Short answer: the Genelec 8030C for better sound quality, the IK Multimedia iLoud MTM MKII for the lower price. The Genelec 8030C ranks #3 of 58 powered bookshelf speakers at $1590. The IK Multimedia iLoud MTM MKII ranks #20 at $799.99, $790.01 cheaper.
What the IK Multimedia iLoud MTM MKII offers: Compact MTM layout (two 3.5” midwoofers flanking a 1” tweeter) powered monitor rated at 100W per speaker with XLR input, sold as a pair with an ARC room-correction microphone included. Well-suited to nearfield desktop use, with linearity good enough for mixing or mastering. The bundled auto room-correction mic is genuinely effective - in testing it resolved specific room resonance peaks around 150Hz and 220Hz, making the midrange sound noticeably more lifelike. Back-panel switches allow desktop vs. free-field placement plus treble and bass trim. Harmonic distortion is good at a moderate 86dB output, appropriate for a speaker of this size. Watch for: Native treble tuning still runs about 3dB hot on-axis; the back-panel -3dB treble switch overcorrects, and roughly -1.5dB via external EQ works better. Vertical MTM lobing means staying within about 20-25° of the tweeter axis, or the upper-midrange to treble transition suffers significant suckout - the speaker should never be laid on its side unless the tweeter is pointed directly at the listener, or comb filtering results. Bass falls off sharply below its F3 of 51Hz (F10 45Hz), so a subwoofer is needed for anything lower. Multitone distortion rises sharply at 96dB/1m, and the reviewer recommends not exceeding about 86dB for extended listening at any distance - broadband output for the pair tops out around 94dB at 1 meter, with dynamic range essentially collapsing approaching 102dB. Horizontal directivity narrows with frequency rather than staying constant. Adding a subwoofer with an 80Hz crossover doesn’t meaningfully improve the distortion headroom, even though it does extend the low end.
What the Genelec 8030C offers: CEA2034 spinorama shows a near-flat on-axis response with smooth directivity - “very nice overall.” Predicted in-room response is excellent aside from one minor dip. Reasonably wide horizontal beamwidth of about ±60 degrees that doesn’t narrow even above 10kHz. At 106dB SPL/1m, bass distortion measures much lower than a comparable passive speaker-plus-amplifier combination (Revel M106) tested the same way. Compression is purely instantaneous/amplitude-related rather than thermal, with max SPL before compression reaching 111dB SPL at 200Hz (96dB plus 15dB of headroom). The reviewer found it immediately musical, with reference tracks “translating” beautifully out of the box, and EQ correction of its one measured flaw improved detail with no downsides. Overall conclusion: excellent value, a rare combination of measured accuracy and genuinely engaging sound. Watch for: A minor but measurable dip between 2-3kHz shows up in both on- and off-axis measurements. Vertical directivity varies significantly with frequency, so listening height needs to stay right at the tweeter/ear axis for accurate tonal balance. Distortion at 106dB SPL/1m is elevated in the 500Hz-2kHz range compared to the Revel M106 comparison, even though bass distortion is much better. Compression headroom drops substantially at low frequencies - only about 105dB SPL max at 50Hz (a 0.5dB compression point) versus 111dB SPL at 200Hz, roughly a 6dB difference. As a near-field monitor, it has genuinely limited headroom in the deep bass - the reviewer noted severe distortion on deep-bass-heavy tracks at anything beyond modest listening levels.
Buy the IK Multimedia iLoud MTM MKII if the price matters more than sound quality. Buy the Genelec 8030C if sound quality matters more than the price.
Specifications Side By Side
| IK Multimedia iLoud MTM MKII | Genelec 8030C | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $799.99 | $1590 |
| Ranked | #20 of 58 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #3 of 58 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Dimensions | 10.4"H x 5.1"W x 6.3"D (264.2 x 129.5 x 160 mm) | 11.7"H x 7.4"W x 7"D (297.2 x 188 x 177.8 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 48 Hz - 28 kHz (±2dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 54Hz - 20kHz (±2.5dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 52.7Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 59Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 46.3Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 47Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Inputs | XLR | XLR |
| Drivers | 2x 3.5" (89mm) woofers, 1" silk dome tweeter | 5.1" woofer, 0.75" metal dome tweeter |
| App | Yes (X-MONITOR speaker emulation) | No |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| EQ | Yes (Room adjustment) | Yes (Bass tilt, treble tilt, room response) |
| Output Power | 100w Per Speaker | 100W (50W woofer + 50W tweeter) |
| Weight | 5.5 lbs / 2.5 kg (5.5 lbs) each | 11 lbs / 5 kg each |
| Max SPL | 112.5dB peak | 110dB @ 1m |
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- Neumann KH120 MKII vs Kali Audio IN-5
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- IK Multimedia iLoud MTM vs Genelec 8030C
- Genelec 8030C vs Genelec 8320A
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The Two Speakers In Full
IK Multimedia iLoud MTM MKII: $799.99 Amazon eBay
Pros: Compact MTM layout (two 3.5” midwoofers flanking a 1” tweeter) powered monitor rated at 100W per speaker with XLR input, sold as a pair with an ARC room-correction microphone included. Well-suited to nearfield desktop use, with linearity good enough for mixing or mastering. The bundled auto room-correction mic is genuinely effective - in testing it resolved specific room resonance peaks around 150Hz and 220Hz, making the midrange sound noticeably more lifelike. Back-panel switches allow desktop vs. free-field placement plus treble and bass trim. Harmonic distortion is good at a moderate 86dB output, appropriate for a speaker of this size.
