Genelec 8361A vs Palmer Orbit 11 direct comparison

[Xormungar]

I have taken my 8361A’s to the store to compare them to the Palmer’s Orbit 11 because I was considering switching to a 5.x or 7.x.x system. I am no longer considering - Genelec’s are simply superior in many ways:

- Genelec’s started clipping at 0dB while Palmers started clipping at -25dB. There’s a tremendous difference in power.
- Genelec’s have a wider soundstage
- Genelec’s are clearer to my ears (and couple of other ears)
- Genelec’s sound much more natural.


It seems that 1kW of power in Palmers is an overstatement.

That being said, Palmer’s are really good speakers, especially for the price. I don’t think anything comes close to them at this price point.

Please note that this is mostly a subjective comparison from me and couple of other people that were in the store.

Both systems were tested uncalibrated via RME ADI-2 DAC FS.

 

[tineared]

So you feel that the pair of $11k speakers are superior to a pair of $1800 speakers. Got it.

 

[Bwaslo]

Pair of $900 speakers. (Or are the Gens $11k per pair, also?)

 

[AudioJester]

Moving 8361a around is not easy!

Still a multichannel Orbit system looks intriguing.

 

[3125b]

Genelec’s started clipping at 0dB while Palmers started clipping at -25dB. There’s a tremendous difference in power

The way that's put it just describes input sensitivity.

It seems that 1kW of power in Palmers is an overstatement.

It's 1kW peak, 400W RMS. Genelec advertises a combined 1kW as well though I'm not sure if that's peak or RMS.
Obviously the much bigger, ported Gelenelec is much more efficient, even with the same power the output of the Gelelec could be significantly higher.

 

[Xormungar]

The way that's put it just describes input sensitivity.


It's 1kW peak, 400W RMS. Genelec advertises a combined 1kW as well though I'm not sure if that's peak or RMS.
Obviously the much bigger, ported Gelenelec is much more efficient, even with the same power the output of the Gelelec could be significantly higher.

Input sensitivity was the same on both monitors. Even judging by my ears, Genelec’s were significantly louder.

 

[mj30250]

Input sensitivity was the same on both monitors. Even judging by my ears, Genelec’s were significantly louder.

So they weren't level matched?

 

[Xormungar]

So they weren't level matched?

They were. It’s just that Genelec’s shook the room properly while Palmers were quite shy.

 

[Purité Audio]

I found the Orbits more than room shaking enough.
Keith

 

[tonyrob]

compare with 8361A, Orbit 11 is quieter.

 

[staticV3]

They were. It’s just that Genelec’s shook the room properly while Palmers were quite shy.

How were they level-matched? What was the residual dB delta after matching?

 

[sidechain]

This image is like comparing the Palmers to the white iLouds under it

Subscribed, this will be a funny thread

 

[Mort]

I appreciate the effort. Don't let the Orbit 11 fan boy army get you down.

 

[amirm]

I appreciate the effort. Don't let the Orbit 11 fan boy army get you down.

Me too.

The 8361A is one of my all time favorites. It was nice seeing it compared to Palmer, albeit in an informal way. The Palmer is so much smaller!

 

[CB89]

I appreciate the effort. Don't let the Orbit 11 fan boy army get you down.

 

[xlb250]

Have you tried Revel M105? I liked them more than Genelec for much less, but it was the smaller 8341A model. I feel that surround sound with proper layout is big improvement for orchestral music, video games, and movies.

 

[sidechain]

I appreciate the effort. Don't let the Orbit 11 fan boy army get you down.

Who? Keith?

"5.1 Digital: Genelec: 2x8361a/3x8341a/7380a 9301a,VanityPro, GLM (+2ch 8341a/7370a, 8331a/7350a, 8010a, G Two, Three, Four )"
Wonder who's the fanboy here

 

[andrew]

Re noise: is it the case that this is observed on the analogue but not digital input?

 

[staticV3]

Re noise: is it the case that this is observed on the analogue but not digital input?

Either input has some noise, but digital less so: https://youtu.be/QR53AX9z6zo?t=793

(when watching, I'd recommend switching to the original Korean audio track. There are subtitles.)

 

[phoenixdogfan]

You actually carried those 8361a's in to the store. Wow! They're so big, so heavy, and so round. Almost no place to get a good purchase with your hands. Kind of like carrying the audiophile equivalent of two greased pigs, isn't it? Don't doubt they sounded bigger than the Palmer's either. Sophie Tucker sounds bigger than Ariana Grande also.

But different horses for different courses. If you're in a smaller room, have a couple of decent subs, and a great DSP like Dirac ART and want to go multichannel, I think the Palmer's might be an interesting choice. Consider 5 of them will set you back around $4500, around the price of one 8361a. And personally, to me, and it's just my opinion, I just think I could handle smaller editions of the Genelec "3" series, but the 8361s are just too big to look good anywhere but a studio. To me they look gross. They're the speakers only Fernando Botero could love.