The 6040R fuses the very best of Finnish technology and design, bringing exceptional performance and beautiful aesthetics to all lovers of high quality audio.
20 years after the launch of the original 6040A, the newly re-imagined 6040R now features professional grade LF drivers, proprietary Class D power amplifiers, and tight integration with our GLM calibration software. This allows the 6040R to deliver clean performance, a consistently smooth frequency response, precise imaging and low distortion – even in challenging acoustic environments.
Pure sound. Finnish design.
Created in close collaboration with leading designer Harri Koskinen, the fluid curves of the 6040R are fashioned from die-cast recycled aluminium. Not only does this design approach create more truthful, less coloured loudspeaker performance, it also means that the 6040R will become the aural and visual centrepiece of any listening environment. Built to the highest environmental standards, the 6040R will provide decades of trouble-free performance.
Genelec
6040R Smart Active Loudspeaker White, White Grille
Package contains:
6040R loudspeaker
Power cable
User manual
Technical Specifications
SPL
110 dB
Frequency Response
43 Hz - 20 kHz ("-6 dB")
Driver Dimensions
⌀ 165 mm Bass + ⌀ 19 mm Treble (view in inches)
Weight
14.9 kg / 32.8 lb
Amplifier Power
150 W Treble (Class D) + 150 W Bass (Class D)
Accuracy of Frequency Response
± 1.5 dB (50 Hz - 20 kHz)
Dimensions
H 999 x W 237 x D 220 mm, (view in inches)
Base W 250 mm (10 in) x D 266 mm (10 ½ in)
Connections
1 x XLR Analog Input
1 x XLR AES/EBU Input
1 x XLR AES/EBU Output
2 x RJ45 Control
Twenty years after its original launch, we explain how we’ve re-imagined the timeless 6040 floor-standing loudspeaker to bring you the 6040R: a home audio listening experience like no other.
How to connect 6040R loudspeakers to a music streamer and TV
In this short, simple video, Darren Rose shows you how easy it is to connect the Genelec 6040R Smart Active Loudspeakers to a high quality music streamer and TV set.
Introducing the 6040R Smart Active Loudspeaker
Twenty years after its original launch, we explain how we’ve re-imagined the timeless 6040 floor-standing loudspeaker to bring you the 6040R: a home audio listening experience like no other.
Play Video
How to connect 6040R loudspeakers to a music streamer and TV
In this short, simple video, Darren Rose shows you how easy it is to connect the Genelec 6040R Smart Active Loudspeakers to a high quality music streamer and TV set.
Peak SPL
118 dBMaximum peak acoustic output per pair in a listening room with music material at 1 m.Short term max SPL
≥110 dBMaximum short term sine wave acoustic output on axis in half space, averaged from 100 Hz to 3 kHz at 1 m.Long term max SPL
≥100 dBMaximum long term RMS acoustic output in the same conditions with IEC weighted noise (limited by driver protection circuit) at 1 m.
Self-generated noise
Self-generated noise
≤5 dBSelf generated noise level in free space at 1 m on axis (A-weighted).
Weight
Weight
14.9 kg (32.8 lb)
Dimensions
Height
999 mm (39 11/32 in)Width
237 mm (9 11/32 in)Depth
220 mm (8 21/32 in)
Enclosure
Enclosure material
Die cast aluminium
Enclosure type
Sealed box
Drivers
BassDriver type ConeMagnetically shielded bass driver.Diameter 165 mm (6 1/2 in)
TrebleDriver type Metal domeMagnetically shielded treble driver.Diameter 19 mm (3/4 in)
Directivity
Vertical directivity
Horizontal directivity
Harmonic distortion
Amplifier Section
Amplifiers
6040R Treble Amplifier 150 W Class D
6040R bass amplifier 150 W Class D
Mains voltage
100-240 VAC 50/60Hz
Power consumption
ISS Active
≤1 W
Idle
≤12 W
Full output
180 W
Signal processing section
Connectors
Input Analog signal input connector XLR female, balanced 10 kOhm.
InputDigital signal input connector XLR female 110 Ohm.
OutputDigital signal output / Thru connector XLR male 110 Ohm.
2 x ControlTwo CAT5 (RJ45) GLM Network connectors for computer control using the Genelec Loudspeaker Manager (GLM) software.
Tab #1
Networked Smart Active Monitor (SAM™) Systems feature automatic calibration to the environment.
