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What makes The Ones by Genelec the ultimate listening experience?

Mar 11, 2024 | Genelec, Genelec Active Monitors and Subwoofers, News

First published by: Toms Music Store

In professional audio production, the clarity and precision of sound reproduction are non-negotiable. That’s where high-quality monitors come into play, serving as the cornerstone for mixing, mastering, and critical listening. Genelec, a pioneering brand in audio technology, has consistently set the bar high, and its One Series monitors are no exception.

The Genelec One Series stands out for its impeccable sound quality and innovative design, making it a favourite among audio professionals and enthusiasts. These monitors offer an unparalleled listening experience, ensuring that every detail of the sound is captured and reproduced with utmost fidelity. However, to fully appreciate the significance of the One Series, it is essential to delve into Genelec’s rich history and heritage.

Genelec’s origins trace back to addressing Finland’s YLE broadcasting needs during its new Helsinki radio house project in the late 1970s. Prompted by YLE acoustician Juhani Borenius, Ilpo Martikainen and Topi Partanen crafted an active monitoring speaker prototype in two weeks, leading to Genelec’s founding in 1978 and the debut of the S30 speaker, signalling a revolution in audio monitoring.

From a humble Helsinki basement, Genelec’s growth was fuelled by initial orders from RAI in Italy and YLE, pushing the company to expand and innovate. Early operations included producing premium speakers and sound reinforcement services for notable domestic and international venues.

By 1989, Genelec pivoted exclusively towards manufacturing to cement its standing as a leading audio monitor maker, driven by sustained product demand. This shift, a move to Iisalmi, and continuous facility expansion underscored Genelec’s commitment to innovation and quality, as seen in the acclaimed One Series. These monitors epitomise the zenith of audio precision, essential for professional audio production. Let’s explore the reasons that make the Genelec One Series the ultimate listening experience and uncover the benefits of these exceptional monitors, solidifying their status as indispensable in any audio-severe production setup.

Key Takeaways

  • Genelec One Series monitors deliver unparalleled sound quality with advanced acoustic design and high-resolution audio performance, ensuring detailed and faithful sound reproduction ideal for professional audio production.
  • The innovative point source design and SAM technology allow for unparalleled precision and clarity, adapting the sound to the listener’s environment and reducing unwanted distortion for a cleaner, more detailed audio experience.
  • Versatility in placement and minimized listening distance due to the point-source design offer flexibility and consistent sound quality in various studio configurations, enhancing the creative process in both small and large spaces.
  • Low intermodulation distortion is a key feature, preserving the clarity and detail of the sound across the frequency spectrum, allowing professionals to make precise adjustments with confidence.
  • GLM software integration provides an advanced calibration tool, tailoring the monitors to the unique acoustics of any workspace, enabling mixes to translate well across different listening environments.
  • The combination of these features makes Genelec One Series monitors a crucial tool for audio professionals, redefining standards for professional audio production and making them indispensable for achieving pristine sound quality.

Superior Sound Quality

In the world of professional audio production, supreme sound quality is of utmost importance. This is where the Genelec One Series monitors shine, offering unparalleled audio fidelity that sets them apart in a crowded market. Let us explore the facets that contribute to their exceptional sound.

Advanced Acoustic Design

The Genelec One Series monitors exemplify excellence in acoustic design. Their architecture is meticulously engineered to minimize diffractions and reflections, ensuring that what we hear is uncoloured and pure. This precision in design translates to an incredibly accurate soundstage, allowing us to easily pinpoint the spatial positioning of instruments and vocals. The hallmark of the One Series lies in its ability to maintain consistent sound quality across different room environments. Their advanced design significantly reduces intermodulation distortion, a common issue where unwanted frequencies are produced, muddying the original sound. By addressing this, the One Series provides cleaner, more detailed audio, making it an indispensable tool for serious audio professionals who demand the highest fidelity in their work.

High-Resolution Audio Performance

In the realm of professional audio production, the details matter. With the Genelec One Series monitors, the level of detail we can discern in our mixes is astounding. Their capacity for high-resolution audio performance means we can hear every nuance, from the subtle brush of a snare drum to the delicate reverb tails in a vocal track. This is not just about hearing more; it’s about understanding our audio on a deeper level. The One Series empowers us to make informed decisions about our mixes, ensuring that what leaves our studio is exactly as we intend it to be. This fidelity is not just beneficial for mixing but also for mastering, giving us the confidence that our work will translate well across various playback systems.

