The Genelec 8351A SAM Studio Monitor

 

Hi everyone!

Thank you for all the New Year wishes, I am so glad it’s 2017! Let’s all make it a great one!

To kick off this year, I want to do a little write up devoted to sound related equipment. I have decided to focus on my favourite monitor creators, Genelec! 

Genelec recently celebrated their millionth monitor; revealed as the 8351A SAM Studio Monitor. So, let me tell you about this beautiful creation…

Since I can remember I have wanted to own my own pair of Genelec’s but I’ve never got around to setting up my studio up to support them which makes my heart heavy. Throughout my entire time studying music technology, studio design and acoustics I have used Genelec for every bit of research and sound listening. Due to the faultless design and playback and innovation with sound, they have been vital for me as a sound engineer in the studio.

Many studio professionals use larger, louder and high value monitors because they feel their studio sound will be more accurate and to the point, but to me Genelec are environmentally necessary for sound, revolutionary and they are true to their cause.

The 8351A SAM Studio Monitor

 

Those who have seen Genelec monitors know how impressively compact they are, so seeing how much they have fit into making this the best sounding monitor available right now has me in awe.

The SAM stands for Smart Active Monitor so we can not nickname this little one SAM because she does have brothers and sisters that are associated with the smart active system (I know, I was sad too). The 8351A is a three-way monitor, to those who don’t know what that means, basically two-way monitors have your bass driver and tweeter where as three-way have a bass driver, tweeter and a mid range driver. So, you know there is a little more enhancing with the sound playback in this model.  Combining the very best that Genelec offer, the 8351A uses Acoustically Concealed Woofers with Minimum Diffraction Coaxial Technology alongside a Directivity Control Waveguide to control directivity over wide bandwidths. This is why this monitors performance is so diverse in audio playback, it is controlled and accurate for every application you use regarding sound creation and manipulation.

I love vintage monitors, Tannoys are another favourite of mine, but when I think about the old makes of Genelec especially the 1024A, I feel that the 8351A is the perfect achievement for so many that loved it’s elder siblings. The bass depth has a low-frequency extension so that it can cover various genres. Some monitors made just enhance their sound to trigger low frequencies, which miss the vital creation of sound material. When you hear and feel sound that thumps in your chest from such a small monitor you know it is fulfilling a purpose of power, but if it does not clarify a sound completely you will lose parts of your production. With the mid-range and treble clarity you can hear every detail of sound in the 8351A, especially the bits you may not have heard before.

A lot of people message me and ask about speakers for playback when they are producing their own music. They ask why some speakers make their sound lossless and muddy or explain they have no bass in their track but they can hear thumping throughout their mix. My answer to these questions is that you need to find yourself monitors that are true to sound, that cover a wide range of frequencies and that playback enough accuracy that make you think your ears are magnified. For me, Genelec are the missing piece in your studio.

I want to make you aware that spending fortunes is not what is necessary to become a great sound engineer, producer or musician. There will be times where expense is necessary but that is cosmetic. The key to being anything in the music field is experimenting with sound; listening to it, train your ears to different and unique sounds. Knowing the principles of it, understanding the science behind it and being aware that using all kinds of equipment to gain knowledge does that. You do not need money to cover your genius, because way before you there were music minded individuals who used anything they could get their hands on to make their creations audible.

When I started out aspiring to be someone I did not know where to begin. Then I thought; why not just start off with the simplest most important thing you could do? Listen to music.

So, I borrowed a set of Genelec’s, created a playlist of my favourite music and played it for hours and hours. After that, I never heard music the same again.