Genelec 8331A vs 8341A vs 8351B: Which of The Ones?
Genelec called the range The Ones, which is a lot of pressure to put on a speaker. The short answer, before the forum threads start. Desk and a small room: Genelec 8331A. Home studio, listening from around two metres: 8341A. Bigger room and longer distance: 8351B. The flagship 8361A only if you own a room for it. The rest of this article is the arithmetic behind that.
In short. Our prices are per speaker, so a pair is two: the 8331A is €4178 a pair, the 8341A €4998, the 8351B €7338 and the 8361A €9166. Calibrating them in GLM needs the GLM Kit (€301), and it does not come in the box with The Ones. It does come in the 8300 bundles, covered in a separate piece: Genelec 8000 vs 8300 vs The Ones.
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The four models in one table
All four are three-way coaxial monitors with SAM and GLM support, so what really separates them is scale: size, headroom and how low they reach. Numbers come from Genelec's own spec sheets, prices are today's shelf prices.
| Model | Max SPL (1 m) | Range (-6 dB) | Amplifiers | Size (H x W x D) | Weight | Price: each / pair |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8331A | 104 dB | 45 Hz to 37 kHz | 72 + 36 + 36 W | 305 x 189 x 212 mm | 6.7 kg | €2089 / €4178 |
| 8341A | 110 dB | 38 Hz to 37 kHz | 250 + 150 + 150 W | 370 x 237 x 243 mm | 9.8 kg | €2499 / €4998 |
| 8351B | 113 dB | 32 Hz to 43 kHz | 250 + 150 + 150 W | 454 x 287 x 278 mm | 14.3 kg | €3669 / €7338 |
| 8361A | 118 dB | 30 Hz to 43 kHz | 700 + 150 + 150 W | 593 x 357 x 347 mm | 31.9 kg | €4583 / €9166 |
Two things in that table change the conversation. First, the price is per speaker: the card says €2089, and a stereo pair needs two. Second, the 8341A and 8351B have identical amplifiers; the difference is in the drivers and the cabinet. For the extra €1170 per speaker you get 6 Hz more at the bottom, 3 dB more headroom and 4.5 kg more to put on a stand. (Yes, I did the subtraction twice. The forums argue about whether the "51s" are worth the extra, and I wanted my own number.)
Choose by distance, not by square metres
Genelec sizes monitors by the maximum SPL you need, and that depends on how far you sit from them (see the manufacturer's selection chart). The rule of thumb: in free field the level drops about 6 dB each time the distance doubles, a little less in a room where reflections help. So an 8331A at 104 dB at one metre gives roughly 98 dB at two, and an 8351B at 113 dB roughly 107 dB. That is an approximation, not a measurement, but it shows the scale. If you are weighing Genelec against other brands, start with active studio monitors: how to choose the right pair.
Genelec 8331A, €2089 each. Genelec describes it as a three-way with the footprint of a compact two-way, and that is the whole point. It fits on a desk, weighs 6.7 kg, and reaches 45 Hz at -6 dB (the ±1.5 dB tolerance starts at 58 Hz). Choose it when you sit close, the room is small and there is no space for stands.
Genelec 8341A, €2499 each. The big brother of the 8331A: 38 Hz, 110 dB, 9.8 kg. Genelec says plainly that it suits somewhat longer listening distances than the 8331A. It is the middle of the range and the usual pick for a home studio where you sit about two metres from the monitors and want headroom to check a mix loud.
Genelec 8351B, €3669 each. Down to 32 Hz, 113 dB, 14.3 kg. According to the manufacturer the higher maximum SPL allows longer listening distances. It comes into play when the room is bigger, you listen louder, or the material lives in the low end (electronic music, film).
Genelec 8361A, €4583 each. The flagship: 118 dB, down to 30 Hz, 700 W for the bass and 31.9 kg. Genelec says it gives a comfortable listen at distances up to five metres, which is why it is aimed at small to medium rooms with a longer listening distance. Here comes my one firm opinion: in a small room, listening from one and a half metres, an 8361A is buying a crane to move a stool. You will never use 118 dB of headroom, and 593 mm of height and nearly 32 kg per speaker have to live somewhere.
Do you need a subwoofer
It depends on what you mix and how low it goes. The fairest source is the manufacturer's own table, which assigns a subwoofer to each monitor: the 7360A for the 8331A, the 7370A for the 8341A, the 7370A or 7380A for the 8351B, and one or two 7380A for the 8361A. Notice there is no 7350A in there: Genelec pairs that smaller model with the 8300 series, not with The Ones.
In practice: if you work mostly with guitars, vocals and acoustic music, an 8341A or 8351B can carry the job on its own. If you make electronic music where 30 to 40 Hz matters, or mix for Atmos, a sub stops being an extra. Keep in mind that in an untreated room a subwoofer can deepen a bass problem instead of solving it, which is why in a SAM system its level, delay and phase are set together with the monitors in GLM.