The Genelec One Series monitors, through their advanced acoustic design and high-resolution audio performance, stand as a testament to what’s possible when innovation meets the relentless pursuit of quality. By implementing these monitors into our setup, we’re not just improving our sound; we’re redefining our standards for what professional audio production should be. These monitors aren’t just tools; they’re our partners in the creative process, helping us bring our auditory visions to life with unmatched clarity and depth.

Unparalleled Precision and Clarity

When we talk about the Genelec One Series monitors, we’re delving into a realm where precision and clarity are not just features but the foundation. At the heart of this unmatched sound fidelity lies the point source principle. This ingenious design ensures that the audio emanating from the monitors reaches the listener’s ears simultaneously.

What does this mean for us, the users? It translates to impeccable stability in sound imaging and accuracy, making every detail in the music or audio content stand out. Whether it’s the subtle brush of a drum or the intricate layers of a symphony, the One Series captures it all with extraordinary detail, making them a cornerstone for audio professionals seeking absolute sonic precision.

Beyond Standard SAM Systems

For those of us who might not be familiar, SAM (Smart Active Monitoring) technology represents a leap forward in how we interact with and control our monitoring environments. The Ones series, through SAM, heralds a new dawn for this technology, providing a listening experience that adapts to our unique space. Unlike standard models, The One’s Series reads the room literally. They consider our space’s acoustics, calibrating themselves to offer the best possible sound regardless of room characteristics. This means that regardless of whether we’re mixing in a bedroom studio or a professional suite, we’re guaranteed to get good performance. The secret sauce? Beyond just smart calibration, The Ones also reduce intermodulation distortion, ensuring that what we hear is as clean and clear as possible. This blend of intelligence and sonic purity elevates The Ones Series beyond standard SAM systems, offering us an unparalleled monitoring experience.

Enhanced Imaging and Directivity

When it comes to achieving pristine sound quality in acoustically challenging environments, the directivity of a woofer plays a crucial role. The Ones series by Genelec leverages a unique dual-woofer system designed to enhance low-frequency sound precision. This innovative setup ensures the sound is concentrated and evenly distributed, minimizing room reflections and standing waves. The result is an extraordinarily accurate sound imaging and a stable soundstage, making the One series monitors ideal for critical listening and mixing tasks where every detail matters.

Versatility in Placement

One of the standout features of the Genelec One series monitors is their remarkable flexibility in placement. Designed to excel in both vertical and horizontal orientations, these monitors adapt seamlessly to various studio configurations. This versatility is especially beneficial for immersive setups or unconventional studio spaces, ensuring optimal performance regardless of the layout. The ability to adjust orientation without sacrificing sound quality or imaging makes the One series a top choice for professionals seeking adaptability in their monitoring system.

Minimised Listening Distance

The Genelec One series implements a point-source design, drastically reducing the necessary listening distance without compromising sound quality. This design attribute is particularly advantageous in smaller studios or rooms with less-than-ideal acoustics. By allowing for closer listening positions, the One series minimizes the impact of room reflections, providing a clearer and more accurate representation of the audio. This benefit extends to a variety of listening environments, ensuring consistent and reliable monitoring anywhere.

Low Intermodulation Distortion (IMD)

Intermodulation distortion (IMD) refers to the distortion that occurs when different frequencies interact, potentially muddying the audio. The One series monitors feature a design that significantly lowers IMD, preserving the clarity and detail of the sound. This technological advancement ensures that the audio remains pristine and uncoloured, allowing audio professionals to make precise adjustments with confidence. The reduction of IMD is another testament to the One series’ capability to deliver unblemished audio quality across the entire frequency spectrum.

Green Footprint and Energy Efficiency

The Ones Series by Genelec doesn’t just lead the industry in sound precision and quality; it also sets a benchmark for sustainability and energy efficiency. With a steadfast commitment to reducing environmental impact, Genelec has engineered The Ones to be as green as they are powerful. These monitors boast advanced energy-saving technologies that minimize power consumption without compromising audio performance. From auto-standby modes that reduce energy usage when not actively in use to the utilization of recyclable materials in their construction, The Ones Series exemplifies Genelec’s dedication to eco-friendly innovation. This commitment ensures that users experience unparalleled audio fidelity and contribute to a healthier planet by choosing monitors that embody efficiency and sustainability.

Benefits for the Modern Audio Professional

In our exploration of Genelec’s One Series monitors, we’ve unearthed several features that stand out, catering specifically to the nuanced demands of today’s audio professionals. With the landscape of studio environments continually evolving, adaptability and precision are paramount. The One Series monitors offer just that, making them an invaluable tool for anyone looking to achieve pristine audio quality.

