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— A historical look at the pioneer
in Active Monitoring technology —
— When the first Genelec Active Monitoring
Loudspeaker, the S30, was introduced twenty-five years ago,
listeners were stunned by its ability to reproduce sound
with remarkable accuracy. Since its inception in 1978, Genelec
has concentrated its efforts and resources into the design
and manufacturing of active monitoring loudspeakers for
true and accurate sound reproduction. Genelec is credited
with promoting the concept of active monitors, a trend in
technology that many manufacturers are just now incorporating
into their products. To this day, Genelec continues to advance
the art of active transducer technology with products specifically
designed for the professional recording, project, postproduction,
broadcast, and high-end home theater/custom install markets.
Based on the shore of Lake Porovesi in Iisalmi,
Finland, Genelec OY was founded in 1978 by Mr. Ilpo Martikainen,
President, Mr. Topi Partanen, Vice President & Technical
Director, and Ms. Ritva Leinonen, Financial Director. Twenty-five
years later, the three original principals are still actively
running the company.
Genelec was launched when the original three
founders were awarded the contract to design and manufacture
monitoring loudspeakers for a new broadcast complex being
built by the Finnish Broadcasting Corporation in Helsinki,
Finland. As a result, Genelec established an early reputation
mainly with broadcasters in Scandinavia and Europe, which
still remains an important customer base for the company.
However, in the mid-1980s, Genelec saw the opportunity to
expand its market segment to include the music industry
and recording studios.
In the late 1980s, intensive R&D efforts
were devoted toward the design of a new large monitor for
the main control rooms of recording studios, which ultimately
resulted in the introduction of the Model 1035A at the 1989
AES Convention in Hamburg, Germany. Extremely high standards
were set for the design criteria on this product, including
the use of Genelec’s proprietary Directivity Control
Waveguide Technology™ (DCW, circa 1983) and the development
of an exclusive midrange driver capable of producing very
high SPLs with extremely low distortion. The 1035A monitor
was immediately accepted as the new reference standard for
the recording industry, and Genelec monitor loudspeakers
rapidly found their way into many of the most prestigious
studios in England, Japan, and the United States. The introduction
of the 1035A immediately helped to solidify Genelec’s
world-renowned reputation for the design and manufacture
of the finest audio monitors available.
The creation and development of the original
1035A monitor was the foundation for Genelec’s 1030
range of Active DCW™-equipped monitors. Today, the
company manufactures a wide array of active monitors for
the recording studio, broadcast, postproduction, project
studio, and home theater/surround sound markets. Other products
currently in the Genelec line include the 1034B, 1034BC,
1039A, 1035B, and 1036A Main Control Room Monitors; Bi-amplified
Active Monitors include the 1029A, 1030A, 1031A and 1032A;
Digital Bi-amplified Active Monitors include the 2029A and
2029B; and Tri-amplified Active models include the S30D,
1037B, 1038A, and 1038AC.
As the high-end consumer audio market evolved,
Genelec Active Monitors found their way into home theater
and surround sound installations. Genelec was then asked
by consumers and custom installers to develop specific products
for the Home Theater market. The criteria was to develop
an Active Home Theater Monitoring line with the ability
to handle extremely high SPLs, and with the wide dynamic
range necessary to meet the needs of today’s home
theater audiophile. This R&D effort resulted in the
launch of a new dedicated line of Active Home Theater products
— the HT line, which was introduced at the 1999 Hi-Fi
Show in Chicago, IL. Since its original introduction, the
HT line of Active Home Theater Systems has continued to
evolve and currently includes: the HT205, HT206, HT208,
and HT210 Two Way Bi-amplified Active Monitors; the HTS3,
HTS4, and HTS6 Active Subwoofer Monitor Systems; and the
AIW26 Active In-wall Monitor System. In addition, to provide
an interface between unbalanced single source outputs and
Genelec’s Active Home Theater Systems or Professional
Audio Monitors, Genelec developed the DI8A Active Balancer,
which converts an unbalanced line signal to a balanced line
signal, minimizing its susceptibility to electronic interference
and maximizing its sonic performance.
At the 2002 NAMM Winter Session in Anaheim,
California, Genelec once again stunned the professional
audio community by unveiling prototypes of what was to become
an entirely new range of active subwoofers, employing its
proprietary Laminar Spiral Enclosure™ (LSE) technology.
