Genelec drives Hardwell’s organic studio overhaul

Award-winning Dutch DJ/Producer Hardwell has been a driving force in the global music scene for over a decade, rising to become a household name in the world of dance music. Guided by his long-term collaborator, world-leading studio designer Jan Morel, Hardwell has recently upgraded his private studio in Breda, replacing his original Genelec 1034s with the next-generation 1234A Smart Active Monitors.

“We began at his parents’ house studio over 13 years ago, and since then, Hardwell has kept refining and upgrading his spaces,” comments Morel. “Each studio is a step beyond the last—his ideas are always evolving.” The new Breda studio reflects this organic growth, with every detail designed to match Hardwell’s high standards for sonic perfection.

We recently upgraded to the 1234As and I couldn’t be happier.

At the heart of this latest studio overhaul are Genelec monitors, which Hardwell has consistently trusted for their audio quality. “When we first built a studio together, Jan introduced me to Genelec speakers. I was using different brands before, but hearing the 1034s for the first time blew me away. Since then, I’ve been hooked,” Hardwell reveals. In his latest setup, Hardwell installed two white 1234A main monitors as part of an impressive stereo monitoring system that also includes pairs of 8341A and 8010A nearfield models, complemented by a 7073A subwoofer. As part of the Smart Active Monitoring family, the 1234A and 8341A models integrate closely with GLM calibration software, offering Hardwell total control and clarity in his productions.

Reflecting on the technology, Hardwell explains: “The speakers calibrate to the room, and now the whole space feels like a sweet spot. I don’t experience phase cancellation when moving around, and everything just sounds smooth. Normally, you’d hear more low-end in the back of a room, but these speakers balance everything out.”

The whole space feels like a sweet spot now.

Studio designer Jan Morel.

With Morel’s attention to detail, each aspect of the studio was designed to meet Hardwell’s needs, often evolving through spontaneous changes and new ideas. Morel notes: “With Hardwell, design is an ongoing conversation. We’d work on the front wall, and then he’d say, ‘Let’s look at the ceiling,’ then the side walls, and so on. It keeps the process exciting and results in a studio perfectly tailored to him.”

The Breda studio now provides Hardwell with a top-tier environment for producing and exploring new sonic horizons. His reaction to the Genelec monitors was overwhelmingly positive, expressing a renewed connection with his own music. “It’s like discovering the music all over again,” says Morel. Hardwell's refreshed studio is primed for his continued journey in electronic music, with Genelec once again playing a central role in defining his sound.