New Genelec Main Monitor

[darth]

For small rooms, say under 15x15 in feet, I have a 5.1.2 (eventually 5.1.4) setup. LR 8341, C 8351, rest 8331. Currently using a 7350A. Wondering if I should add a 2nd 7350A or bump it up to 7360A. Anything larger will just eat up space that I don't have. Primary movies and tv usage.

Edit: kinda realized that 7350 can't be chained, whelp. Only 7360 onwards you can.

 

[darth]

That’s the thing from movie experience, I kind a want that rumbling / vibration feeling.

Try this https://thebuttkicker.com/products/buttkicker-lfe-haptic-transducer?variant=39464219738360

 

[Mort]

Personally I would not get the 8380 unless baffle mounting.

 

[Reddoc]

Personally I would not get the 8380 unless baffle mounting.

Edit: Hmmm, the price difference is much bigger than I thought. Perhaps it was silly to ask about any differences between the 8380 and the 8381...

 

[Mort]

They are designed to be soffit-mounted. It would sort of bug me that they weren't. At your distance it may matter less and they are fine I'm sure even without the baffle. But to pay that much, I'd want it mounted.

 

[Tovarich007]

Personally I would not get the 8380 unless baffle mounting.

For esthetics reason, I understand, and I admit that Genelec has designed this new speaker primarily to be sofit mounted.
But anyway, for listening, the 8380 is very very good too used in a (big) room

 

[Mort]

Yes 100%. My point is minor, personal and aesthetic only.

 

[Pearljam5000]

I'd take 8380 over 8381(too big unless I'd live In a mansion unfortunately)
And also over 8361+W371
aestheticly I like that it's one unit
And there's just something cool about a big 15 inch monitor.

 

[Frank Dernie]

I'd take 8380 over 8381(too big unless I'd live In a mansion unfortunately)
And also over 8361+W371
aestheticly I like that it's one unit
And there's just something cool about a big 15 inch monitor.

Well the front bass unit on the W371 is 14" isn't it?
The problem with the 8361/W371 combination is that they are both pig ugly however excellent their sound.

 

[Tovarich007]

There is also a 38 cm -15 inches- on the W371.

What would you do with each of these 3 propositions, because they cover different uses and they got different features, slightly different sounds and of course they don't need the same budget.
Among the three, the 8381 is definetly a superb "exercice de style" intended for very big rooms in which sofit mounting is not possible and only for very wealthy studios or great amateurs This very specific model is borderline high end hifi and major pros all together.

Of the three propositions, the new 8380 is the most "affordable", well, so to speak for a 18 K€ speaker/pair .
Anyway, the three need big rooms to really shine, at a lesser degree than the huge 8381.
So if I could afford them, I'll go for the 8361 or waiting for a 8370 maybe.

 

[Mort]

Of the three propositions, the new 8380 is the most "affordable", well, so to speak for a 18 K€ speaker/pair .

Althoughi like it the least visually, a W371a cardiod is a differentiator. I would think it results in the best in room response, at least in sub bass FR.

 

[Frank Dernie]

There is also a 38 cm -15 inches- on the W371.

No it is 356mm 14", with a 305mm 12" on the rear too.

 

[Tovarich007]

@Mort : The best maybe, not sure, but without doubt the most flexible in a non treated room or poor acoustics.
With the W371, it's not necessary IMO to buy the 8361, the 8351 is sufficient (I've listened to both configurations, and frankly, I was not convinced by the improvment brought by the 8361 -but my happy friend who bought the 8361+W371 was.
As always, it's a matter of use and taste in the end.

 

[Tovarich007]

No it is 356mm 14", with a 305mm 12" on the rear too.

Right, but to quote a famous song, "what difference 2,5 cm a day make" ?

 

[Mort]

@Mort : The best maybe, not sure, but without doubt the most flexible in a non treated room or poor acoustics.
With the W371, it's not necessary IMO to buy the 8361, the 8351 is sufficient (I've listened to both configurations, and frankly, I was not convinced by the improvment brought by the 8361 -but my happy friend who bought the 8361+W371 was.
As always, it's a matter of use and taste in the end.

Good point. Cardiod doesn't always help. It would for me in my 3.5m square room!

Aside from max spl, I'm 100% sure I could not tell the difference between an 8351b and a 8361a on the w371a.

 

[Pearljam5000]

It's a hard choice

 

[napfkuchen]

That’s the thing from movie experience, I kind a want that rumbling / vibration feeling.

If you want the "feeling" get one of these seats:

There are 2 additional transducers below the seating area for extra rumble.

 

[Mort]

It's a hard choice

In theory yes. In practice It would come down to the space one is using.

If I could soffit mount and were listening 3m or more, I would take the 8380 any day. If it were a really large space, 8380 probably.

The 8361a is already known as a rediculously heavy monitor. Its funny to be talking about it as if it's small in any way. Compared to the 8380a It fits rooms better on a smaller scale and especially closer listening distances.

With both there is the issue discussed somewhere here recently, that neither go to 20hz, which is an important (if somewhat arbitrary) benchmark for me. (8380 29hz -f3, 8361a 36hz -f3 off the top of my head) That means I'm always going to need a subwoofer.

To me that's the biggest consideration with either one, where are you going to put that damn ugly and huge subwoofer?

 

[Tovarich007]

Good point. Cardiod doesn't always help. It would for me in my 3.5m square room!

Aside from max spl, I'm 100% sure I could not tell the difference between an 8351b and a 8361a on the w371a.

Well, strangely I heard slight differences between the 8361 and the 8351 both with the W371,though I'm not at all a golden ear guy at 70 years old (68 and when i listened to these two configurations).
With the 8361, the low medium was a slightly bit fuller but a bit too thick, with GLM calibration activated. The W371 isn't a pure sub, the cut off frequency overlap the main monitor in the high bass/low medium, where the 8361 has more weight and dynamic, so that maybe the reason for my impressions.
For acoustic music, the smaller 8351 had my preference. Of course, this is subjective, the perceived difference was marginal and possibly mind biaised (it wans't a blind comparison).
Both configurations were absolutely excellent and I could live super happy with any of them.
But I would have chosen the smaller 8351, all things taken into account :
1-sound preference as subtle as it was,
2- a lower price
3- a smaller size somehow more esthetic because the 8361 looks like a too big head above the W371.
Between the 8380, the 8361 and the 8361, I would choose the 8380 in a room bigger than mine and the 8361 in my room, and the smallest and a bit cheaper 8351 will be fine too.
Esthetically none is beautiful nor ugly, the big plain rectangular 8380 is finally the one I prefer.
I would definetely not buy the W371 -too expensive, too big and rather ugly, as good as it is.

 

[darth]

W371 do also work as stands for the Ones.

I wonder what kind of wiring/connections would be made if Ones+W371 is used in a multi channel 5/7.x.y setup. Will x be 2 or 1 or 0? Normally receivers have dedicated sub out, but W371 recommended wiring is inline-path of Ones.