If you’re short on time and just want the highlights of this article, here it is:
The Genelec G Four 2-Way Powered Bookshelf Speaker is a good choice for anyone who is looking for good sound quality and connectivity without the need for advanced features. Its active speaker design eliminates the need for bulky external power amplifiers and offers a range of connectivity options. The G Four is designed to reproduce the fine details and nuances of your favorite music and movies and features generous SPL and frequency extension.
Additionally, it has additional features such as its active crossovers, Directivity Control Waveguide (DCW) technology, Intelligent Signal Sensing (ISS) technology, Iso-Pod stand, Minimum Diffraction Enclosure (MDE) technology, Optimized amplifiers, Protection circuitry, and Reflex port design. With its short-term max SPL of ≥105 dB and the low self-generated noise, the G Four can deliver powerful sound with precision.
Overall, the Genelec G Four 2-Way Powered Bookshelf Speaker is a good choice for anyone looking for good sound quality and connectivity, however, experienced users may want to look for something with more robust features.
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Now let’s get to its bolts and nuts.
Genelec G Four Review: Sound quality
Have you ever noticed that there often tends to be quite the opposite opinions about a speaker?
I can understand this for more "personal taste" kinda products like clothing, for example.
But for engineering products like speakers? Personal tastes and preferences probably still play a role. But shouldn't it be less?
Why is it that we can't set a universal metric for sound quality?
First time I asked this question to myself has been a pivotal day.
Because it turns out that in the mid 90's, Electrical Engineer PhD Floyd Toole came up with a method called Spinorama. This is exactly what he accomplished with this. Turns out that his book Sound Reproduction is like the bible of audiophiles.
Put it simply, Spinorama is a set of measurements that gives a comprehensive overview of a speaker's performance from various angles.
It allows you to compare the performances of different speakers before even laying your ears hands on them.
Isn't that amazing?
This is why Spinorama was apparently groundbreaking news for audio industry. Hence in the mid-late 2010's, most brands and magazines began publishing Spinorama measurements, despite the challenges of making such measurements.
Fortunately, now we have the Spinorama data for a bunch of quite popular speakers. Pierre Aubert put all this untidy data together and put it into https://www.spinorama.org/. This is a stunning source. Pretty valuable stuff from him right there.
All good up to this point.
Now there comes a caveat.
Since the sound speakers propagate are in the form of omnidirectional waves, all measurements are obtained in anechoic or semi-anechoic chambers (a super-quiet room where soundwaves don't bounce back, here's how different that room sounds [a mind blowing time-adjusted video]).
This is a problem because it means that Spinorama alone, unfortunately, won't give us all we need. Placement and reflections play an equally important role there too.
This is why most A-class brands (like SVS, Bang & Olufsen, etc) often come up with room correction features, adjusted either manually or automatically. The EQ adapts itself to the placement (room, corner, center, etc) for a better (deeper and more accurate) sound. Which is great.
Additionally they often emphasize the importance of placement, here is an example: https://www.svsound.com/blogs/subwoofer-setup-and-tuning/75365187-the-art-of-subwoofer-placement
Anyways...
The source code under Pierre Aubert's work is licensed under GPL (General public license). He didn't perform any of the measurements himself, and instead he compiled all of them into one place, so that makes sense.
At this point, I thought that if there was a tool that combined both the Spinorama with the room acoustics data, it'd be extremely useful.
Unfortunately, it turns out that there wasn't any.
This is where I stepped in and partnered with an Acoustics and Audio Engineering PhD in order to achieve this.
We combined Spinorama data with room acoustics and came up with Soundton. A very simple, 2D online tool that allows you to:
- Reveal optimal speaker positions in a room,
- Test with real speakers from real brands,
- Compare different speakers and different positions in the room.
It can be very valuable for the vast majority.
The colormap provides you the locations with the best (green) and worst (red) listening experience.
It works the best with subwoofers since Soundton processes low frequency response waves only.
- Soundton is going to be, say, 80% accurate. Not 100%.
- Because, other parameters such as the age/materials of the building, furniture/windows in place also have an impact on room acoustics.
