Genelec Studio Monitor 1031A loudspeaker & Studio Monitor 1092A powered subwoofer Associated Equipment

Sidebar 1: Associated Equipment

Digital sources: Pioneer CLD-99 CD/LD/DVD player, Sony DTC-2000ES DAT recorder, Toshiba DVD player.
Preamplification: Lexicon DC-1 DTS surround processor.
Cables: Canare Video Coax interconnects (sources to controller), Straight Wire Symphony II RCA-to-XLR cables (controller to speakers).
Room treatment: Owens-Corning 4" painted Fiberglas cloth.—J. Gordon Holt

COMPANY INFO
Genelec OY
US Distributor: Genelec, Inc.
7 Tech Circle
Natick, MA 01760
ARTICLE CONTENTS

COMMENTS
Bogolu Haranath's picture

How about Stereophile reviewing the relatively new Genelec 8020-D self-powered speakers? ....... Less than $1,200/pair :-) ..........

Robin Landseadel's picture

"Decades ago, I grew accustomed to reviewing speakers that sounded bad because they really were bad, and calling crap crap was just a part of my job."

Bravo! Encore!

tonykaz's picture

... he covered the entire envelope of Genelec Concept without wasting much attention on nonsense of any sort.

but I disagree on accuracy.

Audiophiles don't want Accuracy, they want it to sound Good or Dam Good or even Outstandingly Superb ( that especially includes me ).

I don't give one hoot for imaging or ideal seating, I want the entire House to Sound good when I'm playing music.

I'd run in those speakers for a month or more and I'd select good sounding wire to match.

I'd shift around various preamps to get my sweet sounding results.

Once done, I'd lock it in and leave it.

Genelec Gear is Pro Gear, all Studios have owned Genelec Gear for decades because it works well, doesn't break, is phenomenally sturdy for "rough" handling by Pro-Audio Sound guys.

The latest Genelec Gear is super qualified for HighEnd Audiophile use, except that: it ain't pretty and it's Class D!

Genelec is some of the Very Best 21st Century Audio Gear, especially if you want to hear the differences in Cabling or anything else.

Tony in Michigan

ps. Genelec has reliable Re-Sale Values

Jack L's picture

...... or Dam Good or even Outstandingly Superb ( that especially includes me )." quoted tony in Michigan.

I don't know I am an audiophile or not though I love music like crazy.
I own & play 1,000+ vinyl LPs via TUBE only preamp TUBE only power amps & 3 powered subwoofers for L, R & L+R channels.

If the above setup of mine qualifies my as an audiophile, then I am going to challenge your above across-the-board statement: "Audiophiles don't want ACCURACY".

Maybe I am one-of-a-kind "audiophile" as I demand absolute accuracy in my music reproduction in term of transient response, transparency, soundstaging, & imaging. I want my music played back at my home sound as close as its live performance as possible as I attend live music performance frequently.

I always use live performance as my yardstick of gauging home music reproduction.

Listening is believing

Jack L.
Canada

tonykaz's picture

You are far more correct than I am, but I'd probably think or you as the "Bob Katz" type. Bob Katz being the Mastering Engineer in Florida that was a contributor to Tyll's headphone site and some time writer for Stereophile.

Bob is a brilliant guy demanding and achieving accuracy to fractions of db.

I applaud you for your technical prowess !!

My philosophical position is based on the Foundation of my own Operatic Mother who performed the very same Music as the other Operatic Voices of her 1930's Era ( many of which rehearsed in my childhood home ) . These people could/wound perform the same music with each voice having it's own vocal signature. So, Same Identical Music performed beautifully and sounding very differently from voice to voice.

I think and feel that all the Loudspeakers I've owned, represented and Sold were very much like those Voices sounding distinctly unique.

When I listen to loudspeakers I'm hunting for the voice that "Sings" with a wide octave range, effortless dynamics and sweet Sound. ( like my mom Clara ) ( ProAc, Magnepan )

I'm listening for electronics that don't sound "chalky" ( Elecrocompaniet )

I'm auditioning cable to open-up a free flowing energy pipeline. ( MH-750 )

In Phono Cartridges I'm looking for a group of superb voices like the Range of Koetsu Phono Cartridges I kept on hand, mounted and ready to rapidly change.

When I finally get it arranged and playing properly, My Music delivers an Addictive High, akin to Opiates, I'll stay up listening till I pass out on the sofa at 5:30 AM on work day.

You Accuracy people are not Addicted or Cross Addicted Audiophiles like I was when I ran my Esoteric Audio in Farmington Hills, Mi. I think that you are Scientists while I'm capable of being an owned Audio Dopamine Slave, powerless to stop. My wife stepped in and helped me close our Audio shop, I returned to the Sober Life of a Corporate Manufacturing Trouble Shooter answering to a group of demanding Managers that poured over manufacturing reports like you technicals build your accuracy.

Tony in Michigan

ps. for me, in my world, there is no perfection, except Water which freezes at exactly 0 degrees Cent., boils at Exactly 100 degrees C. at Sea Level

Jack L's picture

..... manufacturing reports like you technicals build your accuracy." quoted Tony in Michigan.

Sorry, as I already told you I maybe one-of-a-kind audiophile who wants accuracy in the produced music performance only, but NOT, repeat NOT, "manufacturing reports" etc etc.

I never look at the technical data or whatever written specs of the equipment. I only concern HOW the piece(s) of equipment sounds.

No technical papers can tell me how good, better, best the music sounds to my ears, period.

I simply want what comes out from the audio system SOUNDS as close to the actual performance itself which has nothing to do with its technical data etc.

