Hi everybody, I'm not sure how to best handle this, but someone (steve Guttenberg Audiophiliac) is impersonating me. I've seen this message over and over again in the comments, and its not me! I've removed many of them. I've reported the problem to RUclips and tried to block further posts. Anyway please disregard these posts. Thanks, Steve
When I made comments on so,e reviewers’ videos, I get an “impersonator” who’ll send me a reply that I’d won something and to contact them. I ignore them
Genelec is considered a sort of national treasure here in Finland. Pride of Iisalmi, home town of my wife and Genelec. I just ordered a pair of G Threes. Can’t wait to plug them in
I listened to a side by side comparison of G models at Munich high-end expo. The G1 is meh, G2 a bit better and from G3 and upwards it started to sound good. The G1 and G2 are just size limited.
@@dingdong2103 Got my G3s on my desk.. now waiting for the Focusrite Scarlett Solo audio interface and some XLR to 6,3mm cables to hook them up. Really excited. My friend left his 8020s with an F woofer for safekeeping while he was traveling and those speaker blew me away. Hoping for a similar reaction from the G3s.
This video should be ALL ABOUT Steve's shirt. 👕🙃 After watching Tarun, A British Audiophile and doing some reading on my own, I am sad to inform myself that active speakers DESIGNED BY CAPABLE HANDS, are a superior way to better sound than passive set-ups. Mind you…I am growing my passive set-up exponentially this month 😂…but intellectually "for me" the writing is on the wall. Less fun perhaps, but a better pathway to great sound for the average person/audiophile, IMHO.
Martin, your crack, ‘his wardrobe is louder than his reference system’ brought a big smile to my face. Maybe we need his wife to step in with a ‘shirt of the week’ segment. Viewers could vote, she could report, give history and critique. As in, “This week [month?] the viewers voted [pic] this shirt the winner. Steve bought this shirt locally, but I’ve never liked it, I liked [pic] this shirt because [reason xyz].” In other words, have some fun with his apparel which so many people comment on anyway.
I'm always amazed how Steve can talk about audio stuff, without playing any audio, and yet it's just like I listened to the products! Very unique. Thank you Steve.
I've used various Genelec monitors in my editing rooms for over 25 years. I find them very revealing, so good for judging what my mixes really sound like, and good for avoiding excessive EQ and compression. It's good to know that they also play music well. My most recent Genelecs were 8030C -- very similar to the speakers reviewed here. Sadly, now that I work from home because of COVID, use headphones, then do a worst-case check on computer speakers, because that's how most people play the videos I cut.
As a long time film and video editor, your pandemic edit response has been the growing paradigm for most factory broadcast editors for close on 15 years now, the demise of the edit room with good monitoring for both image and audio in favour of multi desks, multi editors and relying on headphones for use during the process. Not for everything, of course, but there are so many cable channels now working their editors like this. Crazy!
Really interesting review. The look of the raw aluminum speakers reminds me of the clip-on speakers that you'd find at a drive-in theater in the 50's and 60's, right up to the seam around the middle of the speaker. Much much nicer, but I can't un-see the reference.
I see what you mean about the old drive-in visual parallel. 😂 That said, I like the raw aluminum look and it’s a look that I have very good associations with too.
It's fairly common to see a version of these in most recording studios being used as reference monitors for live mixes and mastering. I'm excited to see you review more pro-grade products because ironically, they can be more reasonably priced and are usually what are being used to reference the recordings in the first place.
I am by no means an audiophile or have ever been a hifi enthusiast. These speaker however, have changed my music experience completely. As an old raver I love bass and electronic music. After buying a pair of G Threes a year ago, I have started listening to much more wide range of different genres. I just love closing my eyes and listening to jazz or some smooth vocals and thinking I'm in the same room with the artist. The mrs would never let me install a big sound system in our livingroom but a pair of G threes and a small Marantz stereo amp has been accepted. I'm thinking about secretly upgrading them to G fours. Maybe she won't notice the difference :D
I have these G Threes in RAW as well and really like them. First I had them on my computer desk with the iso-pods.. but the desk somehow boosted some of the lower frequencies which I didn't get corrected with the dip switches. I was puzzled. I wanted to free some room on the desk so I bought the wall mounts from Genelec. First I thought they were going to be so close to the gyproc wall that was behind them and I was worried it might affect the sound negatively. But for my surprise they sound absolutely great on the wall mounts and the lower frequencies problem was away. 5 stars!
As a finn I'm so happy to finally see this review! I'm currently running the genelec 8020 dpm. Absolutely love the speakers. I prefer having true sound, so I'm more than pleased. By the way, it's pronounced with a hard G , not jenelec. Finnish pronunciation doesn't have a soft g.
I went to the London Tate Modern gallery a couple of days ago. I saw a remarkable exhibition of paintings, 3D artworks and audio-visual installations by Lubaina Himid. Memorable as those were I was actually blown away by the quality of the audio. The clarity and spaciousness of the presentations was just so impressive that I wrote down the name of the brand the speakers that were being used... can you guess what they were? Yep! Twos, I think, rather than Threes but they were so good!
Most audiophiles don't understand that going active is way superior in so many ways compared to the old passive speakers. No need for phase distorting and power sucking expensive passive crossover networks, no need to worry about speaker cables and amp compatibility and often, a chance to tune the sound using DSP. Now while DSP is far from being the magic bullet, it can offer significant improvements in difficult rooms. Even acoustically treated rooms are usually done wrong, making them dull at the top end and heavy on the bass.
exactly. But People need to justify their Amp Towers and big Monoblocks so they will buy Passive. DSP, PreAmp / Source / DAC, Subwoofer(s), Active and Room Treatment and your done. No need for big towers and Amplifier Racks
I've been mixing for tv on the professional version of these for years. They are in most network video edit rooms. They replaced the jbl's and yamahas connected to crown amps that used to be standard. I never actually thought of using them as music speakers. They are very good neutral near field monitors. Very revealing. When you hear distortion, it's always the source. These things are also indestructable.
