Genelec 8010A 3 inch Powered Studio Monitor Reviews

I am so grateful for these speakers. In a well-treated room, I can count on them do do the following three things very quickly - 1. Reveal Lo-Mid buildup (btw 200-500Hz), 2. Reveal ugly resonances, and finally 3. Inspire me to push more "air" (10kHz+) into tracks that I didn't realize could use more. No, you won't be able to make decisions regarding the low end on them, so make sure to have something else that will reveal that to you. But for everything else, they're amazing. Thanks Genelec and Sweetwater!

Thanks for everything the products is awesome!
Sorry Moss, I'm currently on a business trip, that's why I reply so late.
Thank you for reaching out
Sweetwater is the best!

My normal monitor kit is the Focal Solo 6 with Sub 6, and I'm in love with that setup. To compare to 3" speakers at a fraction of the price would be unfair.

I bought these because one of my Focals needs service and I need to fill the void during that time. I wanted something that would give me a completely different voice, so they still serve a purpose after the service is complete. I like the 8010a a lot more than I expected to. Though I prefer to work with Focal, no one can deny Genelec's reputation for excellent monitors. And because they're insanely compact, I decided to give them a shot.

They sound a lot larger than they are. Truly. I've spent the past few days working with them and getting used to them. It's a different flavor than I'm used to, for sure, but remarkably usable for the size.

At first, they sounded a little muddy and weird. But after taking a few seconds to read about the dip-switches in the back, I used the "desktop" setting and -2dB bass tilt and they settled in very nicely.

Volume is adequate for a smaller space. They will get uncomfortably loud if you push them.

Frequency range is surprisingly full. Very low frequencies are absent, of course, and they will benefit from a sub. But there's more low-end than I would expect at the size. The sound is pure Genelec and they aren't at all lacking the family sound, for better or worse. Detailed and flat, as one would expect from a brand with their reputation. They're legit monitors, NOT just dressed-up computer speakers.

The listening experience is unique. Due to the small size, they don't interact with the room in the same way as other speakers. The stereo image is good, but the separation is almost headphone-like. Sweet spot is smaller than what I'm used to, but not problematically small.

Overall, I would not have any trouble recommending these for someone with very limited space, or as a second set for reference.

From choosing sounds and samples, to mixing your audio track, the genelec 8010(s) are amazing, especially when you get their stands.
Powerful and worm sound, translate well @ 70db & 60cm from your ears.

I just love these speakers man. I've worked on many monitors over the years, budget and super high end, and I would easily recommend these speakers to any engineer coming up or already in the game. In my experience you can accurately mix a full record on these things to an extremely high and professional standard. the mid range, and super importantly low mids are easily revealed, theres really no guesswork with these. They translate effortlessly and you get the mids right. The only place they are lacking is in the low low range you might miss some of the 40hz that built up too much in the kick, but add a sub and problem solved.

for me its these and then jump up to like focal st6's and that will give a little more wow factor but will always check these for peace of mind because they reveal a picture clearly and translate super well. If it sounds right on these theres usually very few revisions. And we like that ;)

Excellent Speakers. Studio Quality Tyler Moore helped me and has been helping me for years and is always my go to Cat!

I bought these 8010s to replace the A2s I've been listening to for the last 10 years. My A2s were causing some kind of a ground loop issue that I didn't want to deal with and thought it was a sign to upgrade.

I LOVED the size of the A2s and I couldn't really afford any additional desk space to get larger speakers. Also, living in an apartment, I didn't want or need larger speakers. I quickly realized there aren't many 3" monitors on the market and found the 8010s as seemingly the only logical replacement-upgrade.

I wasn't really looking to spend $700 but I have no regrets doing so because these things sound sooo nice! Clarity and sound stage are the biggest areas of improvement I've noticed so far. The bass falls off early as advertised which is perfect for apartment living. I couldn't be more pleased and I'm excited for the years of enjoyment these will provide.

Also my ground loop issues are now nonexistent.

Perfect for a remote or traveling rig. Amazing!

I decided to buy smaller speakers because I'm in a small, square room and 8-inch monitors can be a bit much in the low end.

My first impression when I unboxed the 3-inch monitors is that they are SMALL. I was kinda shocked by their size.

But then I plugged them in and was shocked again by how punchy they sound.

I've had them for awhile now and can say they easily sound better than my Yamaha HS8s. You'd think they would sound "smaller" but they don't. They sound warmer, punchier, and smoother. They just don't have the depth in the low end.

They can also get pretty loud for their size. They're great for a small room and pair really well with a little bit of subwoofer when you want to check the low end.

