These sit in different size classes, so this is not a straight ranking comparison. The Genelec 8381A ranks #1 of 15 powered floorstanding speakers by sound quality at $64,000; the Genelec 8361A ranks #6 of 119 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality at $11,700.
Why pick the Genelec 8381A: A giant flagship studio main monitor with full range bass and enormous output, so it needs no subwoofer, plus room calibration. The catch: Only listening reviews have been published, so its tonal balance and directivity can’t be compared with ranked speakers.
The case for the Genelec 8361A: Big coaxial studio monitors with highly accurate sound, deep bass, and the headroom to play cleanly from farther away. The catch: Its larger size buys headroom, not uniformly better tonality than the smaller Ones models.
Buy the Genelec 8381A at $64,000 if you want a powered floorstanding speaker. Buy the Genelec 8361A at $11,700 if you want a powered bookshelf speaker instead.
Worth knowing: the Genelec 8381A has not been measured yet. Its rating is estimated from related models, with a likely range of 4.7 to 5.0, so treat this verdict as provisional.
Still deciding? The full Powered Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Prices on this page were last checked November 14, 2026 at 6:17 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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Specifications Side By Side
| Genelec 8381A | Genelec 8361A | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $64,000 per pair | $11,700 per pair |
| Ranked | #1 of 15 in Large Size Powered Floorstanding Speakers Estimated | #6 of 119 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Dimensions | 57.4”H x 19.7”W x 27.3”D (1458 x 500 x 694 mm) | 22.5”H x 14”W x 13.6”D (571.5 x 355.6 x 345.4 mm) |
| Weight | 357.1 lbs (162 kg) each | 70.3 lbs (31.9 kg) each |
| Drivers | 3x 15” (380mm) woofers, 4x 5” (125mm) midrange, 5” (125mm) coaxial midrange with 1” (25mm) coaxial tweeter | Dual 263 x 137 mm woofers, 5.1” coaxial with tweeter midrange, 1” (25mm) coaxial tweeter |
| Amplifier Power | 5426W Class D (external 3U rack amplifiers) | 1000w Per Speaker |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz - 35kHz (±1.5dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 30Hz - 43kHz (±2dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Maximum SPL | 126dB @ 1m (manufacturer specified) | 118dB @ 1m (manufacturer specified) |
| DSP | Yes | Yes |
| EQ | Yes (via GLM software) | Yes (via GLM software) |
| App | Yes (GLM) | Yes (GLM) |
| Inputs | XLR, AES/EBU | XLR |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| XLR Input | Yes | Yes |
| RCA Input | No | No |
| TRS Input | No | No |
| AES Input | Yes | No |
| Optical Input | No | No |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | No |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 29Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | - | 34Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | - | 6.76 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | - | 8.08 |
Where the Ratings Come From
- Genelec 8381A: reviews by Erin’s Audio Corner, Sound On Sound and What Hi-Fi?.
- Genelec 8361A: Spinorama.org measurements and reviews by Erin’s Audio Corner.
This comparison is generated from the ratings, specifications and measurements on each product’s own page, and it updates when that data changes. How we rank explains how each rating is decided.
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