Do you think you need a subwoofer?

@mke246 Cool Loudspeaker. I assume you have them up on stands? I saw Ain't Misbehavin 3 times. 

Think of it this way, you are getting two subwoofers to improve the performance of your Genelecs. Your woofers cross to the midrange at 320 hz. Middle C is 256 Hz. Your woofers are handling a very important chunk of the midrange. The Doppler effect inducing frequencies start at about 100 Hz and the effect increases as the frequency goes down, the worse being under 40 Hz. Genelec did a smart thing by rolling off the woofers at 32 Hz to save power and avoid the worst of the problem, but it is still there. Subwoofers used with a two way crossover will lower distortion in your Genelecs. I can't believe the processor that comes with them does not have digital bass management considering they also sell subwoofers. I am all in on  active speakers. The excellent latency and group delay performance of your speakers is due to digital processing. The easiest way to integrate subwoofers into a system is digital bass management and you are already there. When you do play modern recordings the bass will put a big smile on your face. 

I have a bunch of 78s. I can hear through to the instruments and voices and extrapolate to what the real sound must have been like, but the sound is awful. They are fun to play. Many of them have severely tortured spindle holes from changer use, talking about wow. I use an Ortofon specifically for 78's. It has a humongous stylus.  I also have a collection of popular music on 10" discs, the 45's of the day. 

One of the tragedies of my life was my Grandmother's ancient Victrola with the flowered horn. I thought I had dibs on it, but it got sold out from under me. I've never seen another that was in such good shape. 

Dear @mke246  : Good. The other parameter that we have to know with your Genelec's is at what frequency crossover those 8" woofers to the mid-range....

R.

Now that I read the mijos  post I can see that the frequency is at 350hz ( I can't find it ). So, if it's at 350hz then the HP is desired to has down there but in the other side you are really listening at near field, even that the IMD is there and you can clean up. Maybe Genelec can help you to choose Genelec subs at your specific needs.

R.

Dear @mke246  : I think that you are living a great first hand experiences listening to those very old recordings as that of Fats Waller. Congratulations.

R.

Most collectors playing 78s are not going to hear the full potential of the records because their equipment is the equivalent of playing an LP on a Crosley. Bad stylus fit, bad EQ, suboptimal processing capabilities, or simply not playing an archival-quality copy. 78s will never sound like an LP-era recording, but you can make them sound like the best reissue CDs out there or better with the right equpment.

My 8351Bs are on stands on my large standing desk--sort of by necessity. They measure well in GLM software, and my room is treated with GIK panels. I mostly remaster on Sennheiser 800S headphones because I have a young child who’s usually sleeping when I have my ’free time’. I admit I haven’t put much thought into the concept of crossover frequency. The tuba and string bass on old jazz records sounds nice and tight, but I listen mostly to 78s probably limits my scope of reference when I listen to anything more modern. I’ll be researching subs and will probably pick up a pair when the time is right.