Short answer: the Genelec 8331A for better sound quality, the Genelec 8020D for the lower price. The Genelec 8331A ranks #1 of 42 powered bookshelf speakers at $4500. The Genelec 8020D ranks #5 at $1100, $3400 cheaper.
What the Genelec 8331A gets right: A true compact point source: the coaxial mid/tweeter and acoustically concealed opposed woofers produce exceptionally uniform directivity, superb nearfield summation and pinpoint imaging. The catch: At $4,500/pair it is expensive for a monitor whose protection circuit mutes near its limit rather than allowing short-term overload; larger rooms and bass-heavy playback still benefit from a subwoofer.
The case for the Genelec 8020D: Klippel-based spinorama measurements show a flat, well-behaved on-axis response from about 60Hz to 10kHz. The tradeoff: Sound power rolls off starting around 500Hz-1kHz as the small 4.1” woofer/tweeter pair begins to beam, a typical trait of small nearfield monitors at this price.
Buy the Genelec 8331A if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Genelec 8020D if the price matters more than sound quality.
Specifications Side By Side
| Genelec 8331A | Genelec 8020D | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4,500/pair | $1100 |
| Ranked | #1 of 42 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #5 of 42 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 49Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 56Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 39Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 50Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Sensitivity | Not applicable (active DSP loudspeaker) | - |
| Maximum Output | 100dB at 3m before protection (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | - |
| Amplification | 72W LF + 36W MF + 36W HF | - |
| Drivers | Dual 130x65mm woofers; 90mm coaxial mid; 19mm tweeter | 4.1" woofer, 0.75" metal dome tweeter |
| Dimensions | 12"H x 7.4"W x 8.3"D (305 x 189 x 212 mm) | 9.5"H x 5.8"W x 5.6"D (241.3 x 147.3 x 142.2 mm) |
| Weight | 14.8 lbs / 6.7kg each | 7.1 lbs / 3.2 kg each |
| Frequency Response | - | 56 Hz - 25 kHz (-6 dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | - | XLR |
| App | - | No |
| Bluetooth | - | No |
| EQ | - | Yes (Bass tilt, desk proximity) |
| Max SPL | - | 103dB @ 1m |
| Output Power | - | 100W (50W woofer + 50W tweeter) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Neumann KH120 MKII vs Kali Audio SM-5
- Genelec 8030C vs Kali Audio SM-5
- Kali Audio SM-5 vs IK Multimedia iLoud MTM MKII
- Genelec 8331A vs Genelec 8030C
- Genelec 8331A vs Neumann KH80 DSP
The Two Speakers In Full
Genelec 8331A: $4,500/pair Amazon Genelec
Pros: A true compact point source: the coaxial mid/tweeter and acoustically concealed opposed woofers produce exceptionally uniform directivity, superb nearfield summation and pinpoint imaging. Erin measured F3 at 49Hz and F10 at 39Hz, heard useful 40Hz in-room extension, and reached 100dB at 3m before protection activated. Response is highly neutral, distortion is low, and GLM provides calibrated level, delay and room-response correction. The die-cast aluminum waveguide/enclosure is both structurally inert and nearly diffraction-free.
Cons: At $4,500/pair it is expensive for a monitor whose protection circuit mutes near its limit rather than allowing short-term overload; larger rooms and bass-heavy playback still benefit from a subwoofer. GLM calibration requires separate network hardware, and connectivity is studio-centric—analog/AES XLR with no consumer streaming. The compact dual racetrack woofers cannot match larger Genelec Ones for deep-bass headroom, and passive sensitivity is not applicable because all filtering and amplification are internal.
Full Genelec 8331A review and specifications →
| Amplification | 72W LF + 36W MF + 36W HF |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 39Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 49Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 12"H x 7.4"W x 8.3"D (305 x 189 x 212 mm) |
| Drivers | Dual 130x65mm woofers; 90mm coaxial mid; 19mm tweeter |
| Maximum Output | 100dB at 3m before protection (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | Not applicable (active DSP loudspeaker) |
| Weight | 14.8 lbs / 6.7kg each |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Genelec 8020D: $1100 Bhphotovideo
Pros: Klippel-based spinorama measurements show a flat, well-behaved on-axis response from about 60Hz to 10kHz, with listening-window and early-reflections curves tracking closely together - a sign of well-controlled directivity. Horizontal directivity holds tight out to about ±30 degrees before starting to narrow. Applying EQ correction visibly closes the gap between the on-axis and predicted in-room curves, raising the calculated on-axis preference score from 5.4 to 6.4 and the in-room score from 5.6 to 6.6 - a straightforward, worthwhile tuning target for anyone using it with room correction.
Cons: Sound power rolls off starting around 500Hz-1kHz as the small 4.1” woofer/tweeter pair begins to beam, a typical trait of small nearfield monitors at this price. Off-axis response (measured out to 90 degrees) narrows noticeably above 1kHz, so off-center listening loses top-end energy. High price for the driver size.
Full Genelec 8020D review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 50Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 56Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Dimensions | 9.5"H x 5.8"W x 5.6"D (241.3 x 147.3 x 142.2 mm) |
| Drivers | 4.1" woofer, 0.75" metal dome tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (Bass tilt, desk proximity) |
| Frequency Response | 56 Hz - 25 kHz (-6 dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | XLR |
| Max SPL | 103dB @ 1m |
| Output Power | 100W (50W woofer + 50W tweeter) |
| Weight | 7.1 lbs / 3.2 kg each |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Audio Science Review Measurements
- DSAUDIO.review: Genelec 8020D vs Yamaha HS5 Soun & Frequency Response Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: Genelec 8020D vs Yamaha HS8 Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: Neumann KH80 DSP vs Genelec 8020D Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: IK Multimedia iLoud MTM vs Genelec 8020D Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: KEF LSX vs Genelec 8020D Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: Genelec 8020D vs Adam Audo T5V Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: Genelec 8020D & KRK Rokit 5 G4 PR5G4 - Same, same, but different Sound & Response Comparison
- Reddit Search for Genelec 8020D Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons