How to Choose the Right Genelec Studio Monitors
Genelec recommends monitors based on the maximum Sound Pressure Level (SPL) you need – and listening distance affects that. When you need bass management, certain subwoofers exist to suit different monitor sizes.
At Genelec, we’ve spent over four decades creating the world’s finest active loudspeakers. By helping audio professionals everywhere produce accurate, reliable mixes that translate consistently to other rooms and playback systems, we’ve set the global standard for music, film and broadcast reference monitoring.
What is a reference monitoring loudspeaker?
A reference monitor is more than a good-sounding loudspeaker. It is a device used in the process of recording, mixing or broadcasting audio in any environment where accurate listening is needed.
As a professional tool, a reference monitor must reveal the truth about the audio signal being monitored. It should not add to, remove or mask anything contained in the audio.
Listening distance and Sound Pressure Level
The distance between you and your monitors is crucial, both in terms of performance and the
SPL delivered to the listening position. Use the table here to compare the SPL capabilities of
different Genelec monitors.
Listening Distances and SPL
The short-term Sound Pressure Level (SPL) listed takes into consideration the typical room volume and reverberation time for each monitor. If the reverberation time is longer, it will mainly affect the long-term SPL.
Not Recommended Distances
The distance to the monitor is too short and the summing of sound from multiple drivers doesn’t happen in the way it was designed to.
113
Maximum short-term Sound Pressure Level
This figure indicates the maximum at the given distance from the monitoring loudspeaker to the listening position. Maximum short-term sine wave Sound Pressure Level averaged from 100 Hz to 3 kHz, measured in half-space, on-axis. Peak levels are higher. This number tends to under-estimate headroom by 4 dB, based on typical immersive standards and audio content. For more detailed information, please contact Genelec.
Reverberant sound dominates
At these distances, the reverberant sound in the room has a higher level than the direct sound from the monitor. This balance progressively increases as the distance from the monitor increases. The monitor can be used at these distances, but the sound character is strongly affected by the reverberation characteristics of the room, and this has a progressively increasing effect on the sound colour and stereo imaging accuracy.
Recommended listening distances for 8000 series
Recommended listening distances for SAM Studio Monitors
Monitor performance & recommended subwoofers
Monitor
-6 dB LF Extension
Max SPL @ 1 m*
Subwoofers (2ch)
Monitor
8010
-6 dB LF Extension
67 Hz
Max SPL @ 1 m
96 dB
Subwoofers (2ch)
7040
Monitor
8020 / 8320
-6 dB LF Extension
56 / 55 Hz
Max SPL @ 1 m
100 dB
Subwoofers (2ch)
7050 / 7350
Monitor
8030 / 8330
-6 dB LF Extension
50 / 45 Hz
Max SPL @ 1 m
104 dB
Subwoofers (2ch)
7050 / 7350
Monitor
8040 / 8340
-6 dB LF Extension
41 / 38 Hz
Max SPL @ 1 m
105 / 110 dB
Subwoofers (2ch)
7360 / 7370
Monitor
8050 / 8350
-6 dB LF Extension
32 / 33 Hz
Max SPL @ 1 m
110 / 112 dB
Subwoofers (2ch)
7370
Monitor
8331
-6 dB LF Extension
45 Hz
Max SPL @ 1 m
104 dB
Subwoofers (2ch)
7360
Monitor
8341
-6 dB LF Extension
38 Hz
Max SPL @ 1 m
110 dB
Subwoofers (2ch)
7370
Monitor
8351
-6 dB LF Extension
32 Hz
Max SPL @ 1 m
113 dB
Subwoofers (2ch)
7370 or 7380**
Monitor
8361
-6 dB LF Extension
30 Hz
Max SPL @ 1 m
118 dB
Subwoofers (2ch)
1–2 × 7380**
Monitor
1032
-6 dB LF Extension
33 Hz
Max SPL @ 1 m
114 dB
Subwoofers (2ch)
7370 or 7380**
Monitor
S360
-6 dB LF Extension
36 Hz
Max SPL @ 1 m
118 dB
Subwoofers (2ch)
1–2 × 7380**
Monitor
1237
-6 dB LF Extension
32 Hz
Max SPL @ 1 m
118 dB
Subwoofers (2ch)
1–2 × 7380**
Monitor
1238 / DF
-6 dB LF Extension
30 Hz
Max SPL @ 1 m
117 dB
Subwoofers (2ch)
1–2 × 7380**
Monitor
1238 / AC
-6 dB LF Extension
30 Hz
Max SPL @ 1 m
121 dB
Subwoofers (2ch)
3 × 7380 or 1 × 7382**
Monitor
8380
-6 dB LF Extension
29 Hz
Max SPL @ 1 m
122 dB
Subwoofers (2ch)
3 × 7380 or 1 × 7382**
Monitor
8381
-6 dB LF Extension
20 Hz
Max SPL @ 1 m
126 dB
Subwoofers (2ch)
****
Monitor
1234
-6 dB LF Extension
29 Hz
Max SPL @ 1 m
121 dB
Subwoofers (2ch)
7382**
Monitor
1235
-6 dB LF Extension
29 Hz
Max SPL @ 1 m
130 dB
Subwoofers (2ch)
2 × 7382***
Monitor
1236
-6 dB LF Extension
17 Hz
Max SPL @ 1 m
130 dB
Subwoofers (2ch)
2 × 7382***
*Maximum short term sine wave acoustic output on axis in half-space, averaged from 100 Hz to 3 kHz at 1 m distance.
**Additional subwoofers of the same type may be required in a larger room with bass heavy material.
***Subwoofers are not necessarily required for a 1236 installation as these monitors are already full range. For immersive systems, subwoofers can be used to reproduce the LFE channel.
****Produces full audio bandwidth and does not support bass management. For immersive systems, sub- woofers can be used to reproduce the LFE channel.
Subwoofer performance
Subwoofer
-6 dB LF Extension
Maximum SPL at 1m*
Subwoofer
7040
-6 dB LF Extension
30 Hz
Maximum SPL at 1m
100 dB
Subwoofer
7050
-6 dB LF Extension
24 Hz
Maximum SPL at 1m
103 dB
Subwoofer
7350
-6 dB LF Extension
22 Hz
Maximum SPL at 1m
104 dB
Subwoofer
7360
-6 dB LF Extension
19 Hz
Maximum SPL at 1m
109 dB
Subwoofer
7370
-6 dB LF Extension
19 Hz
Maximum SPL at 1m
113 dB
Subwoofer
7380
-6 dB LF Extension
16 Hz
Maximum SPL at 1m
119 dB
Subwoofer
7382
-6 dB LF Extension
15 Hz
Maximum SPL at 1m
129 dB
*Maximum short-term sine wave acoustic output on axis in half-space, averaged from 30 Hz to 85 Hz at 1 m distance.
