Thanks for the answer - sounds uplifting ;->

::
Mads

A nice ome-eye alien visited me not long ago.



I abducted him, as I wanted him to make company to its bigger brother 8260 in a nearfiels application. After abusing it for quite a while now, I must admit it really is outstanding. The most amazing nearfield monitor I have ever come across. Basically 8260 scaled for smaller places, but still capable to fill large control rooms. Slightly higher cutoff - it goes flat in my room to 30Hz, while the big brother goes all the way to 20Hz. Both share amazing imaging and mid resolution, but one-eye alien has maybe even slightly better soundstage. As clean as it can be, with the most transparent midrange I have ever come across. You can also listen to it from 70cm and get a cohesive and sharp imaging.

Congrats!

I heard them at the AES last October and was VERY impressed. Enjoy!

Aliens ... looking great :-)

So anyone actually tested the Two18 - Genelec Alien, Barefoot & maybe PSI?

They are all in the same price range but boy, this is a hard decision. Reading for hours now and each speaker is the most amazing....

Interested in "real life" feedback.

HH

I unfortunately haven't been able to test Amphions. But I did test PSI A21, Barefoots, Genelecs, Focals and ATCs.

Genelec's latest offerings 8260 and 8351 were speakers that blew me away like no other. Their midrange was the most natural and their soundstage and their clarity was above others I tested - I guess it is related to their coaxial mid/high drivers. Spaces and reverb tails on Genelecs are the most expansive therefore they provide the best front to back depth. They also are very detailed, but never fatiguing. They are open but smooth and very easy to learn...

I also want to say that I preferred them to the others mentioned before calibration...but after Autocal calibration...they literally became one with the space. So I really want you to know that GLM and DSP speakers are not marketing gimmick. They really do work, to make superb speakers simply unbelievable. Of course it won't turn bad sounding room into perfection...but it will make it more than usable. But calibration in a good sounding room will bring the speakers to perfection.

I know there is lots of unexplained Genelec hatred here at Gearslutz and Genelecs never receive hype like other brandss for example....but they really don't it. When I A/Bed 8351 agains SM9 I couldn't believe these two products are similarly priced. Focals were a coloured phased mess compared to 8351. It became so obvious which company invests into R&D and which into marketing

I like ATCs larger speakers (50s and on...I haven't heard 45s though). Had 25s and 20s and sold both few years ago. They are also specific sounding speakers, not so flat, more midrange forward, but I find them slightly boring to work with. Besides I never understood their low end, which sounds so different from what I am used to hear.

My impression after trying Barefoots mm27 Gen2 was that they are nice bouncy tracking speaker. Best I could describe them in one sentence is that they are slightly artificially detailed but lack real resolution. Low end, while really powerful, seemed slightly misleading to me. Their imaging is ok, but nothing to write home about.

PSI have a very analytical sound signature. They sound more like speaker and less like music IMHO. They are also very clear but I couldn't understand them easily. I would very easily miss the overall balance if I was mixing with them, so I suppose I would need really long learning period.

Hey Jantex,

How do these new Genelec's compare to the Opals? I know you liked the Opals, though you had QC issues with them. Mine have been fine for some years now-lucky I guess.
I have also passed on barefoots (gen 1) and focal twins for similar reasons as yours, so we might be in the same ballpark as far as subjective monitor tastes.
That being said, have never really been a Genie fan, but admittedly my experience has been with their much older models.

Though these Genelec's are at a WAY higher price point too, so if you can comment on how they compare with price as a factor, and price not being a factor. Thanks!

Hi Fleaman,

I am glad to help with my opinion. I must admit that Opals still are IMHO the best speakers in its class and I greatly prefer them to Focal Twins and even KH310. I would say Event voiced Opals in a Genelec kind of way. I would say Opals are slightly harder in the 5kHz range which might in some rooms render them slightly fatiguing. Opals also have a slight decline in lower mids: 40-100Hz is pronounced, than 200-500 slightly recessed. Genelecs are more balanced overall and despite their openess don't start your ears, they sound slightly smoother and than Opals and more natural on top. One thing I also love about Opals is their imaging and soundstage...very wide very deep, more so than Barefoots, Focals etc. But Genelecs are even more so with 8351 and 8260. It was never so easy to hear and set reverbs as with Genelecs.