So, listening, but no technical data, is believing.

Jack L.

PS: I am an electrical engineer with over 20 years engagement in the power engineering industries. But that bears little to do with my aural perception of music.

tonykaz's picture

I was referring to MY Manufacturing Reports being poured over by Managers, not YOU pouring over technical reports.

I suspect that YOU are listening for your accuracy just as Bob Katz reports working on the care he works thru to build a Monitor System .

I doubt that there is any instrumentation capable of measuring your level of accuracy, except Ears. ( my hearing tapers off over 8k )

I'm sorry, I seem to be struggling with accurate descriptives in MY writing.

Thanks for writing back while I attempt to find appropriate phrasing.

I'm not a Professional Writer, I'm an EE, like you and I appreciate the kind of work you report doing.

Plus, I've only ever been an Average sort of person.

Tony in Michigan

Jack L's picture

.... your level of accuracy, except Ears." quoted Tony in Michigan.

Hi Tony.

"Accuracy" here I mean is not instrumentation measurement.

I want my home music be reproduced sorta as "accurate" as possible like the original performance. I want myself acting like the conductor of the
orchestra or music band so that I can visualize who is playing what & where on the stage.

No instrumentation or measurement can do this visual presentation of a music performance.

Jack L.

tonykaz's picture

Once again I find myself admiring you for what you are doing.

You are well over the horizon of my imagination, almost like I'm understanding and using vintage 78s and 45s and you are building 21st century technology.

Phew, Maybe Stereophile should ask you to contribute a Paper on your work. ( or Steve G. might do an interview with y'all )

Tony in Michigan

ps. right now, my transportation industry is exploring neuro-network chips to replace humans in Driving a Robotic Taxi. I'd love to be in on the Ground Floor of all this but I'm an Ancient, Old-School, Long of tooth, Grey Bearded Gezzzer put-out to Pasture.

Jack L's picture

..... put-out to Pasture." quoted Tony in Michigan.

Never too old for anything, my friend.

An 82-year old lady just started to study in our local university.
The ex-mayor of our adjoining city was 96 3 years back when she gave up her 25 year city major job !!! She is still very busy to pursue her community works !

Like you, I am not young anymore. But I am still working a 40-hour day job & still keep busy in my audio design/builds, & in improving my home audio system in refining its "accurate" reproduction.

Take in easy.

Jack L.

tonykaz's picture

I just shut down all our combined business interests in Michigan and will soon re-locate to the Tropics.

I will maintain an age appropriate physical conditioning Program of walking 5 miles per day while relying on Bicycle for all Transportation needs. I'll be 100% Solar, Bicycles get about 10miles per cheeseburger.

My Minister Wife and I have a portable Antique Buying & Selling Business that we will continue. About 5 hrs. pre day, 1,500 hours per year for me, 500 hours for Judy.

My Minister Wife ( mostly a Caregiving Social type of Role ) has an established position at a Florida Cong. About 800 hrs. per year.

I will organize a Badminton League near the Banyan Tree Park and a steady Checkers Tournament schedule at the Gulf Water Front restaurant lobby.

I'll be participating at the Gulf SunSet Drum Circles.

We are taking-up our places in "Gods Waiting Room" while thriving as best we can in the Florida Tropical Incubator for Old People.

Tony in Michigan

ps. I'll also organize as much support for Bernie Sanders as I can muster.

Jack L's picture

Hi Tony.

Wow, you are still so active with yr antique business, & yr social life. So enjoy it.

Glad you mention about yr exercising day in & out, walking & biking. Great example for many many young guys out there.

Me too. I work out at home in my front porch EVERY morning after breakfast before I go to work & on my days off.

One solid hour NON-stop exercising: thorough warming up, followed by FAST stationary jogging 1,500 times, then 300 times 20-lbs dumb-bell lifting for each arm, & finally 800 times push-ups on proper push-up hand tools (500 fast warm-up push-ups + 300 times formal push-ups).

Well, that's how I keep my physique to beat my old age.

Jack L.

tonykaz's picture

YES !

I too should do Sets but the Phone rings, Judy needs something, the neighbor asks a question or my mind drifts off and I loose count. I could do sets if Coach Bueford was walking around with a Whistle but not if I had to supply the discipline.

I walk the first half feeling fine but return with increasing aches. If I'm at home I'd quit right there. I lack discipline to walk thru pain.

Yet, I'm on a Cardiologist Ordered exercise regimen. I'm scared of being a non-ambulatory couch potato.

On bicycle, I've been a bicycle racing USA ametuer since I was a teen. I also raced in Europe ( for Colnago ) as a Mountain specialist. ( pre Eddie Merckx ) Now-a-days I can ride about 20 painless miles. ( I was always able to do 100 )

I'd like to get in a group doing the Canadian Air Force training Schedule.

or find a Retired group of Marines to join.

Tony in Michigan

Jack L's picture

....... our ability to localize sounds diminishes until—at around 80Hz—it is, for all intents and purposes, gone." quoted J. Gordon Holt.

Well. I think I am the only 'sucker' around to have installed an active subwoofer for each L, R & L+R channel.

Yet, with the the low-cut frequency of each sub set at 20Hz, I do hear clearly the L & R channel sub delivering not the same bass music.
One very obvious example is my CD of Mussorgsky Pictures At An Exhibition: "Great Gate of Kiev". Only my left channel subwoofer repeatedly pumps out thundering deep bass, not the other channels !

So this alone has justified my having 3 subs, one for L, R & L+R each !

Listening is believing

Jack L.
Canada

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