I agree with you that the Genelec speakers are among the most widely used speakers in studio enviroments for a good reason, but they aren't perfect either, but hey what speakers are? I would love to see a comparsion of some Adam Audio active speakers to the Genelec's by Steve since Adam Audio speakers are now in quite a number of studios worldwide...not necessarily the big/old one's, but in many nonetheless.
I'm thoroughly enjoying a set of Bamburg series 3 speakers. Full digital, room correction dsp ect . Amazing clarity and now i can just enjoy the music. When a guy hears the direct coupleing affect of the amplifier to the driver , ie: no crossover in between its a new world. And with the dsp i can create a house curve or go flat for frequency response. I can enjoy full frequency down to 25 htz. Got to hear the big genelecs with the three way design and those puppies are magnificent also. Love the cast aluminum enclosures. They were also about 4500 each! Anyway i believe for many people this is the future of audio because you simplify your system but more importantly you get great intentional synergy right out off the gate. It's really amazing.
More impressive than the 2ways are the coaxials like the 8341 from genelec. But i think all these wannabee ,,audiophiles,, never accept an Active design even if its sounds better. Please more active Reviews like Neumann, PSI, Unity Audio :-) I use Monitors since years and this direct listening in nearfield is just awesome. You can clearly hear and concentrate on all of the music details. A lot Audiophiles with passive gear, still live in the stone age and still justify their stuff like if its the best & one and only way of music listening...
Hey Steve, You should check out the Focal Alpha 65. It also is an active speaker, however with 2 class AB amplifiers in each speaker. I would like to hear your take on the comparison to the Elac reference you mentioned.
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac on that note a comparison to one of the active speakers from the Adam Audio A (or S) series would be interesting since those can also be found in many studios nowadays, just like the Genelec active speakers.
I have a pair of Focal Solo6 Be. 100 watts AB on each tweeter and 150 watts BASH on each woofer. These use the Utopia handmade drivers in them. Along with the Twin6 Be, these are some of the most highly regarded active studio monitors on the market. Check out the reviews at Sweetwater
All the Active Loudspeakers I've owned or sold were well engineered transducer systems. But,,, Audiophiles are separates people ! Genelec is Pro Level Audiophile or Entry Level Recording Studio
Here I go again! I absolutely love the esthetic of these raw aluminum cases and these speakers have me thinking…maybe it’s finally time to update the office iMac speakers with a smaller version(1 or 2) model Genelec. The current old Radio Shack speakers are mushy at best, connected to PS Audio Sprout. Hmm????
Nice review Steve. Genelec has been consistently great in this 5" active monitor space - I'm pleased you enjoyed them as much as I have over the years.
Ohh GENELEC I'm very happy to hear about it. I own the 8351 B from The Ones series. An active coax loudspeaker made of aluminum with digital and analog inputs as well as a DSP for room measurement !!! Many high-enders get shocked at first, but when they have heard the GENELEC, they honestly have to admit that they are much, much better than most of the much more expensive passive loudspeakers ... If you don't want to believe it, try it 😊
I worked on 8050b... I dont like the presentation on them and recessed highs. I much prefered 1031A, but that 8351 looks insane, i bet the sound is unlike anything else
Hi Steve, you should really check out The One series from Genelec. Those speakers are a good example of how much technology can be crammed in a speaker... It's blasphemy from an old school audiophile point of view with the active class D amps and it's reliance on DSP, but they just sound incredible
I use these G3 as height speakers and use 7 x G four in the base layer. They G3 and G4 voice much alike and really like the setup. I used Meridan DSP speakers before and did not feel this setup as a step down.
They lack bass, as a reviewer you need to stress that fact. Unless you listen in a biscuit tin you need a sub with these. Source I have them, listen to Bob Marley on them and you'll see ( hear ) the problem.
Love the 👕👔🎽 surprising I wouldn’t have thought they would come out not so nice just looking at them they sound is going to be very shrill fatiguing and very bright 🔅🔆 NEVER judge a speaker 🔈🔊🔇 by its LOOKS 👀
The new kid on the block that has been on the market for decades. Used the bigger brothers ages ago. The problem with them is they don't have "a sound". Audiophiles seem to want "character.". The thing about genelec brand is that as you go up the range the speakers get louder and the bass deeper but the sound signature, if you can call no signature a signature, stays basically the same from speaker to speaker.
I've had G threes with genelecs 7050b subwoofer. A superb combo where the sub fills the bottom end to perfection. There is just something right with the sound of these. They are very true sounding monitors. Super crisp sound and sounds bigger than they are. I'm panning to buy G fours next. These are the only speakers my wife approves esthetically.😅
Hey Ben, I'm in Milton, MA and also go to Hull relatively regularly. You are much farther along in the audiophile journey than I am. But nice to see a viewer's system from so close.
Steve! I finally had a chance to the chesky listening cd you had produced….loved IT! You should give a plug for that cd in a separate video or a short!
