Genelec 1234A SAM M Genelec

The Genelec 1234A SAM is a main monitor with dual 12″ woofers, 5″ midrange driver and 1″ metal dome tweeter mounted in a proprietary waveguide, powered by 2x 750W LF, 1x 400W MF, and 1x 250W HF optimized Class D amplifiers in the rack-mountable RAM-XL amp module, plus remote network GLM speaker management technology – magnetically shielded (M).

Music used to be mixed on huge main monitors mounted in studio walls, while nearfields were only used to reference mixes for translation purposes. These days, the situation has been totally reversed, except that the mains, often referred to as the “party speakers” are used at the end of the mix process to impress clients and A&R reps. However, there are those who believe that mixing on mains, such as the Genelec 1234A is the only way to go*. The 1234As dispel the myth that mains are just for cranking it up to impress. The 1234A main monitors reproduce a full-range, highly detailed sound-field for projects where just being loud simply isn’t enough, such as multi-operator film post mixing. The 1234A’s controlled wave-front is due to Genelec’s proprietary Directivity Control Waveguide (DCW). It produces a highly linear overall frequency response as well as a uniform power response. DCW technology minimizes early reflections and provides a wide and controlled listening area, such that the frequency balance of the room reverberation field is essentially the same as that of the direct sound from the monitors. This enables accurate listening for multiple engineers at a large-format console, accommodating the workflow occurring in larger control rooms and post-production facilities.

Genelec 1234A SAM unique features:

• Complete solution-oriented Smart Active Monitoring systems eliminate guesswork in system configuration and acoustic performance.
• Genelec AutoCal measures the response in the listening area and applies relevant compensation in the low and low-mid frequencies to minimize the detrimental room acoustic anomalies as well as the differences between various listening positions.
• Genelec GLM computer control allows for repeatable, consistent performance
• Genelec advanced Directivity Control Waveguide provides a wide and controlled listening area, minimizing early reflections for very accurate sound reproduction on- and off-axis
• Dual-woofer design extends the control of the directivity along the short front baffle dimension
• The RAM-XL features high-efficiency Class D amplification providing high SPL and dynamic range as well as high reliability with very low distortion
• Thoughtful thermal design makes RAM-XL extremely silent in order to be installed in the listening space
• Genelec Intelligent Signal Sensing (ISS) circuitry switches the system to standby when no audio input is detected, providing significant power consumption savings
• Genelec quality and reliability ensure a long-term security of investment, low energy consumption, and outstanding audio quality

*PAD fun fact: Renowned Abbey Road engineer Ken Scott (The Beatles, David Bowie, Pink Floyd, Elton John) is not a fan of nearfields (He also hates 200Hz, but that’s another story.) He states that the only way to mix rock and roll is loud and on the main speakers. His favorite mains were made by Cadac in the 70s and were seven feet tall, weighing 1,000 lb. each. Obviously, very few studios could accommodate them. Beyond Mr. Scott’s recollection, any proof of their existence has all but disappeared from recording culture.    

Genelec 1234A SAM – Behind the Grille

With a frequency response of 29Hz to 21kHz, the 1234A is capable of delivering 125dB SPL at 6.5′ (1 m) through a combination of efficient Class D amplifiers providing 2x 750W, 400W, and 250W of short-term power for the woofers, midrange, and tweeter channels respectively. The enclosure houses two 12″ woofers, plus a proprietary 5″ midrange driver and 1″ metal dome tweeter mounted in a large Directivity Control Waveguide (DCW). Power is provided by the removable RAM-XL (Remote Amplifier Module), a 3U high unit that fits a standard 19″ rack. Its powerful Digital Signal Processing algorithms are used to implement a number of advanced features: Precise driver equalization allows very smooth magnitude responses; efficient driver overload protection enables high system reliability; accurate crossover filtering allows precise transition between drivers. DSP is also used to implement very flexible room response compensation filters. room. Plus, all parameters can be remotely set via GLM network.

Flush wall mounting recommended

While the 1234A can be used effectively as a free-standing monitor, flush mounting is the better way to go for acoustical reasons. Flush mounting forms an infinite baffle*, which improves the bass response and efficiency and enhances the midrange transient and frequency response.