I cant rate these highly enough. As a critical listener, the source of sound is arguably the most important component involved when discernment and clarity are necessities. With these beautiful little speakers, you can simply hear more. These are a great addition to anyones arsenal, and I highly recommend them to anyone looking for a small pair of studio monitors, whether for producing/engineering or even just listening.

I'm not a musician or recording engineer but I have fallen in love with these speakers. In my small condo they are a perfect size and do everything well; all music and home theater. The build quality is excellent and the smart features are really nice in that if you leave them on they will shut off automatically after awhile of no signal. I have them paired with a Rotel RC-1070 Pre Amp and its a great combo. The pre has the volume control and remote. CD and desktop pc run through Schitt Modi 3 dacs into the pre. So far I haven't found it necessary to turn the volume past 10 o'clock. In terms of sound quality they are revealing but not fatiguing. Imaging is excellent. I tried running my turntable though the Genelecs but the clicks and pops drove me nuts so the TT will have to be happy with a tube amp and passive speaker setup.

I also own Sonus fabers, Revels, Omegas, Vandersteens and Fostex speakers all powered with a Rotel RB-1070 amp (Or Luxman SQ-N150 tube amp) that sound great but... living in condo-land I can't even dream of turning them up loud whereas the amps in the Genelecs are more than powerful enough for my space and are one of the best class D amps I've heard. Could easily be class AB if I didn't know better.

Shout out to Dave Cody for a follow up call the day the speakers arrived. I missed the call but didn't have any questions. Sweetwater's service level is continuously excellent though. :)

At first when i open the box and saw those little speakers i got scared lol , because i've been using monitors 6.5-10' all the time, but i decided to give them a chance and Woww, i was impressed of the sound that they give, then i set everything in the speakers base on my studio and they sound even better, i recommend these 100% just make a good investment since day one (add a sub-W) for extremely better results

Yes, (to me) they were expensive. But they sound so good, I can justify spending the money. If you need a "to go" monitor, this is the pair.

In my search for some monitors that had a small footprint, I came across the Genelec 8010A 3 inch powered studio monitors. I had looked at several other brands and even tested some out at a local store. All I could find were good sounding monitors that were just a little too large for my set-up. When I got home discouraged from finding something that fit my needs I decided to check out the Genelec line (previous experience with their monitors at NAMM and in the studio) got me looking over their line. I came across these monitors and the dimensions would work really well for my small space. I wasn't able to test Genelec speakers as the local stores don't carry them in stock. Seeing the high ratings and knowing from experience that they have quality monitors I took a chance and purchased them. The package arrived in a timely manner and the monitors were well packaged. Taking them out of the boxes I knew that they would fit my set-up, but how would they sound? Got everything connected turned them on and was amazed at how loud these little monitors are. Not only do they produce a hefty volume, they are also very clear and precise. I've tested many types of music and they all sound wonderful! I am very happy with these monitors and would purchase them again should something happen to them. I am sure I will one day get a subwoofer, but as of right now my needs don't call for one as these monitors sound amazing. Kudos out to Sweetwater for carrying these and getting them to me promptly!

So I took these out the box and really felt like I had made a poor decision due to the size. I hooked them up and turned the volume up slightly and sat in amazement that I was hearing what I was hearing. These are perfect for voice over production, and in general just wonderful! They are very full sounding and really detailed. If you are doing Hip Hop production or enjoy lots of "bass heavy music" these are still good, but you'd want to add a sub. I plan on adding a sub in the future but for now these are very impressive. I look forward to using these more and more!

Wow...these little Gene's (pronounced Jenny's) deliver the goods--especially with the 7040A sub. Mmm Mmm Mmm I'm lovin it! Clear and focused with loads of detail. I'm noticing a ton of midrange "honk" and mud in my mixes now, that I've never heard before. I was thinking maybe it had to do with my mixing space (super small, as we're living in our Luxe Elite Fifth Wheel Coach). However, after listening to a few professional mixes I'm certain these Jenny's are showing me the flaws of my mixing, versus a professional mixing engineer--which is exactly the purpose. Happy about that actually. Finally, I can start to dial things in now.

My space is set up like a little cubicle, with an area just big enough for my monitor, a keyboard and a few other
items. Not ideal. However, I did toss up some treatment on the walls to make things a little more manageable.

Was picking these Genelecs up with portability and general listening in mind, but they sound so good they can serve as primary reference for me. Smaller drivers move less air, but these monitors represent sound on that air exceptionally well. Punchy, refined, yet decidedly un-boxy. Clarity, depth, w/better balance. The biggest surprises were the inherent warmth and top end detail coming from these little guys...which doesn't seem entirely possible. Placement being key, the size and integrated isolation stand/tilt mount allows for perfect nearfield in virtually any desktop setup. All around solid investment in the most important instrument you got...your ears, or fingers, or whatever that is. Best compact monitors I've ever heard.

