The Genelec 1031A bi-amplified monitor is a two-way active monitoring speaker with low coloration and wide bandwidth in a compact enclosure. The 1031A is perfect for applications where space is a priority, such as nearfield monitoring, mobile trucks, broadcast and television control-room monitoring. Designed as an active speaker, the 1031A contains drivers, power amplifiers, active crossover filters and protection circuitry. The Directivity Control Waveguide™ (DCW™) technology used delivers excellent frequency balance even in difficult acoustic environments.

Drivers
The low frequencies are reproduced by a 210 mm (8") bass driver loaded in a 15-liter vented enclosure. The -3 dB point is at 47 Hz and the frequency response extends down to 43 Hz (-6 dB).
The high-frequency driver is a 19 mm (3/4") metal dome. The revolutionary DCW Technology developed by Genelec achieves uniform control of dispersion, as well as perfect phase and delay uniformity at the crossover frequency. Both drivers are magnetically shielded.

Crossover
The active crossover network consists of two parallel bandpass filters (a type of filter that eliminates a band of frequencies). From an acoustic standpoint, the filters complement each other and the slopes are 24 dB/octave. The crossover frequency is 2.2 kHz. The active crossover controls ('treble tilt', 'bass tilt' and 'bass roll-off') allow this speaker to integrate seamlessly into any environment regardless of the room involved.

Amplifiers
The amplifier unit is mounted on the rear of the speaker enclosure on easily removable vibration isolators, to ensure shock-free operation and long-term efficiency. The bass and treble amplifiers each produce 120 watts of short-term power. The peak sound pressure level of the 1031A's signal output exceeds 120 dB at 1 m. The unit incorporates special circuitry for driver overload and protection against amplifier thermal overload. The variable input sensitivity lets you precisely match the level to the console's output section.

Adjusting the Tone Controls
The system's response may also need to be adjusted to suit the acoustic environment. This adjustment is made by setting the three groups of tone control switches, 'treble tilt', 'bass tilt' and 'bass roll-off', located on the rear panel of the amplifier. The factory settings for these controls are 'All Off' to achieve a flat anechoic response. See Table 1 for suggested tone control settings. Figure 5 shows the effect of the controls on an anechoic room response. Adjustments should always begin with all the switches in the 'OFF' position. Then only one switch should be set to 'ON' to select the required response curve. If more than one switch is set to 'ON' (within the same group of switches), the attenuation value will not give an accurate result.

Overload Indicators
The speaker has two status LEDs marked OVL and ON. When the green ON LED lights up, it indicates the speaker is ready for use. The OVL LED indicates that the amplifier is overloaded or the driver protection circuit has been activated. In both cases the signal level should be reduced until the LED stops flashing. If the OVL LED stays lit, it indicates that the amplifier's thermal protection has been activated. Allow the amplifier to cool down and check that the ventilation at the rear of the speaker is not blocked. There should be more than 4" (10 cm) of space between the rear of the speaker and any solid surface.

Specifications
Lower cut-off frequency, -3 dB: < 47 Hz
Upper cut-off frequency, -3 dB: > 22
System free field frequency response: 48 Hz - 22 kHz (± 2 dB)
Maximum short-term sine wave acoustic output on axis in half space, averaged from 100 Hz to 3 kHz:
@ 1m > 110 dB SPL
@ 0.5m > 116 dB SPL
Maximum long-term RMS acoustic output in the same conditions, with IEC noise measured (limited by driver unit protection circuit):
@ 1m > 101 dB SPL
@ 0.5m > 107 dB SPL
Maximum peak acoustic output per pair above the console's maximum, at a distance of 1m from the engineer: > 120 dBSelf-generated noise level in free field at 1 m on axis: < 10 dB (A-weighted)
Harmonic distortion at 90 dB SPL at 1m on axis:
Freq: 50...100 Hz < 3%
> 100 Hz < 0.5%
Drivers: bass, 210 mm (8") cone
treble, 19 mm (3/4") metal dome
Both drivers are magnetically shielded.
Weight: 12.7 kg (28 lb)
Dimensions:
height: 393 mm (15 1/2")
width: 250 mm ( 9 7/8")
depth: 290 mm (11 7/16")

Crossover Section
XLR female input connection:
pin 1 ground
pin 2 +
pin 3 -
input impedance: 10 kOhm balanced
input level for 100 dB SPL output at 1 m: variable between +6 and -6 dBu
input level for maximum short-term sine wave output of 110 dB SPL at 1 m.: variable between +16 and +4 dBu
Subsonic below 45 Hz: 18 dB/octave
Ultrasonic filter above 25 kHz: 12 dB/octave
Crossover frequency, treble/bass: 2.2 kHz
Acoustic crossover slopes: 24 dB/octave
Treble tilt switch range in 2 dB steps: from +2 to -4 dB and MUTE
Bass roll-off dial range in 2 dB steps: from 0 to -8 dB at 40 Hz
Bass tilt switch range in 2 dB steps: from 0 to -6 dB @ 80 Hz and MUTE
The 'CAL' position is reached with all tone controls 'off' and the input sensitivity controls at maximum, clockwise.

Amplifier
Short-term output power of the bass amplifier into an 8 Ohm load: 120 W
Short-term output power of the treble amplifier into an 8 Ohm load: 120 W
Long-term output is limited by the driver unit's protection circuitry

Distortion of the amplifier system at rated output:
THD < 0.05%
SMPTE-IM < 0.05%
CCIF-IM < 0.05%
DIM 100 < 0.05%
Signal-to-noise ratio, referred to full output:
Bass > 100 dB
Treble > 100 dB
Mains voltage: 230, 100/200 or 115/230V depending on region
Operating voltage range: ±10%
Power consumption: Idle 30 VA
Full output 160 VA

Our Assessment
Genelec's guarantee is well known to all. Quality products at the service of the most demanding professionals. After running our tests and listening closely to what these monitors offer, we conclude that this is one of the best pairs of monitors tested in our lab. They also bring together all the variables: quality, power, listening fidelity, adjustments for possible coloration depending on the situation, etc... We are undoubtedly talking about professional monitors, a sure good investment, to which we must add that their price is considerably hard to reach for more modest professional studios, home studios and, in short, those who don't have a comfortable budget.