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Genelec 8030C Powered Studio Monitor - Dark Grey

Powered Studio Monitor with 5" Woofer, 0.75" Tweeter, and Iso-Pod Stand - Dark Grey
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Item ID: 8030CPM
Genelec 8030C Powered Studio Monitor - Dark Grey
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Genelec 8030C Powered Studio Monitor - Dark Grey
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Genelec 8030C Powered Studio Monitor - Dark Grey
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Genelec Quality in an Ultra-compact Monitor

Melding big monitor performance with a compact footprint, the Genelec 8030C delivers higher SPLs and superior low-frequency extension when compared to its smaller siblings, making it ideal for slightly larger spaces. The 8030C houses a 5-inch woofer, fortified by an advanced reflex port design, exhibiting outstanding, low-distortion low-frequency reproduction down to 54Hz. Moreover, this monitor’s 0.75-inch tweeter, bolstered by Genelec’s Directivity Control Waveguide (DCW), yields flat on- and off-axis response and rock-solid imaging. Genelec’s Minimum Diffraction Enclosure (MDE) ties it all together, certifying a smooth frequency response, minimal cabinet-edge reflections, and a superbly accurate sound stage. You also get dedicated high-headroom amplifiers for each driver, a premium active crossover, sophisticated drive unit protection, and an array of powerful room response compensation features. Additionally, the 8030C includes Genelec’s power-saving Intelligent Signal Sensing (ISS) technology and a vibration-decoupling Iso-Pod stand. Boasting industry-leading clarity, a compact form factor, and intelligent features, the Genelec 8030C offers a definitive choice for professionals who demand precision in every mix.

Intelligent features for intelligent monitoring

Like all of Genelec’s 8000-series monitors, the 8030C is replete with proprietary technologies, ensuring ultra-precise audio reproduction in any playback environment. For starters, the 8030C features Genelec’s DCW, certifying flat on- and off-axis response for a wider sweet spot, an increased direct-to-reflected sound ratio for reduced room coloration, and incredibly solid imaging. Next, Genelec’s MDE cabinet, which features rounded edges and a gently curved front and sides, delivers a smooth frequency response, minimizes cabinet-edge reflections, and facilitates an incredibly accurate sound stage. Finally, thanks to Genelec’s ISS power management system, you’ll never have to worry about shutting down your studio monitor again. After a period of time, if ISS doesn’t detect anything, it switches your 8030C over to a low-power sleep state, safeguarding your gear and sparing you the wasted electricity.

Flexible mounting options for precision positioning

The versatile mounting features of the Genelec 8030C include integrated rear support points for wall and floor stands, as well as a third 3/8-inch thread for mounting on the cabinet base. Furthermore, each Genelec 8030C monitor comes with an Iso-Pod. The Iso-Pod is a sophisticated mounting stand that enables the 8030C to function in either the vertical or horizontal orientation. Additionally, it allows the acoustic axis of the monitor to be directed toward the listener while simultaneously acoustically and mechanically decoupling the monitor from the surface it is resting on.

Genelec: a legacy of monitoring excellence

Unerring full-range monitoring is a must-have for any studio that aspires to world-class status, which is why Genelec monitors are found in the world’s most distinguished recording facilities. Drawing on decades of professional monitor design expertise, Genelec’s engineering team painstakingly develops and optimizes every component in the company’s state-of-the-art facility in Iisalmi, Finland. As such, Genelec products feature superior build quality that ensures premium performance and faithful service, session after session, year after year. Furthermore, users of Genelec’s flagship products enjoy access to SonicAdvisor services, which provide full support from initial configuration to on-site consultation. Whether you require small nearfield monitors or a powerful main monitoring system, Sweetwater has you covered with the complete range of Genelec monitoring solutions.

Genelec 8030C Features:

  • Compact, versatile nearfield monitor for slightly larger spaces
  • 5-in. woofer, fortified by an advanced reflex port design, exhibits low-distortion LF reproduction down to 54Hz
  • 0.75-in. tweeter, bolstered by Genelec’s DCW, yields flat on- and off-axis response and rock-solid imaging
  • MDE cabinet certifies a smooth frequency response, minimal cabinet-edge reflections, and a superbly accurate sound stage
  • Dedicated high-headroom amplifiers for each driver ensure consistent power distribution
  • Premium active crossover operates at low signal levels
  • Sophisticated drive unit protection circuitry provides safe operation
  • Powerful room response compensation features for optimizing in-room performance
  • ISS technology gives you power consumption reduction in standby mode
  • Versatile mounting options include a vibration-decoupling Iso-Pod stand

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Tech Specs

  • Powered: Yes
  • Power Configuration: Bi-amped
  • Quantity: Single
  • LF Driver Size: 5"
  • LF Driver Type: Cone
  • HF Driver Size: 0.75"
  • HF Driver Type: Metal dome
  • LF Driver Power Amp: 50W
  • HF Driver Power Amp: 50W
  • Total Power: 100W
  • Frequency Response: 54Hz-20kHz (±2dB)
  • Maximum Peak SPL: 104dB @ 1m
  • Input Types: 1 x XLR
  • Features: Room Tuning
  • Enclosure Type: Rear Ported
  • Enclosure Material: Aluminum
  • Power Source: Standard IEC AC Cable
  • Height: 11.8" (with Iso-Pod)
  • Width: 7.4"
  • Depth: 7.06"
  • Weight: 11 lbs.
  • Manufacturer Part Number: 8030CP

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Reviews

Amazing Monitor Speakers
I had been a user of YAMAHA 8-inch monitors for 14 years (from the old model HS-80 to the current HS-8). Now I upgrade to these compact GENELEC 8030Cs. I have to say, the improvement is simply huge and astonishing. (I am not saying HS8 is not good; it is in fact unfair to compare them considering the price difference.) I noticed several things immediately:

1. The sound field is much wider and extremely accurate. My YAMAHA HS8s create a stereo sound field which is nice, but you can feel that the main vocal parts or solo instruments are locked within the central area and somewhat far from you. But via 8030c, these parts are larger, clearer, closer to my ears, and really showing their shapes and richness. I can also catch more small percussion parts and locate their exact positions in the wide field easily.

