...and is this sound an acquired taste?
From remembering the 8030Cs I bought (and subsequently returned), two things stuck out in my mind - a rather light or taut bass and a somewhat forward or airy presence to the upper mids/treble. Is this the typical "house sound" of the Genelec aluminium bodied speakers? I ask because I stumbled across this video comparing Neumann KH80 DSPs and Genelec 8020Ds, with in-room recording of both speakers.
Both are similar sized speakers, highly rated and with not dissimilar FR.
What was interesting about this video to me, flawed though it is (recorded in someone else's room and played back on Youtube through my speakers, in my room), is that the same characteristics of the 8030C I notice in the 8020D.
When I bought the 8030Cs, I thought a part of my problem with them was that the small size contributed to a lack of bass, but listening to the Neumanns in the video, the perception is of quite a bit more bass than with the Genelecs. Also, the Neumanns have what I would call a typical speaker sound, nothing really jumps out and grabs you, perhaps it could be called somewhat dull, but I have found this presentation translates well at all volumes.
The Genelec is definitely taut or lean in the bass by comparison and with a slight forward perception to the tweeter, combined with a certain airy quality that is not present with the Neumann (which sounds a little more...boxy?). This is something that I, personally, found grating at volume - it was too much and made music sound fatiguing.
I remember with the 8030C thinking it didn't render piano and cello very realistically, well, in this video there is some classical music not hugely different from what I would listen, here (video starts at correct time):
First, listen to the Neumann, which seems to have quite a balanced presentation, there is bassline at 4:52 that seems rendered well for the size of speaker, yet when the Genelec comes in at 4:55, the same bassline falls away almost to nothingness. The presentation of this track, in particular, is starkly different through the two speakers. I don't think it can be argued that these speakers are quite different from one another in presentation. I imagine those that hear both speakers will strongly favour one or the other, not both equally.
Before anybody thinks otherwise, this isn't a Genelec hate thread, nor do I want it to descend into name calling. I am aware many like this sound presentation (that of the aluminium Genelecs), maybe it is more accurate even, but I would argue that is not going to be to everyone's taste and is somewhat atypical.
The Genelec sound may not be for everyone, however highly rated they are. They seem to have a presentation that is rather leaner in the bass, slightly forward in the upper mid/treble and with an certain airy quality, compared to many other speakers.
Please listen to the tracks in the video and compare for yourself.
So, what is the point of this thread? Well, I don't think recommending Genelec speakers to everyone who asks for excellent speakers is the correct approach. There are those that will very much like their presentation and those that will not. I don't think either type of listener is wrong, but I think the strong recommendations that are given to these aluminium Genelecs may leave about half of listeners over the moon and half less than impressed.
Opinions?
From remembering the 8030Cs I bought (and subsequently returned), two things stuck out in my mind - a rather light or taut bass and a somewhat forward or airy presence to the upper mids/treble. Is this the typical "house sound" of the Genelec aluminium bodied speakers? I ask because I stumbled across this video comparing Neumann KH80 DSPs and Genelec 8020Ds, with in-room recording of both speakers.
Both are similar sized speakers, highly rated and with not dissimilar FR.
What was interesting about this video to me, flawed though it is (recorded in someone else's room and played back on Youtube through my speakers, in my room), is that the same characteristics of the 8030C I notice in the 8020D.
When I bought the 8030Cs, I thought a part of my problem with them was that the small size contributed to a lack of bass, but listening to the Neumanns in the video, the perception is of quite a bit more bass than with the Genelecs. Also, the Neumanns have what I would call a typical speaker sound, nothing really jumps out and grabs you, perhaps it could be called somewhat dull, but I have found this presentation translates well at all volumes.
The Genelec is definitely taut or lean in the bass by comparison and with a slight forward perception to the tweeter, combined with a certain airy quality that is not present with the Neumann (which sounds a little more...boxy?). This is something that I, personally, found grating at volume - it was too much and made music sound fatiguing.
I remember with the 8030C thinking it didn't render piano and cello very realistically, well, in this video there is some classical music not hugely different from what I would listen, here (video starts at correct time):
First, listen to the Neumann, which seems to have quite a balanced presentation, there is bassline at 4:52 that seems rendered well for the size of speaker, yet when the Genelec comes in at 4:55, the same bassline falls away almost to nothingness. The presentation of this track, in particular, is starkly different through the two speakers. I don't think it can be argued that these speakers are quite different from one another in presentation. I imagine those that hear both speakers will strongly favour one or the other, not both equally.
Before anybody thinks otherwise, this isn't a Genelec hate thread, nor do I want it to descend into name calling. I am aware many like this sound presentation (that of the aluminium Genelecs), maybe it is more accurate even, but I would argue that is not going to be to everyone's taste and is somewhat atypical.
The Genelec sound may not be for everyone, however highly rated they are. They seem to have a presentation that is rather leaner in the bass, slightly forward in the upper mid/treble and with an certain airy quality, compared to many other speakers.
Please listen to the tracks in the video and compare for yourself.
So, what is the point of this thread? Well, I don't think recommending Genelec speakers to everyone who asks for excellent speakers is the correct approach. There are those that will very much like their presentation and those that will not. I don't think either type of listener is wrong, but I think the strong recommendations that are given to these aluminium Genelecs may leave about half of listeners over the moon and half less than impressed.
Opinions?
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