Each 1234A is delivered with the following cable kit:

• One mains cable
• Two 32’9″ (10 m) 4-pole Speakon® cables
• One 32’9″ (10 m) RJ45 cable
• One 16’4″ (5 m) RJ 45 cable

* PAD Pro tech note: The infinite baffle (aka sealed cabinet) is one of three main approaches to speaker design (ported reflex and passive radiator being the other two). Infinite baffle is a theoretical concept that deals with the division of sound emanating from the front and rear of the speaker, with both loaded identically in the same infinite volume of air. Since this can’t occur in the real world, the more accurate description is the sealed cabinet. The sound projecting from the front of the speaker only is called “half space,” which is how monitor performance is measured. The sealed cabinet offers a very linear phase response with a shallow bass roll-off, which enables small sealed speakers to reproduce bass at very low frequencies.

Networked Smart Active Monitor (SAM) Systems

Genelec’s advanced SAM Systems can automatically adapt to acoustic environments and correct for levels, delays and room anomalies. SAM Systems can be controlled via Genelec proprietary Loudspeaker Manager (GLM) network and software, enabling you to build a highly flexible and reliable monitoring system. If the monitors have to move between rooms, you can rely on SAM technology to give you absolute consistency, a neutral soundstage, and low distortion. All electronics, drivers, and enclosures are designed, assembled, tested, and calibrated in Genelec’s factory in Finland. Genelec quality and reliability ensure a secure long-term investment, with environmentally conscious, low energy consumption and outstanding audio quality.

AutoCal room calibration

Genelec AutoCal is a system integrator’s dream and gets you out of stasis and into production faster. It facilitates setup by measuring acoustic response in the listening area and applying the appropriate compensation in the low and low-mid frequencies to minimize the muddying effect of room modes and other unwanted room resonances, while simultaneously accounting for the differences between various listening positions.

All this combines with the color-free accuracy of the Minimum Diffraction Enclosure (MDE), and precise on- and off-axis frequency reproduction of the Directivity Control Waveguide (DCW). The result is the ideal small monitor to fit the way you work.

Directivity Control Waveguide (DCW) Technology

Genelec’s Directivity Control Waveguide shapes the emitted wave front of direct radiating multi-way monitors in a way that allows predictable tailoring of the speaker’s dispersion pattern. DCW technology also minimizes early reflections, providing a wide, controlled listening area with accurate sound reproduction both on- and off-axis.

Another advantage of minimized early reflections and controlled constant directivity is that the frequency balance of the room’s reverberation field is essentially the same as the direct field from the monitors. As a result, the monitor’s performance is less affected by room acoustic characteristics.  

The consistent off-axis frequency response of the waveguide enables engineers to move in and out of the sweet spot without losing perspective while working.    

DCW technology key benefits:

• Flat on- and off-axis response for wider usable listening area
• Increased direct-to-reflected sound ratio for reduced control room coloration
• Improved stereo and soundstage imaging
• Increased drive unit sensitivity up to 6dB
• Increased system maximum sound pressure level capacity
• Decreased drive unit distortion
• Reduced cabinet edge diffraction
• Reduced complete system distortion

Intelligent Signal Sensing function

Genelec’s Intelligent Signal Sensing (ISS) is a power-saving feature that prolongs the service life of the monitor. ISS reduces power consumption to less than 0.5 watts by automatically switching the active monitor to standby when no audio signal has been detected for some time. When playback begins, the mode indicator light on the loudspeaker lights up and the playback resumes after a slight delay (<2 seconds).

Protection circuitry

The protection circuitry prevents driver failure by detecting signal levels and responding accordingly. In the case of sudden peaks or levels that are too high for long periods, the protection circuitry reduces signal level automatically. This feature does not affect the sound quality in any way when working within the specifications of the loudspeaker, but only prevents inappropriate input signals from breaking the loudspeaker.

Protection circuitry features and benefits:

• Reduces the output level when required (e.g. when driver voice coil temperature reaches the safe limit), which highly improves system reliability
• Appropriate protection circuitry design for each loudspeaker and subwoofer maximizes system output level

Room compensation controls

Each room changes the monitor’s response in a unique way, e.g. reflective vs. damped rooms, or placement against a wall vs. on a stand away from the walls. All Genelec loudspeaker systems feature room response adjustments to compensate for the room influences and retrieve a flat frequency response at the listening position. Frequency response can be adjusted to match the acoustic environment by setting the tone control switches on the rear panel of all Genelec monitors.

Optimized amplifiers with active crossover

In a typical 2-way loudspeaker system, the active crossover needs two power amplifiers; one for the woofer and one for the tweeter. Electronic crossovers split the audio signal into separate frequency bands that can be separately routed to individual power amplifiers optimized for the frequency band of their respective transducers.

