In this review, we will be comparing Genelec G Five and Genelec G Three, two Powered Bookshelf speakers by Genelec Being Powered speakers, they both have built-in amplifiers so you don't need an external power amp or an integrated amp to power them.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Genelec G Five and Genelec G Three first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Genelec G Five Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 270-watt RMS Integrated Amplifier
- 1" Dome Tweeter
- 8" Cone Woofer
- 34-20k Hz Frequency Response
- N/A Max Depth / N/A Max Sample Rate
- Weight:12.70kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 452.0" x 11 1/4" x 10 15/16"( 452 x 286 x 278 mm )
Genelec G Three Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 100-watt RMS Integrated Amplifier
- 0.75" Dome Tweeter
- 5.1" Cone Woofer
- 54-20k Hz Frequency Response
- N/A Max Depth / N/A Max Sample Rate
- Weight:5.00kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 299.0" x 7.4" x 7"( 299 x 189 x 178 mm )
Genelec G Five and Genelec G Three are members of Genelec's G series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Genelec G Five and Genelec G Three compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
Both Genelec G Five and Genelec G Three are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Genelec G Five |
Genelec G Three |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
0.75-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 8-inch
|
1 x 5.1-inch
|
Genelec G Five features a 1" Dome Tweeter and 1 x 8" Cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3000Hz. On the other hand, the Genelec G Three features a 0.75" Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.1" Cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3000Hz.
Frequency Response
Genelec G Five has a frequency range of 34-20k Hz whereas Genelec G Three has a frequency range of 54-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 34Hz, the Genelec G Five can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Genelec G Three's min frequency of 54Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Genelec G Five and Genelec G Three have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
Physical Specs
Size of a speaker can sometimes become an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Genelec G Five's and Genelec G Three's external dimensions. Genelec G Five has external dimensions of 452 x 286 x 278 mm ( 17 13/16 x 11 1/4 x 10 15/16) whereas Genelec G Three has external dimensions of 299 x 189 x 178 mm ( 11.8 x 7.4 x 7) .
Genelec G Five is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 97mm wider, 153mm taller and 100mm deeper than Genelec G Three.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Genelec G Five and Genelec G Three in scale.
Comparison image of Genelec G Five and Genelec G Three Size and External Dimensions
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the Genelec G Five is approximately 795.1cm2 / 123.2inch2 and base area of the Genelec G Three is approximately 336.4cm2 / 52.1inch2. The Genelec G Five requires 136% more surface area than the Genelec G Three which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The Genelec G Five weighs 12.70kg / 27.9lbs and the Genelec G Three weighs 5.00kg / 11lbs. This makes the Genelec G Five 154% heavier than the Genelec G Three.
Here is a comparison of how Genelec G Five and Genelec G Three's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Genelec G Five?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Genelec G Five:
Genelec G Five 2-Way Powered Bookshelf Speaker (Polar White, Single)Iso-Pod Stand5.9-feet Power Cable
What's in the Box of Genelec G Three?
Here are the items that come with the Genelec G Three:
Genelec G Three 2-Way Powered Bookshelf Speaker (Polar White, Single)Iso-Pod Stand5.9-feet Power Cable
 Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
5.1 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
34 Hz
vs
54 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 RCA Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via RCA input |
 Height |
299mm
vs
452mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
336cm2
vs
795cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1390USD
vs
3590USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
|
RCA Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via RCA input |
| General |
Genelec G Five |
Genelec G Three |
| Brand |
Genelec |
Genelec |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
| Frequency Response |
34-20k Hz |
54-20k Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
270-watt RMS |
100-watt RMS |
| Max Bit Depth |
N/A |
N/A |
| Max Sample Rate |
N/A |
N/A |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
5.1" |
| Woofer Composition |
Cone |
Cone |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
0.75" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
3000Hz |
3000Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
452.0mm (17.8") |
299.0mm (11.8") |
| Width |
286.0mm (11.3") |
189.0mm (7.4") |
| Depth |
278.0mm (10.9") |
178.0mm (7") |
| Weight |
12.70kg (27.9lbs) |
5.00kg (11lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
Aluminum |
Aluminum |
| Available Colors |
White,Black |
White,Black,Raw(Aluminum) |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Aux Inputs |
RCA,XLR |
RCA,XLR |
| USB Port |
No |
No |
| Phone Input |
No |
No |
| Digital Input |
No |
No |
| HDMI Input |
No |
No |
| Headphone Jack |
No |
No |
| Ethernet Port |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |