly back and ran a fresh calibration. The result was striking: the lively, engaging bass I remembered from Genelec Japan’s treated demo room was back. There’s probably room for further improvement with some manual fine-tuning, but as it stands, the sound is already deeply impressive.