Genelec’s new three-way 8351 monitors use their Smart Active Monitor™ technology to create near-perfect, near-field monitoring for recording and mixing studios. Near-field monitoring is the most used monitor speaker set up these days—especially in project studios and small post-production edit bays. At the recent AES Show, I was impressed by the sound of these monitors—they filled a large conference room with realistic sound, precise stereo imaging and solid bass. The 8351s measure 17.75 in. x 11.25 in. x 11 in. and feature a coaxial midrange/tweeter driver mounted in the center of a Directivity Control Waveguide™. Most striking are two, oval-shaped Acoustically Concealed Woofers™ mounted behind the coaxial driver’s waveguide.This woofer/waveguide/driver configuration produces a single three-way coaxial enclosure with similar directivity characteristics whether the monitor is oriented vertically or horizontally. This feature is huge for project studios when vertically positioned monitors on top of the console meter bridge might interfere with visibility out to the studio. This system delivers 110dB SPL at 1 meter using two Genelec Class-D amplifiers, 150 watts for bass and 120 watts for mid-range and with a third, all-discrete 90-watt class-AB amplifier for the tweeter. System frequency response is specified at 32Hz to 40kHz (-6dB). http://genelecusa.com
Barry Rudolph is a recording engineer/mixer who has worked on over 30 gold and platinum records. He has recorded and/or mixed Lynyrd Skynyrd, Hall & Oates, Pat Benatar, Rod Stewart, the Corrs, and more. Barry has his own futuristic music mixing facility and loves teaching audio engineering at Musician’s Institute, Hollywood, CA. He is a lifetime Grammy-voting member of NARAS and a contributing editor for Mix Magazine. http://barryrudolph.com
