In this review, we will be comparing G Four and Xeo 20, two Powered Bookshelf speakers from Genelec and Dynaudio. 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 Four and Dynaudio Xeo 20 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Genelec G Four | Dynaudio Xeo 20 |
|---|
| Brand | Genelec
Finland · founded 1978 | Dynaudio
Denmark · founded 1977 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Built-in amplifier | 180-watt RMS | 260-watt RMS |
|---|
| Tweeter | 0.75" Dome | 1.1" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Cone | 5.5" Magnesium Silicate Polymer |
|---|
| Frequency response | 48-20k Hz | 40-21k Hz |
|---|
| Max depth / sample rate | — | 24-bit / 96 kHz |
|---|
| Bluetooth | No | Built-in 4.1 |
|---|
| Weight | 8.60kg / 18.9lbs | 6.21kg / 13.7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 14.4" x 9.3" x 8.8"
365 x 237 x 223 mm | 12.625" x 7.125" x 10.125"
320.7 x 181.0 x 257.2mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both G Four and Xeo 20 are 2-way speakers.
Genelec G FourDynaudio Xeo 20
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Genelec G Four |
Dynaudio Xeo 20 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.75-inch
|
1.1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 5.5-inch
|
G Four features a 0.75" Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3000Hz. On the other hand, the Xeo 20 features a 1.1" Coated Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.5" Magnesium Silicate Polymer Woofer.
Frequency Response
G Four has a frequency range of 48-20k Hz whereas Xeo 20 has a frequency range of 40-21k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 40Hz, the Xeo 20 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the G Four's min frequency of 48Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both G Four and Xeo 20 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
The size of a speaker can sometimes be 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 Four's and Dynaudio Xeo 20's external dimensions. Genelec G Four has external dimensions of 365 x 237 x 223 mm (13.8 x 9.3 x 8.8) whereas Dynaudio Xeo 20 has external dimensions of 320.7 x 181.0 x 257.2mm (12.625 x 7.125 x 10.125inch).
Dynaudio Xeo 20 is 56mm narrower and 44.3mm shorter than Genelec G Four but it is also 34.2mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Genelec G Four and Dynaudio Xeo 20 in scale.
Comparison image of Genelec G Four and Dynaudio Xeo 20 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 Four is approximately 528.5cm2 / 81.9inch2 and base area of the Dynaudio Xeo 20 is approximately 465.5cm2 / 72.2inch2. The G Four requires 14% more surface area than the Xeo 20 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:
Size Comparison image of Genelec G Four and Dynaudio Xeo 20 on a Media Console
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 Four weighs 8.60kg / 18.9lbs and the Dynaudio Xeo 20 weighs 6.21kg / 13.7lbs. This makes the G Four 38% heavier than the Xeo 20.
Here is a comparison of how G Four and Xeo 20'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 Four?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of G Four:
- Genelec G Four 2-Way Powered Bookshelf Speaker (Polar White, Single)
- Iso-Pod Stand
- 5.9-feet Power Cable
What's in the Box of Dynaudio Xeo 20?
Here are the items that come with the Xeo 20:
- 2 Powered bookshelf speakers
- 2 Grilles
- Two 8-feet AC power cords
- Remote control
- 2 AAA batteries
- Setup Manual
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Price per pair* |
2300USD
vs
2500USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 XLR Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via XLR input |
 Subwoofer Output |
vs
No
|
Pair your speakers with external subwoofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
40 Hz
vs
48 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
21k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Handheld Remote |
Yes
vs
No
|
Control the speaker by the included RC |
 Height |
320mm
vs
365mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
465cm2
vs
528cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 USB Port |
Service
vs
No
|
USB port adds flexibility |
 3.5mm Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via 3.5mm AUX input |
 RCA Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via RCA input |
 Digital Input |
Optical
vs
No
|
Connect digital inputs directly |
| General |
Genelec G Four |
Dynaudio Xeo 20 |
| Brand |
Genelec |
Dynaudio |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
| Frequency Response |
48-20k Hz |
40-21k Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
180-watt RMS |
260-watt RMS |
| Max Bit Depth |
n/a |
24-bit |
| Max Sample Rate |
n/a |
96 kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Cone |
Magnesium Silicate Polymer |
| Tweeter Size |
0.75" |
1.1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
3000Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
365.0mm (14.4") |
320.7mm (12.6") |
| Width |
237.0mm (9.3") |
181.0mm (7.1") |
| Depth |
223.0mm (8.8") |
257.2mm (10.1") |
| Weight |
8.60kg (18.9lbs) |
6.21kg (13.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
Aluminum |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
White,Black,Raw(Aluminum) |
n/a |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Aux Inputs |
RCA,XLR |
3.5mm, RCA |
| USB Port |
No |
Service |
| Phone Input |
No |
No |
| Subwoofer Output |
n/a |
No |
| Digital Input |
No |
Optical |
| HDMI Input |
No |
No |
| Headphone Jack |
No |
No |
| Ethernet Port |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Yrs/8 Yrs registered |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Yrs/8 Yrs registered |
A generation apart: Dynaudio Xeo 20 is the newer design, against a 2013 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | Dynaudio Xeo 20 digs deeper - 40Hz against 48Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Built-in power | B | Dynaudio Xeo 20 has the bigger amplifier (260W vs 180W RMS). |
| Connections | B | Dynaudio Xeo 20 adds Bluetooth and digital inputs. |
| Size | depends | Dynaudio Xeo 20 is easier to place; Genelec G Four is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. Genelec G Four sits in a wider range (5 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($2,300 vs $2,500 a pair). |
A Genelec G Four B Dynaudio Xeo 20
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
Dynaudio Xeo 20 has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 48Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.