
Genelec 1038AC
Tri-amplified Monitoring System
Data sheet

1038AC Tri-amplified Active Monitoring System
APPLICATIONSAPPLICATIONS
APPLICATIONS
APPLICATIONSAPPLICATIONS
Video/Film Post ProductionVideo/Film Post Production
Video/Film Post Production
Video/Film Post ProductionVideo/Film Post Production
DVD MasteringDVD Mastering
DVD Mastering
DVD MasteringDVD Mastering
Broadcast MonitoringBroadcast Monitoring
Broadcast Monitoring
Broadcast MonitoringBroadcast Monitoring
Project StudiosProject Studios
Project Studios
Project StudiosProject Studios
SYSTEM
The Genelec 1038AC is a dedi-
cated center channel speaker for
three channel (LCR) and Surround
systems. Its slim and compact
cabinet has been designed for
optimum placement in the limited
space above, below or in verical
orientation, on either side of a
video monitor or screen.
As its name suggests, the
Genelec 1038AC is best suited
for use as a center channel
speaker with a pair of standard
Genelec 1038A active monitors.
The 1038AC employs the same
mid and treble drivers and Directivity Control Waveguide as a
standard 1038A and the amplifier
unit is also the same to ensure
complete tonal compatibility.
Genelec 1038AC is a three-way
active monitoring system including magnetically shielded
loudspeaker drivers, speaker
enclosure, multiple power amplifiers and active, low signal level
crossovers. Although designed
for film and video post-production and medium sized control
rooms this system is also ideal
for project studios and broadcast
monitoring. DVD mastering is
also well tailored for where broad
bandwidth, high SPL's and extended low frequency response
are essential.
ommended to be flush mounted
into the control room wall, but it
can also be used as a free-standing monitor.
The unique Directivity Control
Waveguide (DCW) Technology
provides excellent stereo imaging
and frequency balance even in
difficult acoustic environments.
The fast acting, low distortion
amplifiers are capable of driving
the stereo system to peak output
levels in excess of 124 dB SPL at
2 m with program signals. Versatile crossover controls allow for
precise matching of the speaker
system to different acoustic
conditions. The system can be
used both in vertical and horizontal orientations by simply rotating
the DCW unit.
Block diagram showing active
crossover filters, power amplifiers
and driver units.
The separate amplifier unit is built
into a rack mount chassis for
easy fitting into a standard 19"
equipment rack. A 10 meter
connecting cable set to go between the amplifier and speaker
is standard. The 1038AC is rec-
Three channel amplifier is housed
in a rack adapter chassis
Horizontal mounting and rear view of the
speaker
Vertical mounting

The reference axis lies between midrange and tweeter drivers.
INTEGRATED CONSTRUCTION
Uniform performance is obtained
through the matching of the
loudspeakers and amplifiers as a
complete, calibrated package.
The rugged amplifier is mounted
into a rack mount chassis with
vibration isolators which also act
as quick release hinges making
maintenance operations easy and
straightforward. The speaker
cabinet is constructed of veneered MDF which is heavily
braced to eliminate structural
resonances.
AMPLIFIERS
The bass, midrange and treble
amplifiers each produce 400W,
120W and 120W, respectively of
short term power with very low
THD and IM distortion. Special
attention has been paid to electronic design to ensure the
highest subjective sound quality
currently possible. The system
incorporates special overload
protection circuitry for the drivers.
Thermal protection is also included for the amplifiers.
DRIVERS
The bass frequencies are repro-
duced by two 250 mm (10") bass
drivers loaded with a 110 liters
vented box. The -3dB point is 33
Hz and the low frequency response extends down to 29 Hz
(-6 dB). The midrange frequencies are reproduced by a
proprietary 130 mm (5") direct
radiating cone driver loaded with
a DCW. The high frequency driver
is a 25 mm (1") metal dome also
loaded by a DCW.
The 1038AC is magnetically
shielded in order to minimise
interference with video monitors.
DCW TECHNOLOGY
The revolutionary Directivity
Control Waveguide Technology is
a means of vastly improving the
performance of a direct radiating
multiway loudspeaker in normal
listening conditions.
The basic idea is to match the
different drive units precisely,
both in terms of frequency response and directivity. This will
result in a smoother and virtually
uncoloured off-axis response of
the system. Also due to improved directivity control
especially in the midrange and
high frequencies, more direct
sound and less early boundary
reflections are received at the
listening position. This gives a
more accurate stereo imaging
and makes the system less
sensitive to differing control room
acoustics than any conventional
direct radiator design. The DCW
Technology improves drive unit
sensitivity from +2 to +6 dB thus
increasing the system's maximum sound pressure level.
CROSSOVER FILTERS
The crossover frequencies of the
active crossover network are
410 Hz and 3.0 kHz. In order to
obtain a uniform frequency balance under different acoustic
conditions, special calibrated
controls are included in the crossover; the Bass, Midrange and
Treble level controls operate in 1
dB steps. Furthermore, the low
frequency Tilt and Roll-off controls both have four 2 dB steps to
allow refined LF response tailoring.
A high-pass filter is included in
the LF channel to protect the
woofer from subsonic signals.
The crossover network is driven
by an active balanced input
stage. Variable input sensitivity
allows for accurate level matching
to the mixing console.
OptionsOptions
Options
OptionsOptions
Opt-09 Grille 1038-439
Order Code
The curve group above shows the horizontal directivity characteristics
of 1038AC in its vertical configuration measured at 1 m.
The curves above left show the effect of the 'bass tilt', 'bass level' and
'bass roll-off' controls on the free field response. The curves to the
right show the effect of the treble and midrange 'level' controls. Note
that the free-field mid-range ripple is substantially reduced when the
speaker is flush mounted as recommended.
The tweeter and the sealed
midrange driver are mounted on a
DCW to match their dispersion
characteristics. The DCW can be
rotated for horizontal mounting
(see previous page).
Calibrated ‘LF, MF or HF Level’
switch. MUTE disconnects the
channel for testing.

