Short answer: the Adam Audio T8V. It ranks #25 of 40 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality at $349.99; the Genelec 8341A ranks #36 and costs $6590, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Adam Audio T8V gets right: Quite balanced and neutral, very close to the Yamaha HS8. The catch: A crossover-region notch around 4.6kHz where tweeter and woofer interact, and a hole in the vertical response below the tweeter axis - keep the tweeter at or above ear height.
The case for the Genelec 8341A: CEA2034 spinorama shows an exceptionally flat on-axis response, within about +1.8dB/-2.2dB of the target curve, with excellent directivity control from the coaxial midrange/tweeter and dual 6.5” woofers. The tradeoff: The bass amplifier runs out of headroom well before the mid/treble sections.
Buy the Adam Audio T8V. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Genelec 8341A and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip the Genelec 8341A. It ranks near the bottom of the 40 powered bookshelf speakers, so look higher up the list instead.
Specifications Side By Side
| Adam Audio T8V | Genelec 8341A | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $349.99 | $6590 |
| Ranked | #25 of 40 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #36 of 40 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 45Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 58Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 40Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Dimensions | 15.8"H x 9.8"W x 13.2"D (401.3 x 248.9 x 335.3 mm) | not published by manufacturer |
| Frequency Response | 33Hz - 25kHz (-6dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 338Hz - 37kHz (-6dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | XLR, RCA | - |
| Weight | 21.6 lbs / 9.8 kg | not published by manufacturer |
| Drivers | 8" (203mm) woofer | 2x 6.5" woofers, 3.5" midrange, 0.75" tweeter (coaxial mid/tweeter) |
| App | No | No |
| Bluetooth | No | - |
| EQ | Yes (Room adjustment) | Yes (Room adjustment) |
| DSP | No | No |
| Output Power | 90w Per Speaker | 550W total (250W bass, 150W mid, 150W treble) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
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- Focal Twin6 Be vs Adam Audio S2V
- JBL 4329P vs JBL 308P MKII
- Neumann KH 310 A vs JBL 308P MKII
- JBL 306P MKII vs Genelec 8341A
- Genelec 8341A vs Emotiva Airmotiv 6s
The Two Speakers In Full
Adam Audio T8V: $349.99 Amazon
Pros: Quite balanced and neutral, very close to the Yamaha HS8. Deeper bass than the HS8
Cons: A crossover-region notch around 4.6kHz where tweeter and woofer interact, and a hole in the vertical response below the tweeter axis - keep the tweeter at or above ear height. Distortion is well controlled at 86dB SPL but gets messier at 96dB.
Full Adam Audio T8V review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 45Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| DSP | No |
| Dimensions | 15.8"H x 9.8"W x 13.2"D (401.3 x 248.9 x 335.3 mm) |
| Drivers | 8" (203mm) woofer |
| EQ | Yes (Room adjustment) |
| Frequency Response | 33Hz - 25kHz (-6dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | XLR, RCA |
| Output Power | 90w Per Speaker |
| Weight | 21.6 lbs / 9.8 kg |
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Genelec 8341A: $6590 Bhphotovideo
Pros: CEA2034 spinorama shows an exceptionally flat on-axis response, within about +1.8dB/-2.2dB of the target curve, with excellent directivity control from the coaxial midrange/tweeter and dual 6.5” woofers. Tri-amplified design totals 550W across bass, mid, and treble sections.
Cons: The bass amplifier runs out of headroom well before the mid/treble sections, producing audible glitching/ticking distortion at higher volumes even at 1 meter - not well suited to larger rooms or higher playback levels as a result. No hard power switch, and it produces a loud static pop when AC power is cut. Very expensive at $6,590 per pair.
Full Genelec 8341A review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 40Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 58Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| DSP | No |
| Dimensions | not published by manufacturer |
| Drivers | 2x 6.5" woofers, 3.5" midrange, 0.75" tweeter (coaxial mid/tweeter) |
| EQ | Yes (Room adjustment) |
| Frequency Response | 338Hz - 37kHz (-6dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Output Power | 550W total (250W bass, 150W mid, 150W treble) |
| Weight | not published by manufacturer |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons