Short answer: the Genelec 8361A for better sound quality, the Kali Audio IN-8 for the lower price. The Genelec 8361A ranks #5 of 40 powered bookshelf speakers at $10900. The Kali Audio IN-8 ranks #11 at $499, $10401 cheaper.
What the Genelec 8361A gets right: Three-way coaxial design: 5” mid-range with an inset 1” metal dome tweeter, flanked symmetrically above and below by two 10” front-loaded woofers. The catch: Approximately $11,000 per pair; Genelec’s GLM room-correction add-on (measurement mic plus software) is another ~$450 and wasn’t used in this review.
What the Kali Audio IN-8 offers: Three-way coaxial (coincident) driver in a front-ported cabinet, allowing near-wall placement without port noise issues; extensive dip switches handle boundary compensation. Watch for: Notable forwardness/brashness in the 4-5kHz range when listened to on-axis, needing about 10° of toe-out (Kali’s own recommendation for the coaxial design) plus some EQ to fully resolve.
Buy the Genelec 8361A if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Kali Audio IN-8 if the price matters more than sound quality.
Specifications Side By Side
| Genelec 8361A | Kali Audio IN-8 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $10900 | $499.00 |
| Ranked | #5 of 40 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #11 of 40 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 29Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 36Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 34Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 44Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 22.5"H x 14"W x 13.6"D (571.5 x 355.6 x 345.4 mm) | 17.8"H x 10"W x 11.3"D (452.1 x 254 x 287 mm) |
| Inputs | XLR | XLR, RCA |
| Drivers | Dual 263 x 137 mm woofers, 5.1" coaxial with tweeter midrange, 1" (25mm) coaxial tweeter | 8" (203mm) woofer |
| Weight | 70.3 lbs / 31.9 kg each | 22.9 lbs / 10.4 kg each |
| App | Yes (GLM) | No |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| DSP | Yes | No |
| EQ | Yes (via GLM software) | Yes (Room adjustment) |
| Frequency Response | 30Hz - 43kHz (±2dB) (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Max SPL | 118dB @ 1m | - |
| Output Power | 1000w Per Speaker | 140w Per Speaker |
| Sensitivity | - | 89dB (measured at 0.3V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
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- Genelec 8351B vs Genelec 8040B
- Neumann KH420 vs Focal Alpha 65 EVO
- Genelec 8361A vs Focal Alpha 65 EVO
- Genelec 8361A vs Kali Audio LP-6 V2
The Two Speakers In Full
Genelec 8361A: $10900 Bhphotovideo
Pros: Three-way coaxial design: 5” mid-range with an inset 1” metal dome tweeter, flanked symmetrically above and below by two 10” front-loaded woofers, giving nearly identical vertical response whether you’re sitting or standing. Wide, consistent horizontal radiation of about ±60°, very forgiving for multiple seats or a home-theater row. Distortion at both 86dB and 96dB/1m stays below roughly 1%, and multitone distortion is also under about 1% - among the cleanest speakers reviewed. Long-term compression is practically non-existent, with no woofer bottoming or audible intermodulation even driven to 90dB+ at 10 feet. In-room bass extension reaches down to about 35Hz without a subwoofer. Extensive back-panel tuning (bass rolloff, bass profile, treble profile, and a desk/console compensation switch) for boundary placement.
Cons: Approximately $11,000 per pair; Genelec’s GLM room-correction add-on (measurement mic plus software) is another ~$450 and wasn’t used in this review. Shows an on-axis dip around 200Hz that may be tied to some rear-panel radiation or resonance the reviewer couldn’t fully explain. In far-field listening there’s a mild upper-midrange/lower-treble rise (roughly 2-3kHz) that only smooths out with 5-10° of toe-out or closer near-field placement. Short-term compression testing shows some tweeter limiting, though it didn’t translate to audible issues in real-world listening. At about 70 lbs, awkward to lift onto a stand alone.
Full Genelec 8361A review and specifications →
| App | Yes (GLM) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 29Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 34Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| DSP | Yes |
| Dimensions | 22.5"H x 14"W x 13.6"D (571.5 x 355.6 x 345.4 mm) |
| Drivers | Dual 263 x 137 mm woofers, 5.1" coaxial with tweeter midrange, 1" (25mm) coaxial tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (via GLM software) |
| Frequency Response | 30Hz - 43kHz (±2dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | XLR |
| Max SPL | 118dB @ 1m |
| Output Power | 1000w Per Speaker |
| Weight | 70.3 lbs / 31.9 kg each |
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Kali Audio IN-8: $499.00 Amazon
Pros: Three-way coaxial (coincident) driver in a front-ported cabinet, allowing near-wall placement without port noise issues; extensive dip switches handle boundary compensation, plus XLR/TRS/RCA inputs and a gain-matching volume knob. A built-in limiter makes it essentially impossible to push into mechanical distress - no cabinet buzzing, woofer bottoming, or audible failure even driven hard to 80-95dB in testing. Distortion stays below 1% THD at 86dB and under 3% at 96dB, largely thanks to that limiter. Frequency response and dynamic behavior stay essentially unchanged from 76dB up to 96dB/1m before the limiter engages around 96-102dB. Bass extends smoothly to about 50Hz. A clear step up in linearity over the original V1 version both on-axis and in estimated in-room response, and eliminates the hiss that drew complaints on the V1. Excellent soundstage depth, a benefit typical of coaxial designs, at $800/pair.
Cons: Notable forwardness/brashness in the 4-5kHz range when listened to on-axis, needing about 10° of toe-out (Kali’s own recommendation for the coaxial design) plus some EQ to fully resolve. A dip near the tweeter/voice-coil transition, likely a cancellation effect from the coincident driver’s geometry, is also improved by toeing off-axis. Bass rolls off below about 50Hz, so heavy low-bass material still needs a subwoofer. A minor resonance around 160Hz occasionally made low vocals sound a bit “hot,” though the reviewer rates it minor (about 2/10 in severity). Horizontal soundstage is narrower than non-coaxial alternatives, a typical trade-off of coincident driver designs. Vertical placement tolerance is fairly tight - usable to about ±10°, degrading past ±20°. Designed as a near/midfield monitor for roughly 1-3m listening distances, not intended as a home-theater speaker.
Full Kali Audio IN-8 review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 36Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 44Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| DSP | No |
| Dimensions | 17.8"H x 10"W x 11.3"D (452.1 x 254 x 287 mm) |
| Drivers | 8" (203mm) woofer |
| EQ | Yes (Room adjustment) |
| Inputs | XLR, RCA |
| Output Power | 140w Per Speaker |
| Sensitivity | 89dB (measured at 0.3V/1m, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 22.9 lbs / 10.4 kg each |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons