«  top! »

I have 3 days from the limited edition 2010 of 1030 (that figures!) Remanufactured under reference HT206B by Genelec. Old frequenter of studios, I'm fully aware of these speakers which I have heard many of Monitoring and mixes, including some well-known album. One thing is to listen to the studio, another to have them in front of you home studio situation and listening pleasure. I am equipped with 6 audio systems, which include small Genelec 8020 coupled to a 7050B subwoofer from the same brand, and for hi-fi electrostatic panels of the legendary Martin-Logan Aerius 2, and then, after 20 hours of listening, I must say I am amazed at what comes out of these boxes of modest size. Without going into detail, the stereo placement, so space is absolutely accurate, virtually unstoppable. Otherwise, brushing my disco, all genres and all eras, I sometimes hear the hum and the taking of breaths that I had not previously seen on pieces that I thought I knew well. On the big bands, big band style strings, where the 8020 confusent a little, they restore everything perfectly. Yes, they tend to embellish, in the sense that while extremely accurate, and that in every detail, each resonance of each string of each chord guitar perfectly clear, what comes out still seems "pretty". But after a check on my other systems with the same pieces, I am equally sure they ring true and I gladly entrust my next mix controls. Anyway, I am left with accuracy (with their flaws and qualities) the sound of those I have previously worked (I'm a songwriter, no sound engineer). There is a song in his shrill, or mushy in the bass, stereo or floating? No it's not them, it is the mix and mastering! In fact, listening pleasure, so songs we like, whatever the style, it would almost be a problem, which obviously is not one: the pleasure of the emotion may be distracted by analysis that the ear is the quality of the sound and mix ... Attention sweeps continuously between one and another, it's almost embarrassing, but that kind of embarrassment is nice, this is the first time this has happened! For best foundation for serious, not always necessary, depending on the style of Zique, I have reinforced with the housing 7050. No piece of cake to set the agreement between the two saw all the potential switches and level controls, I have not finished yet, but I think not being far from the truth. I said, and after listening'm sure it's useful that the subwoofer and 1030 are raised on media Auralex foam, which avoid many resonances. In short, I understand better why a technician at Radio-France (where 1030 are in all studios and cabins) told me they were not ready to change. There may be better in that range (they are still expensive for their size (1650 € per pair), I have obviously not listened to everything, but in any case my first impressions are close to the amazement and even bewilderment at the possibility of cashing in their dynamics and space on my reference CD for this kind of test: AGF (no insurance, but the German electro engineering) on the album Westernization Completed in Dynamics amazing. Beware this album, I slammed with a boomer of a less prestigious brand ...

SOUNDS

The frequency curve is sufficiently neutral?
YES

The stereo image is good?
Staggering précison

The sound is clear and precise across the spectrum?
YES

The dynamics are respected? ...
YES


OVERALL OPINION

For how long have you been using it?
3 days

What thing do you like most/least about it?
Accurate, pleasing to the ear, not tiring

Did you try many other models before getting this one?
No, but I really had to have 40 pairs of speakers in my life since the 60s until today

What is your opinion about the value for the price?
A hair kind of expensive, the price of the legend?

Knowing what you know now, would you make the same choice? ...
Of course