One down side of owning large electrostatic speakers is that they reveal the quality of the recording so clearly that audiophile recordings become the automatic choice for listening. They just sound so much better than the average mass produced studio recording. On the other hand, listening to old scratchy stereo miced jazz recordings becomes a pleasure also because the sound stage really opens up. The sound can be rough, but the sound stage is divine.
you got your hands on a pair of actual studio monitors it sounds like. i would wager they are flat from 48 to 20k like nothing you usually review. makes me rethink things. save on an amp, use my dac and i am done. nice review, you were honest as always.
Good actives can really have you re think everything, I truly believe that. Long as they stay in the analog domain, whats the difference in the end, especially if the designer chose the best sounding internal amp. BTW I like the Rage Against The Machine version of Tom Joad a little better, just me.
Dear Steve, it was such a pleasant surprise watching you talking about active speakers. The comparison is also a novel approach, thank you! I'd love to see you reviewing the Presonus Sceptre S8, given it is a coaxial, horn-loaded(!) active speaker. I am so curious and hopeful too. avanti!
Watching this on my Genelec 8030C, same speaker as the G three. These are one of the best speakers I have ever owned. The Revel F208 is my main system speakers and does a lot of what the Genelec does, only bigger. Proof that great engineering, design and measurements can actually produce amazing sound.
Ah, it is finally time for the Genelecs - the pride of my childhood home town (and currently living in the town that is home to Amphion). I have personally been considering getting Acoustic Energy AE1's, though.
I have the AE1s (MkII) and they are in excellent condition. People are amazed by the sound from a very small speaker designed and made over 30 years ago. Me too. I think they were originally designed as NFMs for studio use but quickly found favour with audiophiles, becoming a classic loudspeaker. I loved them the first time I heard them in the Cornflake shop in London. But they were too expensive back then. My pair, with the original stands, came from ebay for around £800 about 10 years ago. AE no longer make them (although there is an updated active model - is that what you're thinking of getting?). But I digress and, if you see my comment above, the AE1s now have a competitor for my affections...
DSP is not a bad word. I’m getting Genelec 8351B which are 4K each. See Audio Science Review for how well they perform. Also with DSP you can get whatever sound you want and do room correction. To me this is the future of audio.
Well, it’s not the future, it’s the present for you. But please understand not everyone wants to use correction, which is after all number crunching. You’re taking the original signal and putting it through lots of processing to create the correction. That might not sound good to some people. Freedom of choice!
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac Depends on what is meant by "original" signal. If digital is the original signal then this is great solution. Use AES/EBU digital audio with advanced monitors like 8351B. Digital is directly input and converted to analog with correct amplification occurring after (not before) cross-over. DSP and room correction is stored on monitors and controlled on your computer. Performance accuracy is nearly flawless. For the last part please see Audio Science Review for a thorough explanation.
I like a wide range of monitors, and own recording studios ( Seeflection Studios, Studio-540 ). However,I find most Genelec’s anything but audiophile. Even IK Multimedia Precision series sound a lot better in terms of many factors. I have settled on KII Three’s, Focal’s and various other monitors over any Genelac’s I have demo’d.
I bought this for my son , for his smallish room and he and his friends likes it a lot. Now I want to buy him a Holo Audio Spring 1 DAC with preamp. He is currently using a Matrix Pro 3. I bought the G3 based on your review. I call you the Bible for hifi. Thks again Steve. Followed your reviews n also purchased Kef LS50 Meta and Denafrips DAC after going thru your reviews.
I really want to hear the g fives with the 8inch woofer it can get to crazy low frequencies and i think it will go up against a lot of higher priced top end monitors from the likes of PMC . Have you hear the fives? I think they would pair really well with a Chord Hugo tt2 bump up the detail and emotions to insane levels .
Thanks for mentioning how they perform at lower levels. I’d love to hear more from your reviews about low level performance because I’m always looking for speakers that sound good at lower volume levels.
Bought these spkrs for my son. Hook it up to his Matrix mini I pro3 DAC with vol ctl. Can use Airplay2. Simple uncluttered set up. Maybe later , upgrade the DAC n add a preamp.
Genelecs are so nimble. I love that you are not into active speakers yet rave about this one! Ha! This is the only channel on RUclips that I can listen comfortably on 2x speed! Ha.
A great review. I have those g3 but also SAM 8350 with the SAM Genelec subs. Just recently tested only 8350 in really well accoustic log cottage, oh boy they do really shine. Perhaps you should test them too. All is so much bigger, intense and presence is amazing against the price. I have tested g3 with the f2 sub in the same gottage but there is no comparison what 8350 does.
Thanks for your review of the Genelec G3s. I own a pair and really like them for the same reasons you state here. Also, it helps that my wife is Finnish! These are great speakers for their size and I agree: highly recommended. I may couple them with their F1 sub but it doesn't seem urgent.
Mr. Guttenberg is an outspoken critic of active loudspeakers for audiophiles. One might disagree with him. To his credit this review of Genelec active speakers is honest and true. Genelec are fabulous speakers, as are the active ATCs, PMCs and Kii 3s to mention but a few. I hope some day he reviews these as well. Great review, thank you
You don't have to explain the qualities of Genelecactive speakers to musicians. We have heard them in recording studios or own them for our own home studios. They never seem to disappoint in revealing what is happening in your studio mixes.
Well hes not explaining it to you is he?....... so stop patting your own ass and get over yourself. G three's are NOT marketed to people like that are they?.......
Some people say that there is no such thing as a stupid question, but looking at what you're running these speakers through, I fear I may be asking one. I was considering upgrading the Audioengine A2 that I plugged into my computer years ago--perhaps to an A5. All I do is plug the speakers into my MacAir. Would using the G Three this way make sense? Thank you!