I would say that if you love Opals, you would marry these Genelecs. They also have the best designed port, which even at insane volumes doesn't get heard. Both, Opals and Genelecs work well also with low volumes.

With Genelecs it is one thing to pay attention to. They are factory calibrated in anechoic chamber, so even free standing in a great sounding treated room, they require bass tilt adjustment. So if you experience too much sub bass with everything flat it is normal. You have two options, either to set their room controls at the rear panel or GLM in case of these DSP series. I have read some opinions from the people who stated that 8xxx series Genelecs were too bass heavy. They are not, they are some of the flattest speakers in the market and their measurements are valid and confirmed in all major magazines. It is just people don't reed the manuals and don't know that they should not left bass tilt in the off position, before evaluating and using them.

8351 also extend lower, as I said I get -2dB response at 32Hz in my room. So yes, 8351 are step up from Opals and after being calibrated into the room they provide additional benefits...but of course GLM is another 500 USD as it needs to be bought separately, so one could buy 5.1 of opals for the price of Genelecs coupled with GLM.

So taking the price into account Opals still remain IMHO the best price/peformance speaker I have heard. But these two coaxial Genelecs remain the most accurate speakers I have hear to date. But again, if you love Opals but want more of that what makes Opals great, 8351 are the speaker for you.

Other than their smirk inducing model # , wouldn't the Neumann KH 420 be in the mix among these other speakers?(similar price range, albeit a hair more) On specs alone they seem rather impressive.

I have heard them and tested them. I have a privilege with Neumann products as a colleague of mine is a representative for Neumann/Sennheiser for Slovenia. Of course, great speaker in a range of Genelecs 8260. I prefer Genelec's soundstage and dimensions. Neumanns are huge, but of course great as well...between these two it is more about personal preferences and what can you obtain for a lower price. But Neumanns don't have DSP so they are therefore not so flexible in terms of room integration.

These new Gens seem interesting, but I have yet to really like anything from them so a bit suspicious if these are a "if you like Genelec you'll love these!" thing.

Anyone shopping in the $8k range should check out the Boulder mk2. Still waiting for more reports back on those but they're my frontrunner. Not into barefoot and Amphion won't work for me so it's either those or ATC SCM50.

Boulder I suppose should be awesome, but I must admit I am not into ribbon tweeters and have never been unfortunately. The only ribbon thing I like are Royer mics

I would definitely say that it still holds "if you like Genelecs, you will looove these", but older 10xx series definitely does not count. But it is like this with any brand...if you liked Adams, you might love some of their speakers or not, if you are into ATCs you might love some of their models...Genelecs are no different in a way, so it is definitely a good thing to set up A/B comparisons and decide based on what you like in that context.

How do they hold up at higher db levels? Opals have tremendous power....how do the Genies do in the chest thumping dept?

Pretty wild design on the Gens.

Great. They play louder than Opals. Opals have more power in their amps but have more inefficient woofers (inefficient does not equal bad or worse, it is just that Opals generate more heat and their drivers require more power to operate). Definitely both excell in chest thumping department.

With high SPL in bass region Opals distort earlier, actually they distort before limiter kicks in. Genelecs still play clean at the same level.

Cool, thanks.

And that goes for the smaller 8351, correct?

Yes for 8351, the bigger 8260 have just insane extension.

I never heard Amphion monitors but noticed they have aluminum woofers. The only speakers I heard with alum speakers where Hartke bass cabinets. I did not like the character of those speakers and wonder if the Amp's have that same character which lacked a meaty low end

I have a pair of the Two18s. Not at all like the Hartkes, I'm happy to report. Very easy to learn. The bass is less woofy- more of a very clear tone with a slow roll off in the very low section, but you can hear the B note of a bassist without pretending.

As monitors are a fairly personal item, it's possible that some would chose other speakers, but I've heard lots of speakers- even in very good studios that don't provide the detail.

I monitor at very reasonable levels. With the Amphions, I even monitor lower and get everything I need. I don't know that they can't, but I don't think I'll find out if these do the "slammin' wall" thing like HH, EDM or a lot of rawk acts want to hear in the control room.

Hey Jantex,

first off: Thank you for sharing your thoughts on the Genelec 8351 and the comparison on the Opals. That helped me a lot.

