Genelec The Ones Review: 7 Years with the 8341A (Honest Opinion)

TL;DR: After 7 years with the Genelec 8341A monitors and 5 years with the 7360A subwoofer, I can say these are the best monitors I’ve ever owned. They’re incredibly accurate, adapt to problematic rooms with GLM calibration, and have made my mixing and mastering faster and more efficient. The only cons? They’re expensive, and sometimes they’re almost too accurate (if this makes sense 😀 ). If you’re serious about mixing and mastering and can afford the investment, these monitors are worth every penny.

A couple of years ago, I bought a pair of Genelec 8341A monitors. I promised myself I’d come back with an honest Genelec The Ones review after working with them for a while.

Well, it’s been 7 years now. And I have a lot to say.

If you’re searching for a real Genelec The Ones review from someone who actually uses them daily for mixing and mastering – not just a quick first impressions video – you’re in the right place.

I also made a video about this if you prefer watching:

Before we dive in – no one paid me to make this review. When I was searching for monitors, honest reviews helped me decide. Today I’m paying it forward for other audio producers.

Why I Chose Genelec The Ones

When I started searching for the right monitors, I had two main issues to deal with:

1. My home studio room – which is far from perfect
2. My budget

For a couple of months, I researched the best monitors on the market for mastering. I looked at Barefoot, PMC, KEF, and of course Genelec. Right about that time, I learned about Genelec’s new series called The Ones.

What I needed was a pair of highly accurate monitors that could adapt to my room – at a price I could actually afford. I wanted a high-end monitoring system that would sound the best it could in my home studio.

Since this was a long-term investment, I also wanted a system that would give me the same listening environment if I ever moved to another room or apartment.

After lots of research, I went with the Genelec 8341A and the GLM calibration kit.

Here’s what I’ve learned after more than 7 years.

Genelec The Ones Review: The Pros

1. They Sound Amazing (But Only If Calibrated)

If there’s one thing you take from this Genelec The Ones review, let it be this: buy the GLM calibration kit. This is a must if you want to get the full potential out of these monitors.

When I first connected them via analog to my interface, I played some of my favorite songs. Honestly? I wasn’t impressed. But remember – my room is far from perfect, and that was the problem.

So I calibrated them with GLM. Then I played “Ashes” by Celine Dion – the Deadpool 2 soundtrack.

I was blown away.

I could hear the sound of every soft breath. So many nuances I’d never heard before. It felt like I was part of that song. I could hear the separation between vocals, strings, and other instruments. It was almost as if I could reach out and touch Celine’s vocals.

I know this might sound like an exaggeration if you’ve never experienced it. But this is the most accurate description I can give you of my first listening experience after calibration.

For the first time ever, I understood what mastering engineers mean when they say a track sounds “tall.”

2. Incredible Customer Service

When I bought the 8341As, it was my first contact with Genelec. Their customer support helped me solve different issues, and whenever I had a problem or question, they were there until I was satisfied. One of the best customer service experiences I’ve had.

3. Depth and Separation Like Never Before

Before these monitors, when I needed to work on depth and separation between tracks, I mostly used headphones. The 8341As took my game to the next level.

Now I can hear exactly if what I’m doing helps create separation – and I can deal with depth in my mixes and masters much more effectively.

On a side note: these speakers revealed to me that one of my favorite reverbs was actually the main cause of losing clarity in my mixes. So I found another reverb and haven’t looked back.

4. Built to Last

These monitors are built from aluminum. They feel solid and professional. After 7 years, they still look and perform like new.

5. Less Ear Fatigue

I don’t know what the magic is – maybe the three-way design – but I can mix and master for longer hours without signs of fatigue. This was a noticeable difference from my previous monitors.

6. Wide Sweet Spot

I don’t have to stay glued to my listening position. I can move left, move right, and still have almost exactly the same stereo image as from the center position. That’s incredibly useful during long sessions.

7. Faster Mixing and Mastering

Since getting these monitors, I finish mixing and mastering sessions faster and more efficiently. Why? Because I can hear exactly what problems I need to fix – and what I can improve.

It’s like being inside the mix. You feel like you could touch the kick or the vocals and work on them directly. Fewer revisions, better results.

8. Low Volume Monitoring Works

I can mix and master at very low volume from about 3-4 feet (one meter) away. The clarity and transparency are maintained. This helps protect my ears long-term.

9. No Coloring

Before the 8341As, I worked with monitors that were pleasant to listen to. That was actually a problem – I loved how my mixes sounded on them, but in the real world, things were different.

