To keep place with the current world, musicians need to update their equipment for recording and post-processing. With the advancement of technology, these musical types of equipment are plentiful in the market, especially types of equipment that use for monitoring recorded sound.
So if you are searching for a studio monitor, choosing one among the wide variety may be the hardest job. This is why we are here with Genelec 8340 and Genelec 8331 studio monitor devices. With the review, you will know which one will be appropriate for you among Genelec 8340 vs 8331.
Genelec 8340 SAM™ Studio Monitor
Genelec, a very renowned brand, bring this 8340 studio monitor, which is one of the best-selling product. This studio monitor has some unique features that make it the best in the segment. Let’s talk about them.
Superb Imaging
The Genelec’s 8340 comes with a unique MDE (Minimum Diffraction Enclosure) design which ensures superb imaging.
Thanks to the gently curved front & sides and rounded edges design allow the device to achieve a very smooth frequency along with minimized cabinet edge diffraction, which ensures superb imaging quality.
High-Performance Reflex Port
Genelec 8340 has an ingenious flow-optimized reflex port which helps it to increase its woofer’s SPL capacity and low-frequency extension.
And to reproduce deep bass without compression, it includes a long, curved tube to maximize the airflow. The tube can kill the port noise with a wide flare and ensure superb bass articulation.
Genelec’s Directivity Control
As every Genelec 8000 series studio monitor includes Genelec Directivity Control Waveguide (DCW), this 8340 also features the advanced DCW. This revolutionary technology enhanced the directivity control to provide extreme accuracy.
Genelec 8340 also comes with a very sharp-designed, well-built smooth surface and ensures the astoundingly wide & maximum flat on- and off-axis frequency response. SO with the 8340, you will get less listening fatigue with superb imaging quality.
Best Audio Output With Low Distortion
The driver setup of the studio monitor is very much an idea which includes a 6.5″ woofer and 3/4″ metal dome tweeter, and the drivers are powered by a 150-watt Class D bass and treble amplifiers subsequently sophisticated filtering, which ensure the lowest distortion and best audio output.
Moreover, overload protection circuitry, versatile room response controls, and Magnetic shielding are standard.
ISS Power Management System Protection
The 8340 studio monitor has built-in Genelec’s intelligent signal sensing (ISS) power management system, which will allow you to leave the device without shutting it down.
The ISS technology can check for input signals constantly. If it can not detect anything, the monitor will go into the low-power sleep mode automatically, which will prevent the wasting of electricity.
Key Features
- Genelec’s Smart Active Monitor (SAM) technology compactibility
- 2-way monitoring with built-in woofer and metal dome tweeter
- DCW (Directivity Control Waveguide) technology HF
- Optimized Class D amplifiers: 150-watt (HF), 150-watt (LF)
- Built-in Iso-Pod stand and versatile mounting options
- Automatic sleep mode to prevent wasting electricity
- Reflex port design for minimum diffraction enclosure
Genelec 8331 SAM™ Studio Monitor
Genelec 8331 is another outstanding studio monitor from Genelec. Like 8340, this one also offers some unique features which attract the music editors the most. Let’s talk about them.
GLM (Genelec Loudspeaker Manager) Compatibility
To manage your 8331 studio monitor to its fullest potential, Genelec includes a free software GLM, which will allow you to equalize, coordinate and access other important controls.
SAM (Smart Active Monitor) Technology
SAM technology is an intelligent monitoring feature that ensures the accuracy of monitoring music by providing several shelving filters and parametric notch, which will turn on automatically with GLM software concerns. Eventually, the technology can improve reliability too.
MDC (Minimum-Diffraction Coaxial) Driver
The 8331 offers a minimum-diffraction coaxial driver, which ensures the powerful midrange components, including ultrasonic frequencies with a tweeter. This outstanding driver setup can able downright eliminates acoustic or minimizes the diffraction sources typically found in coaxial drivers.
So you will get a flat frequency response on horizontal or vertical use on both the acoustic axis and at all off-axis listening points.
AES/EBU or Analog
The 8331’s inputs are designed intelligently to blend with all professional environments easily. Moreover, you will get line-level analogue, supporting balanced and AES/EBU- digital format signals.
You can use analogue input when the AES/EBU signals are not connected. The intelligent chipset will automatically detect AES/EBU inputs when a valid digital signal is available.
DCW (Directivity Control Waveguide) Technology
Additionally, you will get a wide directivity-control waveguide with the 8331 studio monitor, which can able to cover the enclosure’s whole front face. The tweeter setup also gets a part of the directivity-control waveguide formed by the midrange driver cone.
On the other hand, the two woofers are placed behind the waveguide, which can radiate audio through the opening from the front side. So you will get down to the low bass directivity control of all audio frequencies thanks to its smart design.
Key Features
- For accurate monitoring, it includes SAM technology
- MDE ensure nearby focused- and midfield sound
- To provide superior imaging, it includes an MDC driver setup
- For linear on- and off-axis response, it has DCW technology
- Superior performance in both horizontal and vertical position
- Optimized amplifiers and active crossovers facility
- Iso-Pod stand and versatile mountings setup
8340 vs 8331 Key Differences
By the details from the above, you may already know the main differences between these two, but to make your decision more specific, here are some key differences for you.
- The power configuration of 8340 is Bi-amped, whereas 8331 is Tri-amped
- Where the 8340 has a 6.5″ LF driver woofer, the 8331 has 5.12″ and 3.62″ woofers.
- 8340 has a 1″ tweeter as an HF driver, and 8331 has a 0.75″ Coaxial tweeter as an HF driver
- The 8340 offers a Metal dome as an HF driver type, and the 8331 has Diffraction Coaxial HF Driver.
- You will get 300w of total power on 8340, and on 8331, you will get 144w of total power.
- The Frequency Response of 8340 is 45Hz-20kHz and 58Hz-20kHz on 8331.
Final Words
I hope you have already decided which one to buy from the above description and the key difference between 8340 and 8441. Both of them offer essential features in their segments; still, if you can not get which one will be much preferable for you, I suggest taking a trial from any nearest Genelec outlet.
The practical use of both for a while can be the perfect solution to encounters with confusion.
