Genelec 8341A SAM 3-way Coaxial Powered Studio Monitor Reviews
For extraordinary imaging, extended frequency response, and fatigue-free listening at near- to midfield distances, you can't beat point-source monitoring. Genelec has point source nailed with their 8341 SAM. Part of Genelec's "The Ones" series, this revolutionary 3-way studio monitor combines Genelec's Acoustically Concealed Woofer (ACW) technology with other innovative technologies to deliver an impressively linear payload over a remarkably wide bandwidth, resulting in phenomenal imaging and clarity. At Sweetwater, we're impressed by Genelec's Smart Active Monitor (SAM) technology, which optimizes level, timing, and equalization of room response anomalies. The result is an amazingly tight, accurate sound with enormous dynamic range and unprecedented frequency response, regardless of where you choose to work. On top of that, these monitors perform optimally in both horizontal and vertical positions.
Earn $155 back in Bonus Bucks† OR pay $129/month with 24 month financing*
$155 Earn $155.00 back in Bonus Bucks† on this purchase when you use your Sweetwater Credit Card without financing. Select your offer in checkout. Terms
As low as $129/month
with 24 month financing*
See all payment options
Customer Reviews
Customer Added Media
This product doesn't have any review media yet!
Share Your Thoughts
Help other music gear aficionados by sharing your opinions of gear you've purchased.
Questions about the 8341SAM?
Or call us at (800) 222-4700
Sweetwater's Sales Engineers are regarded as the most experienced and knowledgeable professionals in the music industry, with extensive music backgrounds and intense training on the latest products and technologies. They are available to offer you personalized product advice any time you need it.
Highest Rated Reviews
Focused
Previous monitors are Krk expose e8b, they are no slouches. Everything is more compact on the 8331, more focused transient, a bit less of a smeared stereo image 5% more precise overall, But less big sounding none the less. Makes mixing easier, and less fatigue.
Not a pro, just an audiophile; incredible sound for the price
I'm not a sound engineer, just a software engineer and piano performance major with a long time love of audiophile systems that can reproduce natural, you-are-there sound. I bought these for my office workstation system, to provide "good enough" background playback of hi-rez streams from Qobuz and Tidal. I was flabbergasted to find that the 8341's driven by a bare bones Roon Macbook USB -> Mutec 3 front end could almost match the main listening system I've spent 15 years optimizing component by component at 20X the price point. Not to mention 10X the physical space requirement. FYI, I've tried plenty of 'bargain' hi-fi options as well over the years, from JBL to Paradigm to PSB to Focal and B&W mid level, so this isn't simply a case of a a stupid audiophile being unaware of what less expensive equipment with good base specs can do.
There is some material, such as 60's through 80's classic rock that I actually prefer on these over the main system.
On the caveats side (none of which remotely reduce my 5 star enthusiasm):
1. These do need to be used near field, in my opinion, or at least in a smaller room, as they can't quite fully energize a 14' x 18' office, but I could imagine that even this small limitation might be removed by adding one of the Genelec subs.
2. I'm not a huge fan of the GLM system's impact on sound. It smoothed out the biggest room mode that I have, at 50Hz, but for this room the bit of boominess there is less intrusive in my opinion than the dynamic flattening that happens across the spectrum when enabling GLM.
3. If you intend to use analog inputs with consumer devices, make sure to get a Radial J+4 or similar to boost input to pro levels. I spent most of a week trying to puzzle out why the 8341's had incredible power over AES digital but were anemic when using the analog inputs from a Bluesound Node 2.
4. If you want an even better bargain that achieves 80% of this sound, try the Genelec 8020D's + 7050C. We added these for our pool cabana system, driven by an Amazon Echo Spot over 1/8" headphone cable, and once again, overall SQ far exceeded my expectations.
Highly recommended!
Wow
I upgraded from a pair of 1031s that I had been using for nearly 20 years. I was a little worried that the 8341s wouldn't be powerful enough and considered the 8351s. On the advice of my sales associate (Pat Weaver) I went with the 8341s and they are plenty loud. I A/B'd them with the 1031s and even though the woofer is smaller in the 8341s, it's just as loud as the 1031s. The detail is outstanding, as is the imaging - I'm hearing things in my own mixes that I missed with the 1031s.
If you're on the fence about these, go for it, they live up to the hype.
Fantastic Studio Monitor
This studio monitor provides a very high level of detail and power for moderate rooms, coupled with a good DAC and GLM this is truly a monitor that is great to work with. I have no experience with using the dip switches, but do buy GLM, and do also heavily treat your space as needed to get the response you are looking for.
Their size and weight are very unassuming, but these pump out a lot of clean volume effortlessly. I have them about an arm's length and a half away in a normal 12'x12'x9' room and I can't ever reasonably listen above -40dB for extended periods. I started using the analogue output but early on switched to digital only and there just isn't any noise from the tweeter audible from the listening position (you have to be as close as 2" to start hearing any noise/hiss).
These monitors were a welcome upgrade from my Adam A7X, and in the process I have tried and considered: ATC SCM20, Genelec 8331a/8351b, PSI Audio 17m/21m, and Ex Machina Pulsar. For me these came out of top due to low noise, high volume, compact footprint, and seamless integration with GLM for proper calibrating (without getting into the likes of Trinnov, miniDSP).
Best money I ever spent on studio monitors, no regrets with the exception of honestly not buying these earlier.
Ones Gentleman
These speaker monitors are excellent. You hear the slightest changes in these speakers, the smallest effect or the EQ ...
Dynamics are very good and natural
After months of using these monitors I writes this review and really these monitors have greatly enhanced my thinking.
I use the glm3 + Voloume knobs its greats and useful to me , of course I already had the same experience with the JBL LSR 4326p, but in terms of precision and sincerity, genelec is very beter and useful this way
It is very suitable for medium-sized control rooms
these monitors are great and very Gentlemens