2. The sweet spot is large. I am not so happy with HS8's sweet spot and if you are 3 or 5 feet away from the central position, you do feel the decay of sound quality. But these 8030Cs keep a large sweet spot; I can even stand on the side (not back, of course) of them and still enjoy the sound. It is amazing!

3. The sound is not only wider and with more details, but STRONGER. It shows more muscle than HS8, I would say. If you go back from 8030c to HS8, you would feel the sound is somewhat soft, lacking energy and density. I guess it partially comes from the fact that these speakers more focus on the lower-middle range, while HS8, to my ear, more focuses on upper-middle, with slightly exaggerated high frequencies. Considering their size difference, the performance is stunning.

4. This is probably a con for some people, 8030c has a tight bass. For a 5-inch woofer, I believe its performance is already very good; and its bass is in fact with high quality. But you should not expect that they shake your windows with deep and boomy bass. I heard that a subwoofer will improve the situation substantially; I will try it in the future.

Overall, a fantastic speaker. The sound is really amazing and the size is truly compact. I also personally feel the sound is quite enjoyable - not so colorized and sweet, but honest and vigorous.
Music background: Music theorist and teacher
My first new Genelec since the 1990s
I fell in love with these Finnish wonders back in the early 1990s. After auditioning the entire stock of my local music store I outfitted my studio with 2 of the 5" cubes, which I used as near fields. The imaging and overall tonal transparency was far above most of the less expensive units, and marginally superior to equivalently priced self-powered models - yet still superior in my mind. I unsheathed my Visa card and never looked back.

Now here we are in the 2020s. We relocated 5 years ago, and in addition, my day job became a substantial monopolizer of my time, so my home studio went dormant, and when we packed all my gear up for transport, I realized it was the first time my Genelecs (and everything in my racks) had been unplugged in 25+ years (powered down of course).

When we got to the new digs I began to reassemble my home studio in the room we set aside for that and it was at that point that I realized all the years of dust and grime that had collected on the rear of the speakers also suggested that all the internal components were similarly old - particularly the electrolytics. So I recapped them, and stared at them on my bench. Several of my synths were now considered "classics" (hard to imagine I bought everything new) which is ironic because I wound up adding ROMs to the digital synths to recreate "Vintage Synths." (Does that make the Roland "Vintage Synth" ROMs an archeological anomaly?)

As our new location and our situation is more conducive to music making - it occurred to me I should possibly expect equipment failures. In addition, over the past 25 years, we have begun to expect that any self-respecting studio would at least have 5.1 capability (not sure I need that, but hey, are we not gear junkies?)

So I bought the package offered here consisting of 2 5" modern Genelecs and a sub. I have literally just got the Genelecs on the wall.

Sonically - they are near identical (to my ear) to my old 5" pair. And yes, everything would EQ better and phasing wouldn't be a challenge if they were not on a wall, but we live with the limitations we have. (I guess I will need a much bigger space for my studio in my next house...). And yes, I still need one more to give me true 5.1 capability, but for now, I'm stereo.

These modern Genelecs have user controls to adjust EQ/Phase for speaker location (phasing is on the sub, not the near fields).

The Genelec sound is still my favorite aspect. However, it bears mentioning that I absolutely love something they call ISS - which will auto-power-up/down the speakers without having to hit a power switch anywhere. With the Genelecs mounted (via the Genelec mount) on a wall behind my computer/mixing console - reaching back to manually power on my old 5" cubes would have been cumbersome as I currently have no way to sequence power up/down to the rest of my gear. The new Genelecs have no difficulty recognizing the "pop" of power being cycled and keep themselves turned off until an actual signal arrives. Thus, they can be left powered on 100% of the time.
Music background: A bit of everything, from MIDI software development, to engineering, to playing for an audience, to recording demos for local bands...you get to be my age you've done a little bit of everything
Good
Sounds Good
Very Kind Engineer
From South Korea
Sound
Clear sound and deep basss
Sweetwater's customer service is A+
I needed a brand new pair of Genelec 8030C for a remote picture editing bay I was setting up to accommodate a client. I've been using the 8030s in post-production for over 15 years and they're my goto speakers. Many reasons for that, but what I want to emphasize in this review is the outstanding customer service Sweetwater provided.
First of all, I decided to pull the plug on the purchase pretty late in the day in LA. To my surprise, someone picked up the phone at Sweetwater. This was Thursday and I needed the speakers by Monday afternoon at the latest. Michael checked stock and assured me that the speakers would 100% go out first thing Friday am. I've been burned before by other vendors, so was skeptical, but having no choice, I purchased the speakers. I woke up Friday morning to find an invoice with tracking info attached in my inbox. Usually I have to chase this info down. Speakers not only arrived as promised, but I received a call from Sweetwater to make sure I got them in time and that everything was ok with the order. This kind of customer service is literally unheard of these days. Usually you have to chase the vendors down and get passed from one rep to another having to explain your situation multiple times. Sweetwater is 100% going to be my goto vendor for all my audio needs! Thank you!