Speaker upgrade from 8010a for near-field use + home theater

[Bitoshi]

I currently have a pair of genelec 8010a speakers that I was using for near field desktop use at a distance of 1.2m or 48 inches. However, I feel that these speakers are lacking in the low end, so I wanted to address that by either upgrading them or adding a subwoofer. I'd like speakers that aren't too large, preferabbly no bigger than 5".

I decided to test out some KEF LSX II LT speakers I found at Costco for $500 USD, and have compared them to my 8010a's. They certainly have more low-end extension which I've been missing, but I'm wondering if perhaps I'd be better off adding a subwoofer to pair with the 8010's. The KEF speakers don't seem to have quite the same clarity in the mid-range , but they provide a more full sound if that makes sense.

I don't listen to music at high SPL, the highest I've ever gone with my 8010a's is 50% max volume, so I don't need anything louder nessecarily, just more low-end extension. I have also considered selling the 8010's and getting 8030's, but it'd cost me around $1000 USD.

I could add a 7040 sub for $840 USD , but I'm not sure if it would sound as good as the 8030's. I've also comtemplated getting a cheaper sub like the JBL S310 for $475 USD but I'm not sure how well it would work.

What speaker upgrade would you go with from genelec 8010a's?

 

[vsch]

I'd probably add a subwoofer and cross over with a steep slope (24db/oct, or better 48 db/oct) somewhere around 100-120 Hz. This should give you full-range sound in the near field at reasonable SPL. You could still upgrade the monitors to something like the 8030c later. There is one caveat though: properly integrating a subwoofer requires measurements (and ideally an active crossover for time alignment). So, I'd get a measurement mic too. This also allows you to do room correction if your source has PEQ.

If you don't want a sub, I'd probably rather go for something bigger than the 8030c -- Kali IN-8, for instance.

 

[Bitoshi]

I'd probably add a subwoofer and cross over with a steep slope (24db/oct, or better 48 db/oct) somewhere around 100-120 Hz. This should give you full-range sound in the near field at reasonable SPL. You could still upgrade the monitors to something like the 8030c later. There is one caveat though: properly integrating a subwoofer requires measurements (and ideally an active crossover for time alignment). So, I'd get a measurement mic too. This also allows you to do room correction if your source has PEQ.

If you don't want a sub, I'd probably rather go for something bigger than the 8030c -- Kali IN-8, for instance.

Thanks!

which sub do you think would be best? I know genelec recommends the 7040, but would something like the SVS SB-1000 pro or JBL LSR310S be better?

 

[DHzHolden]

Hello Bitoshi, and happy year-end.

I built my desktop system around a pair of Genelec G-Twos, the unbalanced version of the 8020. The G-Twos sit on nice B&M stands 10" above the desktop. Then I added an RSL Speedwoofer MkII, using its internal crossover. I didn't feel I was getting the best sound I could get, so I bought a miniDSP UMIK-1 and spent some time with REW. But finally I bought a miniDSP 2x4HD crossover, and then converted it to a DDRC-24, which adds Dirac room correction software, and used the UMIK to balance the system. It sounds great, I love to listen to it.

I think the crossover and the Dirac were the key ingredients. Any reasonable sub would have been fine. Good luck with your project.

 

[ExT]

Thanks!

which sub do you think would be best? I know genelec recommends the 7040, but would something like the SVS SB-1000 pro or JBL LSR310S be better?

I had a short period of running the 8010a with both the RSL 10S Mkii and SVS SB3000, which have similar dimensions and both were great compliments to the Genelec. Depending on your budget, you can’t be wrong with either. On the other hand, you can’t go with Genelec sub to utilize the built in DSP

 

[vsch]

Thanks!

which sub do you think would be best? I know genelec recommends the 7040, but would something like the SVS SB-1000 pro or JBL LSR310S be better?

Genelec subwoofers are expensive for what they are. Thus, I'd rather go for a hifi subwoofer. The SVS SB-1000 or RSL 10S MkII or something similar look like good options. Decently built subwoofers sound rather similar, and their most important characteristics are SPL capability and low end extension.

The problem with the Genelec 8010 is that distortion rises sharply already at 100 Hz: see https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...ec-8010a-powered-studio-monitor-review.16866/

Hence, I'd buy a minidsp 2x4 HD or Flex (which gives you a volume knob, a display, and has stellar measurements) plus a measurement mic (e.g. UMIK-1), which allows you to implement i) a steep crossover (ideally 48dB/octave) at roughly 100-120 Hz, ii) time-/phase-align the subwoofer, and iii) room correction below ~500 Hz. You can do ii) and iii) manually with REW or buy the Dirac license for the minidsp, as @DHzHolden mentioned.

You can probably get all of this (incl. the subwoofer, excl. Dirac) for the price of a Genelec 7040. Buying a used subwoofer would save you some money.

(FWIW: I was in a similar situation about three years ago. Thanks to the information available on this forum, I went with Genelec 8030c, a minidsp Flex + UMIK-1, and an Arendal 1961 1S (vastly overpowered in retrospect). I couldn't be happier with that system. Proper subwoofer integration and room correction made a massive difference.)

Cheers!

 

[Ogremic]

I'd go with the new IK multimedia sub. It's small, I guess if you have 8010s you are limited by space, so I think that fits. Also, compared with a hi-fi sub, it has a integrated crossover and a measuring mike, so it can integrate the 8010s much better.

 

[Mort]

If you liked the KEF, get the 8030c. Sell the 8010a. It'll have the same fullness but the Genelec clarity. It's a bit flatter response too.

I think the subwoofer recommendations are wrong. (This site is sub crazy!) To add one you're going to have to get some DSP and learn about crossovers. It's a good step in your audio journey, but the one after you get solid monitors on their own.

If you really want to go the subwoofer route, the svs 1000 and a minidsp ddrc-24 are my budget recommendations.

 

[Ogremic]

Yeah, the ik multimedia sub has an integrated crossover and comes with a measuring microphone. The OP listens in the near field, not very loud, so that sub would be a great match with lower freq extension than any pair of 5" speakers can do.

And cheap too, considering the alternatives.

 

[Bitoshi]

I'd go with the new IK multimedia sub. It's small, I guess if you have 8010s you are limited by space, so I think that fits. Also, compared with a hi-fi sub, it has a integrated crossover and a measuring mike, so it can integrate the 8010s much better.

Thanks for the recommendation. I have two spaces under my monitor that I can fit a sub, each being about 2 ft x 2 ft x 2 ft on the left and right sides. I can't place it anywhere else.

I'm more limited with space on my desk, I've had KEF Q100 speakers before and that was the biggest I could get away with.