Genelec 8010A review: The best professional studio monitors!

For years, Genelec has been making studio monitors that became a leader in the music business. People from all over the world know their classic studio monitors, which can be found in mobile units, post-production studios, and recording studios.

And, among their most-celebrated products is the Genelec 8000 series, considered to be the best in the field of studio monitors.

Harri Koskinen, a Finnish industrial designer, came up with the idea for Genelec’s cast aluminium cabinet, which had the trademark look of a round, almost bulbous shape. But the project was about a lot more than just how it looked; it also had some very useful technical benefits. First, it marked the addition of Genelec’s own Directivity Control Waveguide (DCW), which changes the baffle into waveguides that work best for the drivers. Genelec calls this feature the Minimum Diffraction Enclosure (MDE) concept. The rounded shape of the cabinet also reduces the effects of edge diffraction. Also, because cast aluminum is naturally strong, cabinet walls can be made relatively thinly, with little need for internal bracing. This increases the volume inside the cabinet and reduces vibrations. And apart from that, the aluminum also does a great job of keeping the electronics and drivers cool.

And, of the Genelec 8000 series, the 8010A studio monitors are the smallest and only have two amplifiers. With that, let’s take a look at the full guide below to learn more about its qualities.

What is Genelec 8010A?

The Genelec 8010A monitor is so tiny that its size is compared to a pint glass. But, don’t underestimate such as it is made with a sturdy die-cast aluminum case that holds a 3″ woofer and ¾” tweeter. On the back, there are balanced XLR connectors and equalization controls, with metal driver grilles to protect the speakers while you’re on the go.

There is no doubt that Genelec monitors are made of high quality, but are these as good as the Genelec 8000 range studio monitors that are bigger and cost more?

Genelec 8010A: The Overview

FYI: When buying Genelec 8010A speakers, each speaker is sold individually, and not as a pair. The items all came in thick cardboard boxes that clearly said “Made in Finland.” As is usual for professional studio monitors, there are no audio cables shipped with the product – you must buy it yourself.

Speaker

8010A’s back has a port that lets soundwaves from behind the subwoofer reach the listening area. With such a small bass driver, this helps to boost the lower frequencies. Bass reflex can be found on 8010A as well, as it is common for small studio monitors.

EQ Controls

Since the bass tilt switches can be used together, you can also cut the sound by 6 dB. While Genelec gives the user options on how to use these controls, keep in mind that everyone’s listening space is unique.

Mounting environment	Desktop switch	Bass tilt switch
Damped Room	Off	Off
Reverberant Room	Off	-2 dB
Near a wall	Off	-4 dB
On reflective surface	On	-2 dB
In corner	Off	-6 dB
In cabinet	Off	-6 dB

ISS disable switch

As long as there is no playback, the 8010A monitors will go into low-power standby mode automatically through the Smart Signal Sensor, or ISS. This might be annoying to some, but it’s possible to turn off this automatic switch in the settings.

Overall Built

The 8010A monitor, like the rest of the Genelec 8000 series, is made of die-cast aluminum, a high-quality component. This material is a strong metal that is also light, and it has a good amount of internal damping. The enclosures are rounded to reduce edge diffraction, which is when soundwaves get bent when they hit something.

Connectivity

Genelec 8010A has XLR inputs. Since they are balanced, the cables won’t pick up any noise and will send a stronger signal than cables that aren’t balanced. If the audio interface has XLR ports, you can use XLR cables to connect them directly to the monitors’ XLR ports.

And, in case you need to, the Genelec 8010A monitors can also be hooked up to a computer or cell phone. You can do this by utilizing either a 1/8” (3.5mm) Stereo TRS Jack to 2 x Male XLR cable or a stereo DI box. The latter is quite expensive but will deliver more incredible sound quality.

Bass Quality

Genelec’s small size doesn’t deprive the speaker of its superior sound performance. If you want, you can add a matching subwoofer, like the 7040A subwoofer, if you need to hear lower bass frequencies. This will make the bass go all the way down to 30 Hz, which is really cool.

Amplifiers

Genelec 8010A’s amps are efficient Class D amplifiers that send 25 Watts to the woofer and 25 Watts to the tweeter. Just a pair of these has a total of 100 watts, which is more than enough for near-field monitoring.

Isolation Pads

Located at the bottom of the monitor is the well-known rubber “Isopod,” a four-foot-long acoustic isolating pad that keeps low frequencies from traveling to the desktop.

They can be tilted to point upwards, toward your ears. This feature is helpful, and it saves money because you don’t have to buy numerous separate angled isolation pads.

Tweeters and Woofers

Genelec 8010A has a 3′′ woofer and a 3/4′′ metal dome tweeter. Since 3 inches is a very small woofer size, bass frequencies will not be as good as they are on monitors with bigger woofers. Having small monitors comes with this drawback. But, in terms of cost, 8010A is significantly cheaper.

Weight & Height

The Genelec 8010A monitors are 195 mm (7.7″) tall, 121 mm (4.8″) wide, and 115 mm (4.5″) deep. Each one of them weighs 3.3 lb or 1.5 kg.

Frequency Response

Considering how small it is, the Genelec 8010A monitor has an incredibly wide frequency range, going from 74Hz (about D2 on a piano) to 20kHz (±2.5dB). The 8000 series monitors have a deeper bass response than these, but what you hear is clear and tight. It sounds natural and well-balanced, with a focus on the midrange.

Performance

As per usual, the Genelec 8010A has its unique Genelec sound. It sounds like a bigger Genelec while the bass is rolled off by EQ. They provide high music quality, all for a small speaker.

Takeaway

The Genelec 8010A sound monitor is a high-quality studio monitor that lives up to the Genelec name. They have the classic Genelec warm sound and a response that is remarkably flat across the whole frequency range. The sound is clear and full, with a bass that is tight and focused. The stereo imaging is also good.

In case you need more push, the 8010A is good for people who need to keep an eye on things while they’re on the go. The speakers’ life span lasts a long time, guaranteeing you of their superiority. Now, weigh in on what’s important now and see to it that Genelec 8010A fits right into your needs.