First off, the dual-woofer system and point-source design minimize room influences and enhance sound clarity. This means less time spent combating your environment’s acoustic quirks and more time focusing on the purity of your mix. Whether you’re working in a makeshift home studio or a professional recording space, the One Series proves to be a game-changer, ensuring consistent, accurate sound reproduction across various setups.

Furthermore, the inclusion of GLM room equalization technology in the One Series allows for precise calibration of monitors to any room’s specific characteristics. This advanced feature not only optimizes the listening experience but also significantly reduces setup time, enabling audio professionals to adapt quickly to new working environments. Coupled with the SAM system control, the monitors can be fine-tuned with unrivalled accuracy, ensuring the audio output remains both balanced and dynamically rich, regardless of the studio’s size or shape.

It’s also worth highlighting the low intermodulation distortion characteristic of the One Series. This technical advancement means that the monitors can reproduce complex sounds with near-perfect fidelity, a crucial advantage when working with dense mixes or when striving for audio clarity in post-production tasks. This level of sound integrity allows professionals to make more informed decisions during the mixing and mastering processes, ensuring the final product translates well across various listening scenarios.

Genelec’s One Series monitors embody the pinnacle of modern audio technology. They offer unmatched versatility, precision, and sonic clarity, making them an essential asset for audio professionals dedicated to achieving the best possible sound. Through innovative features like dual-woofer systems, GLM room equalization, and low intermodulation distortion, the One Series monitors stand as a testament to Genelec’s commitment to meeting the ever-evolving needs of the audio industry.

Genelec’s expansion into South Africa and the broader African continent marks a significant milestone in the brand’s global growth strategy. Recognized as the world leader in studio monitors, Genelec is now bringing its unparalleled audio excellence to a region rich with musical diversity and talent. This strategic move not only opens new avenues for professional audio production in Africa but also demonstrates Genelec’s commitment to providing cutting-edge sound technology across the globe. By introducing The Ones Series, known for its precision, clarity, and energy efficiency, Genelec is set to revolutionize the audio production landscape in Africa. This expansion is a testament to Genelec’s dedication to innovation and quality, ensuring that audio professionals and enthusiasts in South Africa and beyond have access to the best tools for achieving pristine sound quality in their creative endeavours.

Creating Immersive Soundscapes: The Ones by Genelec Integration with Dolby Atmos

Genelec’s integration with Dolby Atmos represents a significant leap forward in immersive audio experiences, setting a new standard for sound quality and spatial accuracy in professional and home entertainment systems. This partnership synergizes Genelec’s precision-engineered studio monitors, including The Ones Series, with Dolby Atmos’ cutting-edge surround sound technology to create an unparalleled three-dimensional audio landscape. Genelec monitors, renowned for their flat frequency response and accurate sound reproduction, provide the perfect foundation for Dolby Atmos’ object-based audio formats. This allows sound to move in a three-dimensional space, enveloping the listener in a sphere of sound not only around but also above them. The result is an immersive audio experience that brings movies, music, and games to life with stunning detail, clarity, and depth. This integration showcases Genelec’s commitment to innovation and its adaptability to new technologies in audio production and reproduction, ensuring users achieve the most accurate and lifelike listening experiences possible.

Calibrating for software – the GLM software

Calibration is key to achieving the perfect sound in any studio environment. That’s where Genelec’s GLM software steps into the limelight, revolutionizing the way we interact with the One Series monitors. With this advanced software, we can tailor our Genelec monitors to the unique acoustics of our workspace, ensuring flawless sound reproduction every time.

The beauty of the GLM software lies in its simplicity and effectiveness. The software swiftly takes charge when setting up the monitors, whether for mono, stereo, or immersive formats. It requires the free GLM software alongside a GLM Calibration Kit or a 9320A SAM Reference Controller, both sold separately. The kit includes a GLM adaptor, measuring microphone, USB, and network cables, providing everything we need for a comprehensive calibration session.

Starting with the recommended equilateral triangle arrangement of the monitors, we run the GLM software to commence the calibration process. The software’s ease of use is remarkable; it detects the monitors via a network established by the GLM adaptor. Following this, it prompts us to virtually locate our monitors on a grid, reflecting their actual placement in the studio. This step is crucial as it allows the software to accurately assess and adjust for any acoustic colourations or distance delays present in the room.