1038AC
SYSTEM
SPECIFICATIONS
AMPLIFIER
SECTION
CROSSOVER
SECTION
Lower cut-off frequency, -3 dB: <33 Hz
Upper cut-off frequency, -3 dB: >20 kHz
Free field frequency response
of system: 35 Hz - 20 kHz (±2.5 dB)
Maximum short term sine wave
acoustic output on axis
in half space, averaged from
100 Hz to 3 kHz:
@1m >120 dB SPL
@0.5m >126 dB SPL
Maximum long term RMS acoustic
output in same conditions with IEC-weighted
noise (limited by driver unit protection circuit):
@1m >116 dB SPL
@0.5m >122 dB SPL
Maximum peak acoustic output
per pair @ 2m from the engineer
with music material: >124 dB SPL
Self generated noise level in
free field @ 1m on axis: <15 dB
(A-weighted)
Harmonic distortion at 95 dB SPL @ 1m on
axis / freq: 50...100 Hz <1%
>100 Hz <0.5%
Drivers: Bass 2 x 250 mm (10") cone
Mid 130 mm (5") cone
Treble 25 mm (1") metal dome
Speaker weight: 60 kg (130 lb)
Amplifier weight: 14 kg (31 lb)
Speaker dimensions (horizontal mounting):
Height 350 mm (13 3/4")
Width 910 mm (35 13/16")
Depth 453 mm (17 7/8") *
Bass amplifier output power with an 8 Ohm
load:
400 W
Midrange amplifier output power with
an 8 Ohm load:
120 W
Treble amplifier output power with
an 8 Ohm load:
120 W
Long term output power is limited by driver
unit protection circuitry.
Slew rate : 80 V/µs
Amplifier system distortion at
nominal 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
Midrange >100 dB
Treble >100 dB
Mains voltage: 100/200V or 115/230V
Voltage operating range at
230V setting: 207 - 253V (±10%)
115V setting: 104 - 126V (±10%)
Power consumption:
Idle 60W
Full output 500W
Input connector: XLR female pin1 gnd
pin2 +
pin3 -
Input impedance: 10 kOhm
Input level for 100 dB SPL output @1m:
variable from +6 to -6 dBu
Input level for maximum short term output of
120 dB SPL @1m:
variable from +26 to +14 dBu
Subsonic filter below 33 Hz :
18 dB/octave
Ultrasonic filter above 25 kHz:
12 dB/octave
Crossover frequency:
Bass/Mid 410 Hz
Mid/Treble 3 kHz
Crossover acoustical slopes:
24 - 32 dB/octave
Crossover level control operating range in 1
dB steps:
Bass from 0 to -6 dB
Mid from 0 to -6 dB
Treble from 0 to -6 dB
Bass roll-off control in 2 dB steps:
from 0 to -8 dB @ 33 Hz
Bass tilt control in 2 dB steps:
from 0 to -8 dB @ 80 Hz
The calibration position is with all tone controls set to 'off' and input sensitivity control
to maximum.
Amplifier dimensions:
* Without connecting cable. Cable connectors require additional 100 mm (4") of space
behind the speaker and the amplifier.
Genelec Oy, Olvitie 5
SF - 74100 IISALMI, FINLAND
Phone: +358 - 17 - 83 881
Telefax:+358 - 17- 812 267
Email: genelec@genelec.com
Web: www.genelec.com
Height 530 mm (20 7/8")
Width 480 mm (18 7/8")
Depth 113 mm (4 7/16") *
Genelec document BBA38AC1
All data subject to change without prior notice
COPYRIGHT GENELEC OY 1998