The last decade has experienced a rapid increase in global media content creation, resulting in significant changes in the way network facilities deal with increased workload. Now, more than ever, a growing number of audio productions are done in tighter, more confined working environments. This increases acoustic problems and lowers the reliability of monitoring. At the same time, a professional audio engineer needs to have high confidence in a reliable and precise monitoring system that reproduces sound neutrally and without distortion.
Built upon the solid electro-acoustic foundations of the 1200, 8000 and 7000 Series products, Genelec advanced SAM Systems are today’s most advanced and flexible monitoring solutions. They are an indispensable tool for audio professionals, as they are capable to automatically adapt to the acoustic environments and correct for levels, delays and room anomalies. SAM Systems can be controlled via Genelec proprietary Loudspeaker Manager (GLM™) network and software, enabling you to build a highly flexible and reliable monitoring system.
The GLM 3 software is a highly intuitive and powerful monitor control networking system that manages connectivity to all SAM studio monitors and subwoofers on the network – up to 30. The GLM 3 software features adjustment of levels, distance delays and flexible room response compensation equalization with the state-of-the-art and robust AutoCal™ automated calibration system. All parameters and settings are stored in system setup files or saved in each individual monitor or subwoofer if the GLM network needs to be disconnected.
Also, all acoustical features of SAM Systems can be optimised for different working styles or client demands. Additionally, even if the monitors or the production projects move between rooms, you can expect SAM technology to achieve the highest consistency in monitoring, providing a neutral sound stage imaging with low distortion.
Genelec SAM Systems offers a comprehensive, solution-oriented, intelligently networked product range supporting analogue and digital signals in virtually any working environment.
Tab #2
Directivity Control Waveguide (DCW™) for flat on- and off-axis response.
A revolutionary approach was taken by Genelec in 1983 with the development of its Directivity Control Waveguide (DCW™) used at the time in an egg-shaped enclosure. The Genelec DCW technology developed and refined over more than 30 years greatly improves the performance of direct radiating multi-way monitors.
The DCW technology shapes the emitted wavefront in a controlled way, allowing predictable tailoring of the directivity (dispersion) pattern. To make the directivity uniform and smooth, the goal is to limit the radiation angle so that the stray radiation is reduced. It results in excellent flatness of the overall frequency response as well as uniform power response. This advanced DCW technology minimizes early reflections and provides a wide and controlled listening area achieving accurate sound reproduction on- and off-axis.
Minimized early reflections and controlled, constant directivity have another important advantage: the frequency balance of the room reverberation field is essentially the same as the direct field from the monitors. As a consequence, the monitoring system's performance is less dependent on room acoustic characteristics.
Sound image width and depth, critical components in any listening environment, are important not only for on-axis listening, but also off-axis. This accommodates not only the engineer doing his or her job, but also others in the listening field, as is so often the case in large control rooms.
DCW™ Technology key benefits:
Flat on- and off-axis response for wider usable listening area
Increased direct-to-reflected sound ratio for reduced control room coloration
Improved stereo and sound stage imaging
Increased drive unit sensitivity up to 6 dB
Increased system maximum sound pressure level capacity
Decreased drive unit distortion
Reduced cabinet edge diffraction
Reduced complete system distortion
Tab #3
Active crossover operating at low signal levels.
Audio electronic crossovers allow to split the audio signal into separate frequency bands that can be separately routed to individual power amplifiers which then are connected to specific transducers optimized for a particular frequency band.
Active crossovers come in both digital and analogue varieties. Genelec digital active crossovers include additional signal processing, such as driver protection, delay, and equalization.
Genelec analogue active crossover filters contain electronic components that are operated at low signal levels suitable for power amplifier inputs. This is in contrast to passive crossovers that operate at the high signal levels of the power amplifier's outputs, having to handle high currents and in some cases high voltages.
In a typical 2-way system the active crossover needs two power amplifiers — one for the woofer and one for the tweeter.
The active crossover design offers multiple benefits:
The frequency response becomes independent of any dynamic changes in the driver's electrical characteristics or the drive level.
There is an increased flexibility and precision to adjust and fine tune each output frequency response for the specific drivers used.
Each driver has its own signal processing and power amplifier. This isolates each driver from the drive signals handled by the other drivers, reducing inter-modulation distortion and overdriving problems.
The ability to compensate for sensitivity variations between drivers.
The possibility to compensate for the frequency and phase response anomalies associated with a driver’s characteristics within the intended pass-band.
The flat frequency response of a high-quality active loudspeaker is a result of the combined effect of the crossover filter response, power amplifier responses and driver responses in a loudspeaker enclosure.
