Speaker purchase advice - KEF vs. Genelec vs. ?

[Two-eyed cyclops]

If you end up doing this comparison, could you try to have the R3s EQ'd with this filter set? It will be my starting point if I end up buying the R3s.

Thank you!

Sure thing, I'll try! But don't get your hopes up because I just got an email that my 8351b are gonna take one extra week to deliver . Thats is goint to be one long week... And the worst is that there is hardly any videos, articles or HiFi porn about 8351b to savour :'(

I try to configure my R3's and listen to few reference songs and then try to remember how they sound when I get my 8351b's, but we all know how reliable comparison that is..

 

[EchoChamber]

I think i'm going to have R3s and 8351b at the same time in my living room for few days before new owner of the R3 takes them away. I can try to analyze and compare especially the mids and trebles on both speakers and write my thoughts afterwards.

I will give you a tip how to buy 8351b's:
Just bring in one pair of the Genelec "Ones" for a test and listen to it with your significant other, in no time she/he is willing to participate in expenditures. Suddenly everything is 50% cheaper
No way I alone would have the money to buy 8351b in my early 30s, well I could, but that would be reckless accounting

I’m looking forward to your impressions comparing them both.

The 2 way Genelec monitors have a lot in common with the One’s. You might find a 8050 or 8350 a good option. I have a pair of 8030C and they are also excellent in my home office setup.
I’m not sure what part of the world you are in, but if you’re not in the EU, you can order from a pro EU online store and avoid sales taxes (I worked with Global Audio Store). It will save you a bundle...

 

[Two-eyed cyclops]

I’m looking forward to your impressions comparing them both.

The 2 way Genelec monitors have a lot in common with the One’s. You might find a 8050 or 8350 a good option. I have a pair of 8030C and they are also excellent in my home office setup.
I’m not sure what part of the world you are in, but if you’re not in the EU, you can order from a pro EU online stores and avoid sales taxes (I worked with Global Audio Store). It will save you a bundle...

My local HiFi butique had run out of black 8351b's so they had to order one from Genelec factory in Iisalmi wich is few hundred miles from where I live

 

[q3cpma]

My local HiFi butique had run out of black 8351b's so they had to order one from Genelec factory in Iisalmi wich is few hundred miles from where I live

Supply seems awfully low. Only Global Audio has one in France and Thomann or Bax never showed one.
Strangely, it's easy to find in the US.

 

[Two-eyed cyclops]

I don't know if Genelec makes them on demand or shops just keeps stock really low. Most finnish Hifi shops had only white 8351b and they were mainly a demo pair.

 

[hege]

I think Genelec tightened dealer leash on the new higher-end lineup (>8351B, 8361A etc). All those are now always "Ask for price" on webshops around the EU, if even shown. I've heard unofficial comments about them not liking some dealers advertising/selling too cheap. US branch probably does their own thing.

 

[EchoChamber]

Supply seems awfully low. Only Global Audio has one in France and Thomann or Bax never showed one.
Strangely, it's easy to find in the US.

Lead time was 8 weeks, but I got it a little before that. I’ll guess they had to slow down production a bit due to COVID and August summer vacation.

In the US, I got an estimate for November when I inquired in August. Prices are fixed and about 20% higher pretax than in the EU.

 

[Two-eyed cyclops]

In Finland the prices were varying quite a lot between dealers. Got offers from 6800€ to 8600€ for a pair.

 

[EchoChamber]

In Finland the prices were varying quite a lot between dealers. Got offers from 6800€ to 8600€ for a pair.

6800€ is a good deal IMO if it includes taxes.

 

[Two-eyed cyclops]

6800€ is a good deal IMO if it includes taxes.

In EU all prices include taxes, at least most of the cases.
Yeah I took it without much hesitation, deal included GLM also.

 

[Colonel Bogey]

In EU all prices include taxes, at least most of the cases.
Yeah I took it without much hesitation, deal included GLM also.

Any idea how much a pair of 8361A might cost on location in FI?

 

[Two-eyed cyclops]

Any idea how much a pair of 8361A might cost on location in FI?

Didn't ask but I'm under the impression that 8361a costs ~1000€ more than 8351b, so mayby you could get a pair for 8000-9000 in Finland?

 

[bricksie]

6800€ is a good deal IMO if it includes taxes.

I guess us Canadians have it really good - I've order a pair of 8351BPMs, a pair of 8000-400 stands and the GLM kit and it came to almost exactly $10K CAN including taxes. About 6450€. Won't get them until January though...

 

[sweetchaos]

I guess us Canadians have it really good - I've order a pair of 8351BPMs, a pair of 8000-400 stands and the GLM kit and it came to almost exactly $10K CAN including taxes. About 6450€. Won't get them until January though...

You're making me jealous! That's the end-game right there! Congrats!

 

[Two-eyed cyclops]

I guess us Canadians have it really good - I've order a pair of 8351BPMs, a pair of 8000-400 stands and the GLM kit and it came to almost exactly $10K CAN including taxes. About 6450€. Won't get them until January though...

Congratulations for your purchase!! That is going to be long and harsh waiting period .
Getting my 8351b pair next monday after 2 and a half week waiting, and I admit it, it haven't been easy... I have wasted unimaginable hours browsing through forums reading every bit of information about my new speakers the worst part is that there is barely anything on forums about 8351b! I think I have watched zeos's review of 8341 at least 5 times already.

 

[GDK]

I guess us Canadians have it really good - I've order a pair of 8351BPMs, a pair of 8000-400 stands and the GLM kit and it came to almost exactly $10K CAN including taxes. About 6450€. Won't get them until January though...

@bricksie Curious, where did you order them from?

 

[Two-eyed cyclops]

Bricksie I'll promise you, you will get acquainted to every single thread about 8351b's and recognize other members who own 8351b's

 

[EchoChamber]

I guess us Canadians have it really good - I've order a pair of 8351BPMs, a pair of 8000-400 stands and the GLM kit and it came to almost exactly $10K CAN including taxes. About 6450€. Won't get them until January though...

A wise investment indeed. I ordered my setup through Global Audio Store and it came out to a very similar amount shipped to the US (I don’t have the exact number handy). I thinks that’s pretty much the best price you can get for them new right now.

 

[bricksie]

Thanks everyone! It's been difficult to find info/reviews of these, and this site has been a great resource! Finally decided that they would likely be loud enough for my room and what I generally listen to. Could have got the 8361, but they're probably overkill for my room, and have fewer stand options. If I find they don't quite have the oomph I'd ultimately like, maybe a pair of 7360s will solve that

@bricksie Curious, where did you order them from?

Studio Economik in Montreal - great people to deal with.

 

[stevenswall]

Yes, while Genelec did good work, their only real innovation is the midrange construction and bass directivity controlling 3-way coaxial layout that's more clever than just stacking a woofer and a coaxial unit like ME Geithain or Cabasse do. I'd also note that KEF's way of fighting diffraction (deep and convex midrange with "shadow flare") seem to limit them to a narrow dispersion.

Their virtually edgeless construction from tweeter center to half way around the cabinet is innovative I think. (The MDC melding into the edge to edge DCW if we're using their jargon.)

Also their use of aluminum and the shape limiting internal reflections, and increasing the interior volume and making them adjustable with their isopods.

Not their innovation, but I also like that they bend and flare their ports. So many don't, so the ports aren't tuned deep enough because they are limited be the depth of the speaker rather than the engineer getting to decide how long it is, or using an off the shelf part like on the Navis which I think would be improved with a larger, longer port.