Genelec 7040A PM Compact Subwoofer Genelec

The Genelec 7040A is an ultra-compact subwoofer designed for small spaces or mobile use with 6.5″ driver, 50-watt Class D amplifier that outputs 100dB SPL, and low-frequency extension down to 30Hz – Producer Grey finish, magnetically shielded (M).

While it is impossible to violate the laws of physics with no consequences, Genelec has proven with the ultra-compact 6.5″ 7040A subwoofer that you can bend them a considerable amount, and all to your advantage – particularly if you’re working with small monitors, limited space, or wish to travel with your 7040A in tow. Universal mains input voltage enables the globe-trotting engineer to use the 7040A anywhere in the world. (There’s even an optional carry bag.) The 7040A’s remarkable bass extension down to 30Hz enables you to make intelligent mix decisions in the nether regions of your mix, particularly when working with small monitors, such as the Genelec 8010, 8020, or M030, for which it is a perfect match. The 7040A owes its deep, controlled bass to Genelec’s proprietary monitor technologies, including the Laminar Spiral Enclosure (LSE) and custom-designed Class D amplifier. 

Genelec 7040A subwoofer – Just the Facts:

• Compact enclosure with optimized design allows for accurate sound reproduction in small environments
• Laminar Spiral Enclosure (LSE) design provides extended low-frequency performance.
• Genelec-designed Class D amplifier technology provides high SPL with very low distortion.
• Universal mains input voltage allows easy world-wide connectivity to mains power
• Phase-matching and Bass Roll-Off control enable calibration to all acoustic spaces
• Power consumption savings thanks to Genelec Intelligent Signal Sensing (ISS™) circuitry which switches the subwoofer to standby when no audio input is detected
• Sustainability and green values, minimalistic industrial design for efficient enclosure footprint
• Two balanced XLR inputs and outputs enable easy connectivity to Genelec 8010, 8020, and M030 active monitors
• Genelec quality and reliability ensure a long-term security of investment, low energy consumption, and outstanding audio quality

PAD tech note: The letter “A” at the end of Genelec model numbers refers to the latest revision. “P” denotes the finish; Producer dark grey, while “M” designates magnetic shielding. 

Genelec 7040A – Behind the Grille

The 7040 subwoofer weighs 25 lb. (11.3 kg) and features a universal mains input voltage for international use. Seamless bass extension with main monitors is enabled by two balanced XLR inputs and bass-managed outputs with an 85Hz crossover. Calibration of the 7040A in accordance with the listening environment is done via DIP switches located on the rear panel. These controls address typical monitoring placement configurations. An optional carry bag allows professionals to work on the go with mobile recording setups or improvised monitoring spaces.

Low-frequency accuracy

The 7040A active subwoofer is optimized for accurate performance in small rooms, where bass tends to be exaggerated due to reflections and limited opportunities for placement. Taking this into account, Genelec created the Laminar Spiral Enclosure, which enables the 7040A to output 100dB SPL without distortion while simultaneously eliminating bass reflex port noise from interfering with its 50W Class D-driven 6.5″ woofer. The bass reflex port, formed by the 7040A’s steel spiral enclosure, is downward-firing, which permits placement close to walls, while the footprint of the enclosure itself is less than a small practice guitar amp and narrow enough to fit in a 19″ rack – all while maintaining outstanding low-frequency performance down to 30Hz (-6dB).

Laminar Spiral Enclosure (LSE)

An essential property of a subwoofer operating at high sound pressure levels is its capacity to move high volumes of air without distortion, which is a function of air turbulence inside the bass reflex port. This effect presents challenges to woofer and reflex port designs. Genelec’s patented Laminar Spiral Enclosure (LSE) provided the solution.

By way of a little background, large air currents, such as those found in bass reflex ports, have a great deal of kinetic energy, which causes the flow to be irregular and turbulent as cross-streams perpendicular to the direction of air flow is formed. A laminar air flow is a streamline flow in which air travels smoothly in parallel layers or paths, with no interference or disruption across layers. 

The Laminar Spiral Enclosure (LSE) bass reflex cabinet provides excellent laminar flow characteristics with minimal turbulence noise and enables an optimal packing of a very long reflex tube into a small space.

The 7040A’s enclosure is made from a spiral-shaped strip of steel. Its purpose is to provide mechanical stability for a large amount of pressure generated inside the subwoofer. The spiral also forms the bass reflex port, enabling linear airflow even at the highest SPL output. The fact that one is part of the other means that air flow in and out of the enclosure’s interior through the port is totally unrestricted. This flow-optimized construction provides extended low-frequency capacity and low distortion resulting in precise bass articulation, with measured second and third harmonic distortion levels typically better than 30dB below the fundamental. This results in an extraordinarily accurate and responsive low-frequency system.