Using the active approach enables frequency response adjustments and optimization of the full loudspeaker system, placed in various room environments, without expensive external equalizers. The end result is a simpler, more reliable, efficient, consistent and precise active loudspeaker system.
Tab #4
Intelligent Signal Sensing (ISS™) for power consumption reduction in stand-by mode.
Introduced early 2013, Genelec’s Intelligent Signal-Sensing technology has been developed to meet with both European Union ErP Directives and the company’s own wider sustainability commitments.
The Intelligent Signal Sensing, ISS™ circuitry tracks the signal input of the loudspeaker and detects if it is in use. If the ISS circuit does not find any audio on the input for a period of time, it sets the loudspeaker to a low-power sleep state and the loudspeaker will consume less than 0.5 watts. When an input signal is detected, the loudspeaker immediately turns itself on. Basically, the loudspeaker system will start saving power as soon as work is interrupted.
Additionally an ‘ISS Disable’ switch is located on each product’s back plate next to the other room response controls. First, when the mains power switch of the loudspeaker is set to “ON”, the ISS™ auto-start function (low-power sleep state on/off) of the loudspeaker is active.
If this function is not desired, the ISS™ function can be disabled by setting the “ISS Disable” switch on the back panel to “ON” position. In this mode, the monitor is only powered on and off using the mains power switch.
Note that the mains power switch will always turn the monitor off completely.
Tab #5
Minimum Diffraction Enclosure (MDE™) for uncoloured sound reproduction.
A common problem with standard free-standing loudspeakers is that the front baffle discontinuities cause diffractions and the loudspeaker sharp corners act as secondary sources through reflections.
In order to improve the flatness of the frequency response and the power response of free standing loudspeaker systems, Genelec have designed a highly innovative enclosure optimized to match the properties of the monitor drivers, featuring rounded edges, and gently curved front and sides. In addition to achieving an unsurpassed flatness of the frequency response, the enclosure having minimum diffractions yields superb sound stage imaging qualities.
To achieve such a smooth and elegantly curved cabinet surface and to reduce the outer dimensions of the enclosure, maximising at the same time the internal volume for improved low frequency efficiency, we designed a cabinet made off die-cast aluminium. Aluminium is lightweight, stiff and very easy to damp to yield a “dead” structure. The cabinet walls can be made fairly thin, providing at the same time good EMC shielding and excellent heat sink for the power amplifiers. Die-casting is made in two parts, front and rear, and they are easy to separate for potential servicing needs.
The DCW waveguide has been integrated in the MDE aluminium enclosure to provide improved control of the loudspeaker’s directivity. Basically, the low frequency limit for constant directivity is determined by the size of the waveguide, so the larger the surface the better the control. With a very controlled off-axis radiation, the listening window becomes consistent, which is of utmost importance with multi-channel audio monitoring. Controlled directivity also reduces possible first order reflections on surfaces near the loudspeaker, helping to provide consistent audio reproduction in different acoustical environments. In fact, the entire front baffle is gently curved and the acoustically transparent grilles are part of the outer cabinet aesthetics, blending perfectly with the various other curved surfaces.
Tab #6
Each transducer is driven by its own optimized amplifier.
Audio electronic crossovers allow to split the audio signal into separate frequency bands that can be separately routed to individual power amplifiers which then are connected to specific transducers optimized for a particular frequency band.
In a typical 2-way loudspeaker system, the active crossover needs two power amplifiers — one for the woofer and one for the tweeter. The power amplifiers are connected directly to the drivers of an active loudspeaker, resulting in the power amplifier’s load becoming much simpler and well known. Each driver-specific power amplifier has only a limited frequency range to amplify (the power amplifier is placed after the active crossover) and this adds to the ease of design.
The active design principle offers multiple benefits:
The power amplifiers are directly connected to the speaker drivers, maximizing the control exerted by the power amplifier’s damping on the driver’s voice coil, reducing the consequences of dynamic changes in the driver electrical characteristics. This may improve the transient response of the system.
There is a reduction in the power amplifier output requirement. With no energy lost in the passive crossover filter components, the amplifier power output requirements are reduced considerably (by up to 1/2 in some cases) without any reduction in the acoustic power output of the loudspeaker system. This can reduce costs and increase audio quality and system reliability.
No loss between amplifier and driver units results in maximum acoustic efficiency
Active technology can achieve superior sound output vs. size vs. low frequency cut-off performance
All loudspeakers are delivered as a factory aligned system (amplifiers, crossover electronics and enclosure-driver systems)
Tab #7
Sophisticated drive unit protection circuitry for safe operation.