These Genelecs don’t color the audio. What you hear is what you get.

10. Room Calibration

This was one of the main reasons I chose The Ones. My home studio room has an acoustic response that’s all over the place.

By calibrating the monitors with GLM, it’s almost like being in a properly treated studio. The software adapts the monitors to your specific room problems.

11. Seamless Subwoofer Integration

Most of the time, we have problematic rooms – and adding a subwoofer makes problems even bigger. How much volume should the sub have?

The GLM calibration kit solves this. It calibrates the monitors and subwoofer together so they work as one system.

Since 2007, when I created my first Pro Tools session, my dream was to have a monitoring system that could accurately reproduce 20 Hz to 20 kHz. Twelve years later, I finally got that.

The 8341As by themselves have a frequency response of 38 Hz to 37 kHz – which is impressive. But I knew I was missing the 20-38 Hz range. That’s why I added the 7360A subwoofer about a year after getting the monitors.

I expected more bass, more punch. Instead, I got more accuracy in the low and sub frequencies. Now I have complete frequency representation from 19 Hz to 20 kHz.

12. Hear the Smallest Changes

You know when audio gurus make 0.5 dB changes and ask “do you hear the difference?” I never could on my old monitors.

With these Genelecs, I can hear those small changes. It makes my decisions more efficient and my mixes better.

13. Level Monitoring

With the GLM software, you can control and watch your listening levels. This helps protect your ears and keeps you working longer without fatigue.

14. Three-Way Design

The three-way build is what makes Genelec The Ones special. It brings more accuracy to the stereo image and depth. I believe this is the main reason I was so impressed when I first heard them properly calibrated.

15. Great Warranty

Two years warranty plus five years for spare parts if you register on Genelec’s website.

Genelec The Ones Review: The Cons

I only have two cons. But they’re worth mentioning.

1. They’re Expensive

Getting these monitors was a big leap for me financially. They’re not affordable for everyone.

On the flip side, they hold their value well if you ever need to resell them. For more on monitor investment, check out my guide on how much mastering studio monitors cost.

2. Sometimes Too Accurate

This sounds strange, but sometimes I wish they colored the music more – like most studio monitors do. Listening to these is almost like listening to headphones, but at the complete frequency range and at much higher resolution.

But here’s the thing: this system is a business investment. I use them for work, and they help me do a very good job. I still enjoy them for listening pleasure, but sometimes it would be fun to have a “color the music” button.

Connect Them Digitally

One more thing – if you invest in this system, connect them digitally via AES/EBU.

When I first connected these monitors using analog inputs with expensive cables, I thought the sound was amazing. Then I connected them digitally.

That’s when the sound went to another level of clarity and accuracy.

I wrote a complete guide on how to connect Genelec monitors digitally if you want the step-by-step setup.

Are Genelec The Ones Perfect?

No.

A lot of audio producers prefer other studio monitors. After I got my Genelecs, I listened to a more expensive pair from another company. They weren’t bad – actually quite impressive. But they weren’t to my taste.

That’s when I realized Genelec The Ones are perfect for me and my needs.

We’re all different. We have different tastes, and we evolve. Maybe in a few years I’ll move to another system.

What I know is that after 7 years, I’m still pleased with my investment. And that’s the bottom line of this Genelec The Ones review – they’ve proven themselves over time.

Genelec The Ones Review: Key Takeaways

The Genelec 8341A with GLM calibration is ideal if:

• You have a problematic room that needs acoustic correction
• You want accuracy over pleasant coloring
• You’re serious about mixing and mastering as a career
• You can afford the investment

Consider other options if:

• Budget is tight (there are good monitors at lower price points)
• You prefer monitors that color the sound
• You already have a well-treated room and don’t need GLM calibration

Must-haves if you buy The Ones:

• The GLM calibration kit – don’t skip this
• Digital connection via AES/EBU for best results

My Complete Monitoring and Mastering Setup

If you’re curious about how these monitors fit into my full workflow, I also use SSL hardware for processing. You can read about how I use the SSL Fusion and Bus+ for mastering.

About Me

I’m Adrian Milea, a mixing and mastering engineer with over 25 years of experience. My work has been released by Armada Music and featured in DJ Mag. I run Best Audio Producer to help home producers get professional results without the guesswork.

Until next time, Stay Cool and Make Great Music!

-Adrian Milea

Ready to improve your mixing and mastering? Check out my Pro Audio Mastering course where I show you my complete workflow – including how I use this monitoring setup to make better decisions.