- If you want absolutely the most detailed room analysis, then what you need is an acoustics consultant. Mind you that's going to require deep pockets and patience though... assuming you find the right person and they get the job done.
Anyways...
When it comes to sound quality, the Genelec G Four 2-Way Powered Bookshelf Speaker has a lot to offer. With its active speaker design, the G Four eliminates the need for bulky external power amplifiers, as the amplifier is built into the speaker and optimized for the drivers. It also features a die-cast aluminum cabinet with a rear-facing bass port, an XLR and an RCA input for easy source switching, and a 48 Hz to 20 kHz frequency response.
The G Four is designed to reproduce the fine details and nuances of your favorite music and movies, so you can experience content the way the creators intended. Thanks to its generous SPL of ≥99 dB, and frequency extension as low as 41 Hz, it can deliver powerful sound with precision. I really appreciate the active crossovers, the Directivity Control Waveguide (DCW) technology, and the Intelligent Signal Sensing (ISS) technology, as they all help to deliver a great sound experience.
For improved sound quality, the G Four comes with additional features such as its Minimum Diffraction Enclosure (MDE) technology, its Optimized amplifiers, its Reflex port design, and its Room response compensation. All of these features help to reduce any unwanted distortion.
I also like the fact that it comes with an Iso-Pod stand, and that there are versatile mounting options available separately. The short-term max SPL of ≥105 dB and the low self-generated noise are also very impressive.
Overall, the sound quality of the Genelec G Four is good, but I feel like it could be improved a bit. I think the low end could be beefed up a bit and it could provide a more expansive soundstage. That being said, I think it still does a good job of delivering a well-balanced sound, with plenty of clarity and detail.
Genelec G Four Review: Connectivity
The Genelec G Four 2-Way Powered Bookshelf Speaker comes with a range of connectivity options. With its XLR and RCA inputs, you can connect two source devices for easy switching. The fact that you can connect the G Four directly to your sound source is also great, as it allows you to save time and hassle. You can also use the simple room compensation switches to tailor the sound to your unique acoustic environment.
This speaker is fairly easy to set up and use, and the sound can be adjusted to fit the size and acoustics of the room. I found that the connectivity options are more than enough for most people, but if you have any specific requirements, you may want to look elsewhere.
Overall, I think the Genelec G Four is a good choice for anyone looking for good sound quality and connectivity, however, it may not offer enough for more experienced and discerning users.
Genelec G Four Review: Most & least ideal user profiles
The Genelec G Four 2-Way Powered Bookshelf Speaker is ideal for anyone who is looking for good sound quality and connectivity, but is not looking for something overly powerful or advanced. It is perfect for those who are new to audio and want a quality speaker that is easy to set up and use.
Due to its limited SPL and frequency extension, the G Four may not be ideal for those who are looking for a speaker with more punch and power. It may also not be suitable for users who are looking for more advanced features, such as a wider soundstage or higher sound quality.
Overall, this speaker offers good sound quality and connectivity, so it is best suited for those who want a reliable and easy-to-use speaker. Experienced users may want to look for something with a more impressive set of features.
Genelec G Four Review: Conclusion
The Genelec G Four 2-Way Powered Bookshelf Speaker is a good choice for anyone who is looking for good sound quality and connectivity without the need for advanced features. Its active speaker design eliminates the need for bulky external power amplifiers and offers a range of connectivity options. The G Four is designed to reproduce the fine details and nuances of your favorite music and movies and features generous SPL and frequency extension.
Additionally, it has additional features such as its active crossovers, Directivity Control Waveguide (DCW) technology, Intelligent Signal Sensing (ISS) technology, Iso-Pod stand, Minimum Diffraction Enclosure (MDE) technology, Optimized amplifiers, Protection circuitry, and Reflex port design. With its short-term max SPL of ≥105 dB and the low self-generated noise, the G Four can deliver powerful sound with precision.
Overall, the Genelec G Four 2-Way Powered Bookshelf Speaker is a good choice for anyone looking for good sound quality and connectivity, however, experienced users may want to look for something with more robust features.