New and Different Genelec Preamp

[Juha]

I spotted a Genelec 5040A subwoofer on a local internet auction site.
This thing was priced pretty low.

Don't need a subwoofer. In fact I hate them.
For a couple of years there was a nightclub too close to my home.
I got allergy against all subwoofers after being forced to listen to thumping bass all night for a long time.
Fortunately the nightclub folded. It is now a quiet Grusian restaurant.

Had a look at Genelec 5040A documents. This is thing contains a preamp. It is made to complement Genelec 6000 series active speakers.
You route audio via 5040A. The subwoofer contains a crossover. It filters frequencies below 85 Hz to the sub.

Computer audio JRiver - RME soundcard - Genelec5040A - Quad 522 amp - large ESS AMT Monitor speakers.
Got that "Genelec sound" now.
I am chuffed to bits.:)


http://hoone.com/5040.jpg

[Juha]

I'll continue my story on this Genelec preamp

The "Genelec sound" is very, very good. Any music sounds better than before.
There is beautiful clarity in higher frequencies.

Genelec is very secretive about its electronics.
This fantastic sound can be achieved in two different ways:

1. Maybe this is a very good preamp
It is so good that they presented it at the Münich High End show.
Look at the picture. The two white pods beside the large monitor are 5040A subwoofers.

OR

2. There is some Digital Sound Processing (DSP) going on here
They shape the sound digitally to give it enhanced clarity.
I'm inclined to believe this explanation. My ESS AMT Monitors contain what is now called the the Great Heil
tweeters. These tweeters reveal and bring out digital effects.

What does this mean?
Well, in the olden days you would build wooden resonating speaker boxes and select speaker elements
with certain qualities. This is how you achieved good sound.

Now you put high quality speaker components in a dead metal box. Then you enhance the sound with DSP.

The end result is the same.

http://hoone.com/genelec1.jpg