@@mohamedahmed1023 i know, bass sells so ports are common. not to mention all reviews are as a standalone product bot many want to add subwoofer later. this marked is a mess.
@@sudd3660 It would be great to have sealed monitors but that isn't going to happen. Best we can do is use a filter to leave all frequencies below 80Hz to the sub(s).
I love Genelec's and have heard them used in a number of very interesting art gallery settings around the world. I've never just listened to music on them. Would love to have a pair.
Be nice if you played it with a valve preamp, yes it's not just active it's powered you can get active without power can make any speaker active like the linkwitz $130 from madisound active crossover. They are not a cheap speaker about 1500$? Get yourself another chopping board for your turntable Steve and put 5 balls or Blu-Tack between the two just lay it down Softly
I like active speakers, and feel they bring the «true» high-end sound at a more affordable price. I also like that you can tweak the sound to some degree to match the room. Still, it is not a budget option. When you factor in an appropriately priced pre-amp, the whole package is not cheaper than many decent integrated amps and passive speakers.
Thanks for the review Steve. Just wondering which pre you stuck with for reviewing, the Pass or the Schiit? and was there a significant difference in using the 2 in terms of sound?
Genelec makes some serious speakers! Are you sure it is a 100% analog path? Usually these active monitors have built-in DSP or active digital crossovers.
Many consider Genelec G-series speakers to sound true to the source, crisp and revealing, but people should hear the difference when proper room correction is applied to, say, the G Threes, the difference is humongous, enhancing the clarity and soundstage so much, that the standard sound of the speakers starts to sound dull and mediocre. By the way, not all speakers react as well to room correction!
Steve try the Unity Audio Rock active speaker the first two iterations had class AB amps designed by Tim de Paravacini. there is a new third version which has class D amplification.
Good question, but the problem is I heard those speakers two years ago. Looking over my review the ELAC was a much warmer fuller, richer sounding speaker than the G3. The G3 is much more exciting and transparent, but the ELAC is more forgiving and sweeter.
Thank you Steve for this review. I remember your favorable CNET review of the G1s and sub, so I was happy to see you revisit Genelec with a larger model. Personally I've heard Genelecs all over NYC in many studios. Since I was used to the "sound" I picked up a pair of 8010A's (also with a Jotunheim) a few years ago for WFH editing. Not only were they a great mixing tool, but I found that I really liked listening to music for fun through these little monitors. They are proof that a flat measuring speaker designed for studio use, can also be a great listen at home.
I've used and loved Genelec 8040's in my Study/studio for 10 years...magnificent. I have an expensive high system in my living room and yet still thoroughly enjoy the Genelecs even for critical listening
Hi everybody, I'm not sure how to best handle this, but someone (steve
Guttenberg Audiophiliac) is impersonating me. I've seen this message
over and over again in the comments, and its not me! I've removed many
of them. I've reported the problem to RUclips and tried to block further
posts. Anyway please disregard these posts. Thanks, Steve
When I made comments on so,e reviewers’ videos, I get an “impersonator” who’ll send me a reply that I’d won something and to contact them. I ignore them
Genelec is considered a sort of national treasure here in Finland. Pride of Iisalmi, home town of my wife and Genelec. I just ordered a pair of G Threes. Can’t wait to plug them in
As they should be!!
I listened to a side by side comparison of G models at Munich high-end expo. The G1 is meh, G2 a bit better and from G3 and upwards it started to sound good. The G1 and G2 are just size limited.
@@dingdong2103 Got my G3s on my desk.. now waiting for the Focusrite Scarlett Solo audio interface and some XLR to 6,3mm cables to hook them up. Really excited. My friend left his 8020s with an F woofer for safekeeping while he was traveling and those speaker blew me away. Hoping for a similar reaction from the G3s.
@@herbertmasing I was coveting the 8341A's but then cheaped out and went for the Kali audio IN-5. Still waiting to receive them.
@@dingdong2103 Haven't heard about Kali, but those 8341As aren't a joke price-wise!
This video should be ALL ABOUT Steve's shirt. 👕🙃
After watching Tarun, A British Audiophile and doing some reading on my own, I am sad to inform myself that active speakers DESIGNED BY CAPABLE HANDS, are a superior way to better sound than passive set-ups. Mind you…I am growing my passive set-up exponentially this month 😂…but intellectually "for me" the writing is on the wall.
Less fun perhaps, but a better pathway to great sound for the average person/audiophile, IMHO.
This man has more crazy shirts than Nelson Mandela and Robin Williams in the 80s combined, his wardrobe is louder than his reference system!
Martin, your crack, ‘his wardrobe is louder than his reference system’ brought a big smile to my face. Maybe we need his wife to step in with a ‘shirt of the week’ segment. Viewers could vote, she could report, give history and critique. As in, “This week [month?] the viewers voted [pic] this shirt the winner. Steve bought this shirt locally, but I’ve never liked it, I liked [pic] this shirt because [reason xyz].” In other words, have some fun with his apparel which so many people comment on anyway.
The shirt he is wearing is Hall of Fame worthy. I mean check the cans printed on it. Wicked.
the weird thing. I only noticed after you mentioned it.
love it
I'm always amazed how Steve can talk about audio stuff, without playing any audio, and yet it's just like I listened to the products! Very unique. Thank you Steve.
I've used various Genelec monitors in my editing rooms for over 25 years. I find them very revealing, so good for judging what my mixes really sound like, and good for avoiding excessive EQ and compression. It's good to know that they also play music well. My most recent Genelecs were 8030C -- very similar to the speakers reviewed here. Sadly, now that I work from home because of COVID, use headphones, then do a worst-case check on computer speakers, because that's how most people play the videos I cut.