GLM, and why the kit matters
GLM is Genelec's calibration software for SAM monitors. It measures the room with a measurement microphone from the listening position, then corrects filters, levels, delays and the subwoofer phase. The settings are stored in the speakers. Here is the thing people trip over most: there is no calibration kit in the box with The Ones. The manufacturer says you need the free GLM software plus either the 9320A controller or the GLM Calibration Kit, both sold separately.
The cheaper route is the GLM Kit at €301. Add it to the price of an 8341A pair: €4998 plus €301. If you are shopping for smaller monitors, some 8300 bundles include the GLM Kit in the box, but that is another series and another conversation.
The shelf
Prices are per speaker, as of today, the same set as on our Polish store. Ask us for the current delivery time before you order.
1. Genelec 8331A, €2089. Desk and a small room.
2. Genelec 8341A, €2499. Home studio, listening from about two metres.
3. Genelec 8351B, €3669. Bigger room, louder work, lower bass.
4. Genelec 8361A, €4583. The flagship, for a room that can take its size.
5. GLM Kit, €301. Measurement microphone and network interface for calibration.
6. Genelec 7360A, €1999. The subwoofer Genelec matches to the 8331A.
7. Genelec 7370A, €2889. The subwoofer matched to the 8341A and 8351B.
What none of them will fix
We sell every one of these monitors, so read this part the way it is written.
They will not fix the room. GLM compensates for the room's effect on the frequency response, but it will not remove the echo or the long decay that live in bare walls. Calibration is a fine complement to acoustic treatment, not a replacement. Before you spend that kind of money on a pair, read how to place studio monitors: placement is a free upgrade.
They will not replace knowing your own headphones. The best monitor will not tell you how a mix sounds in a car. Check on a few sources, as ever.
And do not buy them blind if you are unsure of the size. The difference between the 8331A and the 8341A is 3.1 kg and 65 mm of height per speaker, and the gap to the 8351B is bigger still. Measure your desk, measure the distance to your head, then look at the price.
Our showroom is at Nowogrodzka 6A/102 in Warsaw, and on +48 573 580 840 we can tell you what can be heard on site and what the current delivery time is for the model you want. Every product carries a 36-month warranty, and you get 30 days to return a purchase, no reason needed. We ship to every EU country.
Straight answers
Which Genelec The Ones should I buy: 8331A, 8341A or 8351B?
Choose by listening distance and headroom. The 8331A (104 dB) for a desk and a small room, the 8341A (110 dB) for a home studio with about two metres to the listening position, the 8351B (113 dB, down to 32 Hz) for a bigger room and louder work. The 8361A (118 dB) makes sense when you have a room that can take 31.9 kg per speaker.
What is the difference between the Genelec 8341A and the 8351B?
Both have 250 + 150 + 150 W amplifiers, but the 8351B has bigger drivers and a bigger cabinet: 113 dB instead of 110 dB, down to 32 Hz instead of 38 Hz, and 14.3 kg instead of 9.8 kg. In our shop the gap is €1170 per speaker, €2340 a pair.
Do Genelec The Ones need a subwoofer?
Not always. For acoustic music, vocals and guitars an 8341A or 8351B often carries the job alone. For electronic music with a heavy low end, and for Atmos mixing, a subwoofer makes sense. The manufacturer matches the 7360A to the 8331A, the 7370A to the 8341A, the 7370A or 7380A to the 8351B and one or two 7380A to the 8361A.
Does a GLM Kit come with Genelec monitors?
Not in the box with The Ones: the manufacturer sells the calibration kit separately (you can also use the 9320A controller). A GLM Kit does come in the stereo bundles of the 8300 series, for example the 8320 and 8330, where we offer a pair, the GLM Kit and a volume controller.
Does GLM replace acoustic treatment?
No. GLM compensates for the room's effect on the frequency response, but it will not remove echo and long decay from bare walls. Treat calibration as the finishing touch on a prepared room, not as a substitute for one.
Is the Genelec 8351B worth the extra over the 8341A?
On paper you pay €1170 more per speaker for 3 dB more headroom, 6 Hz more at the bottom and 4.5 kg more cabinet. It is worth it when you sit further away, work louder or live in the low end. At a distance of around two metres in a small room, the 8341A is usually enough and the money is better spent on a subwoofer or room treatment.
Measure the desk, check the distance to your head, and only then look at the price. And if three models still separate you after all that, welcome to the club: with Genelec the closer you get to a decision, the more numbers end up on the table. The membership fee is paid in euros, the listening is paid in conversation.
Read next
- How to read a studio monitor's frequency response. What that 45 Hz at -6 dB in the table really means.
- SPL of studio monitors. Why 113 dB is not twice as loud as 104 dB.
- Best pro class studio monitors 2026. What else lives in this class besides Genelec.
