The Genelec 8351 BW is a digital, active three-way bass-reflex studio monitor from the Finnish manufacturer's "The Ones" series. Thanks to its coaxial tweeter and midrange unit, along with two oval woofers positioned symmetrically around the coaxial driver and concealed behind the monitor's front baffle, the Genelec 8351 BW comes very close to the ideal of a point sound source. Accurate group delay further contributes to minimal time-of-flight differences, resulting in an exceptionally consistent overall sound. The drivers are powered by three Class D amplifiers: A 250W amplifier drives the low-frequency section, while two 150W amplifiers are dedicated to the midrange and high-frequency sections. In addition, the studio monitor can be adapted to the listening environment using either manual filters or the optional GLM software.
To counteract interference caused by separate low-frequency drivers, the woofers are positioned behind the front baffle. Sound radiation is guided through two slot-shaped openings above and below the baffle (based on a vertical setup). This design extends the radially symmetrical dispersion pattern even into the low-frequency range. Another advantage of this construction is that the synchronised woofers effectively combine to form a larger radiating surface, enabling extended deep-bass reproduction. The rounded die-cast aluminium housing also offers acoustic benefits: Thanks to its material properties and construction, it is highly rigid and resistant to unwanted vibrations. What is more, the elaborate, curved housing design avoids parallel walls, preventing standing waves inside the housing.
The Genelec 8351 BW is primarily aimed at professional recording and broadcast studios, as well as independent producers working in project studios. Its high overall precision, exceptionally accurate spatial imaging, and consistent overall sound enable users to make confident decisions quickly and deliver high-quality audio mixes in their everyday production work. Listening fatigue is minimised even during long sessions, and when working with a pair of Genelec 8351 BW monitors, users can be confident that audio content will translate reliably to other systems and listening environments.
Genelec was founded in 1976 by Ilpo Martikainen. It grew from a family business into one of the world's leading manufacturers of professional studio and broadcasting loudspeakers. To this day, Genelec's loudspeakers are manufactured exclusively in Finland. Genelec offers performance-oriented, neutral-sounding loudspeakers and subwoofer systems for audio professionals and sound enthusiasts, and a combination of innovative technology and design ensure that the range of products is continuously improving. The company is committed to sustainable development and environmental awareness. In 2018, Genelec was awarded the Pro Sound "Company of the Year" award. Genelec speakers are favourites of such recording industry veterans as Obie O'Brien, Michael Carnes, and David Reitzas, as well as of producers like Hardwell, Keith Ross, and Vini Vici.
Using the Genelec Loudspeaker Manager (GLM), the Genelec 8351 BW can be calibrated for the listening room to compensate for adverse room effects. This requires the optional GLM set, which consists of a network adapter and a measurement microphone. The GLM set and studio monitors are connected via network cables using daisy-chaining. The software supports the setup of all manner of configurations, from 2.0 configurations through to 9.1.6. The calculated correction curves can also be modified manually at a later stage by applying additional filters or adjusting the active filters. A particularly useful feature is that the correction adjustment can be stored directly in the speakers, allowing them to operate independently of the software.