3 ms·

Heh, I considered Genelecs when I was setting up my home audio. This was a few years back, around the same time Genelec started to diversify towards more mass-m

by bostik 11y ago

Heh, I considered Genelecs when I was setting up my home audio. This was a few years back, around the same time Genelec started to diversify towards more mass-market equipment at their lower end. Couple of slightly audiophilic friends commented that I probably wouldn't get full value for my money. The room around the equipment has an effect too. So they all recommended I look at Amphion instead: http://www.amphion.fi/ http://www.amphion.fi/ (Another reasonably high-endish Finnish loudspeaker manufacturer.) A pair of their monitors was more than enough for a straightforward home sound system, and it took my wife's complaints to eventually add a subwoofer to the mix. Even this pair is accurate enough. We can hear a botched mixing, which arguably may not be beneficial when the audio track is from a classic 80's or 90's TV show... And the price at the time? €300 per monitor. Genelecs would have started at ~50% more.

TheOtherHobbes 11y ago
I've been moving around a lot and I set up a temporary budget home studio here recently, with JBL305s. They're insanely good value - not perfect, but considering they cost as little as some PC speakers they're better than many of the entry/semi-pro near fields I've heard costing high three figures per pair. I'm slightly biased against Genelecs. I think they're expensive for what they are, and I've always found the sound distractingly clinical rather than reassuringly objective. I wouldn't recommend them for home listening. They do appear in studios, but maybe more often in university/research labs. They don't have a lock down among studio owners, who have a lot of other choices. Room sound is totally a thing. High end studios can literally spend more on acoustic treatment consultancy than speakers. Low/mid studios won't spend that much, but anyone who's serious about monitoring will put up bass traps and absorbent panels to try to tame the more obvious resonances. You'll get objectively measurable benefits that will do more to improve the sound than magic oxygen-free mains cables and hand-knitted USB leads will. That makes the mega-speaker audiophile thing kind of ridiculous. If you spend more than $10k on a system without treating your room at all, you're simply wasting your money.
- timc3 11y ago
  The LSR 305 is an excellent speaker, and I too shy away from Genelecs because I think they sound rather terrible compared to their competition. I do wonder if studios actually compare monitors before just putting in a low-range to mid-range Genelec setup. Totally right about the room. It’s the number one factor.
vlehto 11y ago
Honestly the best bang for the buck would be to buy decent power amp. Then find good cheap old speakers from Craigslist or something like that. Speakers often outlast amps, which brings the price down. I just had to give away perfectly good three way pioneer speakers for free. Speakers do wear, but not linearly. They are first like new until they are completely broken. When you have speakers and amp, room acoustics is the next thing. Start with curtains. Clap your hands, if you hear disturbing echo, add something soft. 200e for amp, 60e for two used speakers and 40 for nice curtains. 300e total and you might have better audio than someone who spent 1000e for surround home theater.

by bostik 11y ago

TheOtherHobbes 11y ago

I've been moving around a lot and I set up a temporary budget home studio here recently, with JBL305s. They're insanely good value - not perfect, but considering they cost as little as some PC speakers they're better than many of the entry/semi-pro near fields I've heard costing high three figures per pair. I'm slightly biased against Genelecs. I think they're expensive for what they are, and I've always found the sound distractingly clinical rather than reassuringly objective. I wouldn't recommend them for home listening. They do appear in studios, but maybe more often in university/research labs. They don't have a lock down among studio owners, who have a lot of other choices. Room sound is totally a thing. High end studios can literally spend more on acoustic treatment consultancy than speakers. Low/mid studios won't spend that much, but anyone who's serious about monitoring will put up bass traps and absorbent panels to try to tame the more obvious resonances. You'll get objectively measurable benefits that will do more to improve the sound than magic oxygen-free mains cables and hand-knitted USB leads will. That makes the mega-speaker audiophile thing kind of ridiculous. If you spend more than $10k on a system without treating your room at all, you're simply wasting your money.

timc3 11y ago
The LSR 305 is an excellent speaker, and I too shy away from Genelecs because I think they sound rather terrible compared to their competition. I do wonder if studios actually compare monitors before just putting in a low-range to mid-range Genelec setup. Totally right about the room. It’s the number one factor.

vlehto 11y ago

Honestly the best bang for the buck would be to buy decent power amp. Then find good cheap old speakers from Craigslist or something like that. Speakers often outlast amps, which brings the price down. I just had to give away perfectly good three way pioneer speakers for free. Speakers do wear, but not linearly. They are first like new until they are completely broken. When you have speakers and amp, room acoustics is the next thing. Start with curtains. Clap your hands, if you hear disturbing echo, add something soft. 200e for amp, 60e for two used speakers and 40 for nice curtains. 300e total and you might have better audio than someone who spent 1000e for surround home theater.