As a long time film and video editor, your pandemic edit response has been the growing paradigm for most factory broadcast editors for close on 15 years now, the demise of the edit room with good monitoring for both image and audio in favour of multi desks, multi editors and relying on headphones for use during the process. Not for everything, of course, but there are so many cable channels now working their editors like this. Crazy!
Really interesting review. The look of the raw aluminum speakers reminds me of the clip-on speakers that you'd find at a drive-in theater in the 50's and 60's, right up to the seam around the middle of the speaker. Much much nicer, but I can't un-see the reference.
I see what you mean about the old drive-in visual parallel. 😂 That said, I like the raw aluminum look and it’s a look that I have very good associations with too.
It's fairly common to see a version of these in most recording studios being used as reference monitors for live mixes and mastering. I'm excited to see you review more pro-grade products because ironically, they can be more reasonably priced and are usually what are being used to reference the recordings in the first place.
I am by no means an audiophile or have ever been a hifi enthusiast. These speaker however, have changed my music experience completely.
As an old raver I love bass and electronic music. After buying a pair of G Threes a year ago, I have started listening to much more wide range of different genres.
I just love closing my eyes and listening to jazz or some smooth vocals and thinking I'm in the same room with the artist.
The mrs would never let me install a big sound system in our livingroom but a pair of G threes and a small Marantz stereo amp has been accepted.
I'm thinking about secretly upgrading them to G fours. Maybe she won't notice the difference :D
add a f two sub instead and sell it as a roomba or something
I have these G Threes in RAW as well and really like them. First I had them on my computer desk with the iso-pods.. but the desk somehow boosted some of the lower frequencies which I didn't get corrected with the dip switches. I was puzzled. I wanted to free some room on the desk so I bought the wall mounts from Genelec. First I thought they were going to be so close to the gyproc wall that was behind them and I was worried it might affect the sound negatively. But for my surprise they sound absolutely great on the wall mounts and the lower frequencies problem was away. 5 stars!
I have the exact same G3 with raw finish for over a year, very much the same experience exactly as reviewed!
As a finn I'm so happy to finally see this review! I'm currently running the genelec 8020 dpm. Absolutely love the speakers. I prefer having true sound, so I'm more than pleased.
By the way, it's pronounced with a hard G , not jenelec. Finnish pronunciation doesn't have a soft g.
I went to the London Tate Modern gallery a couple of days ago. I saw a remarkable exhibition of paintings, 3D artworks and audio-visual installations by Lubaina Himid. Memorable as those were I was actually blown away by the quality of the audio. The clarity and spaciousness of the presentations was just so impressive that I wrote down the name of the brand the speakers that were being used... can you guess what they were? Yep! Twos, I think, rather than Threes but they were so good!
You should give the DSP Genelecs a chance.
amen to that!
Good actives, always sound better when done "right."
Most audiophiles don't understand that going active is way superior in so many ways compared to the old passive speakers. No need for phase distorting and power sucking expensive passive crossover networks, no need to worry about speaker cables and amp compatibility and often, a chance to tune the sound using DSP. Now while DSP is far from being the magic bullet, it can offer significant improvements in difficult rooms. Even acoustically treated rooms are usually done wrong, making them dull at the top end and heavy on the bass.
@@dingdong2103 True story!
exactly. But People need to justify their Amp Towers and big Monoblocks so they will buy Passive. DSP, PreAmp / Source / DAC, Subwoofer(s), Active and Room Treatment and your done. No need for big towers and Amplifier Racks
Its funny how a 2 way small studio monitor has better vocals than a 3 way bookshelf with almost dedicated midrange driver.
I've been mixing for tv on the professional version of these for years. They are in most network video edit rooms. They replaced the jbl's and yamahas connected to crown amps that used to be standard. I never actually thought of using them as music speakers. They are very good neutral near field monitors. Very revealing. When you hear distortion, it's always the source. These things are also indestructable.
I agree with you that the Genelec speakers are among the most widely used speakers in studio enviroments for a good reason, but they aren't perfect either, but hey what speakers are?
I would love to see a comparsion of some Adam Audio active speakers to the Genelec's by Steve since Adam Audio speakers are now in quite a number of studios worldwide...not necessarily the big/old one's, but in many nonetheless.
Anyone wanting to have someone haul away their old JBL's and Crown amps, please let me know. Yamahas need not apply.
I'm thoroughly enjoying a set of Bamburg series 3 speakers. Full digital, room correction dsp ect . Amazing clarity and now i can just enjoy the music. When a guy hears the direct coupleing affect of the amplifier to the driver , ie: no crossover in between its a new world. And with the dsp i can create a house curve or go flat for frequency response. I can enjoy full frequency down to 25 htz.
Got to hear the big genelecs with the three way design and those puppies are magnificent also. Love the cast aluminum enclosures. They were also about 4500 each! Anyway i believe for many people this is the future of audio because you simplify your system but more importantly you get great intentional synergy right out off the gate. It's really amazing.
Hey Steve love that raw aluminium finish very nice 🤩🎧👍😁
Great as always, thanks Steve. And thanks for the pointer to the Persuasions Sing the Beatles--what a great album!
Realize this is an older video. Can anyone answer where to order the G3 that ship to the US? I was about to order the 8030c until i came upon these.
The Genelec US website lists US dealers.
