Using Genelecs G Three with existing sub

[aeisbaer]

Hey,
so I have following problem: my KEF LSX broke down after only 2 years and 11 months. I sent them to KEF already but I have a feeling that it will cost me some money I am not willing to spend on these speakers anymore. That’s why I was looking around for a replacement and I am thinking about a pair of Genelec G Three (not the 8030C because of the input). However, I already have a working KEF Kc62 at home and I wanna keep using them. Now, what would be the best (and maybe cheapest) way to integrate that sub. The only thing I currently have is a Topping DX3 Pro.

 

[staticV3]

I was looking around for a replacement and I am thinking about a pair of Genelec G Three (not the 8030C because of the input)

I'd buy the 8030C regardless as the noise cancelling properties of balanced XLR inputs still apply, even if you use an RCA source.

You just need the right RCA->XLR cables:

Link

With the single-ended inputs of the G3 OTOH, ground loop induced common-mode noise is likely.

I already have a working KEF Kc62 at home and I wanna keep using them. Now, what would be the best (and maybe cheapest) way to integrate that sub. The only thing I currently have is a Topping DX3 Pro.

DX3Pro->KC62->Genelec.

The KC62 has a built-in, user configurable crossover with a low-passed sub and high-passed Line out for your main speakers:

 

[Miguelón]

I'd buy the 8030C regardless as the noise cancelling properties of balanced XLR inputs still apply, even if you use an RCA source.

You just need the right RCA->XLR cables:
View attachment 332276
Link

With the single-ended inputs of the G3 OTOH, ground loop induced common-mode noise is likely.


DX3Pro->KC62->Genelec.

The KC62 has a built-in, user configurable crossover with a low-passed sub and high-passed Line out for your main speakers:
View attachment 332279

One of the advantages of the Genelec G Three is the 86 dB at 1 m @ 1 V sensitivity option: I have purchased one of those to compare with my 8030C.

As I measured, and talked with Genelec service, G series are 10 dB less sensitive than 80XX line, which are 106-94 dB @ 1V, too much for a 96 dB long term max SPL as Genelec mentions in the specs.

I will publish an informal review when arrive and tested, notice than at 86 dB one can comfortably put them at 94 dB with a 2 V rms usual RCA output, but if is not enough for the consumer the 4 V rms balanced will give more than 100 dB.

80XX series will rapidly clip, in the case of 8030 at 10 dBu it reaches max SPL peak, but one can listen compression around 0 dBu signal.

 

[scooby don't]

I'd buy the 8030C regardless as the noise cancelling properties of balanced XLR inputs still apply, even if you use an RCA source.

*snip*

With the single-ended inputs of the G3 OTOH, ground loop induced common-mode noise is likely.

The G3 has both unbalanced (RCA) and balanced (XLR) ins, unless I'm mistaken? For home use, G3 seems more flexible to me, and perhaps more appropriate as Miguelón points out.

 

[staticV3]

The G3 has both unbalanced (RCA) and balanced (XLR) ins, unless I'm mistaken? For home use, G3 seems more flexible to me, and perhaps more appropriate as Miguelón points out.

You're right! My mistake.

 

[Miguelón]

I'd buy the 8030C regardless as the noise cancelling properties of balanced XLR inputs still apply, even if you use an RCA source.

You just need the right RCA->XLR cables:
View attachment 332276
Link

With the single-ended inputs of the G3 OTOH, ground loop induced common-mode noise is likely.


DX3Pro->KC62->Genelec.

The KC62 has a built-in, user configurable crossover with a low-passed sub and high-passed Line out for your main speakers:
View attachment 332279

Excuse me, BTW how do should sound a signal with interferences?

In my actual desktop gear, Genelec 8020 and Genelec G Two sound quite different despite having the same measurements (I regulate the sensitivity to 96 dB on both).

The only thing I changed is cables: RCA to RCA for G Two and RCA to XLR for 8020D

I’m quite confused

 

[Miguelón]

The G3 has both unbalanced (RCA) and balanced (XLR) ins, unless I'm mistaken? For home use, G3 seems more flexible to me, and perhaps more appropriate as Miguelón points out.

Even with weak signals (I’m thinking about 1V outputs) the by default sensitivity of the G Three is 96 dB @ 1V which is exactly the mentioned long term max SPL for the speaker.

Is difficult to me to imagine signals that need 106 dB @ 1V in a studio, but I don’t know so much about professional uses

 

[Miguelón]

The G3 has both unbalanced (RCA) and balanced (XLR) ins, unless I'm mistaken? For home use, G3 seems more flexible to me, and perhaps more appropriate as Miguelón points out.

I adjusted and measured both G Two and 8020D to same 96 dB @ 1V connected to the same source and executed room correction on WiiM Ultra. It confirms what I listened by ear, where is gone the bass?

This is 8020D, white line is measurement:

And here is G Two:

Can be the RCA to XLR cable the noticeable difference between those two speakers.

In the past I had G Three vs 8030 to compare but I dislike the G Three on a very reflective table because of enormous bass enhancement, whereas the 8030 sound more “neutral”. I haven’t measured them.

Actual position is on stand floor, listening position on axis at 0,75 m.

I cannot understand what is happening here, bass compression?

Of course, all dip switches were “off”. Is quite unexpected lack of bass on the 60-100 Hz, at -10 dB from the reference line.

post edited: 8020 or G Two show a tone of distortion on low bass, but G Two start quite soon to distort when testing pure sinusoid 70 Hz tone, whereas because those -10 dB on bass region the 8020D last longer on the volume adjustment before distortion.

Both are going back to sellers, one is not linear at home levels and the other distorts a lot!

I will give you more info when G Three came to home, I have 8030 on another room. Hope this will help you to decide one or another

 

[staticV3]

Can be the RCA to XLR cable the noticeable difference between those two speakers.

Possibly.
How is the RCA->XLR cable constructed?

Do you have a native XLR/TRS DAC to double-check your results?

 

[Miguelón]

Possibly.
How is the RCA->XLR cable constructed?

Do you have a native XLR/TRS DAC to double-check your results?

Yes, I will do it this afternoon with my audio interface. Maybe is due to the cable? I have the impression is not, my DAC was at mid volume (possibly more than -4 dBu) and pure sine waves overcame the 93 dB long term max specified by the brand.

In this case is possible that 8020 has a compression algorithm to resist the many hours on the studio for longer time

 

[Miguelón]

Possibly.
How is the RCA->XLR cable constructed?

Do you have a native XLR/TRS DAC to double-check your results?

This time I get some distance from the speakers, and connect 8020 with XLR balanced to TRS. After matching volumes, I measured also G Two RCA unbalanced to TRS (not very adequate).

Both frequency curves are almost identical but all of the low region of the G Two sound like “hummy” and not very clear mid-highs and highs. I suppose this is due to interferences, 8020 shines in comparison.

The lack on bass on the first measurement was due probably to some comb effect or a node (I was so close to walls), is not present now.

I strongly recommend not to use G series unless the electric setup is very clean, it simply doesn’t justify nor the overprice neither the unbalanced connection.

Even with the 86 dB sensitivity, the G Two simply sounds hummy (a little bit better, I suppose sending a stronger signal carries less interference in proportion).

Here is the G Two at 1,5 meters:

And the 8020 at same distance:

In reality the ‘hum” characteristic of the unbalanced G Two it is definitely a bad point: having a XLR output DAC I prefer connecting digitally with the WiiM and bypass the DAC section. Hope in the future the company will provide balanced outputs. Otherwise the WiiM is a very smart device.