Genelec users - need some advice choosing new monitors
Hey, so I recently listened to the Genelec 8351B in a demo room with GLM calibration.
Of course, I immediately heard a ton of details that I would want to fix in my mixes. (For reference, I've been using Genelec 8050A monitors in my 36 m² studio.) That's not really my question, though.
What confused me was that, even with calibration, I still heard some boominess in the low frequencies on tracks with longer kick tails (techno/EDM). The room didn't have bass traps, so I'm guessing that's the reason, but it still surprised me. Am I thinking about this correctly, or could it be something else?
Personally, I'm leaning toward the 8361A setup because of the extra headroom and output. However, I was also offered the 8351B setup with a 7370 sub. I'm not entirely convinced about that option because I've had bad experiences with subwoofers in the past. I've always preferred the sound without calibration, and I'd rather do better room acoustics than rely heavily on calibration. With a sub, though, it feels like calibration becomes almost mandatory.
I'd love to hear from people who have actually worked with either the 8361A or the 8351B + 7370 sub setup. I also wonder if it would make more sense to buy the 8361As first and add a sub later if I feel I need the extra low-end extension.
What would you recommend?
As I mentioned, my room is 36 m² and already acoustically treated, so I'm seriously considering these options.
I'd also appreciate hearing about any reliability issues with these monitors. For example, the 8050As had well-known amplifier board failures, and we ended up rebuilding ours. That makes me wonder whether buying the 8361As is a good long-term decision. :)