Bass management system

Bass management, from a corporate perspective, is the man’s way of keeping the low frequencies down. Seriously, it’s quite simply a means of directing the bass content of main and low-frequency effect (LFE) channels to the speakers that are best capable of handling them. A Bass Management system uses either analog electronic circuitry or software-based filtering to take low-frequency information from the main channels and route it to a subwoofer feed. Bass management’s basic and main goal is to ensure that the entire audio bandwidth of all channels can be accurately monitored.

The bass management unit in the 7040A subwoofer splits the input into low- and high-frequency components at 85Hz. Frequencies below 85Hz are reproduced by the subwoofer. Frequencies above 85Hz are directed via the subwoofer’s output connectors to the main monitors.

Bass management benefits are:

• The subwoofer extends the system frequency response down the lower limit of the audible range
• Monitor can produce a higher maximum sound level when not reproducing low frequencies
• Optimized low-frequency reproduction by selecting adequate subwoofer location; monitors can also be placed more freely
• Subwoofer’s output are aligned in level and phase with monitors allowing flat and accurate reproduction down to 19 Hz and across the crossover point
• LFE channel output level (0 or +10 dB re. main channels) can be selected for accurate reproduction depending on the source type
• The ability to bypass the subwoofer allows you to evaluate the audible impact of the subwoofer

Optimized amplifier

A custom, Genelec-designed and manufactured Class D power amplifier connected directly to the driver produces 50W output power with very low total harmonic distortion (THD) and intermodulation distortion (IM). Driver-overload, thermal overload, and short-circuit protections are built into the amplifier circuitry. The power supply accepts mains voltages from 100 to 240 VAC.

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)

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

In the studio, downtime is not an option, particularly when equipment fails and must be shipped out for repairs. Whether you’re working in a professional production environment or even as a hobbyist, it’s essential that monitoring systems remain reliable and functional at all times. Genelec’s reputation for bullet-proof reliability is a product of the internal protection circuitry found in all Genelec monitors.

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

Connectivity and controls

The Genelec 7040A subwoofer has left/right balanced XLR inputs and outputs (two each) that enable connectivity to Genelec 8010, 8020, and M030 active monitors. The subwoofer’s sensitivity can be adjusted from +12 to -6dBu to match the subwoofer sound level easily with different monitors. Two “Bass Roll-Off” switches provide bass response adjustment to compensate for the acoustical environment in three 2 dB steps. Two switches allow alignment of subwoofer phase with the monitors. The phase can be adjusted in 90-degree increments between 0° and -270°.

Combined with Genelec stereo and multichannel bass management active electronics, the 7040A subwoofer provides a low-frequency listening experience second to none. Order yours today. For more information, call or chat online with your PAD Professional.

 

Specifications

System

• Free-field frequency response (-6dB): 30-90Hz
• Accuracy of frequency response: (±3dB): 33-85Hz
• Max SPL*: 100dB
• Self generated noise level in half space at 1 m (A-weighted): ≤5dB
• Harmonic distortion 2nd / 3rd **: ≤2.5% / ≤1.5%
• Driver (magnetically shielded): 6-1/2″ (165 mm)

Crossover

• Subsonic filter (18 dB/octave) below: 35Hz
• Input channels: 2
• High-pass freq. main outs: 85Hz
• Mid-band rejection >400Hz: ≥50dB
• Bass roll-off (2dB steps): 0 to -6dB @ 35Hz
• Phase-matching control (90° steps: 0 to -270°
• Input sensitivity control: +12 to -6dBu

Amplifier Section

• Short-term output power: 50W
• THD at nominal output: ≤0.8%
• Mains voltage: 100 – 240 VAC universal

Power consumption (average)

• Standby (ISS active) ≤0.5W
• Idle: 5W
• Full output: 70W

Input Section

• Input connectors: 2x XLR female
• Input impedance: 10k ohm balanced
• Input level for 100dB SPL out @ 1 m: Variable from +12 to -6dBu

Output Section

• Input connectors: 2x XLR male
• Main monitor out gain: 0dB

Physical

• Dimensions: (HWD): 16-1/8″ x 13-3/4″ x 8-1/16″ (410 x 350 x 205 mm)
• Weight: 24.9 lb. (11.3 kg)
  

*Maximum short term sine wave SPL output averaged from 40 to 85 Hz, measured in half space at 1 meter

** Harmonic distortion at 90 dB SPL at 1m on axis in half space 40-85Hz

***Long-term output power is limited by driver unit protection circuitry