Short answer: the Neumann KH420. It ranks #2 of 20 powered bookshelf speakers at $10500; the Genelec 8361A ranks #3 and costs $10900, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The case for the Genelec 8361A: Three-way coaxial design: 5” mid-range with an inset 1” metal dome tweeter. Set against that: Approximately $11,000 per pair.
What the Neumann KH420 gets right: CEA2034 spinorama shows an extended, flat on-axis response that matches Neumann’s own published measurement to within 0.08dB at its one. Set against that: Horizontal beamwidth, while well controlled, is on the narrow side at about ±55 degrees.
Buy the Genelec 8361A if the price matters more than the ranking. Buy the Neumann KH420 if the ranking matters more than the price.
Specifications Side By Side
| Genelec 8361A | Neumann KH420 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $10900 | $10500 |
| Ranked | #3 of 20 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #2 of 20 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 29Hz | 24Hz |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 34Hz | 32Hz |
| Dimensions | 22.5"H x 14"W x 13.6"D (571.5 x 355.6 x 345.4 mm) | 25.4"H x 13"W x 17.5"D (645.2 x 330.2 x 444.5 mm) |
| Inputs | XLR | XLR |
| Drivers | Dual 263 x 137 mm woofers, 5.1" coaxial with tweeter midrange, 1" (25mm) coaxial tweeter | 10" woofer, 4" dome midrange, 1" fabric dome tweeter |
| Weight | 70.3 lbs / 31.9 kg each | 77.2 lbs / 35 kg each |
| App | Yes (GLM) | Yes (MA 1 alignment) |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| DSP | Yes | No |
| EQ | Yes (via GLM software) | Yes (Room response controls) |
| Frequency Response | 30Hz - 43kHz (±2dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 31Hz - 21kHz (±3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Max SPL | 118dB @ 1m | 124dB @ 1m |
| Output Power | 1000w Per Speaker | 555w Per Speaker |
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.
| App | Yes (GLM) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 29Hz |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 34Hz |
| 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 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Links
Neumann KH420: $10500 Bhphotovideo
Pros: CEA2034 spinorama shows an extended, flat on-axis response that matches Neumann’s own published measurement to within 0.08dB at its one minor dip (around 60Hz), with excellent off-axis behavior. Predicted in-room response is smooth and rated “excellent” by the reviewer. Horizontal beamwidth of about ±55 degrees is very well controlled and stays consistent across frequency. Distortion is low at 86dB SPL/1m. Exceptionally high sustained output capability - the reviewer needed to “hold on for dear life” during extreme-level testing at 7 feet, with bass output described as making the entire house resonate. Reviewer’s overall verdict was “Great,” placing it on the recommended list and calling it a speaker “you could buy and forget about upgrading ever again.”
Cons: Horizontal beamwidth, while well controlled, is on the narrow side at about ±55 degrees. Vertical directivity is more limited than horizontal - the reviewer recommends staying within about ±30 degrees of the reference axis (just below the tweeter waveguide edge). Distortion rises noticeably in the bass region at 96dB SPL/1m, with an unusual 3rd-harmonic uptick appearing near 10kHz at that output level. At 106dB SPL/1m, the tweeter’s protection limiting engages and the clipping indicator activates - a real, measurable output ceiling despite the speaker’s otherwise very high capability. Very expensive.
| App | Yes (MA 1 alignment) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 24Hz |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 32Hz |
| Bluetooth | No |
| DSP | No |
| Dimensions | 25.4"H x 13"W x 17.5"D (645.2 x 330.2 x 444.5 mm) |
| Drivers | 10" woofer, 4" dome midrange, 1" fabric dome tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (Room response controls) |
| Frequency Response | 31Hz - 21kHz (±3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | XLR |
| Max SPL | 124dB @ 1m |
| Output Power | 555w Per Speaker |
| Weight | 77.2 lbs / 35 kg each |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Links
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Product prices and availability were last checked August 9, 2026 at 6:57 AM UTC 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.