Genelec DSP 8260A Installation guide

The New 8260A Three-Way DSP Loudspeaker System
with Minimum Diffraction Coaxial
(MDC™) Technology
Leader in Active Monitoring since 1978
www.genelec.com

The New 8260A Three-Way DSP Loudspeaker System
with Minimum Diffraction Coaxial
(MDC™) Technology
Masterpiece In Electro-Acoustic Design
Genelec 8260A features major advances in audio driver
technology integrated to a sophisticated enclosure design.
Genelec MDC™ Minimum Diffraction Coaxial Mid/High
driver technology takes a big step in perfecting audio quality
in professional active studio monitors. This breakthrough in
coaxial driver design provides extremely accurate imaging
and improved sound quality both on the acoustical axis as well
as off-axis. The extremely smooth frequency response leads
to outstanding clarity and definition of the inner details of the
music. The 8260A combines, for the first time, a coaxial driver
(MDC™) with a modern Directivity Control Waveguide™
technology (DCW™), ensuring drivers to couple coherently
over their full operating bandwidth, as well as creating
coincident mid-frequency/high-frequency point source.
Designed To Adapt
As a new member of the TEC (Technical Excellence and
Creativity) Award-winning 8200 Series, the 8260A features
Genelec DSP digital signal processing responsible for all
loudspeaker functions, such as the crossover filters, driver
equalizers, driver position alignment, room response alignment,
calibration, and equalization related filters as well as distance
compensating delays. The Genelec Loudspeaker Manager™
(GLM™) software manages all these functions allowing the
8260A to be used together with other 8200 Series DSP monitors
and 7200 Series subwoofers in the same setup. Genelec
AutoCal™ automated room calibration and sound system
alignment method provides consistent and accurate frequency
response for a multichannel audio system in widely varying room
environments. The GLM™ software kit is available separately.
The 8260A is housed in a die-cast aluminium Minimum
Diffraction Enclosure™ (MDE™) with acoustically optimized
rounded edges to prevent diffractions and yielding superb sound
stage imaging. Of course, the robust enclosure is also completely
immune to vibrations.

MDE™ –Minimum Diffraction
Enclosure
In order to improve frequency and power
responses, Genelec has designed a
rugged enclosure, featuring acoustically
optimized rounded edges and gently
curved front and sides. In addition to
unsurpassed frequency response, the
minimized cabinet edge diffraction yields
superb imaging qualities.
MDC™ –Minimum Diffraction
Coaxial driver
The midrange driver cone forms a
smooth, continuous surface between the
tweeter and the enclosure. This prevents
acoustical diffractions. Diffractions are a
major cause of uneven high frequency
response in traditional coaxial drivers.
The smooth midrange surface contributes
to a perfect DCW™ behavior. The treble
and midrange drivers couple coherently
over their full operating bandwidths as a
single coincident point source.
Genelec 8200 Series DSP Technology
The sophisticated acoustical design of the 8260A is complemented by Genelec DSP
Technology and GLM™ software, providing powerful and practical tools such as AutoCal™
for accurate alignment, calibration and control of the monitoring system in all situations.
Advanced Genelec DCW™
The innovative DCW™ is formed by
blending the new MDC™ surface
perfectly with the enclosure front
shape to provide extremely accurate
control of the speaker’s directivity. This
acoustically optimized smooth DCW™
shape is integrated in the enclosure
and is maximized in area to achieve an
astoundingly flat on-axis and off-axis
frequency response.

1Absence of
discontinuities between
cone and enclosure
results in perfect
directivity behavior
2Continuous surface
maintains coherent
response in the critical
frequencies
3Coaxial tweeter and
midrange result in
perfect imaging
8260A vertical directivity plot.8260A horizontal directivity plot.
1
2
3

Genelec Minimum
Diffraction Coaxial™
(MDC™) driver
Startling New Design
Genelec has history of unexpected innovations. Our
approach is basically simple: solve the problems by
eliminating their root causes.
Coaxial drivers have existed for tens of years in two-
way designs but are uncommon in three-way systems,
where they would reproduce mid and high frequencies.
Typical to all current coaxial designs is somewhat ragged
frequency response due to inherent diffraction problems.
Nevertheless, crossover issues due to non-coincident
location of sources are often solved with traditional coaxial
configurations. Here lay the seeds of Genelec’s Minimum
Diffraction Coaxial (MDC™) solution: while it benefits from
typical coaxial design advantages, it now overcomes the
serious shortages as well.
Elimination of Acoustical Discontinuities
The main structure of the MDC™ tweeter-midrange
coaxial design consists of an integrated midrange
diaphragm-suspension-tweeter. The visible part of the
coaxial driver is formed by a cone with a flexible foam
curved to support the radiation of the tweeter in its center.
The inner section joins the cone to the tweeter without any
acoustical discontinuity, and the outer one does the same
between the cone and the driver chassis. As there are
no acoustically observable discontinuities between the
tweeter and the cone, just a smooth surface, there is no
diffraction either.The cone profile is very carefully optimized
to form an integrated directivity control waveguide for the
tweeter radiation. The driver outer edge is terminated to
an advanced DCW™ waveguide in order to control the
dispersion of midrange radiation as well.
This breakthrough in coaxial design provides improved
imaging and extremely smooth frequency response both
on and off-axis, leading to outstanding clarity and definition
of the inner details of the music.