Developed by Genelec’s award winning R&D team
in Finland, this radically innovative design dramatically
alters how high level, low frequency acoustic energy is
delivered to any critical-listening acoustic space. The
result of LSE™ technology is that acoustic non-linearities
from port turbulence are virtually eliminated, creating
a smooth sounding “laminar flow” of low frequency
energy emanating from the rigid, tuned enclosures of the
LSE Series. When combined with the latest 6.1 bass management
technology, the LSE Series delivers high-velocity, low turbulence
sound that enhances any professional multi-channel or stereo
playback environment. Current models of the LSE Series of
Active Subwoofers include the 7050A, 7060A, 7070A, and 7071A.
The following year, the company expanded its subwoofer line
with the launch of its largest subwoofer to date, the 7073A
Active Subwoofer. Designed for large-scale installations
in either stereo or surround, the 7073A features four 12"
drivers, fast-acting, low distortion amplifiers, 124 dB
SPL capability down to 19 Hz, plus a full 6.1-capable bass
management system.
On October 5, 2002, at the 113th AES Convention
in Los Angeles, Genelec introduced a comprehensive multi-channel
monitoring system specifically designed for postproduction
suites and recording studios with control rooms measuring
less than 3000 cubic feet
(W x D x H). The 1029.LSE PowerPak™ system, consisting
of five Genelec 1029A two way, bi-amplified active monitors,
one Genelec 7060A LSE Series Active Subwoofer, and a Genelec
Acousti/Tape™ frequency/wavelength measuring tape,
simplified the process of creating a new multi-channel monitoring
system or upgrading an existing stereo monitoring environment
to 5.1 surround at an extremely affordable price point.
The system immediately received rave editorial reviews from
all the leading publications and journalists in the audio
industry. Three months later at the 2003 NAMM Winter Session
in Anaheim, Genelec hit a home run with the introduction
of the new Triple Play™ compact full-range stereo
monitoring system. Designed to meet the needs of the project,
recording, multimedia, or postproduction studio environment,
the Triple Play system consists of two Genelec 1029A two
way, bi-amplified active monitors plus Genelec’s 7050A
LSE Series Active Subwoofer. The system is able to deliver
smooth, clean, wideband sound with performance comparable
to much larger systems.
Over the years, Genelec has been presented
with numerous industry awards for its innovative designs
and technical excellence. These include: the 1990 Finland
Enterpriser of the Year Award, 1993 Export Award of Fintra
(Finnish Foreign Trade Association), 1993 TEC Award for
the model 1038A, 1995 TEC Award for the model 1030A, 1995
Export Award of the President of Finland, 1995 Professional’s
Choice Award for the model 1031AP, and 1996 TEC Award for
the model 1039A. The 1029A/1091A Monitoring System has received
the 1996 PAR Excellence Award, 1996 EQ Blue Ribbon Award,
1997 BE Radio NAB Pick Hit Award, and 1997 Musician Magazine
Editor’s Pick Award. In addition, Genelec’s
1036A Main Control Room Monitoring System garnered a 1999
PAR Excellence Award and 2000 TEC Award, the LSE Active
Subwoofer Series received a 2002 EQ Blue Ribbon Award, and
most recently the 7073A Active Subwoofer was honored with
the 2003 EQ Blue Ribbon Award.
Genelec’s current range of products
is the most complete line of active monitoring loudspeakers
available from any manufacturer, definitively positioning
Genelec as the leader in its field. Genelec’s challenging
and original concept that “active” monitor loudspeakers
are necessary to achieve true and accurate sound reproduction
has gained widespread acceptance in the industry, resulting
in competitive manufacturers recognizing the importance
of the active monitor. When asked to comment on the company
philosophy, Genelec President Ilpo Martikainen replied,
“At Genelec, we simply design monitors that speak
the truth of the recording.”
...ends 1,308 words
Genelec, the pioneer in Active Monitoring
technology, was founded in 1978 and has concentrated its
efforts and resources into the design and manufacturing
of active monitoring loudspeakers with unparalleled sonic
accuracy. Genelec has been credited with promoting the concept
of active monitors, a trend in technology that some manufacturers
are just now incorporating into their products. Genelec
has a complete line of active main, mid-field, and near-field
monitors for application in the postproduction, project
studio, broadcast, TV, and CD mastering markets.
Other company and product names may be trademarks
of the respective companies with which they are associated.
—For more information on the complete range of Genelec
Active Monitoring Systems, contact: Genelec Inc., 7 Tech
Circle, Natick, MA 01760. Tel: (508) 652-0900; Fax: (508)
652-0909;
Web: http://www.genelecusa.com.
