Genelec 8040 sound review - NOT RECOMMENDED! 

No idea what’s wrong, it’s unlikely the Genelecs as the description you make is of something broken plus you loved them in college. I’ve used 8040’s for many years and have been recording and listening to music on a very high end hifi system for over 30 years and love them. They’re legends for good reason.

As a producer I want good separation. I think this review sucks.

Dude you have no idea of what you're rambling about 😂

The kid has to learn a lot, before rambling about a legendary product/brand that's been trusted by professionals for decades...

I have the 8030c replacing the a7x and my feel is simply opposite to you as the 8030 seems hit more precise and neutral, from the look of your room it seems the acoustic treatment isn’t correct with speaker placement, Genelecs works pretty good without any room treatment and just use their bass tilt switches, of coz it’s always better to buy a cheap umik1 for $99 and measure it at listening position, your feel of sloppy bass with sucked out mids sounds like room modes rather than speakers itself.. The S2Vs should be a better speaker as it’s dsp loaded and a lot more expensive, but think it this way: if Genelec 8040 is really this bad how come your music school would make you wanting it so badly?

For me it’s sound as a really amateur approach for a test. So I would not to recommend to base on this…

Fair enough bro if don't like the speakers, but if mention the fact that the sub information was uneven across the room ( 3:46 ), thinking it was because of the genelecs, that means you do not know anything about acoustics. So the lack of knowledge and experience makes me doubt about your conclusions in this review...

This dude is a fool. Do not base a purchase on this review. The 8040 and 8340 are totally different-systems with totally-different price tags that were designed and built with different end users in mind. As of 2021 the average asking price of a used pair of 8040A/Bs is roughly what they would have cost brand new. There is a reason for this: they're a trustworthy and reliable monitor system optimized for suboptimal spaces that is difficult to improve open for the same money and formfactor.

As a full time professional music producer who's being making music for 19 years, I can honestly say that I find your personal opinion presented in this video to be invalid. This review is a highly subjective, direct reflection of your personal 'taste' in sound, as well as (very sadly) an obvious failure to understand how these speakers must be configured from the factory settings out of the box. Out of the box they are designed (and achieve) linear (+/- 2db) response within the reproduced frequency range in an "ANECHOIC" listening environment (which is a theoretically perfect listening environment, however is NOT like the average treated studio room at all). IF you follow the correct setup procedure (clearly explained in the manual) you will end up with a FAR more coherent, FAR more tonally balanced, FAR more natural-sounding (and in my opinion; a more engaging) sound than anything Adam makes in this price range or above. I've spent MANY, countless-even, hours A/B testing between these and A7X, A77H etc in a professionally treated studio environment both monitors in identical listening positions / signal chain, and it is abundantly clear that compared to a LINEAR frequency response curve, the Adam's have a FAR over-represented high frequency response (even at the maximum trim setting they are FATIGUING to the point of physical discomfort). Upper mids are not only underrepresented in volume, they sound incoherent, unnatural and receeded (possibly due to poor crossover design, expecially in their 3-way systems). The Adam's have greater resolution in the high frequencies due to the tweeters' higher frequency extension (up to 41k in some models!) and imaging is wide and detailed as well, HOWEVER, high frequencies are WILDLY over-emphasised.... By far the worst part is the bass reproduction - which is is nothing short of ANEMIC (both underrepresented in volume, uneven in frequency response and lacking in textural reproduction/resolution). Even using their latest models' room correction, the upper bass AND lower bass frequencies do not even begin to resemble a valid linear representation of "accurate" low end content reproduction. The resolution in the bass is TERRIBLE compared to a 'correctly configured' pair of 8040's. Out of the box, the 8040b's will sound bloated in the bass if you use them WITHOUT setting them up (rear dip switches) for your SPECIFIC listening environment - see the manual, or even use sonarworks/equivalent like EVERY decent self-respecting producer or engineer out there does. When done so, the 8040's (despite having less 'extreme' frequency extension in the highs and a slightly lower resolution in the highs) are incredibly natural-sounding (aka, 'relatively neutral' frequency response), tonally-balanced, phenomenally detailed and a pure joy to use all day, no matter for how long. I'm not sure if you're not a musician or something but I just dont understand how you could have such a skewed perspective/opinion. Perhaps a lack of experience or aural training I suppose? Best of luck to you though

This doesn’t seem right at all. Why would u even change switches in the back without knowing what your changing and why? Also genelec monitors are very revealing so not every mixed song sounds good on them. I think you just got to big of monitors for your space and it’s not treated right.

you saw the adam makes you want to listen to more music.. that is not what i want from a monitor. I want it to be accurate and show me every flaw , not hide it and sound musical. You honestly seem confused or you are looking for something the genelecs are not designed for. They are meant to downright truthful and they are. There is something up with your room maybe. Also did you try them with sonarworks ? If not GLM , that will help you a lot !

Speakers in corner, no sound treatment, it will be hard to judge studio monitors really. No isolation between speakers and speakers stand. Highly reflective desk surface and so and so on...

i have 8040's and i love em. but im a dubstep producer lmao. i don't like ur review

I have compared the 8040B with a lot of competitive products like Focal Solo 6 be, Adam A7X, Hedd Type 07 MKII, Focal Shape 65, KSD C8, ... For me, the Genelecs were the winners for their "Complete Package". Sure the 8340 are better I guess but you can correct the 8040 perfectly with the dip switches and/or a software EQ and REW. I could comment why each other speaker lost in a direct comparison for me specifically, but that would be too extensive. What always trumped actually was the speaker enclosure construction. None of the compared speakers just come close to this stiffness and damping. Also none of the other speakers are as versatile in placement distance (maybe the KSD C8), their produced stereo image and sweet spot width... correctly tuned to your room, they are just unbeatable for the money in versatility. The KSD products come close, but their (very silent) idle self-noise and cabinet construction just were a no-go.

