Genelec: In pursuit of audio perfection, from professional studios to your home

By Malin Norman | Photos: Genelec Oy

Trusted by professionals across the music, broadcast, film and gaming industries, Genelec’s studio audio quality is now available in commercial spaces – and in your home.

At the forefront of audio technology, Genelec has long been synonymous with precision, quality and innovation in the world of professional audio monitoring. The company’s active monitoring loudspeakers are used by studios worldwide, to create our favourite music, movies and games.

What is now one of the world’s leading manufacturers of loudspeakers started in Iisalmi, a small town of 20,000 people, beautifully located in the Finnish countryside. Here, the business was founded in 1978 by childhood friends Ilpo Martikainen and Topi Partanen, who shared a love of music and acoustics.

Siamäk Naghian, managing director of Genelec.

The catalyst for the formation of the company was acoustician Juhani Borenius, who worked for the Finnish national broadcaster YLE. In 1976, he was searching for an active monitoring loudspeaker for a new radio house. He had a clear idea of what YLE needed from speakers; consistent performance, total reliability, easy serviceability, and the ability to adapt to the acoustic environment they were placed in.

Genelec: In pursuit of audio perfection, from professional studios to your home

Ilpo and Topi accepted the challenge, produced a prototype, and after two years of intense R&D, they launched Genelec with the S30, the company’s first monitoring loudspeaker. “The demanding technical brief set the scene for the way we would approach our designs, and that close connection with the world of broadcasting has remained to this day – it’s in the very DNA of the company,” says Siamäk Naghian, managing director of Genelec.

Genelec’s factory is located next to Lake Porovesi in Iisalmi, Finland, and was originally built in 1985.

Pioneers in professional audio monitoring

The engineering-driven company has a legacy of excellence, relentless innovation, and commitment to audio neutrality. The team is constantly striving for perfection, and its loudspeakers have become a cornerstone in professional studios around the world. Genelec became known especially for the iconic 1031 and 1032 models, which set the industry standard back in the 1990s.

“Ultimately, we are looking for the best quality in sound production. But what do we mean by ‘best’? Audio is very much connected to science, and we’ve found that the best sound is true to reality,” Naghian elaborates. “When producing an album, for example, you need a loudspeaker that compensates for a room’s negative acoustic influences. By providing audio that is neutral, you can produce sound that is true to reality. In a way, the loudspeaker should be transparent, more of a reference, with truthful quality.”

In order to develop not just technically advanced but also visually pleasing products, Genelec has a long-standing collaboration with leading industrial designer Harri Koskinen. The partnership began 25 years ago, with the introduction of the curved aluminium loudspeaker cabinets, now a signature feature of Genelec’s designs.

The private studio of Dutch DJ Hardwell, at his home in Breda, Netherlands.

Immersive studio-quality sound for everyone

Today, the jewel in the line-up is the family called The Ones, available in 120 colours. The compact three-way loudspeakers have exceptional adaption delivered by Genelec’s renowned GLM automated calibration software. With flawless imaging, extended frequency response, and fatigue-free listening, The Ones have become firm favourites with both audio professionals and discerning audiophiles.

Over the years, Genelec has further expanded its range so that the same professional audio quality can also be experienced in your home – for the enjoyment of music, film, TV and gaming – and in commercial environments, such as restaurants, hotels, museums, galleries, corporate offices, gyms and retail stores, through the Home Audio and Installed Sound ranges.

“Great sound is a big part of the listening experience,” says Naghian. “We saw an increase in people’s appreciation of audio quality at home, and wanted to make professional studio-quality and truthful sound available to all.”

Genelec: In pursuit of audio perfection, from professional studios to your home

Company identity rooted in nature

As important as sound quality and technical innovation is sustainability, which has been part of Genelec’s philosophy since long before it became a buzzword. Seemingly, this commitment has grown organically out of a deeper company culture and the values of Finnish society and is now a critical competitive advantage.

“Nature, and proximity to nature, have always been important to the people at Genelec,” says the managing director. “Our co-founder Ilpo grew up on a farm and was familiar with the annual cycle of seeding, fertilising, weeding and harvesting. His understanding of running a business in a holistic, sustainable way became embedded in our culture.”

Ilpo Martikainen with Genelec’s first loudspeaker model, the S30.

With manufacturing still based in Iisalmi, the proximity of the production and R&D departments enables Genelec to maintain quality control. Also, the company supports the local community and economy, whilst inspiring people globally. As reiterated by Naghian; “We want to have a constructive impact on the community around us and contribute to its well-being and vitality.”

An example of the company’s commitment to sustainability is lean thinking in manufacturing, including development of recyclable materials and use of recycled aluminium for loudspeaker cabinets. Also, the factory is powered by CO2-free and partly renewable energy, including roof-mounted solar panels.

Sustainability also means long-lasting products, says Naghian. “We still service and maintain legacy products as far back as our first loudspeaker, the S30, which was launched in 1978. Incredibly, all of our first products are still in use, as people would rather continue to use them than buy something new.”

An exciting time of transition

The company remains family-owned. “With so many mergers and acquisitions in the audio industry, having a strong family connection and independence is not very common,” says the managing director. “In our field, this is one of few companies in the world with R&D and production in the same place. From day one, it has been a technically innovative business, and we continue in our pursuit of the perfect sound.”

Genelec’s passion for sound, connected to science and the creative industries, continues to impress professionals and the home audience. “Audio creation is becoming more socialised and democratised, with greater possibilities to access and create digital content,” reflects Naghian. “The transition is a beautiful thing, with a new generation of creators and a new audience. Audio is part of the sensation, and we want to help people to create and experience magic.”