Marcel Schechter, product specialist at Audio Export Germany, states:
Hi, welcome. My name is Marcel. We are at the Genelec booth in Munich at the High End show. I’m happy to introduce our new models, based on a model that we launched two years ago. This is the Genelec 8351A, which has been the first speaker featuring a very special coaxial design. Here is the high frequency driver, the midrange driver and here we have two oval woofers behind this waveguide. So this it the basis of what we have launched right now.
These are our two new models. They are even more compact. So for example, this is the Genelec 8331A, so far the most compact three-way design on the planet. The coaxial driver has been completely redesigned because it was not possible to scale down the former design of the bigger ones. So, we have a complete new coaxial design. You can even see the midrange. In the Genelec 8351A it has been hidden behind a special surface. Otherwise it’s quite similar; we have oval woofers and -as we call it- ultimate point source. This means that every sound is imitted starting in the middle. There are no gaps in between and of course the bass drivers have no influence on the midrange and high frequencies.
These models are also equipped with what we call SAM technology; smart active monitoring. So they have DSP filters to compensate for the room influences. We measure the room exactly at your listening position and then compensate for all the stuff going on in your room like room nodes, standing waves and stuff like that. We reach a flat frequency response, both on and off axis. This is really interesting because reflected sound gets colored. This way we avoid this. These are ‘The Ones’.
Visit The Ones mini-website from Genelec.
A coaxial driver built to avoid gaps in the sound
The Genelec 8351A’s coaxial design places the high-frequency driver, midrange driver and two oval woofers so that sound is emitted from a single acoustic point rather than several separate ones. Genelec’s own explanation is that this avoids gaps between drivers and keeps the bass drivers from coloring the midrange and high frequencies — the point being a more consistent tonal balance whether you’re sitting exactly on-axis or slightly off to the side.
SAM technology measures the room, not just the speaker
Both the 8351A and the more compact 8331A ship with Genelec’s SAM (Smart Active Monitoring) technology: built-in DSP filters that measure the room at the listening position and compensate for room nodes, standing waves and similar acoustic problems. Genelec frames the goal as a flat frequency response both on- and off-axis — addressing a common studio complaint that reflected sound picks up unwanted coloration before it ever reaches the listener.
Frequently asked questions
What is distinctive about the Genelec 8351A monitor?
The 8351A uses a coaxial design combining a high-frequency driver, midrange driver and two oval woofers at a single acoustic point, aiming for a consistent tonal balance on- and off-axis.
What does Genelec’s SAM technology do?
SAM (Smart Active Monitoring) uses built-in DSP filters that measure the listening room and compensate for room nodes, standing waves and other acoustic irregularities, targeting a flat frequency response.
How does the 8331A relate to the 8351A?
The 8331A is a more compact three-way monitor using the same redesigned coaxial driver concept as the 8351A, described by Genelec as the most compact three-way design of its kind at the time.