Cons: Native treble tuning still runs about 3dB hot on-axis; the back-panel -3dB treble switch overcorrects, and roughly -1.5dB via external EQ works better. Vertical MTM lobing means staying within about 20-25° of the tweeter axis, or the upper-midrange to treble transition suffers significant suckout - the speaker should never be laid on its side unless the tweeter is pointed directly at the listener, or comb filtering results. Bass falls off sharply below its F3 of 51Hz (F10 45Hz), so a subwoofer is needed for anything lower. Multitone distortion rises sharply at 96dB/1m, and the reviewer recommends not exceeding about 86dB for extended listening at any distance - broadband output for the pair tops out around 94dB at 1 meter, with dynamic range essentially collapsing approaching 102dB. Horizontal directivity narrows with frequency rather than staying constant. Adding a subwoofer with an 80Hz crossover doesn’t meaningfully improve the distortion headroom, even though it does extend the low end.
Full IK Multimedia iLoud MTM MKII review and specifications →
| App | Yes (X-MONITOR speaker emulation) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 46.3Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 52.7Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Dimensions | 10.4"H x 5.1"W x 6.3"D (264.2 x 129.5 x 160 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 3.5" (89mm) woofers, 1" silk dome tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (Room adjustment) |
| Frequency Response | 48 Hz - 28 kHz (±2dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | XLR |
| Max SPL | 112.5dB peak |
| Output Power | 100w Per Speaker |
| Weight | 5.5 lbs / 2.5 kg (5.5 lbs) each |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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- IK Multimedia iLoud MTM MKII vs JBL 705P
- IK Multimedia iLoud MTM MKII vs Airpulse A100
- IK Multimedia iLoud MTM MKII vs KEF LS50 Wireless II
- IK Multimedia iLoud MTM MKII vs Kali Audio IN-5
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- See all 39 comparisons
Genelec 8030C: $1590 Bhphotovideo eBay
Pros: CEA2034 spinorama shows a near-flat on-axis response with smooth directivity - “very nice overall.” Predicted in-room response is excellent aside from one minor dip. Reasonably wide horizontal beamwidth of about ±60 degrees that doesn’t narrow even above 10kHz. At 106dB SPL/1m, bass distortion measures much lower than a comparable passive speaker-plus-amplifier combination (Revel M106) tested the same way. Compression is purely instantaneous/amplitude-related rather than thermal, with max SPL before compression reaching 111dB SPL at 200Hz (96dB plus 15dB of headroom). The reviewer found it immediately musical, with reference tracks “translating” beautifully out of the box, and EQ correction of its one measured flaw improved detail with no downsides. Overall conclusion: excellent value, a rare combination of measured accuracy and genuinely engaging sound.
Cons: A minor but measurable dip between 2-3kHz shows up in both on- and off-axis measurements. Vertical directivity varies significantly with frequency, so listening height needs to stay right at the tweeter/ear axis for accurate tonal balance. Distortion at 106dB SPL/1m is elevated in the 500Hz-2kHz range compared to the Revel M106 comparison, even though bass distortion is much better. Compression headroom drops substantially at low frequencies - only about 105dB SPL max at 50Hz (a 0.5dB compression point) versus 111dB SPL at 200Hz, roughly a 6dB difference. As a near-field monitor, it has genuinely limited headroom in the deep bass - the reviewer noted severe distortion on deep-bass-heavy tracks at anything beyond modest listening levels.
Full Genelec 8030C review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 47Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 59Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Dimensions | 11.7"H x 7.4"W x 7"D (297.2 x 188 x 177.8 mm) |
| Drivers | 5.1" woofer, 0.75" metal dome tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (Bass tilt, treble tilt, room response) |
| Frequency Response | 54Hz - 20kHz (±2.5dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | XLR |
| Max SPL | 110dB @ 1m |
| Output Power | 100W (50W woofer + 50W tweeter) |
| Weight | 11 lbs / 5 kg each |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons