ComparisonBetween

Studio Monitors

8040 B 8050 B

BM 6A BM 15A

A Brief History: Genelec Oy, a Finnish Company, was

founded by two Electronics Engineers who were also Sound Enthusiats, in 1978

Genelec, initially, began operations to meet the needs of the Finnish Broadcasting Company YLE. 

As of 2010, Genelec produces over 50 active loudspeaker models, and numerous modifications and versions of these for specific applications. They also produced software products for acoustic calibration. After finishing sound reinforcement contracting, Genelec concentrates solely on active speakers.

Genelec has exported speakers from their beginning, and has increased exports over the years. In the 1990s exports peaked at 95% but have settled to around 90% in the 2000s. The first export countries were Italy, the Nordic countries, Federal Republic of Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, and Great Britain. In Japan it began in 1986. By 1993, Genelec had distributors in 45 countries, and now has sales in more than 70 countries.

Dynaudio is a Danish loudspeaker maker, founded in 1977 by a group of engineers who shared a passion for music

The first loudspeakers Dynaudio introduced in 1977 and 1978 were the models in the P-series and used OEM drivers, eventually the company knew from its technical background that the only way it could produce really good loudspeakers would be by developing its own drivers. 

The pro audio division of the company, Dynaudio Professional, focuses on recording studio loudspeaker equipment such as studio monitors. In 1999, Dynaudio became partners with TC Electronic. Some major recording studios that use Dynaudio Professional products are Air Lyndhurst, NRG Studios, and The Hit Factory. Record producers Mike Hedges, Trevor Horn, Steve Lipson, and Mutt Lange do as well.

Dynaudio has been the audio supplier to Swedish automaker Volvo Cars Corporation and is still the supplier for German automaker Volkswagen. Bugatti has also employed Dynaudio as their audio supplier.

8040BBoasting astonishing performance, the bi-amplified 8040B monitor is ideal for use in all types of production environments.

The Genelec 8040B active monitor produces high SPL, low colouration and broad bandwidth in a modest enclosure. It contains drivers, matched power amplifiers, active crossover and protection circuitry. The 8040B Minimum Diffraction Enclosure (MDE™) and advanced Directivity Control Waveguide (DCW™) technologies provide superior frequency balance and neutral sound imaging in all production environments. 8040B features Genelec Intelligent Signal Sensing (ISS™) circuitry which switches the monitor to standby when no audio input is detected (ErP 2013 Directive).

Its superior performance makes it ideal for many applications, such as music studios, post-production facilities, mobile vans, radio and TV broadcasting.

SPECIFICATIONS:Max SPL – 105dBFrequency Response - 41 Hz – 25 kHz (-6 dB)Driver Dimensions - Woofer 6 1/2 in + Tweeter 3/4 in, metal dome + DCW™Amplifier Power - Woofer 90 W + Tweeter 90 WDimensions - H 365 x W 237 x D 223 mmwith Iso-Pod™Weight - 8.6 kg / 18.9 lbConnectors - 1 x XLR analogue inPrice – Rs. 1,08,000/-

BM6AApplications for the BM6A cover every aspect of sound engineering and reproduction, including music and speech monitoring and mixing, radio station, OB vehicles, edit suites, post production, recording studios and playback rooms. The BM 6A features an electronic 4th order phase-aligned crossover with a crossover point at 2.2kHz, which feeds two high performance discrete MOSFET amplifiers rated at 100W each. The low frequency section is driven by a low frequency equalizer offering a choice between extended, critical damped response or more conventional higher Qt response for more level but less low frequency output. Included in the electronics is a complex protection circuit, which helps to prevent accidental damage to the drivers, yet still providing maximum transient response. The BM 6A is housed with an elegant matte cabinet with radius edged construction on the front baffle to reduce boundary effects and improve overall sound quality. 

SPECIFICATIONS:Max SPL – 118 dBFrequency Response - 41 Hz – 21 kHz (-6 dB)Driver Dimensions - Woofer 7 in + Tweeter 1.1 in, soft dome tweeter,  pure aluminum voice  coilAmplifier Power - Woofer 100 W + Tweeter 100 WDimensions – W 217 x H 338 x D 321 mmWeight – 11 kgConnectors - 1 x XLR analogue inPrice – Rs. 93,360/-

8050BProducing high SPL over a very wide frequency response, the bi-amplified 8050B is a powerful and very accurate reference monitoring system.

Very high SPL output, high dynamic range, low colouration and wide frequency response characterise Genelec 8050B active monitor. The 8050B all-aluminium Minimum Diffraction Enclosure (MDE™) contains drivers, power amplifiers, active crossover and protection circuitry. The surface optimized advanced Directivity Control Waveguide (DCW™) provides outstanding frequency balance, stable and neutral sound imaging in all environments. 8050B features Genelec Intelligent Signal Sensing (ISS™) circuitry which switches the monitor to standby when no audio input is detected (ErP 2013 Directive).

It is the monitoring tool for large recording studios, mastering suites, post-production houses, radio and TV broadcasting.

SPECIFICATIONSMax SPL – 110 dBFrequency Response - 32 Hz – 25 kHz (-6 dB)Driver Dimensions - Woofer 8 in + Tweeter 1 in, metal dome + DCW™Amplifier Power - Woofer 150 W + Tweeter 120 WDimensions - H 452 x W 286 x D 278 mmwith Iso-Pod™Weight - 12.7 kg / 28 lbConnectors - 1 x XLR analogue inPrice – Rs. 1,75,000/-

BM15AThe BM15A is a revolutionary nearfield monitor offering exceptionally high performance. Its full range extended bass response makes it the perfect nearfield monitor, particularly for commercial studios, project studios and post production facilities.The BM15A is a relatively large 2-way active system comprising of a large 240mm (10") woofer, a special version of the Dynaudio ESOTEC soft dome tweeter and an electronic phase-aligned crossover, which feeds the build-in dual, high performance discrete MOSFET amplifiers. The electronics offer complex protection circuitry helping to prevent accidental damage to the drivers, while still providing maximum transient response. The BM15A monitor is front ported for powerful and extended low frequency response, and the elegant matte cabinet has radius edges on the front baffle to reduce boundary effects and improve the overall sound quality.

SPECIFICATIONS:Max SPL – 124 dBFrequency Response - 40 Hz – 22 kHzDriver Dimensions - 10" woofer, 4" pure aluminum voice  coil + High-resolution 1.1" soft dome tweeter,  pure aluminum voice  coilAmplifier Power - Woofer 200 W + Tweeter 100 WDimensions – W 290 x H 454 x D 388 mmWeight – 18.6 kg/41 lbsConnectors - 1 x XLR analogue inPrice – Rs. 1,33,519/-

ConclusionNo speaker, monitor or hi-fi, regardless of the design principle, has a completely flat frequency response; all speakers color the sound to some degree. Monitor speakers are assumed to be as free as possible from coloration.

While no rigid distinction exists between consumer speakers and studio monitors, manufacturers more and more accent the difference in their marketing material.

Generally, studio monitors are physically robust, to cope with the high volumes and physical knocks that may happen in the studio, and are used for listening at shorter distances (e.g., near field) than hi-fi speakers, though nothing precludes them from being used in a home-sized environment. Studio monitors are increasingly self-amplified (active), while hi-fi speakers usually require external amplification

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