I have been checking monitors for a while and I was looking at PSI, Barefoot, Amphion but not the Genelec. A couple of my friends in Switzerland use Genelecs and here in the US I just tend of forget them. Your insight and the current exchange rate makes the Genelec 8351 very attractive.

So I might want to sell my Event Opals which I really love but would like to make a step up. As I understand the 8351 would definitely be exactly that, right :-).

Out of your experience - did you get the GLM as well? That's another 500 USD for calibration. What's your take on that?

Thanks mate
HH

Hey mate, of course. 8351 are a very noticable improvement in all areas. They extend lower, sound cleaner, with noticably greater resolution and are the most balanced speaker I have hear so far besides my 8260. They are easier on ears. So as I have already said, if you love Opals, you will marry these Genelecs. As I have already said, I haven't tried Amphions, but managed to test all the other contenders. IMHO 8351 are the best nearfield speaker I have tried and Genelec's coaxias driver really is state of the art as it provides imaging unheard so far.

It is more than worth spending additional 500 USD for GLM2 kit tu utilize the speakers to their full potential. I have put a lot of effort to position them on the best place in my room where they measure superb. But even after that GLM improved them significantly. If you are not ina a purpose built professional studio I give you the following advice. When positioninig don't worry that much about the bumps, care more about the dips. Try to find a place in your room where you have the least sensible dip. GLM will sort out the bumps in your listening position without a problem. After that you will stop fighting your mixes/translation issues forever and your mixes will improve significantly.

I see that you bashing the older 1000 series but the truth is that it is the 1000 series that made Genelec famous worldwide and successful.
The last 25 years has been mixed and mastered thousands of records with 1000 series… records that you definitely have in your record-cd collection, so how wrong could they be?

If you do a search on GS you’ll find many people still swear by 1030 and 1031 and they are still in huge demand.
The latest 8000 series although adored by many people in reality they stand as very controversial speakers, some love them, some hate them. One think is for sure, they don’t have the success and acceptance that 1000 series had.

I guess you misunderstood me, I don't bash them, they are great speakers, but I wanted to say that don't form your opinion on 8XXX based on 1XXX series. While I like 1XXX Genelecs, 8XXX is objectively quite a step forward. 8XXX propetly set up in a proper space are some of the most accurate speakers.

I found them to remind me more of PA speakers. Less transient detail, less detail and punchiness in the low end, a little compressed sounding. I never once gave them serious consideration, but didn't hate them either. I'll check out the 8351 when I get a chance though.

I suppose you are referring to 8000 series and not 1000. Transient details and punchiness were the big guns on 1000 series.

Anyone heard both the Amphion Two18 and these new Genelec 8351's?


Would be an interesting comparison as far as mix translation goes...

LOL

Please divulge which PA speakers you are talking about, because if they sound like Genelec 8000's I'm gonna have to scoop me up a pair for live use!

Yet another comment on One 18? I am very sorry but I really can't help my self on this one I have to share this experience.

My brokers (digitalaudioservice.de) informed me that I'll be needing a One 18/Amp 100 set after I complained about the "fat hole" in the sound of one of my "monitors".

I set them up yesterday and for the first time in my years of service in professional audio, and with experience on a great range of speakers, I found out that the One 18s excel at nothing in particular, except at playing a song as it is - (this is very very disturbing at first because it is like loosing your identity).

I came to this conclusion because all my reference tracks (some of which I have been using for 15 years) sounded so shockingly different that I had the feeling I was hearing some for the first time.

I too am not guilt free as far as bias is concerned because I have also been on NS10s always. Yet, there is a great difference between monitors and speakers. Most I used till date are speakers. One 18s are monitors.

i know that JBL is not considered here, but i just heard the LSR 708i some days ago and was very very impressed. I´m trying to get them in my room at the same time as the One 18´s to decide my next purchase

jbl have some kind of bad reputation in high end monitors for pro's but I do think the jbl lsr308i is one of their first 2-way monitors design that may be able to compete with the best... I'll be personally very interested because revel/harman/jbl have put everything they have in the design of the lsr708i from what I can tell.

Have you heard about this?
Kii Audio GmbH - High End Active Speakers for HiFi and Professional use.
new king by my opinion. So impressed I ordered a pair.






I have heard 8351, Amphions, PSi, Quested, neumann and sold KH O300 because of the Kii.Very very impressed.