These will shed light and bring a whole new perspective on your mix. I always hear people say things akin to "it's not the bat that hits the ball, it's the hitter" (baseball reference), but it's just simply not true. These are higher end speakers and they are NOT THE SAME as say KRKs, JBLs, PreSonus, etc.

I bought a pair of these from Sweetwater to serve as my "small" monitors (alongside a pair of Dynaudio BM5A's and a pair of Focal Shape Twins). I've had several people walk into my studio room when these little Genelecs are playing and they comment about how nice "the big speakers sound" only to discover that they are hearing the smallest monitors on my desk. Granted they do not sound as big as the Dynaudio or Focal monitors but these Genelecs are tiny (size-wise) in comparison. In spite of their diminutive size these monitors have a nice balanced sound and they are a perfect complement to my other monitors for comparing mixes. Also I like that these Genelecs have an optional dip switch setting for disengaging the power saving auto-shut-off feature (I wish my Focals has an optional switch for this). The only negative thing that I can think of with these monitors is that they start exhibiting a tad bit of compression and harshness when pushed really loud, but that may fix itself over time as they break-in and start to relax. These definitely have the Genelec vibe to them and they have a very revealing presentation about them. Money well spent.

They are perfect for my home studio. Really amazing response. I thought I would suffer because their Frequency Response starts at 67 Hz, but for my work, they are just what I need. I do broadcast/podcast and they are a great reference. And! As always Abraham was the perfect ally. He helped me with the selection process and packed a nice deal including cables for me.

Thank you!!!

I'm biased, I love genelec. For my ears, they work and they are true and well balanced speakers. I was actually fairly impressed with these little speakers. I use them as a mono midrange reference and they are excellent at that. I can set compressors easily on these and quickly get levels and a midrange balance. I will say that they are fatiguing at anything but moderate levels, but I think thats just the nature of a speaker this small. They still carry the genelec sound. If I could make a suggestion I would say save up your cash and go for the bigger models. $... no small amount for a pair of what I would consider a B reference monitor just to check things on. Put your cash towards some real deal genelecs and you'll be very, very happy. However, if you are in need of a small and powerful extra reference, I would heartily recommend these; definitely way better then an auratone.

I don't really do many reviews., even when I really like something; but, these lil speakers earned it. I have never in 20+ years of recording heard speakers this small, with a punch like these. They sound better than my Adams. Way better!

These little monitors have a tight sound across the frequency spectrum range that is offered. Solid monitor and will fit in my iloud micro monitor bag for travel. I"m seriously impressed by these and chose these over my micro monitors as a preference.

I bought this speakers as an alternative for my Adam's A77x for a 2nd reference, and I'm glad I did.
They are quality speakers and I can also take them on the road for field recording and editing.
Thanks Sweetwater!

I have a very tiny desk in my bedroom studio, even by bedroom studio standards. I wanted a quality set of monitors without taking up half of my working space. Well, these are it!
The sound out of these things is incredible. It almost doesn't make sense. So clear, punchy, and full.
Thanks to Dontae at Sweetwater for always being so helpful. You guys truly are the best, and I'll be a lifelong customer.

I've heard about the good response these baby genelecs had, but I never imagined how good they were going to sound.

The power, clear response and classic genelec warmness sound, is inside the 8010A.

In despite the low end is up to 67hz, you can feel the low frequencies response clearly.

If you have a little home studio, or if you wanna have a high quality gear for travelling, this is a GREAT option.

Genelec has done an excellent job. These little friends are not going to disappoint you.

I purchased these for use with an Autodesk Flame system. The desk already has a 27" monitor and an additional Broadcast preview monitor so I needed studio monitors that sounded more than "decent" and didn"t take up a lot of space. Everyone ar our facility was blown away at how incredible these little bad boys sound. They are pure, natuural, and honest, we"ve started checking mixes on them as an alternate set of monitors from the groups of larger monitors we have and everything translates as one would hope it could. If you"re a music producer ir mix engineer and want a second or third set of monitors for checking mixes, these are it!

You will love these genelec and want to by more the thing that impress me the most is how loud they can go any sound fantastic . The highs and midrange are the best I have ever heard the bass is tight and plenty of it . You can run they low or moderate and add dB or two of 80 hz and they sing with dire straight or kanas l have to try the moody blue , you hear things that you never new were there you hear detail reverb tails that last when you add a dB of anything you will hear it I can wait to buy more 8030 or8040 . Just get some they are magic when you push them they do not brake up they sound better I have not been able to light up the red light you can take your ears-out with these . They can keep up with my k 8 s I don"t know how??? The best money I have spent tony

Clear, rich & robust sound that defies its size. Small footprint, perfect for small, desktop studio. The answer for tight places.