More impressive than the 2ways are the coaxials like the 8341 from genelec. But i think all these wannabee ,,audiophiles,, never accept an Active design even if its sounds better. Please more active Reviews like Neumann, PSI, Unity Audio :-) I use Monitors since years and this direct listening in nearfield is just awesome. You can clearly hear and concentrate on all of the music details. A lot Audiophiles with passive gear, still live in the stone age and still justify their stuff like if its the best & one and only way of music listening...
Hey Steve,
You should check out the Focal Alpha 65. It also is an active speaker, however with 2 class AB amplifiers in each speaker.
I would like to hear your take on the comparison to the Elac reference you mentioned.
Thanks that’s a good idea.
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac on that note a comparison to one of the active speakers from the Adam Audio A (or S) series would be interesting since those can also be found in many studios nowadays, just like the Genelec active speakers.
I have a pair of Focal Solo6 Be. 100 watts AB on each tweeter and 150 watts BASH on each woofer. These use the Utopia handmade drivers in them. Along with the Twin6 Be, these are some of the most highly regarded active studio monitors on the market. Check out the reviews at Sweetwater
Acoustic energy A1 also analogue AB actives.
All the Active Loudspeakers I've owned or sold were well engineered transducer systems.
But,,,
Audiophiles are separates people !
Genelec is Pro Level Audiophile or Entry Level Recording Studio
Try Pro Level studio. Numerous famous studios globally use them.
Here I go again! I absolutely love the esthetic of these raw aluminum cases and these speakers have me thinking…maybe it’s finally time to update the office iMac speakers with a smaller version(1 or 2) model Genelec. The current old Radio Shack speakers are mushy at best, connected to PS Audio Sprout. Hmm????
Nice review Steve. Genelec has been consistently great in this 5" active monitor space - I'm pleased you enjoyed them as much as I have over the years.
Try the G One with the F One sub for a desktop system fed by Schiit A3&Bifrost 2...wow!
Your talking my language!
Ohh GENELEC I'm very happy to hear about it. I own the 8351 B from The Ones series.
An active coax loudspeaker made of aluminum with digital and analog inputs as well as a DSP for room measurement !!! Many high-enders get shocked at first, but when they have heard the GENELEC, they honestly have to admit that they are much, much better than most of the much more expensive passive loudspeakers ... If you don't want to believe it, try it 😊
I worked on 8050b... I dont like the presentation on them and recessed highs. I much prefered 1031A, but that 8351 looks insane, i bet the sound is unlike anything else
Hi Steve, you should really check out The One series from Genelec.
Those speakers are a good example of how much technology can be crammed in a speaker... It's blasphemy from an old school audiophile point of view with the active class D amps and it's reliance on DSP, but they just sound incredible
I use these G3 as height speakers and use 7 x G four in the base layer. They G3 and G4 voice much alike and really like the setup. I used Meridan DSP speakers before and did not feel this setup as a step down.
I have a pair of Meridian Audio speakers..... love the fact I don't have to deal with amps, interconnects...etc.. :)
Add two SVS SB-1000 Pro and you're set for good.
Genelec is what I've used as reference speakers for my video editing.
Great review of active speaker maybe you will progress to ATC active system (analogue) for review...?
They lack bass, as a reviewer you need to stress that fact. Unless you listen in a biscuit tin you need a sub with these. Source I have them, listen to Bob Marley on them and you'll see ( hear ) the problem.
EDM isn't the only reason you'd want a subwoofer. That's ridiculous. Some string and wind instruments dip well below the 50 Hertz range.
that Noah Wall album is fantastic.
Love the 👕👔🎽 surprising I wouldn’t have thought they would come out not so nice just looking at them they sound is going to be very shrill fatiguing and very bright 🔅🔆 NEVER judge a speaker 🔈🔊🔇 by its LOOKS 👀
The new kid on the block that has been on the market for decades. Used the bigger brothers ages ago. The problem with them is they don't have "a sound". Audiophiles seem to want "character.". The thing about genelec brand is that as you go up the range the speakers get louder and the bass deeper but the sound signature, if you can call no signature a signature, stays basically the same from speaker to speaker.
I've had G threes with genelecs 7050b subwoofer. A superb combo where the sub fills the bottom end to perfection.
There is just something right with the sound of these. They are very true sounding monitors. Super crisp sound and sounds bigger than they are.
I'm panning to buy G fours next. These are the only speakers my wife approves esthetically.😅
Hey Ben, I'm in Milton, MA and also go to Hull relatively regularly. You are much farther along in the audiophile journey than I am. But nice to see a viewer's system from so close.
Agreed! I'm in Needham, so it was nice to see someone close by on this channel. Milton is a great town. I almost bought a house there in 2015.
@@Diatonic5th There's dozens of us!
Steve! I finally had a chance to the chesky listening cd you had produced….loved IT! You should give a plug for that cd in a separate video or a short!
One down side of owning large electrostatic speakers is that they reveal the quality of the recording so clearly that audiophile recordings become the automatic choice for listening. They just sound so much better than the average mass produced studio recording. On the other hand, listening to old scratchy stereo miced jazz recordings becomes a pleasure also because the sound stage really opens up. The sound can be rough, but the sound stage is divine.
you got your hands on a pair of actual studio monitors it sounds like. i would wager they are flat from 48 to 20k like nothing you usually review. makes me rethink things. save on an amp, use my dac and i am done. nice review, you were honest as always.
Good actives can really have you re think everything, I truly believe that. Long as they stay in the analog domain, whats the difference in the end, especially if the designer chose the best sounding internal amp.
BTW I like the Rage Against The Machine version of Tom Joad a little better, just me.
