Genelec management has always strived to adhere to efficient manufacturing and shipping methods, and in fact the very concept of active monitors is at its core more energy-efficient than passive monitor/amplifier combination setups. Environmental consciousness is also a large part of the culture of Genelec's homeland Finland, with the country commonly ranking among the world's greenest.
Will Eggleston, Genelec marketing director, stated: "We believe people do care about the future of the planet, and Genelec has given serious thought about how we can more substantially participate in this philosophy and apply our acoustics and design R&D talents towards the next generation of loudspeaker products. For our new products and updated versions of existing models, as a starting point, we are focusing on 'voltage-friendliness,' with regards to latent power consumption as mandated by the European Union. While the scope of the mandates appears mostly consumer-driven rather than pro, Genelec made a conscious decision to apply these standards to our professional products, because in the end it is just better for the environment and the end user."
A main component of the green initiative is the debut of the new M Series Bi-amplified Active Monitors. The highly energy-efficient M Series takes a new approach to monitor design. The primary focus in developing the new M Series was to proceed with a green mindset without sacrificing the accuracy and reliability for which Genelec has been known for the past 35 years, while offering something new and innovative for project studio customers.
The first two models being introduced are the M030 and the M040 Bi-amplified Active Monitors, which employ a Natural Composite Enclosure (NCE) manufactured for Genelec in Finland with wood fibre and recycled material. Another first is that the M Series models feature new class D amplifiers developed in house by Genelec's R&D/engineering team. The class D amplifiers are highly efficient, low distortion amplifiers that operate cooler and lighter than class A/B amps. They also feature Intelligent Signal Sensing (ISS) with auto power-off after being idle for 30 minutes and auto power-on when a signal is detected. Automatic voltage selection allows the monitors to operate throughout the world.
In the near future, Genelec will be updating its entire existing product line with more efficient power management. Eggleston continued: "Genelec is known for sound quality, and we are in a unique position to set new standards in the audio industry in regards to power consumption. We've always been an environmentally conscious company, and as we roll out our updated product line, we have reinforced that commitment for a new era."
(Jim Evans)
