Genelec 8330A 5 inch Powered Studio Monitor Reviews

I purchased these monitors for mixing in a home studio and for recording on location.
They are small enough to take out, but pack a big, clean sound. You have to hear the Genelec sound - very open with lots of high end detail. I have noticed details in recordings that I never heard before listening on these speakers. They really reveal any weaknesses in a mix. I also purchased the GLM SAM Loudspeaker management system, which helps to compensate for a less than perfect room. Earlier I tested the Sonarworks Sound ID system. It helped with headphones, but I found that it would not be practical to use the Sonarworks system everytime I set up speakers in a new environment. The SAM system calibrates the speakers to a new room in a matter of minutes and you are set to go. Yes, this is an expensive set of speakers, but finally my mixes are translating well across a myriad of devices. Cheers to Jonathan Casarow for his assistance in selecting this equipment. He's a great sales engineer.

If you're a believer in good sound, developed and backed by science, you're likely familiar with Genelec. They are some of the best in the business.

They may often be marketed for pro applications, but good sound is good sound. I am not a producer. I use these for a 2.1 Desktop listening setup and they are some of the best loudspeakers I've listened to.

They're great on their own, but do know that a Sub goes a long way with these. And GLM is another cost consideration, given their design.

Other suggestions: Be sure to feed it digital input. You will bypass any redundant AD/DA conversion. While the conversion is likely inaudible, I do notice much lower noise/hiss. Ideally control the output from GLM (or if using a pre-amp) simply cap it at a lower volume if you have excess headroom and they are dead quiet for a powered monitor.

Here is the deal. You CANNOT get a better setup for the price. You would need to spend significantly more not only on a professional studio space, but on higher end Genelecs, ATC, Adam, etc... A three way system with a sub would be a very expensive choice for a bedroom studio ( a separate studio space would benefit more). If you have a bedroom studio setup, this is it. I used these without the GLM kit in a treated space for 2 months and instantly my mixes were better. I no longer second guess, I trust that these speakers don"t lie. And they definitely do not. Many may say "they"re too bright" or they are "fatiguing". They are crystal clear and accurate, they do not muddy anything. Some interpret that as color or fatigue. It isn"t. On top of this, I encourage everyone to research the company. They are handmade in Finland, so you know people working there probably make a living wage. They are made from recycled aluminum, which is in my opinion a better material than wood (for the most part) due to its lack of coloring resonance. The sweet spot is wide and the bass response is perfect for a small To medium space. If you have a larger room a the sub would be handy. They are built so WELL, they feel like an apple product and the power saving mode is great (you never have to switch them off basically). Now I moved and have yet to treat my space, so in the interim I got the GLM kit. WOW, instantly better than my previously treated space (I cannot wait to see how much better it is when I put up my fiberglass panels). I normally never write reviews, but I felt compelled to do so. I listened to many monitors, Focals, Adams, JBLs, Rokits, Dynaudio, etc... While each company has nice options, the price difference and lack of GLM type software makes Genelecs feel like driving a Tesla over a Ford Pinto, am I being a bit dramatic? Nope.

I"m biased, I love Genelecs, ha ha. These do not disappoint!

Out of the box they are great. Then apply the calibration to match the response to your room and they get even better!

As a film and television composer/mixer, I've worked with a variety of monitors over the years. When my beloved JBL LSR's stopped working, I tried some different speakers as interim solutions until I saved up and decided what to invest in for the long run. (Among these were the JBL LSR 305's...inexpensive and better than they had any right to be at their price.) After much research, I decided to spring for five Genelec 8330A's, a 7360 sub - and of course, the GLM hardware and software.

With the addition of a new Apogee Ensemble Thunderbolt audio interface, I dropped over ten grand on this system. And I can honestly say - it's one of the best investments I've ever made.

I have a wonderful room acoustically, designed by David Rochester of Technical Audio Services, so the frequency response difference after the GLM/SAM calibration was subtle. But the software also calibrates levels, time delays and subwoofer phase...all especially important for 5.1 mixing. The detail in this system is astounding. And so far my mixes are translating better than with any other monitors I've ever used. Ever. Period.

It really is true. You get what you pay for. I know I'll be enjoying this Genelec system for years to come.

I should also mention that my sales rep David Mikautadze and the Sweetwater team jumped through some extra hoops to get the system to me in time for installation prior to a new film project. They're simply the best.

These are great speakers. Also, make sure to pair them with the GLM software.

At first I was skeptical because of the size of these speakers. Generally speaking, I prefer 6.5 or bigger for the kind of music I do + the fact that I need to place the speakers in a distance (more than near-field). Due to a limited budget, I eventually bought the 8330A instead of the 8340.

All I have to say is that the 8330A surpassed my expectations in all aspects. Very detailed and nice transients, clarity is exceptionally good, they can get much louder that I will ever need, and yes, they can go low enough without a sub. Acoustic bass sounds great and for the most part I don't need to go lower. However, adding a sub if you need it will provide a fuller and more accurate frequency representation.

Definitely grab the GLM kit as well! The software calibration compensates for poor room acoustics in an excellent manner. A must have tool!

These things are hefty, and they sound amazing. The software that pairs with these monitors is fantastic too, Genelec knocked it all out of the park. The calibration process is impressively quick and accurate, my mixes have never sounded as good no matter the playback system. The 2.1 setup is great, I bet the 5.1 is out of this world... all connected and phase calibrated by their nifty software.

At the time of this review, I have been in this business for over 38 years and these monitors are the best I have ever owned. I have had most of the other popular brands, but in my room these are the best. The GLM software gives you countless possibilities. You can run these flat with or without a sub, you can make these sound like NS-10s or they can be bigger than life. All settings are stored in the GLM software and you can instantly switch between them. Genelec USA is great, they stand behind the product and are there if you need them. I wished I had bought these sooner.

Terrific little speakers, especially with the calibration kit. Autocal on these only uses 4 or 5 filters, all below 1000kHz, but that's where most room problems are. Using the GLM software you can easily tweak the sound further by ear, no problem. Good bass response, flat and clear midrange, very good transient response, and just the right amount of high frequencies. They're louder than they look, too.

You will hear their soft white noise hiss if you're positioned within 5 feet or so of these monitors. But they sound great otherwise.

Surprisingly in a near-field setup, they present a complete picture, including the low end, with no sub. You can easily travel and mix on the road with these, close up, and do well.

GLM helps deal with room issues and is quite fast, compared to Sonarworks.

As for the sound, I calibrated many times and even got Genelec Tech Support involved but there is a resonance or peak in the 1.5-3K range. I tried additional filters, separate EQs, Tech Support even gave recommendations for changes in GLM but we never got rid of the mid-forward nature. My room is treated with bass traps and additional absorption.

All the laundry aired, if you listen for a while, you can get accustomed and things feel normal as you settle in. I believe if these were your only main pair, you'd do fine with reference tracks. A/Bing with LYD 48s, the 48's are definitely more natural sounding. The 8330s still serve for a harshness check as that will stand out well.