Good points
My experience, digital actives are equally as impressive, as long as they're well executed.
Bad recordings will always sound bad on reference monitors
I have the 8030c, same as the G three, almost. To that i have the Arendal 1961 1s. As stereo and tv speakers. I am very satisfied. Awesome speakers
Dear Steve, it was such a pleasant surprise watching you talking about active speakers. The comparison is also a novel approach, thank you! I'd love to see you reviewing the Presonus Sceptre S8, given it is a coaxial, horn-loaded(!) active speaker. I am so curious and hopeful too. avanti!
Its hard to say but class D active monitors sound good now! And im sure they image better than Klipsch 😀
Steve, you sure it wasn't the iota amp that stunted the Elac's?
Great shirt Steve. Love these headphones! Thanks for all your work on this channel. Best regards from Germany!
Sebastian
Watching this on my Genelec 8030C, same speaker as the G three. These are one of the best speakers I have ever owned. The Revel F208 is my main system speakers and does a lot of what the Genelec does, only bigger. Proof that great engineering, design and measurements can actually produce amazing sound.
Any of those Terry Kath-era Chicago records are worth your while!
Today's sartorial choice is superb (Is that a Mrs. Audiophiliac joint?)
Thanks, yes it is!
Damn Steve you look so Stoned. Good Video!
They sound awesome with a sub
Ah, it is finally time for the Genelecs - the pride of my childhood home town (and currently living in the town that is home to Amphion). I have personally been considering getting Acoustic Energy AE1's, though.
I have the AE1s (MkII) and they are in excellent condition. People are amazed by the sound from a very small speaker designed and made over 30 years ago. Me too. I think they were originally designed as NFMs for studio use but quickly found favour with audiophiles, becoming a classic loudspeaker. I loved them the first time I heard them in the Cornflake shop in London. But they were too expensive back then. My pair, with the original stands, came from ebay for around £800 about 10 years ago. AE no longer make them (although there is an updated active model - is that what you're thinking of getting?). But I digress and, if you see my comment above, the AE1s now have a competitor for my affections...
DSP is not a bad word. I’m getting Genelec 8351B which are 4K each. See Audio Science Review for how well they perform. Also with DSP you can get whatever sound you want and do room correction. To me this is the future of audio.
Well, it’s not the future, it’s the present for you. But please understand not everyone wants to use correction, which is after all number crunching. You’re taking the original signal and putting it through lots of processing to create the correction. That might not sound good to some people. Freedom of choice!
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac Depends on what is meant by "original" signal. If digital is the original signal then this is great solution. Use AES/EBU digital audio with advanced monitors like 8351B. Digital is directly input and converted to analog with correct amplification occurring after (not before) cross-over. DSP and room correction is stored on monitors and controlled on your computer. Performance accuracy is nearly flawless. For the last part please see Audio Science Review for a thorough explanation.
I like a wide range of monitors, and own recording studios ( Seeflection Studios, Studio-540 ). However,I find most Genelec’s anything but audiophile. Even IK Multimedia Precision series sound a lot better in terms of many factors. I have settled on KII Three’s, Focal’s and various other monitors over any Genelac’s I have demo’d.
I bought this for my son , for his smallish room and he and his friends likes it a lot. Now I want to buy him a Holo Audio Spring 1 DAC with preamp. He is currently using a Matrix Pro 3. I bought the G3 based on your review. I call you the Bible for hifi. Thks again Steve. Followed your reviews n also purchased Kef LS50 Meta and Denafrips DAC after going thru your reviews.
I really want to hear the g fives with the 8inch woofer it can get to crazy low frequencies and i think it will go up against a lot of higher priced top end monitors from the likes of PMC . Have you hear the fives? I think they would pair really well with a Chord Hugo tt2 bump up the detail and emotions to insane levels .
Thanks for mentioning how they perform at lower levels. I’d love to hear more from your reviews about low level performance because I’m always looking for speakers that sound good at lower volume levels.
Bought these spkrs for my son. Hook it up to his Matrix mini I pro3 DAC with vol ctl. Can use Airplay2. Simple uncluttered set up. Maybe later , upgrade the DAC n add a preamp.
Genelecs are so nimble. I love that you are not into active speakers yet rave about this one! Ha! This is the only channel on RUclips that I can listen comfortably on 2x speed! Ha.
A great review. I have those g3 but also SAM 8350 with the SAM Genelec subs. Just recently tested only 8350 in really well accoustic log cottage, oh boy they do really shine. Perhaps you should test them too. All is so much bigger, intense and presence is amazing against the price. I have tested g3 with the f2 sub in the same gottage but there is no comparison what 8350 does.
Thanks for your review of the Genelec G3s. I own a pair and really like them for the same reasons you state here. Also, it helps that my wife is Finnish! These are great speakers for their size and I agree: highly recommended. I may couple them with their F1 sub but it doesn't seem urgent.
You should compare Genelec 8040b to those elacs and that amp. 8040b cost about 1800€
Mr. Guttenberg is an outspoken critic of active loudspeakers for audiophiles. One might disagree with him. To his credit this review of Genelec active speakers is honest and true. Genelec are fabulous speakers, as are the active ATCs, PMCs and Kii 3s to mention but a few. I hope some day he reviews these as well. Great review, thank you
You don't have to explain the qualities of Genelecactive speakers to musicians. We have heard them in recording studios or own them for our own home studios. They never seem to disappoint in revealing what is happening in your studio mixes.
Well hes not explaining it to you is he?....... so stop patting your own ass and get over yourself. G three's are NOT marketed to people like that are they?.......