The power amplifiers are connected directly to the drivers of an active loudspeaker, resulting in the power amplifier’s load becoming much simpler. Each driver-specific power amplifier has only a limited frequency range to amplify (the power amplifier is placed after the active crossover), which adds to the ease of design.

The active design principle offers multiple benefits:

• The power amplifiers are directly connected to the speaker drivers, maximizing the control exerted by the power amplifier’s damping on the driver’s voice coil, reducing the consequences of dynamic changes in the driver electrical characteristics. This may improve the transient response of the system
• There is a reduction in the power amplifier output requirement. With no energy lost in the passive crossover filter components, the amplifier power output requirements are reduced considerably (by up to 1/2 in some cases) without any reduction in the acoustic power output of the loudspeaker system. This can reduce costs and increase audio quality and system reliability
• No loss between amplifier and driver units results in maximum acoustic efficiency
• Active technology can achieve superior sound output vs. size vs. low-frequency cut-off performance
• All loudspeakers are delivered as a factory aligned system (amplifiers, crossover electronics, and enclosure-driver systems)

The Genelec 1234A is built to satisfy the stringent requirements of world-class recording studios and post-production facilities. For more information, or to integrate a Genelec 1234A SAM into your studio, call or chat online with your PAD Studio Specialist today.

Specifications

• Lower cut-off frequency, ”“6dB: 29Hz
• Upper cut-off frequency, ”“6dB: 21Hz
• Free field frequency response, ± 2.5dB: 34Hz-20kHz
• Maximum short term sine wave acoustic output on axis in half space, averaged from 100Hz to 3kHz @ 1 m: >125dB SPL
• Maximum long term RMS acoustic output in the same conditions with IEC weighted noise (limited by driver protection circuit) @ 1m: > 120dB
• Maximum peak acoustic output per pair in a listening room with music material @ 2 m: > 130dB
• Self-generated noise level in free space at 2 m on axis (A- weighted): < 0dB
• Harmonic distortion at 95dB SPL at 1 m on axis:
• Frequency 50-200Hz: < 3%
• Frequency > 200Hz: < 0.5%

Drivers

• Bass: 2x 12″ (305 mm)
• Midrange: 5″ (125 mm)
• Treble: 1″ (25 mm)
• (All drivers are magnetically shielded)

Amplifier Section

• Bass amplifier short-term output power: 2x 750W
• Midrange amplifier short-term output power: 400W
• Treble amplifier short-term output power: 250W

Long-term output power is limited by driver protection circuitry

• Amplifier system THD at nominal output: < 0.01%
  

Signal-to-noise ratio, referred to full output

• Bass: >116dB
• Midrange: >119dB
• Treble: >115dB
• Mains voltage: 100-120, 220-240 VAC, 50/60Hz

Power consumption

• Standby: 6W
• Idle: 40W
• Full output long term: 1000W
• Full output short term: 2500W

Signal Processing Section

• Analog signal input connector: XLR female, balanced 10k ohm
• Maximum analog input signal: +25dBu
• Analog input sensitivity (100dB SPL at 1 m): -6dBu
• Analog input gain selection: 0, +6, +12, +18dB
• Digital input connector (XLR female 110 ohm): AES/EBU single/dual wire
• Digital output/thru connector (XLR male 110 ohm): AES/EBU single/dual wire

Digital audio input

• Word length: 16/24-bit
• Sample rate: 32kHz ”“ 192kHz
• Digital input sensitivity (100 dB SPL at 1 m): 30dBFS
• Digital input gain selection: 0, +6, +12, +18dB

Control network

• Type: Proprietary GLM network
• Connection: 2x RJ45, CAT5 cables

Crossover frequency

• Bass/Mid: 420Hz
• Mid/Treble: 3.2kHz

GLM software frequency response adjustment

• Notch filters: 4 LF, 2 HF
• Shelving filters: 2 LF, 2 HF
• System calibration: Genelec GLM AutoCal

Physical

• Weight (monitor enclosure): 161 lb. (73 kg)
• Amplifier weight: 25 lb. (11.2 kg)

Dimensions (monitor enclosure)

• Height: 27-3/16″ (700 mm)
• Width: 35″ (890 mm)
• Depth: 15″ (383 mm)

Amplifier dimensions (in rack mount configuration)

• Height (front panel): 3U 5-3/16″ (132 mm)
• Height (amplifier casing): 3-1/8″ (80 mm)
• Width (front panel): 19″ (483 mm)
• Width (amplifier casing): 16-3/4″ (425 mm)
• Depth: 11-1/4″ (286 mm)