Genelec 8050B Studio Monitors

David B · 2023-09-24T17:16:50+00:00

My GAS has gotten the better of me once again. In my pursuit to get the best sound at the piano with my sample libraries I ended up with some very nice but expensive speakers. Switching to the FP90X required me to use studio monitors exclusively for my piano sounds. I wanted to update my outdated Gen 3 KRK monitors. With no success I decided to experiment with the expensive Genelecs. First the 8040s with the 6.5" bass driver. Pretty good. Best so far. If they are so good I wonder what the 8050s sound like with the 8" bass driver. Why did I have to try them out? 🙂 What I like about these monitors. Flat frequency response. I like to start out as flat as possible and add EQ if I want to color the sound to my taste. I want to avoid inherent coloring of the sound baked into the design. Genelec provides a flat response. Clarity at low volumes. This was the biggest difference between the budget monitors and the Genelec. Even compared to the 8040 the 8050 larger bass driver is better. The crossover frequency is lower on the 8050 which I think adds clarity to the sound by alleviating some of the workload on the bass driver. The bass roll-off is lower on the 8050 which meas I don't have to play loud to hear the lower frequencies. The difference between playing through the 8050s and my Sennheiser headphones is almost non-existent (except for the sound stage). Good headphones usually sound better than speakers. However, not when you have awesome speakers. Build construction. Most monitors on the market are made with MDF/particle board. Not good for someone who moves regularly. If I live longer I'll probably move a few more times in my career. Genelec are made out of cast aluminum and will probably survive the apocalypse. What I don't like about them. The price. The monitors cost more than my FP90X. 😳 The color. I don't care for the dark gray sparkly finish. I've got an email into Genelec to see if I could paint them and still maintain my warranty. Some miscellaneous thoughts. Genelec has been an industry leader for a long time. They still service models from decades ago. These are built to last and I'll probably keep them until Jesus comes. I also like the way the inputs on the back are orientated. Very sleek. I also like the way the ISS (Intelligent Signal Sensing) works. After an hour of no signal they go into a power saving mode. LED turn off and they use less than .5 watts. So I can keep them on all the time. What I like is that they wake up immediately when a signal is present. The KRK would take some cajoling to wake up. One speaker would usually wake up before the other and it would usually take several seconds for both to be responsive. Genelecs are instantaneous (maybe a half a second). Finally, the monitors rock when it comes to listening to music while I workout or whatever. I can add some EQ if I need and the speakers really fill my space with a HiFi sound. I was hoping I wouldn't like these and could save some money with less expensive monitors. As usual my wife is right, my taste often exceeds my station in life. 😎 God Bless, David

David Lai

I’m so happy to know that you found your monitors, David! I was trying to help you save some money by introducing you to the Focal Shapes without success. :-) Oh well, at least I’m glad I’ve tried. :-)

These sound very good, perhaps if I have a more permanent job/settlement, I’ll take a look at these. I bet the amplifiers must be very quiet?

Enjoy, and have fun! I found I haven’t had so much fun ever since I got my Focal Shape 65s. 🙂

David B

David Lai David! I was trying to help you save some money by introducing you to the Focal Shapes without success.

Thank you for trying. I'd love to do an A/B comparison with the Focals. I'm sure there are numerous brands that perform very similar.

David Lai I bet the amplifiers must be very quiet?

Yes, there is a sensitivity adjustment on the back with a range of +6 to -6 dBu to account for different input levels. Pairing the inputs sensitivity with the source will impact the hiss. I can only hear the hiss with my ear right up to the speaker. It would be a deal breaker if it weren't so.

David Lai Enjoy, and have fun!

Thanks and likewise.

God Bless,
David

jdg78

David B What I don't like about them.
The price. The monitors cost more than my FP90X. 😳

The color. I don't care for the dark gray sparkly finish. I've got an email into Genelec to see if I could paint them and still maintain my warranty.

Re: the color, you might want to consider the Genelec G Fives, which are the home audio version of the 8050's and available in alternate colors (Black and White). Sonically, they are identical the 8050s, but just include an RCA connection in addition to XLR and have a few other minor differences (LED light, different gain options, etc).

https://www.genelec.com/g-five

I'm planning to get the G Threes myself, which should be more than adequate for my smallish room.

David B

jdg78 Re: the color, you might want to consider the Genelec G Fives

Hi, I did consider the G5's but unfortunately nobody has them in stock (that I could find). I could have gotten them as a special order but then they would have been non-refundable.

The factory powder coat (sparkly gray) is is a bit textured so I think spray paint will adhere properly to them. I'm hoping to do it maybe next week while the weather here is is still warm enough.

