# Genelec

> Genelec is a privately held Finnish maker of active loudspeakers, subwoofers and monitoring software for recording studios, broadcasters, post-production rooms, installed sound and serious home listening. Founded in 1978 after Finland's YLE commissioned an unusually demanding monitor, the company differentiates itself by integrating amplification, acoustic design, room calibration and long-term service into one system rather than selling a passive box alone.

- **Founded:** 1978
- **Headquarters:** Iisalmi, Finland
- **Founders:** Ilpo Martikainen (Co-founder and longtime Managing Director), Topi Partanen (Co-founder and engineer)
- **Team size:** 203 employees in 2025, according to Suomen Asiakastieto; Genelec also operates international subsidiaries and experience centers.
- **Products:** S30, Active studio monitors and subwoofers, Smart Active Monitoring (SAM), GLM, The Ones
- **Notable:** Turned YLE's 1976 broadcast brief into the S30 and founded Genelec in 1978., Chose in 1989 to leave sound-reinforcement contracting, then roughly half the business, to focus on manufacturing., Introduced GLM room calibration and Smart Active Monitoring in 2006.

## Products & services

- **S30** — Genelec's first active studio monitor, developed from YLE's demanding broadcast specification.
- **Active studio monitors and subwoofers** — Integrated loudspeakers for nearfield, midfield and main monitoring, spanning compact two-way models to high-output systems.
- **Smart Active Monitoring (SAM)** — DSP-equipped monitors and subwoofers designed to be networked, controlled and adapted to a listening room.
- **GLM** — Mac and Windows software for automatic calibration, control and management of compatible SAM systems; later expanded with GRADE room acoustic reporting.
- **The Ones** — Coaxial point-source Smart Active Monitors designed to improve imaging and reduce off-axis coloration.
- **Smart IP** — Installed-sound loudspeakers carrying audio, power and control over standard network cabling.
- **Aural ID** — Personalised binaural monitoring software based on an individual head-related transfer function.
- **UNIO** — An ecosystem joining calibrated loudspeaker and personal headphone monitoring workflows.
- **9402A** — A system management device that connects SAM monitoring to Dante and AES67 networked-audio workflows, supporting formats through 9.1.6.
- **G Series and F Series** — Active loudspeakers and subwoofers for quality-conscious home listening and home theater.

## Achievements

- Turned YLE's 1976 broadcast brief into the S30 and founded Genelec in 1978.
- Chose in 1989 to leave sound-reinforcement contracting, then roughly half the business, to focus on manufacturing.
- Introduced GLM room calibration and Smart Active Monitoring in 2006.
- Built a long-running coaxial point-source family in The Ones.
- The 8381A won the 2024 TEC Award in the studio monitor category.
- Genelec won the 2024 AV Awards Sustainability Initiative of the Year.
- The 9320A won a 2025 TEC Award in the Production Essentials category.
- The 3440A won Best of Show at ISE 2025 in the installation category.
- Maintains manufacturing in Iisalmi and long-term service support for products, including models decades old.

## Latest updates

- **2026-07** — Genelec's 8380A and 8381A were recognized in the Studio Audio Technology category at the PALM Sound & Light Awards 2026.
- **2026-06** — Introduced the 9402A system management device with Dante and AES67 compatibility for networked monitoring through 9.1.6.
- **2026-06** — Partnered with Björk for the immersive Echolalia exhibition at the National Gallery of Iceland.
- **2026-06** — Released Smart IP Controller 2.0 for networked installed-sound control.
- **2026-05** — Announced Aural ID 2.1 for personalised binaural headphone monitoring.
- **2026-02** — Demonstrated the new 8380A and an immersive SAM system at NAMM 2026.
- **2025-09** — Introduced the 8380A three-way midfield Smart Active Monitor.

## Links

- Website: https://www.genelec.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/genelec-oy
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/genelec
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/GenelecMarketing
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genelec_oy
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Genelec

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/genelec
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-08-21