The Powerful
Genelec DSP
Genelec 8260A and other 8200 and 7200 Series
loudspeaker systems have an independent dedicated
DSP signal processing engine in each loudspeaker. All
AES/EBU digital audio formats are supported, as well as
standard line level analog signals. The 8200/7200 Series
accepts sampling rates ranging from 32 kHz to 192 kHz.
Up to 30 loudspeakers and subwoofers can be connected
on, set up and controlled with GLM™ control network over
standard CAT5 cabling. Genelec Loudspeaker Manager™
(GLM™) is a computer software providing full real-time
control of all aspects of all loudspeakers on the network.
Fast And Easy Calibration With AutoCal™
AutoCal™ is a fully automated loudspeaker system alignment
algorithm within GLM™ software. It sets levels, distance
compensating delays, phase (for subwoofers) and room
response equalization using a factory-calibrated Genelec
measurement microphone included in the GLM™ software
kit. SinglePoint™ and MultiPoint™ microphone locations
for one, two, or three-person mixing environments can be
selected. The Interactive Response Editor provides visual
readout of measured and corrected response curves as
well as full manual editing of all acoustical settings.
All functions and settings are stored in GLM™ System
Setup Files or directly into each loudspeaker. As the
control network is separate from the audio cabling, the
control network can be dismantled and moved to another
place after saving the settings into the loudspeakers.
Furthermore, the 8200 Series loudspeakers retain all the
features and benefits of Genelec 8000 Series products and
can be used independently of the GLM™ control network.

The on-axis free field response of the 8260A.
Group delay of the 8260A.
The New Genelec 8260A Three-Way DSP Loudspeaker System is a masterpiece in electro-
acoustic system thinking where mechanical, acoustical and signal processing designs are intimately linked
together. The revolutionary MDC™ coaxial driver design eliminates all acoustical discontinuities and the
integrated structure with the aluminium enclosure and waveguide provides exceptional clarity and sound stage
imaging. Combining the benefits of a coaxial driver seamlessly with directivity control and including a fully
automated calibration process with GLM™ and AutoCal™ results in a true breaktrough in audio monitoring.

Genelec Document BBAGE066a. Copyright Genelec Oy 12.2009. All data subject to change.
Specifications in brief 8260A
Drivers
Bass
Midrange
Treble
255 mm (10")
120 mm (5") laminate cone
19 mm (3/4") coaxial Al-dome
Free field frequency response of system 29 Hz - 21 kHz (± 1 dB)
Maximum peak acoustic output @ 1 m with music
material
≥120 dB SPL
Maximum short term sine wave acoustic output
@ 1 m on axis in half space, averaged as specified
(from 100 Hz to 3 kHz)
≥ 113 dB SPL
Crossover frequencies 490 Hz, 2.6 kHz
Self generated noise level in free
field @ 1 m on axis (A-weighted)
<5 dB SPL
Harmonic distortion at 90 dB SPL @ 1 m on axis
Freq: 50…100 Hz
> 100 Hz
< 1 %
< 0.5 %
Input signal connectors
Analog 10 kOhm balanced
AES/EBU (single wire and dual wire) 110 kOhm
1 XLR female
1 XLR female
Output / Thru signal connectors
AES/EBU (single wire and dual wire) 110 kOhm 1 XLR male
Digital audio
Word length
Sample rate
16 - 24 bits
32 - 192 kHz
Control network
Type
Connection
proprietary GLMTM network
2 RJ45, CAT5 cables
GLMTM / GLM.SETM software frequency response
adjustment *
Notch filters
Shelving filters
4 LF and 2 HF
2 LF and 2 HF
System calibration * AutoCalTM, Stand-alone
Bass amplifier output power
Midrange amplifier output power
Treble amplifier output power
(Long term output power is limited by driver
protection circuitry)
150 W
120 W
120 W
Power consumption
Idle
Full output
26 VA
330 VA
Dimensions
Height without Iso-Pod™ table support
Height with Iso-Pod™ table support
Width
Depth
570 mm (22 7⁄16")
593 mm (23 3⁄8")
357 mm (14 1⁄16")
347 mm (13 5⁄8")
Weight 27.5 kg (60.5 lb)
GLM™ Genelec Loudspeaker Manager Software
Genelec Loudspeaker Manager™ software manages
connectivity to all loudspeakers on the network
– up to 30 – from cabling and labeling to
complete loudspeaker definitions. Standard
system configurations are provided as well
as provision for customized User Setups.
All functions and settings are stored in
these Setups or you can store this data
in each loudspeaker should you wish to
disconnect the network and operate without
GLM™ to ensure security of your monitoring system.
Operating system supported Windows XP, Vista/Mac OS X 10.4 or later *
Number of loudspeakers supported 30
Number of audio channels supported 24 (AES/EBU single-wire),
12 (Analog, AES/EBU dual-wire)
System calibration AutoCal™, GLM™ manual
Major components included GLM™ Network interface device
8200A Calibration microphone and holder
USB cable
Measurement signal cable
Software CD
System Operating Manual
Order code 8200-601B
GLM™ Multiroom Expansion Kit
Major components included GLM™ Network interface device
GLM™ Control Network cable
USB cable
Order code 8200-602
*Check current support from www.genelec.com
* The notch and shelving filter adjustments and AutoCal™ system calibration features
are part of the Genelec Loudspeaker Manager (GLMTM) software.
Leader in Active Monitoring since 1978
www.genelec.com