When working in critical audio production environments it is essential that monitoring systems remain reliable and functional at all times. One of the main reasons behind Genelec’s excellent success in broadcasting environments is the reliability of our products and a key element behind the reliability is the internal protection circuitry found in all products since 1978.
The protection circuitry prevents driver failures by detecting signal levels, and in case of sudden peaks or constantly too high levels, taking the signal level down automatically. Of course this feature does not affect the sound quality in any way when working within the specifications of the loudspeaker, but only prevents inadequate input signals from breaking the loudspeaker.
Protection circuitry features and benefits:
Reduces the output level when required, (e.g. when driver voice coil temperature reaches the safe limit) which highly improves the system reliability
Appropriate protection circuitry design in every loudspeaker and subwoofer enables to maximise system output sound level.
The 6040R is a two-way floor standing smart active loudspeaker. It’s a re-engineered version of the original 6040A loudspeaker model with award-winning industrial design by Harri Koskinen, now with professional bass driver technology, proprietary class D power amplification, internal DSP circuitry and close integration with GLM loudspeaker manager software.
While many customers will consider the sound quality and aesthetics of the 6040R as perfect for home audio use, performance-wise it is entirely suitable for professional monitoring applications as well. The 6040R features the same uncompromising design philosophy as all Genelec loudspeakers, and we believe that the performance requirements for good professional and home audio loudspeakers are the same.
If you want to extend the low frequency response of a 6040R system and increase its overall playback level, then adding a subwoofer is recommended. A subwoofer will not only reduce the demands on the 6040R to reproduce low frequencies (therefore increasing the ‘headroom’ of the system), using one or more subwoofers can also help produce a smoother, flatter bass response – particularly in challenging rooms.
The optimal solution would be to use a pair of F Two subwoofers or a single 7360A subwoofer. Both will give excellent results, but since the 7360A is part of the Smart Active Monitoring range it has the extra flexibility of being compatible with Genelec’s GLM calibration software, much like the 6040R. Therefore, the entire system can then be configured and calibrated for the room using GLM, to give the best possible listening experience.
The ideal solution is to use identical models throughout the system – so we’d highly recommend using all 6040Rs. But failing that we’d recommend complementing your stereo 6040Rs with centre and surround models of a similar size and comparable playback characteristics, such as the G Four or 8340 models. As part of the Smart Active Monitoring range, the 8340 has the advantage of close integration with GLM calibration software, like the 6040R.
Both analogue and digital inputs will offer high quality playback. But if your sound source features a digital output with adjustable volume level then we recommend connecting that to the 6040R’s digital input. Otherwise, using analogue connections will be perfectly OK.
Typically, a good solution is to place the 6040R with its rear panel close to the wall. Depending on the wall structure, this will raise the 6040R’s bass playback level, but in a predictable way that can be compensated for by using the 6040R’s rear-panel DIP switches or optional GLM calibration software. Further details can be found in the 6040R user manual.
The sound you hear from any loudspeaker can be heavily influenced by your room’s acoustics, and the further away your listening position is from the 6040R, the more significant the room’s influence will become. We’d always strongly recommend focussing on correct placement of the 6040R (the Genelec website offers many tips on this subject) and then using at least the 6040R’s rear panel DIP switches to provide some basic optimisation for your room. The optional GLM software will offer more powerful calibration features, particularly if your room is challenging acoustically. If you are technically competent and familiar with the basics of acoustics then you can perform the calibration yourself, but many customers prefer the peace of mind of having an expert evaluate their room and optimise the system for them. The choice is yours!
Based on decades of research data from thousands of rooms worldwide, GLM software runs on Mac or PC and integrates with the intelligent DSP hardware within the 6040R, allowing the 6040R to be networked, configured and individually calibrated for the user’s specific acoustic environment. GLM’s reference microphone kit allows the user’s room acoustics to be accurately analysed, after which GLM’s AutoCal algorithm automatically optimises each 6040R for playback level, frequency response and distance delay. At that point the user has many options for further manual adjustment of GLM, thereby achieving complete personalisation if required. Once calibrated, the settings may then be stored within the 6040R itself, and the computer and GLM may be disconnected. To use GLM with the 6040R, the user will first need to purchase the 8300-601 GLM kit, and the GLM software itself can be downloaded free of charge from www.genelec.com/glm
As part of Genelec’s Home Audio range, the product is available from authorised Genelec Home Audio dealers around the world. If none are listed near you, please contact Genelec directly for advice. The Genelec dealer locator can be found here.