If there's a name that's synonymous with audio installations and gallery sound systems, it's got to be Genelec.
Their iconic design language can be seen (and heard) in countless museums, hospitality venues and education spaces all over the globe. Their Smart IP range, which we’re focusing on here, is a series of easy-to-install loudspeakers that provide studio-quality audio as well as receiving audio, power and management with a single CAT cable.
Within the AV and audio installation environment, end-user businesses and installation companies need speakers that can be discreet and straightforward to operate and troubleshoot while also delivering premium-quality sound, something this range of speakers delivers in droves.
The most alluring part about the Smart IP range, apart from the top-notch sound, is the single RJ45 CAT cable that delivers power and uncompressed audio, and sends configuration and control messages to the speakers. For both end users and installers, this reduces installation costs and simplifies troubleshooting thanks to fewer failure points in the system architecture.
Catch up on all the latest features here.
Smart IP software and integration
Genelec has its own Smart IP software for both installers and end users, aptly named Manager and Controller. Smart IP Manager is configuration software for the installer, which handles automatic device discovery, speaker equalisation, system organisation and status monitoring, whereas Controller is an iOS and Android app for the daily user to cycle through previously made equalisation presets and change volume and power for the installed system.
From a technical standpoint, this range of speakers is impressive. Utilising Power-over-Ethernet+ (PoE+), which can only supply a fixed maximum power due to the limitations of the standard, the Smart IP range features an onboard power supply inside each speaker to allow higher peak SPL than would usually be possible, creating more headroom and a cleaner sound for the end user.
The Smart IP range is also compatible with Dante and AES67, with a fully featured API and integrations currently available within 10 existing frameworks including Q-SYS, Crestron and Waved. Also a plus for this system is that the loudspeakers store their setups within internal memory, so within deployments alongside existing architectures, a PoE network switch and the Smart IP Manager software are all you need to get rolling – no proprietary networking or control box needed here.
Smart IP installation speakers
Within the range of speakers, there are three 2-way loudspeakers in a classic Genelec design (even utilising the same acoustic design as the 8000 series), in 76mm, 105mm and 130mm woofer sizes (3″, 4 1/8″ and 5 1/8″ respectively). All three offer SPL levels more than suitable for installation purposes and a relatively flat frequency response, with the larger model capable of reaching down to 45 Hz.
In addition to these, there’s an in-ceiling model for highly discreet installations and a hanging pendant model designed for environments with high ceilings, delivering more direct sound to the audience. There is also a subwoofer, which is surprisingly also powered by the same Power-over-Ethernet technology and is only 22cm deep, allowing for flexibility within the deployment.
Speaking of installation, the range comes with a series of flexible mounting options, including tilting mounts for walls and ceilings, and can be mounted on stands if the space requires it.
The three on-wall Smart IP loudspeakers can be ordered in 120 custom RAL colours, ranging from very subtle, muted greys and gallery whites to vibrant, showy oranges, greens or purples based on the needs of the client. Who said installations had to be subtle? If that’s not the vibe of the client, they’re also available in RAW, an unpainted aluminium finish that highlights the recycled aluminium construction.
The manufacturing process meets very high standards, with the whole thing taking place in Iisalmi, Finland, following strict quality controls and a commitment to sustainable practices. You also get great technical support and product warranties from Genelec, with a history of keeping spare parts available, a must for the conscious consumer.
Back home in Australia, a new deployment of this speaker system has recently landed at Melbourne Museum, as part of the largest gallery redevelopment the museum has ever undertaken. On the Smart IP range, Mike Miller, Technical Project Manager and System Designer, said: “You get the really nice, beautiful sound, combined with the really convenient feature set,” and went on to add that they’re “very quick to install, very easy to manage and they also just sound so good.”
The deployment featured 69 Smart IP Genelec loudspeakers, with the smaller models used to highlight specific elements across the exhibit. “We wanted the audio to sound like it was coming from specific interactive elements or animals in the exhibit, so the 4410s are discreetly positioned to isolate sound to these areas. Two loudspeakers are even placed inside an octopus.”
The single RJ45 design proved its worth here too. The space already had plenty of network patch points, letting the installers use the existing infrastructure to save time and money in the process.
There’s a great deal of care that has gone into crafting these loudspeakers to fit neatly within use cases from a restaurant fit-out to a large museum deployment like the one above, and the simplicity of using one cable for every application makes them a great choice wherever they’re going to be heard.
For local enquiries, head to Studio Connections.
