Short answer: the Genelec 8351B. It ranks #6 of 31 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality; the SHIVAUDYO Point Zero ranks #14.
What the Genelec 8351B offers: CEA2034 spinorama shows exceptionally flat response both on- and off-axis. Watch for: Deep bass distortion rises substantially at higher output (96dB SPL/1m) - the reviewer notes “deep bass suffers” below about 100Hz.
What the SHIVAUDYO Point Zero offers: Three-way powered cardioid design: 1” waveguide-loaded dome tweeter and 6.5” mid-woofer up front, plus two opposing 8” side-firing subwoofers (sealed, Q=0.707) that cancel internal cabinet vibration. Watch for: Doesn’t extend quite as low nor match the output potential and linearity of the pricier Dutch & Dutch 8C.
Buy the Genelec 8351B if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the SHIVAUDYO Point Zero if the price matters more than sound quality.
Specifications Side By Side
| Genelec 8351B | SHIVAUDYO Point Zero | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $9150 | €6,500 |
| Ranked | #6 of 31 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #14 of 31 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 28Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 22Hz (measured on-axis, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 33Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 31Hz (measured on-axis, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 17"H x 11.3"W x 10.9"D (431.8 x 287 x 276.9 mm) | 15.7"H x 8.7"W x 15.4"D (400 x 220 x 390 mm) |
| Inputs | XLR | XLR, RCA, AES-EBU, S/PDIF, Toslink |
| Weight | 31.1 lbs / 14.1 kg each | 36.4 lbs / 16.5 kg (36 lbs) each |
| Drivers | 8.6" woofer, 5" coaxial with tweeter midrange, 0.75" (19mm) coaxial tweeter | 6.5" mid-woofer, 1" waveguide dome tweeter, 2x 8" side-firing subwoofers (opposed, vibration-cancelling) |
| App | Yes (GLM) | No |
| Bluetooth | No | - |
| DSP | Yes | Yes (Hypex, downloadable software, 3 bass presets) |
| EQ | Yes (via GLM software) | - |
| Frequency Response | 32Hz - 40kHz (±1.5dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 30Hz - 20kHz ±1dB (anechoic, Preset 1) |
| Max SPL | 113dB @ 1m | 110dB long-term, 116dB short-term, 120dB peak |
| Output Power | 550w Per Speaker | 600W total (300W subs + 200W mid-woofer + 100W tweeter, Hypex NCore) |
| Crossovers | - | 120Hz / 1600Hz, 4th-order Linkwitz-Riley |
| Sensitivity | - | 92.9dB (measured at 0.3V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner; Erin notes this figure is scaled rather than directly comparable to passive-speaker sensitivity) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Genelec 8361A vs HEDD Type 20 MK2
- Genelec 8361A vs Neumann KH420
- JBL M2 Master Reference Monitor vs Genelec 8361A
- JBL M2 Master Reference Monitor vs Genelec 8351B
- Genelec 8351B vs Neumann KH420
The Two Speakers In Full
Genelec 8351B: $9150 Bhphotovideo
Pros: CEA2034 spinorama shows exceptionally flat response both on- and off-axis. Predicted in-room response is “as good as it gets” - should sound very neutral in nearly any room. Horizontal beamwidth of about ±50 degrees is described by the reviewer as exceptionally smooth, a model example of well-executed directivity control. Vertical directivity is nearly as good as horizontal, a benefit of its coaxial driver design that’s rare among non-coaxial monitors. Distortion at 86dB SPL/1m is remarkably low - the reviewer says it’s “better than many headphones.”
Cons: Deep bass distortion rises substantially at higher output (96dB SPL/1m) - the reviewer notes “deep bass suffers” below about 100Hz. A distortion spike also appears near 8-10kHz at that same higher output level. Cumulative spectral decay (waterfall) measurements show resonances around 1-2kHz. Very expensive.
Full Genelec 8351B review and specifications →
| App | Yes (GLM) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 28Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 33Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bluetooth | 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) |
| Inputs | XLR |
| Max SPL | 113dB @ 1m |
| Output Power | 550w Per Speaker |
| Weight | 31.1 lbs / 14.1 kg each |
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SHIVAUDYO Point Zero: €6,500 Shivaudyo
Pros: Three-way powered cardioid design: 1” waveguide-loaded dome tweeter and 6.5” mid-woofer up front, plus two opposing 8” side-firing subwoofers (sealed, Q=0.707) that cancel internal cabinet vibration. Cardioid loading above roughly 200 Hz cuts rear-wall mid-range reflections, giving a more coherent, less smeared midrange when placed close to a wall, and letting you trade boundary gain for bass reinforcement. Hypex NCore amplification with built-in DSP (300W subs + 200W mid-woofer + 100W tweeter) and three selectable bass presets - full-range to 20 Hz, 30 Hz, or an 80 Hz high-pass - trading extension for extra SPL headroom. Tweeter hiss was inaudible even at full volume from about 1.5 feet away. Roughly half the price of the similarly-designed Dutch & Dutch 8C. Long-term SPL rated to 110 dB, with peaks to 120 dB.
Cons: Doesn’t extend quite as low nor match the output potential and linearity of the pricier Dutch & Dutch 8C. Erin’s measurements show the cardioid pattern doesn’t fully engage until about 200 Hz, versus SHIVAUDYO’s claimed 100 Hz. Sweet spot is narrow: you need to stay on-axis between the tweeter and mid-woofer, or vertical off-axis listening brings a significant suckout. Some “chesty” coloration turned up on certain female vocal tracks. In full-range preset, far-field listening at a few meters can trip the amplifier’s protection limiter, so the preset needs to be matched to room and listening distance.
Full SHIVAUDYO Point Zero review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 22Hz (measured on-axis, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 31Hz (measured on-axis, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Crossovers | 120Hz / 1600Hz, 4th-order Linkwitz-Riley |
| DSP | Yes (Hypex, downloadable software, 3 bass presets) |
| Dimensions | 15.7"H x 8.7"W x 15.4"D (400 x 220 x 390 mm) |
| Drivers | 6.5" mid-woofer, 1" waveguide dome tweeter, 2x 8" side-firing subwoofers (opposed, vibration-cancelling) |
| Frequency Response | 30Hz - 20kHz ±1dB (anechoic, Preset 1) |
| Inputs | XLR, RCA, AES-EBU, S/PDIF, Toslink |
| Max SPL | 110dB long-term, 116dB short-term, 120dB peak |
| Output Power | 600W total (300W subs + 200W mid-woofer + 100W tweeter, Hypex NCore) |
| Sensitivity | 92.9dB (measured at 0.3V/1m, Erin's Audio Corner; Erin notes this figure is scaled rather than directly comparable to passive-speaker sensitivity) |
| Weight | 36.4 lbs / 16.5 kg (36 lbs) each |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons