Short answer: it depends. The Genelec 8331A brings point-source directivity and pinpoint imaging, though it is expensive and its protection circuit mutes near its limit. The Neumann KH80 DSP crosses a 1” waveguide tweeter to a 4” mid-woofer near 1.8kHz with 48dB/octave slopes, but it is expensive for its size.
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 $5,750 a 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.
What the Neumann KH80 DSP offers: Compact 2-way nearfield monitor - a 1” tweeter in an elliptical waveguide over a 4” mid-woofer, crossed over around 1.8kHz with steep 48dB/octave slopes. Watch for: High price for its size, at $1,198 a pair.
Buy the Genelec 8331A if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Neumann KH80 DSP if the price matters more than sound quality.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Genelec 8331A | Neumann KH80 DSP | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $5750 per pair | $1,198 per pair |
| Ranked | #1 of 68 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #4 of 68 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 49Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 57Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 39Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 51Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Maximum SPL | 100dB at 3m before protection (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 110.7dB @ 1m (manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | 72W LF + 36W MF + 36W HF | 140W (90W woofer + 50W tweeter) |
| Drivers | Dual 130x65mm woofers; 90mm coaxial mid; 19mm tweeter | 4.1” woofer, 1” fabric dome tweeter |
| Dimensions | 12”H x 7.4”W x 8.3”D (305 x 189 x 212 mm) | 13.6”H x 10.8”W x 9.6”D (345.4 x 274.3 x 243.8 mm) |
| Weight | 14.8 lbs (6.7kg) each | 9 lbs (4.1 kg) each |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.57 | 5.89 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 8.51 | 8.25 |
| Inputs | XLR, AES/EBU | XLR |
| XLR Input | Yes | Yes |
| RCA Input | No | No |
| TRS Input | No | No |
| Optical Input | No | No |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | No |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | Yes | No |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| Frequency Response | 45Hz - 37kHz (-6dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 57 Hz - 25 kHz (+-3 dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| App | - | Yes (MA 1 alignment) |
| DSP | - | Yes |
| EQ | - | Yes (via DSP) |
| Sensitivity | - | 91.9dB (measured at 0.3V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Genelec 8331A compares with other leading options:
- Genelec 8331A vs Neumann KH120 MKII
- Genelec 8331A vs Genelec 8030C
- Dynaudio LYD 5 vs Genelec 8331A
- Genelec 8331A vs Genelec 8330A
- Genelec 8320A vs Genelec 8331A
Prices on this page were last checked October 2, 2026 at 10:18 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
Genelec 8331A: $5750 per pair B&H Photo Video eBay
Pros: Erin’s Klippel measurements support its reference-monitor credentials: a 1.4dB response span from 300Hz to 5kHz, low listening-window and predicted-room irregularity, and preference scores of 6.57 standalone and 8.51 with an ideal subwoofer. The coaxial mid/tweeter and concealed woofers maintain coherent radiation as listening position changes. Bass reaches -3dB around 48Hz, and GLM adds level, delay and room-response calibration. Measured bass extension of 49Hz (-3dB).
Cons: Expensive, with studio-oriented XLR connectivity rather than consumer streaming. The compact woofers still limit deep-bass output, and the review reports protection muting when pushed beyond its operating range. GLM calibration hardware is an additional purchase. Its excellent tonal score does not remove the need for a subwoofer or larger monitor at demanding levels.
Full Genelec 8331A review and specifications →
| AES Input | Yes |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 72W LF + 36W MF + 36W HF |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 39Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 49Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| 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 |
| Frequency Response | 45Hz - 37kHz (-6dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | XLR, AES/EBU |
| Maximum SPL | 100dB at 3m before protection (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Optical Input | No |
| RCA Input | No |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.57 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 8.51 |
| TRS Input | No |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 14.8 lbs (6.7kg) each |
| XLR Input | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Neumann KH80 DSP: $1,198 per pair Amazon B&H Photo Video eBay
Pros: ASR’s selected Klippel measurement has a 1.4dB midrange response span and virtually no overall on-axis tilt. Scores of 5.89 standalone and 8.25 with an ideal subwoofer indicate excellent tonal accuracy in a compact monitor. The waveguide and steep crossover provide useful control of reflected sound, while placement filters help compensate for a desk or nearby boundaries. Existing multitone testing supports good moderate-level clarity. Measured bass extension of 57Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 91.9dB.
Cons: Bass reaches -3dB around 59Hz in this measurement, less deep than the KH120 II. Output protection and increasing multitone distortion limit loud listening, especially in the bass. Room reflections and listening distance can alter perceived treble balance despite its flat direct response. Calibration equipment adds to the cost; the preference score is not a measurement of maximum clean output. It is expensive for its size.
Full Neumann KH80 DSP review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 140W (90W woofer + 50W tweeter) |
| App | Yes (MA 1 alignment) |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 51Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 57Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| DSP | Yes |
| Dimensions | 13.6”H x 10.8”W x 9.6”D (345.4 x 274.3 x 243.8 mm) |
| Drivers | 4.1” woofer, 1” fabric dome tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (via DSP) |
| Frequency Response | 57 Hz - 25 kHz (+-3 dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | XLR |
| Maximum SPL | 110.7dB @ 1m (manufacturer specified) |
| Optical Input | No |
| RCA Input | No |
| Sensitivity | 91.9dB (measured at 0.3V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.89 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 8.25 |
| TRS Input | No |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 9 lbs (4.1 kg) each |
| XLR Input | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Erin’s Audio Corner: Neumann KH 80 Studio Monitor Review. Excellent Performance. Small Size. More from Erin’s Audio Corner →
- Erin’s Audio Corner Review Measurements
- Audio Science Review Measurements More from Audio Science Review →
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- Audio Science Review Measurements (spinorama.org)
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