The GLM software’s ability to fine-tune parametric notch and shelving filter parameters means that our Genelec One Series monitors can compensate for almost any room anomaly—effectively acting as ‘self-help speakers’. This level of calibration ensures that we can trust our monitors to deliver mixes that not only sound incredible in our studio but translate beautifully to other listening environments as well.

Leveraging the power of the GLM software, we’re not just calibrating our monitors; we’re unlocking their full potential. This process ensures that our Genelec One Series monitors are always performing at their best, delivering unparalleled accuracy, and facilitating our creative process without limitations.

The Ones by Genelec: The SAM part

When we explore the Genelec One Series monitors, it’s impossible not to delve into one of their most innovative features – the Smart Active Monitoring (SAM) system. This remarkable technology assures that the One Series offers unparalleled precision and adaptability across a wide array of studio environments, making it a top choice for professionals worldwide.

At the heart of SAM technology lies its ability to calibrate sound more accurately to the room’s acoustics. Each monitor within the Genelec One Series can be tailored to the specific acoustic environment it operates in. This is particularly advantageous because it negates the need for extensive physical modifications to a studio, saving time and resources for creatives and engineers alike. The adaptability of the SAM system ensures that whether in a large professional studio or a compact home setup, the sound quality remains consistently pristine.

Another aspect where the Genelec One Series shines is in its seamless integration with GLM software. This integration not only simplifies but elevates the calibration process, allowing for meticulous adjustments that cater to even the minutest of acoustic anomalies. This symbiosis between hardware and software results in sound reproduction that’s not only accurate within the studio but translates impeccably to other listening environments.

Moreover, low intermodulation distortion stands out as a defining characteristic of the One Series design, guaranteeing that the sound output is always of the highest fidelity. This means that users can expect clear, uncoloured sounds that are true to the original recording, making the Genelec One Series an invaluable tool for achieving professional-grade mixes that sound great in any room.

With all these features, the Genelec One Series monitors equipped with SAM technology represent a pinnacle in sound calibration capabilities. These monitors offer unparalleled accuracy through advanced acoustic adjustments and the reduction of intermodulation distortion, making them a stellar choice for audio professionals seeking flawless sound reproduction in their creative endeavours.

Conclusion

We’ve explored the remarkable features of the Genelec One Series monitors and how the Smart Active Monitoring (SAM) system sets them apart. The ability to achieve precise calibration without the need for extensive studio modifications is a game-changer. Coupled with the GLM software, the SAM technology ensures that audio professionals can enjoy accurate sound reproduction and low intermodulation distortion. This makes the Genelec One Series an essential tool for those who demand flawless sound quality in their creative endeavours. Whether you’re mixing, mastering, or producing, these monitors offer the precision and clarity needed to elevate your work to professional standards.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a near-field monitor?

A nearfield monitor is designed with smaller drivers to be placed close to the listener, typically around 2-3 feet away. This placement ensures that the listener primarily hears sound directly from the monitor rather than reflections from room surfaces, offering a clearer and more accurate sound reproduction.

Why are The Ones by Genelec more expensive?

Genelec monitors are priced higher due to their exceptional precision, quality, and reliability. The brand is known for producing equipment that delivers unparalleled sound accuracy, making it a preferred choice among audio professionals who require the utmost in sound fidelity.

What is the best monitor level for mixing?

The optimal monitor level for mixing varies, but it’s essential to listen at various volumes to ensure your mix sounds good across different sound levels. A common range for monitoring is between 80dB and 90dB, which helps achieve a balanced mix that translates well across different playback systems.

Why is Genelec so good?

Genelec stands out for its point-source design, providing a comprehensive frequency range and significantly reducing room sound interference. This design offers headphone-like clarity and resolution but with superior stereo imaging, making it ideal for professional-grade sound reproduction.

Can I use The Ones by Genelec for my home theatre speakers?

Yes, you can certainly use Genelec speakers for your home theatre system. Genelec monitors are renowned for their exceptional sound quality, precision, and reliability, making them an excellent choice for creating an immersive audio experience in your home theatre. With their flat frequency response and accurate sound reproduction, Genelec speakers ensure that you hear movies, music, and games exactly as the creators intended, with every nuance and detail brought to life.

Additionally, the versatility and adaptability of Genelec speakers, including their ability to integrate with systems like Dolby Atmos for three-dimensional soundscapes, make them ideally suited for home theatre setups. Whether you’re watching blockbuster movies, enjoying your favourite music, or gaming, Genelec speakers can elevate your home entertainment experience to professional studio standards.