Geithain 904 versus Genelec 8040

Are those bass ports on the top? Stuff will get dropped in there sooner or later :-)

I like the look of the not-quite-vertically-centered coaxial tweeter. Would love to understand how that affects the voicing as opposed to fully concentric - yes I'm a geek :-)

The worst thing about great sounding speakers is that your mixes sound great in the control room but not so great everywhere else. That's the reason I trusted mixes done on NS10Ms back in the day and Neumann KH120s now. I hate them. They're ugly. And my mixes turn out better as a result!!

Someone should pop 'round shortly to disagree with me!

I would be very interested how the last series of Klein und Hummel/Neumann 3-ways (O310?) compare to the Geithains side by side.
The Geithains are pretty pricey. But i heard that the shootouts they do when they decide what speakers to order for broadcast, are most of the time very close in quality, the O300 were in discussion as a direct competitor and Geithain also might have been also preferred a bit to support an eastern germany company.
The NDR worked/works more with the K&H, RBB and others with Geithain.
The KH are much more affordable as "real deal" 3-way speakers than the Geithain, while i heard that the 906 are more like "for those who can not afford the real deal" but not the same league as the 904. Although it is totally right, if you can mix on the 906 you can switch to 904 without any need to adjust your ears. Same sound characteristics, makes totally sense.
I would be very interested if the Geithains are really that superior in direct comparison. Curious.

Yes, we do. Absolutely!
These are both hi-end speaker series for broadcast duties from companies that have best reputation for a reason, very truthful and honest non-sweetening speakers that are designed to sound flat in a large sweet spot with great stereo field. And also most probably very tolerant to suboptimal environments. (at least the nearfielders)
They are made to let you hear each and every spot in your mix that isn't quite as it should. Like thru a looking glass if i should describe how it feels to me working with these kind of speakers. Boring or even ugly until the mix is really good. I love that.
And if i could afford them, i would buy the 904 without hesitating. The concentric speaker principle makes great stereo field. I love that.
I was just curious because the 310 is even lowered in price from the predecessor and i am used to K&H in the meantime. I hope the lower price is not reflecting a quality change since the Sennheiser takeover. Didn't hear them yet.
Someone said to me the Genelecs are sounding just a bit too good to he real. Nice if you want to impress customers, but not optimal for all details while mixing actually. Pretty much how you described it with "cloudy" in comparison to the really precise speakers we are talking now.
I can totally understand your immediate desire to do this step up to Geithains. I always feel that step up in monitoring is really money well spent and brings you forward also in mixing skills because you can judge mixes so much easier and hear the flaws where they really are.

I have an allerge to NS10's Kleenex has never done the trick, maybe wadded up in my ears BUT you can learn any speaker it's just easier with good ones.

I rememberer a very drunk night when a mastering engineer admitted he had a preset he used to counteract the effect of NS10's effect on mixers perspective. A single chain never dicked with just patched it in. He said a couple of guys owed their Grammys and many their Gold and platinum awards to that chain. Never told me what it was, but he did pay for drinks!😎