Short answer: the Genelec 8351B for flat response at any angle, the Focal Alpha 65 EVO for soundstage and definition. The 8351B’s spinorama is exceptionally flat on and off axis, though deep bass distortion rises at 96dB SPL/1m and the reviewer notes deep bass suffers below about 100Hz. The Focal is very neutral with better soundstage and instrument definition than the HS8, but it ignores sub-bass and its LF/HF trims lack a center detent.
On the Focal Alpha 65 EVO side: Very neutral, not quite as good as the Klasik 2020 in the midrange, but with better soundstage and instrument definition than the HS8. Set against that: Ignores sub-bass, and the LF/HF trim dials lack a center detent so getting back to flat takes trial and error.
Buy the Genelec 8351B when sound quality outweighs the price for you, and the Focal Alpha 65 EVO when the price outweighs sound quality instead.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Powered Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Genelec 8351B | Focal Alpha 65 EVO | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $9150 per pair | $998 per pair |
| Ranked | #4 of 68 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #51 of 68 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 28Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 36Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 33Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 45Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Dimensions | 17”H x 11.3”W x 10.9”D (431.8 x 287 x 276.9 mm) | 13.4”H x 10.3”W x 11.4”D (340.4 x 261.6 x 289.6 mm) |
| Inputs | XLR | TRS, XLR, RCA |
| Weight | 31.1 lbs (14.1 kg) each | 16.8 lbs (7.6 kg) each |
| Drivers | 8.6” woofer, 5” coaxial with tweeter midrange, 0.75” (19mm) coaxial tweeter | 6.5” (165mm) woofer |
| App | Yes (GLM) | No |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| DSP | Yes | No |
| EQ | Yes (via GLM software) | Yes (Room adjustment) |
| Frequency Response | 32Hz - 40kHz (±1.5dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 40Hz - 22kHz (+-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Amplifier Power | 550w Per Speaker | 85w Per Speaker |
| Maximum SPL | 113dB @ 1m (manufacturer specified) | - |
| XLR Input | Yes | Yes |
| RCA Input | No | Yes |
| TRS Input | No | Yes |
| Optical Input | No | No |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | No |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Spinorama Preference Score | - | 4.71 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | - | 6.59 |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Genelec 8351B compares with other leading options:
- Genelec 8351B vs Neumann KH420
- Genelec 8351B vs Genelec 8361A
- Genelec 8351B vs Neumann KH 150
- Genelec 8351B vs Aalto Speakers Aalto 3 Active Pro
- Genelec 8351B vs Neumann KH 310 A
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 8351B: $9150 per pair B&H Photo Video eBay
Pros: The vertical ASR measurement scores 7.75 with an ideal subwoofer and reaches 35.2Hz at -3dB. Coaxial midrange and treble help maintain consistent sound as the listening angle changes. Low measured distortion at ordinary listening levels and GLM calibration make it a strong precision-monitoring choice. Measured bass extension of 33Hz (-3dB).
Cons: Bass distortion increases at higher playback levels, so a subwoofer remains useful for demanding material. Upper-treble distortion in the test also cautions against assuming unlimited output. Calibration hardware adds to an already expensive system, and the quoted result is for the measured vertical orientation.
Full Genelec 8351B review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 550w Per Speaker |
| App | Yes (GLM) |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 28Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 33Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| DSP | Yes |
| Dimensions | 17”H x 11.3”W x 10.9”D (431.8 x 287 x 276.9 mm) |
| Drivers | 8.6” woofer, 5” coaxial with tweeter midrange, 0.75” (19mm) coaxial tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (via GLM software) |
| Frequency Response | 32Hz - 40kHz (±1.5dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | XLR |
| Maximum SPL | 113dB @ 1m (manufacturer specified) |
| Optical Input | No |
| RCA Input | No |
| TRS Input | No |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 31.1 lbs (14.1 kg) each |
| XLR Input | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Genelec 8351B vs Neumann KH420
- Genelec 8351B vs Genelec 8361A
- Genelec 8351B vs Neumann KH 150
- Genelec 8351B vs Aalto Speakers Aalto 3 Active Pro
- Genelec 8351B vs Neumann KH 310 A
- Genelec 8351B vs HEDD Type 20 MK2
- Genelec 8351B vs SHIVAUDYO Point Zero
- Genelec 8351B vs JBL 308P MKII
- See all 27 comparisons
Focal Alpha 65 EVO: $998 per pair Amazon eBay
Pros: ASR measured 42.5Hz -3dB extension, providing useful low-end reach for music. Analog input options and tonal controls make it straightforward to integrate into a studio, with a 6.59 ideal-subwoofer score indicating respectable but not leading tonality. Measured bass extension of 45Hz (-3dB).
Cons: The measured 2.7dB response span from 300Hz to 5kHz and listening-window variation do not support a claim of reference-level neutrality. Placement and external correction may help. An anomalous distortion result from an individual sample should not be treated as a proven defect in every unit.
Full Focal Alpha 65 EVO review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 85w Per Speaker |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 36Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 45Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| DSP | No |
| Dimensions | 13.4”H x 10.3”W x 11.4”D (340.4 x 261.6 x 289.6 mm) |
| Drivers | 6.5” (165mm) woofer |
| EQ | Yes (Room adjustment) |
| Frequency Response | 40Hz - 22kHz (+-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | TRS, XLR, RCA |
| Optical Input | No |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.71 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.59 |
| TRS Input | Yes |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 16.8 lbs (7.6 kg) each |
| XLR Input | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Audio Science Review Measurements More from Audio Science Review →
- DSAUDIO.review: DSAUDIO.review Focal Alpha 65 EVO vs Yamaha HS8 sound.DEMO More from DSAUDIOreview →
- DSAUDIO.review: DSAUDIO.review Focal Alpha 65 EVO vs Focal Alpha 65 sound.DEMO
- DSAUDIO.review: DSAUDIO.review Focal Alpha 65 EVO vs Kali Audio IN-5 sound.DEMO
- DSAUDIO.review: DSAUDIO.review Focal Alpha 50 EVO vs Focal Alpha 65 EVO sound.DEMO
- DSAUDIO.review: DSAUDIO.review Focal Alpha 65 EVO vs Adam Audio A7X sound.DEMO
- DSAUDIO.review: DSAUDIO.review Focal Alpha 65 EVO vs Adam Audio T7V sound.DEMO
- Audio Science Review Measurements (spinorama.org)
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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