God Bless,
David

nhanzero

Have you considered Adam T7V David? A lot of nice reviews of this pair, and very reasonable price too, half of my P-515, I’m considering these when I’m wiring with VSL CFX, but still wouldn’t want to trade the internal CFX binaural yet.

David B

nhanzero Have you considered Adam T7V David?

I looked at Adam monitors but didn't try them out. The challenge is I'd like to try all the main brands and pick the ones I like the best. Unfortunately, that really isn't possible for me. So I had to narrow the field down based on specs, price, and whatever online reviews I could find. Then I sampled a few different brands and sent one set back to Amazon and another back to Sweetwater and ended up with what I have now.

I'm sure if I tried all the main brands I might find monitors that I like better than the ones I've chosen or ones that are just as good for less money. Unless you can find a store that has vast variety of brands to sample, you've got to narrow it down to a couple and make a choice. The online reviews of Adam indicated that they were great sounding monitors but not as flat as Genelec. I wanted to avoid coloring the sound as much as possible.

God Bless,
David

David B

Bummer!

I bought paint/primer/tape and was ready to paint my Genelecs this weekend when I received a response from Genelec support indicating I'll void my warranty if I do. I tried to reason with them but they weren't having it.

If money wasn't an issue I'd just paint them and take my chances with the warranty in the hope that nothing will break. However, with a 5 year warranty I best not mess with them. I am looking into getting G5s which are pretty much the same speakers except in black.

I know this is a first world problem, but I just don't like the sparkly gray color. 🤮

God Bless,
David

David Lai

David B Not surprisingly, when you try to tamper with the looks, that's what will happen.

I'm sorry, David!

But I'm glad you are liking the Genelec sound. I hope you can have access to a set of G5's.

kawafanboi

you have to eq to taste every monitor ever, in the end i'm not so sure that it makes that big a difference to start out flat.

directivity and room effect is more of a problem than flatness in most usage scenarios.

David B

kawafanboi you have to eq to taste every monitor ever, in the end i'm not so sure that it makes that big a difference to start out flat.

For me it's easier to add EQ to color the sound if I want when listening to music, but I don't want the sound colored when I'm playing the piano. I don't want frequencies standing out more than others influencing the way I play. The KRK monitors I had were really punchy in the mid range and I noticed my piano technique would accommodate that. Not so with the Genelec since they are very even in their frequency response across the spectrum.

Genelec monitors are a great combination with the even and pristine samples of the VSL F308.

God Bless,
David

David B

Change of plans. Interesting development.

I had originally asked my painting/warranty question to a customer service rep from Genelec HQ in Finland. I had already been communicating with him about another question. When he didn't respond back I resubmitted my question and got the response back from Genelec USA that the warranty would be voided if I painted. Case closed. However, I received a response from Genelec HQ in Finland today, (service rep was on vacation and apologized for not getting back with me sooner) and he said as long as no paint gets inside the cabinets the warranty will remain valid.

That comes from a "senior customer experience specialist" at Genelec HQ Finland. The other response that said painting will void my warranty comes from a "service manger" at Genelec USA.

I think Genelec HQ Finland trumps Genelec USA. I think I'm going to paint them this weekend and still keep my 5 year warranty.

God Bless,
David

David Lai

David B Sounds like this is a great balanced solution! Enjoy your Genelec!

As for me, I've also found my monitors. The Focals are here to stay in my life. 🙂

Have fun!

David

David B

I couldn't wait until the weekend. Weather is too nice to pass up the opportunity to paint my Genelecs. 😎

Here is 4 hours of work condensed into a 5 minute video for those interested.

https://youtu.be/wTQvDBnu4z8

I'm happy with the finished work. It's a bit shinier than I anticipated for a satin, but it looks good under natural light. Eggshell would have been the best but Rust-Oleum doesn't offer it in their sprays. Flat would have been a little too drab. I could always knock some of the shine off with light sanding if I want latter on.

God Bless,
David

CyberGene

David B wow, extreme attention to detail and perfectionism 👏🏻

jdg78

Nice job - looks great!

MacMacMac

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4irXQhgMqg&pp=ygUdcGFpbnQgaXQgYmxhY2sgcm9sbGluZyBzdG9uZXM%3D

David B

MacMacMac

I would have picked...

https://youtu.be/pAgnJDJN4VA?si=LWQphkyjkIVR6In8

QuasiUnaFantasia

Great video, wonderful display of caution and attention to detail, and a beautiful result.

Would I be inspired to ever do something similar? No, not in a million years. 😆

David B

QuasiUnaFantasia Would I be inspired to ever do something similar? No, not in a million years.

I was a little nervous since these speakers are so expensive. Although, as soon as I got the go ahead from Genelec HQ I knew it had to be done. 😀

God Bless,
David