I was on the fence between purchasing the gen 8010 or krk vxt4. Although i never got a change to listen to the krk vxt4s I am blownaway by these lil mofos... im into hip-hop and r&b music. i use logic pro 9 and my mpc 2500 to create. getting back to the 8010's the LOWs are tight and punchy. the mids and highs are crispy and the overall sound is powerful. no exaggeration, i put on a beat and went into the br to shower and i heard every detail of the song IN THE FRIGGIN SHOWER... the kik drums sounded amazing. do yourself a favor and take a listen to these speakers... treat yourself dont cheat yourself.

I gave away my Yamaha monitors, which are about four or five times the size of these new Genelecs.

the Genelecs cost twice as much as the Yamahas, but sound twice as good-- according to my calculations, anyway. I don't mean to make unfair comparisons, though... it's just that this is a personally significant upgrade.

I am stoked. these monitors appear to reflect the whole audible spectrum, including lows. I'm not even running a sub yet and the sound I'm getting is noticeably less thin than other monitors standing alone. (I can't pretend to be an expert sonic physicist, so take my opinion with a grain of salt.)

one more remark: these monitors make music sound really, really good. they sound like expensive open-ear headphones spread across your desk. if you have the money to blow, just buy them. I think that Genelec had budding producers in mind with these monitors: they are the cheapest offering from Genelec, which affords us a taste of the big-league equipment; they are small, therefore pretty easy to throw on a desk or in a backpack (please don't throw them)... they are awesome... so awesome, in fact, that I felt compelled to ramble about them on the internet.

While I was expecting these to be excellent nearfield monitors for my small voiceover studio, I was very pleasantly surprised to hear just how well they performed! When properly set up, the stereo sweet spot sounds almost 3-dimensional, just hanging out in front of you. While I could go into the highs, lows and midrange quality individually, suffice to say....amazing! The thing that you don't necessarily hear from these is the build quality: these monitors are meant to last, and are designed to be portable. One feature I love is the ISS; it is a nice touch that works seamlessly. Finally, at this price point, the 8010's are a real deal.....IMHO, you won't be disappointed.

Don't let the size of these monitors fool you, they have a great balanced, flat, and full sound! They have a detailed mid range that even bigger speakers from competitors can't seem to reveal in such detail as the 8010s can. Highs are clean and not hyped, thus ear fatigue has not been an issue. Imaging is just as good as much larger speakers due to their patented cabinet. Low end lacks a bit as you would imagine but not nearly as much as I was afraid they would be. Being familiar with their larger siblings I had high expectations and a bit of doubt to replicate the Genelec quality I love and trust when mixing or creating music. I was not let down one bit, everything you would expect from the 8000 series is present in these little guys. If you are looking for pro sounding monitor(s) for a great price your money will be well spent on these!

I have had Genelec 1030As for maybe 15 years or more, so I was a fan of the brand. These little guys are very accurate to about 200hz and detailed without being harsh. They do have a bit of a bass boost about 160hz, but if you keep them away from walls, etc it is not very noticeable. If you see the independent measurements at audiosciencereview you will see that the low bass distortion is high so that's why I did not give all 5 stars. That low bass distortion is not really noticeable. By the way, they do play plenty loud if used as intended as desktop monitors or no further away than a console's meter bridge.

As of yesterday, I have added the 7050C subwoofer which of course makes things quite wonderful.

I work in something close to the pathological worst case for studio sound. It has mostly hard surfaces, it is nearly a cube, and it is quite small. I had been using 5" KRKs that far predated my current work environment, and I got by with them, but then one died in the middle of a project. I was not pleased at having to shell out for replacements, but now that I have these Genelecs, I am grateful for the temporary inconvenience that made me buy them.
Once I got these set up, I was immediately able to locate and fix some mix issues that were simply impossible to pin down with either my KRKs or any of several models of studio headphone. These speakers seem almost custom made for my specific non-optimal room, and they make my previous work sound like I was mixing with cotton in my ears.
I have only one miniscule complaint, and that is the XLR connections do not allow my somewhat long connectors to attach without some significant strain on the cable. On a tailored pole mount, that would not be a problem, but if you buy these to place on a flat surface, you should check your XLR connectors; if you have long connectors, you might want to buy a separate set of cables (or possibly some right angle connectors) for these.