The latest arrival to Genelec’s SAM (Smart Active Monitor) range join the flagship 8381A, and promise to deliver precise imaging and natural sound reproduction suited to medium-sized recording, mixing and mastering studios.
The new 8380A combines a 15-inch low-frequency driver with Genelec’s patented MDC (Minimum Diffraction Coaxial) midrange-tweeter technology, a pairing which the company say allows the unit to deliver exceptional dynamics, huge headroom, high SPL capability and extremely low self-noise. Thanks to accurate time-alignment tightly controlled directivity, the system also benefits from stable imaging and phase coherence, delivering fatigue-free listening even over long sessions and at short listening distances.
The enclosure features a pair of linear forward-facing reflex ports that have been designed to produce exceptionally clean low-frequency playback even at the highest levels, and also mean that the system is suitable for soffit-mounted applications. As for the midrange and high end, the MDC coaxial midrange-tweeter are housed in Genelec’s trademark DCW (Directivity Control Waveguide) resulting in a uniform on- and off-axis response. The 8380A’s time-domain performance is said to be equally impressive, providing low system latency and excellent phase matching with other 8300 Series, The Ones and The Main Ones monitors, and allowing the user to freely combine different SAM models within the same system.
Equal attention has been paid to amplification, with the new monitors employing a fan-less, zero-noise design, and offering excellent power-consumption figures thanks to Genelec’s ISS energy-saving technology. In terms of specs, the system boasts a frequency response of 29Hz to 43kHz and a maximum short-term SPL of 122dB. As with all SAM-series models, the latest offering benefits from a powerful onboard DSP system that allows users to configure, calibrate and control their monitors from Genelec’s GLM software application.
“For many years, our legacy 1038 and newer 1238 monitors have been warmly embraced by mid-sized music, film and post-production rooms looking for accurate, truthful high SPL reproduction. With the recent introduction of the free-standing 8381A five-way main monitor, we could see the clear potential for a more compact three-way design that distils our latest coaxial technology into a traditional flush-mounting format. The 8380A fills that gap perfectly, and brings next-generation mid-field performance to discerning studio professionals and home-audio enthusiasts everywhere.” - Siamäk Naghian, Managing Director, Genelec
Pricing & Availability
Pricing and availability information for the 8380A is yet to be confirmed.
