Genelec 1237A PM Genelec

Genelec 1237A PM

The 1237A SAM is a 3-way midfield or main monitor with a 12″ woofer, 5″ midrange driver, and 1″ metal dome tweeter with Genelec’s Smart Active Monitoring, loudspeaker management, and 950 watts of Class D and Class AB amplification – Producer grey finish (P), magnetically shielded (M)

The 1237A not only follows in the tradition of Genelec’s renowned 1037 and 1038 studio monitors, it’s the inheritor of 35 years of ever-advancing proprietary Genelec technology. Of course, that’s just history and isn’t really the reason you should put a Genelec 1237A in your studio – the results of that history are, which is uncompromised sound quality, precise imaging, and consistent on- and off-axis response, thanks to Genelec’s proprietary Directivity Control Waveguide. The 1237A is built for midsize rooms and can be stand mounted or wall mounted thanks to its RAM-L rack-mountable remote amplifier module. While the 1237A has a stellar sound all on its own, what truly sets it apart is the Smart technology that enables it to integrate seamlessly into any environment. Genelec Loudspeaker Manager (GLM) software allows for the critical adjustment of up to 30 individual Smart monitors and Smart subwoofers, while AutoCal compensates for adverse room modes to perfectly calibrate your set-up to your control room.

Genelec 1237A unique features:

• Smart Active Monitoring (SAM) provides network control of room compensation
• AutoCal automatic calibration for balanced system response
• Advanced Directivity Control Waveguide for improved balance, efficiency, and imaging
• Genelec Loudspeaker Management (GML)
• Integrated amplifier module supporting rapid system configuration can also be installed in a rack

Genelec 1237A key features:

• Three-way acoustic design
• 12″ woofer, 5″ driver, 1″ metal dome tweeter
• Highly efficient amplification for LF and MF
• Ultra-wide bandwidth discrete tweeter amplifier
• Proven acoustic design from classic models 1037 and 1038
• Producer grey finish (P)
• Magnetically shielded (M)

Genelec 1237A SAM – Behind the Grille

The Genelec 1237A is powered by the rack-mountable RAM-L Remote Amplifier Module. It has a 12″ woofer with bass extension down to 32Hz. The 5″ midrange driver, and 1″ metal dome tweeter are mounted in a large Directivity Control Waveguide (DCW), which ensures excellent on- and off-axis imaging.

Networked Smart Active Monitor (SAM) Systems

Genelec’s advanced SAM Systems are 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)

Class AB amplification

The Genelec 1237A uses a 200-watt Class AB amplifier for the tweeter. Class D amplifiers, which are known for their high-power efficiency and low distortion, require a low-pass filter to separate the modulation frequency (the point where power switches from the supply rails) from the audio band. The Class AB amplifier is widely used in audio applications due to its ability to eliminate crossover distortion.

Fill your mid-size control room with Genelec audio quality and advanced software control capabilities. For more information, or to integrate a Genelec 1237A SAM into your studio, call or chat online with your PAD Professional today.

Genelec 1237A specifications:

• Lower cut-off frequency, –3dB: 35Hz
• Upper cut-off frequency, –3dB: 21Hz
• Free field frequency response, ± 2.5dB: 37Hz-20kHz
• Maximum short term sine wave acoustic output on axis in half space, averaged from 100 Hz to 3 kHz @ 1 m: >118dB SPL
• Maximum long term RMS acoustic output in the same conditions with IEC weighted noise (limited by driver protection circuit) @ 1m: > 112dB
• Maximum peak acoustic output per pair in a listening room with music material @ 2 m: > 122dB
• Self-generated noise level in free space at 1 m on axis (A- weighted): < 10dB
• Harmonic distortion at 95dB SPL at 1 m on axis:
• Frequency 50-200Hz: < 3%
• Frequency > 200Hz: < 0.5%

Drivers

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

Amplifier Section

• Bass amplifier short-term output power: 500W
• Midrange amplifier short-term output power: 250W
• Treble amplifier short-term output power: 200W
• 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: >115dB
• Midrange: >115dB
• Treble: >115dB
• Mains voltage: 100-240 VAC, 50/60Hz

Power consumption

• Standby: <0.5W
• Idle: 25W
• Full output: 750W

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: 350Hz
• Mid/Treble: 3kHz

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 with integrated amplifier): 93 lb. (42 kg)
• Weight (monitor with amplifier removed): 80 lb. (36 kg)
• Amplifier weight: 13 lb. (6 kg)

Dimensions (monitor enclosure)

• Height: 26-3/4″
• Width: 15-3/4″
• Depth: 15″

• Amplifier dimensions (in rack mount configuration)
• Height (front panel): 3U 5-3/6″ (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: 9-15/16″ (252 mm)