Oppo blueray player???? Really? Haha 🤔😉
Yes! Wish I got one before they quit making them.
Some people say that there is no such thing as a stupid question, but looking at what you're running these speakers through, I fear I may be asking one. I was considering upgrading the Audioengine A2 that I plugged into my computer years ago--perhaps to an A5. All I do is plug the speakers into my MacAir. Would using the G Three this way make sense? Thank you!
Thanks for the impressions, Steve! So, is higher sensitivity the key to livelier reproduction? 😏
Its hugely beneficial but it requires really, really clean signal amplification in order to sound refined and controlled.
Rhino's "Nuggets" Box is compressed. Yes many 'Garage Bands' of the Sixties weren't pristinely recorded, some were. Check out some Sundazed issues.
I totally disagree with the idea one can get away without a sub here. These absolutely need a sub.
i agree, but it also makes this speaker unusable, it is a ported design and already comes with the sonic drawbacks of that for the extra bass.
@@sudd3660 very few speakers are fully sealed. Most speaker and sub combos involve a ported speaker.
@@mohamedahmed1023 i know, bass sells so ports are common. not to mention all reviews are as a standalone product bot many want to add subwoofer later.
this marked is a mess.
@@sudd3660 It would be great to have sealed monitors but that isn't going to happen. Best we can do is use a filter to leave all frequencies below 80Hz to the sub(s).
I love Genelec's and have heard them used in a number of very interesting art gallery settings around the world. I've never just listened to music on them. Would love to have a pair.
Be nice if you played it with a valve preamp, yes it's not just active it's powered you can get active without power can make any speaker active like the linkwitz $130 from madisound active crossover. They are not a cheap speaker about 1500$?
Get yourself another chopping board for your turntable Steve and put 5 balls or Blu-Tack between the two just lay it down Softly
Can you try the sony ht a9 dolby atmos speaker system…they say it is good with music tracks, not just movies…i think they have a 360 music app
Thanks for a Great show. Hear any difference between the Shiit and Pass preamp?
Yes, the Pass is WAY better! Smoother and more transparent!
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac Thanks!!
did they have any plastic smell to them? do they have any plastic? i know enclosure is aluminum
I like active speakers, and feel they bring the «true» high-end sound at a more affordable price. I also like that you can tweak the sound to some degree to match the room. Still, it is not a budget option. When you factor in an appropriately priced pre-amp, the whole package is not cheaper than many decent integrated amps and passive speakers.
Thanks for the review Steve. Just wondering which pre you stuck with for reviewing, the Pass or the Schiit? and was there a significant difference in using the 2 in terms of sound?
Yes, there's a big difference. The Pass is a lot smoother and clearer. The G3 tells all.
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac Thank you!
Genelec sounds good... but I can't get over that they look like souped-up PC speakers. Like something logitech would have made in the late 90's.
Genelec makes some serious speakers! Are you sure it is a 100% analog path? Usually these active monitors have built-in DSP or active digital crossovers.
It's all done digitally, but don't tell Steve.
@@johnsmolley1941 No, G-Series and their professional equivalents, the 80x0 series, contain no AD/DA or DSP; those are to be found in the 83x0 series.
G3 is totally analog only.
That shirt needs it's own channel 😂
And it's "aluminium".... 😁😜
Many consider Genelec G-series speakers to sound true to the source, crisp and revealing, but people should hear the difference when proper room correction is applied to, say, the G Threes, the difference is humongous, enhancing the clarity and soundstage so much, that the standard sound of the speakers starts to sound dull and mediocre. By the way, not all speakers react as well to room correction!
Right, NO consensus about sound quality, by audiophiles or engineers!
FYI - “The Ghost of Tom Joad” was recorded and mix on a ADAT (first generation digital on video tape)
I wonder about you think about Pearl Acoustics speakers
Steve try the Unity Audio Rock active speaker the first two iterations had class AB amps designed by Tim de Paravacini. there is a new third version which has class D amplification.
Sorry, can someone tell me what is the Digital Source he mentions at 5:14 ?
I noticed what I think are Monoprice speaker stands. These must be the best bargain in audio. You can afford all different heights. heh.
Hello Steve, will you pick Genelec or old Elac Navis ARB-51? Thank you
Good question, but the problem is I heard those speakers two years ago. Looking over my review the ELAC was a much warmer fuller, richer sounding speaker than the G3. The G3 is much more exciting and transparent, but the ELAC is more forgiving and sweeter.
For active audiophiles, headphones are a little less cumbersome.
These or the GoldenEar BRX? Thanks
Speakers you can't afford.
Active speakers must be in the ether as ive been thinking about a pair for my garage. Kinda wierd.
Thank you Steve for this review. I remember your favorable CNET review of the G1s and sub, so I was happy to see you revisit Genelec with a larger model. Personally I've heard Genelecs all over NYC in many studios. Since I was used to the "sound" I picked up a pair of 8010A's (also with a Jotunheim) a few years ago for WFH editing. Not only were they a great mixing tool, but I found that I really liked listening to music for fun through these little monitors. They are proof that a flat measuring speaker designed for studio use, can also be a great listen at home.
Yeah upgraded home cinema speakers to genelecs and really happy much more clear neutral sound
is Audioquest Water RCA good enough for these speakers?
I've used and loved Genelec 8040's in my Study/studio for 10 years...magnificent. I have an expensive high system in my living room and yet still thoroughly enjoy the Genelecs even for critical listening
what about a comparison with the Kef LS50 Meta?
It would be great to use it with rme adi dac but they should release silver version :)