I think that the problem is to your ears 👂

what you are describing as the monitor problems are actually your room problems. genelecs are just revealing the problems you have to work on your room. so its actually doing its job perfectly. the reference is the speaker itself , not your room becouse the engeneering that goes into those shoud be enought for you to know that the problem in close to home. now what you have to do, is, since now you really know the problems that you have in your room (the problems you are describing are not present in theese monitors) is work on your room acoustics cause you just got it backwards. I have these very same speakers and I travelled with them and used it in many rooms, they really show us whats wrong in the room, but also with the music, but ONLY if the room is right. you should believe them, you had the chance to see how bad some mixes sound and how bad your room sounds, and theese informations are mixed up.thats the truth. keep it up man, do your research, you are up to something but you got it backwards, thanks for putting this out and use the feedback you are getting to reavaluate your path. cheers

I absolutely love my 8040b’s!!! Best monitors I’ve mixed on yet. Doesn’t make sense how u loved them so much in school and dreamed of having them one day to to be so disappointed when you received them. Maybe u thought that you would get more interaction from posting a negative review? Because you are the one and only person that I’ve ever heard have anything negative to say about them.

Sorry but they are the legends. Used by countless studios world wide (since 2005). BTW they work very well with DSPeaker Anti-Mode 2.0 Dual Core.

Bass is slow not because of the room .The speaker has poor time domain performance in the bass. That is the trade off using a port to substantially aid bass extension rather than just reducing cone excursion at resonance frequency. Flat frequency response and directivity control are important but so is a low group delay. The ones series in glm 4.1 have a mode to help reduce this .

sounds like ribbon tweeter guy

That's the point of Genelecs , it gives you more depth. Dimensions are very important.

This review seems to be a function of his 'expectations' - having seen the Genelecs as the top of the top in college - anything but perfection would render dissatisfaction listening to them later in life. Human perception is ALWAYS a function of expectations; you'll scoff if a $200 dinner you're expecting to be 'life-changing' is only 'amazing' -- what a rip-off -- yet, you'll bowl over with satisfaction if your shitty $9 chinese takeaway you're 'expecting' to taste like dog food, is 'somewhat enjoyable'. Where your experience exceeds your expectations you evauluate something positively - not whether the actual product is superior in absolute terms. Terrifying, but sadly true.

Well.. I dont know who you are but io was just looking for a review on the 8040's and when I saw that title I had to see what this is all about. Firest of all seeing your monitors and the room with ZERO acoustical treatment already made me question your opinion.. bad start.

The ADAM A series has some serious issues with resonances from the port and directivity mismatches at the crossover frequency.

he has breathing problems dude ;(

Dude, TREAT YOUR ROOM ! And not with cheap foam.

sounds like guy

I own a pair of Genelec 8330 even with calibration bypassed I’ve never experienced any close to what you’ve described. I also have a pair of A77h and they compliment my Genelecs by extending the bass frequencies a little lower and the high end lets me know when I’m overdoing it. In my opinion they’re both great studio monitors.

Genelec all the way. They are legendary for a reason. But just like good wine it takes experience and knowledge to really appreciate the differences.

facts missing

No experience with Adam, but i agree about 8040 - something is wrong with a lower end and none of the adjustment buttons have actually worked for me..

I bought these back in the day from my friend for €800/pair. And I haven't had any problems. However, I'm probably not capable of commenting even more than that. I'm just a beat maker, but for the money mentioned above, I think I got a decent value for my money. (Of course, the fact that I'm Finnish and I want to support Finnish brands can also affect the matter.) 🤷

I've owned both Adam A7x and Genelec 8040B. I always found the Genelecs to be more neutral and easier to mix on. The ribbon tweeters on the Adams sound very detailed and clinical for listening... however, mixing always felt more difficult on them. It's just my personal opinion, but I really like the Genelec 8040's. One day I'll get the 8341's ( The best monitors I've ever heard so far )

ok, those genelec are the only Flat monitors (compared to other monitors) that i have listened in my life, maybe theres a problem with your untreated room, or maybe you just liked the hyped curve response from Adams Audio (i love adam audio, but they are not flat at all), nothing wrong about having a personal taste and using a more hyped curve response monitor, but I think that maybe you are misleading a lot of people here

Do they need a time period to break in? Also, as with all systems, garbage in = garbage out

unbearably sharp highs in studio environment - hurt my ears not long after

This honestly doesn't seem completely reflective of the speakers themselves. Curious to hear what others are also saying about them. You may want to consider how you can focus your review down to essential points and personal experiences because as you move through the review your impression feels vague rather than a solid review or recommendation.

Hmmmm Hmmm Hmmmm

Please , how does Genelec 8340 look in details without subwoofer and without GLM kit .. I want to use them for practising piano and keyboard , my room is not treated well , i connect them directly to the piano and keyboard . Are they better than G 8040 B , Adam A7x or HS8 ? Thanks for your helpful videos

You talk about the A7X. So, how would you compare those (or the A5X) to (what is your opinion about) the Genelec 8020?

Thx for that review. You help me.

Thank you for your channel!

Say "I do not recommend" not "do not buy" or you could get a call from a lawyer

you do know, that you have to play the speakers "warm" for like 10-20 hours after buying a brand new set of monitors, before you get the complete sound, right?...

Make more reviews..

You'll need the SAM version to correct for room issues based on the acoustics. You can't get accurate sound without that and a calibrated mic. GLM makes a huge difference.