December 2021 - 56

REVIEW
Genelec 8361A
The biggest, baddest, and
most potent 'One' of all
REVIEW BY PAUL VNUK JR.
B
ased in Iisalmi, Finland, Genelec has been
crafting some of the most used and respected
loudspeakers globally for over 43 years. In
2014 Genelec launched the 8351A, which would
spawn a series boldly proclaimed as 'The Ones'.
Equal parts modern art and cutting edge technology,
each one of The Ones is housed in a precisionsculpted
aluminum enclosure and features a uniquely
implemented three-way coaxial design. Each
model is part of the Genelec Smart Active Monitor
(SAM) family, and they can be expertly tuned to
their environments using the Genelec Loudspeaker
Manager (GLM) system. Today, we are looking at
the biggest 'One'-the flagship Genelec 8361A.
Over the years and overseas
I penned our inaugural review of the 8351A in the November
2015 issue, followed by a dual review of the smaller 8341
and 8331 in March 2018. In September 2019, I was invited
across the pond for the world premiere of the second generation
8351B (reviewed by Alex Hawley, September 2020) and
its new big brother, the 8361A, at London's Metropolis Studios.
After having experienced both models, plus the Genelec
W371A adaptive woofer system in mixing, mastering and immersive
audio scenarios, I now get to spend some time with the
8361A in my studio.
The one about the coaxial design
While the 23.37 " x 14 " x 13.63 " , 70 lb. sculpted aluminum,
Minimum Diffraction Enclosure (MDE) nods to the more traditional
Genelec 8000 series design aesthetic, looking at the front of the
8361A still begs more questions than it answers. As I wondered
in the original 8351A review, " Where is the woofer, and why is
a lone tweeter floating in the center of the box? "
The 8361A is a Minimum Diffraction Coaxial (MDC) design.
The 1 " dome tweeter is positioned in the center of a 5 " cone
midrange driver. These drivers are centered in a Directivity
Control Waveguide (DCW) that spans the speaker's face,
offering precisely controlled horizontal and vertical dispersion
while delivering highly detailed imaging and phase cohesion.
The one about the low-end
While you can't see its dual Acoustically Concealed Woofers
(ACW), you will hear and feel them. Each one is an obround
56 RECORDING DECEMBER 2021
5.4 " x 10.34 " design located top and bottom behind the
waveguide with upper and lower slots.
Power is supplied by a trio of optimized Class D amplifiers
delivering 700W (bass), 150W (midrange) and 150W (treble),
with active crossovers at 320 Hz and 2.8 kHz.
The 8361A has a frequency response of 36 Hz - 20 kHz (±
1.5dB) with a 30 Hz low cutoff and a 43 kHz high cutoff, both
at -6dB. It has a peak SPL of ≥124dB, and ≤5dB of self noise.
Connections and controls
On the rear of the cabinet, you get a balanced XLR analog
input, XLR-based AES/EBU digital I/O, and a pair of RJ45
sockets for use with the optional GLM room correction kit.
Along with an input sensitivity pot, you get a full complement
of recessed dip switches for onboard room compensation (when
not using GLM), such as bass and treble rolloff and tilt, and detailed
multi-frequency bass, midrange and treble controls.
GLM room correction kit
We have covered GLM many times over the years. GLM at its
heart is a Genelec-designed control and calibration system for
use with any of its SAM series monitors. The GLM kit includes
an RJ45-equipped USB interface, measurement mic and cables.
New in 4.1, GLM features AutoCal2, which compensates for
both constructive and destructive frequency non-linearities, and
provides improved discrimination between direct and reflective
energy. Like AutoCal 1, it also compensates for time and volume
between speakers; my room 'pulls to the left' if you will,
thanks to the location of a door, so this is a big help.
December 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of December 2021
