In this review, we will be comparing Genelec G Five and Sony Signature Series SA-Z1, two Powered Bookshelf speakers from Genelec and Sony. 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 Sony Signature Series SA-Z1 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 )
Sony Signature Series SA-Z1 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 212-watt RMS Integrated Amplifier
- 0.75, 0.5 (2)" Hard-Dome Tweeter
- 2 x 4" Woofer
- 51-100k Hz Frequency Response
- 32-bit Max Depth / 768 Hz Max Sample Rate
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 209.5" x 7.875" x 12.875"( 209.5 x 200.0 x 327.0mm )
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Genelec G Five and Sony Signature Series SA-Z1 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both Genelec G Five and Sony Signature Series SA-Z1 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Genelec G Five |
Sony Signature Series SA-Z1 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
0.75, 0.5 (2)-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 8-inch
|
2 x 4-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 Sony Signature Series SA-Z1 features a 0.75, 0.5 (2)" Titanium Hard-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 4" Woofer .
Frequency Response
Genelec G Five has a frequency range of 34-20k Hz whereas Sony Signature Series SA-Z1 has a frequency range of 51-100k 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 Sony Signature Series SA-Z1's min frequency of 51Hz.
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
Sony Signature Series SA-Z1
High Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Sony Signature Series SA-Z1
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.
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 Sony Signature Series SA-Z1'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 Sony Signature Series SA-Z1 has external dimensions of 209.5 x 200.0 x 327.0mm ( 8.25 x 7.875 x 12.875inch) .
Sony Signature Series SA-Z1 is 86mm narrower and 242.5mm shorter than Genelec G Five but it is also 49mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Genelec G Five and Sony Signature Series SA-Z1 in scale.
Comparison image of Genelec G Five and Sony Signature Series SA-Z1 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 Sony Signature Series SA-Z1 is approximately 654.0cm2 / 101.4inch2. The Genelec G Five requires 22% more surface area than the Sony Signature Series SA-Z1 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
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 Sony Signature Series SA-Z1?
Here are the items that come with the Sony Signature Series SA-Z1:
2 Desktop monitor speakers2 AC power cordsDigital sync cableWalkman cableUSB-C to USB-B cableRemote control2 AAA batteriesInstruction Manual