Palmer ORBIT 11 Cardioid Coaxial 3-way studio monitor (MSRP 799€/899$)

[Torinoscale]

The Orbits were finally available again, so I pulled the plunge. Also ordered a pair of Eve Exo 28, will keep one pair and send one back, this should be really interesting. Will report back here if anyone is still on the fence!

 

[Torinoscale]

I didn‘t recieve em yet, but they should arrive today. I found this new raving review in the meantime:

I’ve used the Palmer Orbit 11s monitors daily since they launched — the hype is real!

The Palmer Orbit 11s are bargain three-way coaxial monitors that help rocket your mixes to stratospheric heights – read the MusicTech review

musictech.com

 

[Torinoscale]

Ok, here we go, here are my first impressions:

The packaging is really great, what a nice touch with the bags with handles!
The overall build seems very high quality to me, the aluminum enclosure is very well made and sturdy. The look really fits into my Stormtrooper-themed studio
I'm using the Orbits for writing, producing and mixing, so I'm sitting about 1,2 meters away from them. I didn't calibrate them yet, will do it probably tomorrow with Arc studio. They're very close to the front wall, so I activated the wall filter.
What's the star of the whole show for me is them being cardioid till 250Hz and it really works, the room seems to play a very negligible role now.
The low end extension is truly impressive and the level of detail is great. I just used them for listening to tracks I know well today, I'll use them for mixing in the next few days.
I can see or better hear how some people might have a problem with the hiss, I just turned the pad to -20db and it's so quiet it doesn't bother me at all. when I'm moving my ears closer to them I can faintly hear it, earlier than on my Eve SC207s, but it's a non issue for me, YMMV. The menu on top is very well laid out, simple and functional. I feel like one can notice the 4ms delay a tiny bit when monitoring guitar through them, so it's better to use headphones when tracking.
I still need a few days to evaluate them (if they are tiring after a few hours for instance and for mixing), but I have a feeling that they are keepers!
Whatever my personal result may be, kudos to Palmer and @UffdiePalme what they have created is definitely insane value for money. If you're on the fence, check them out in your own room!

I ordered the Eve Exo28 as well, they are very capable speakers as well with very good low end extension, but they're simply too big for my room, so I decided to send them back relatively quickly. They're also not cardioid obviously and ported, so the room (which is treated pretty good) acted up more with them.

 

[MarkS]

That blue light makes the orange ring barely visible, so there's your solution, orange ring haters!

 

[Bwaslo]

On a black Orbit, black electrical tape makes the yellow pilot light invisible.

 

[LiquidDesign]

Does the speaker have a pressure pinhole equalisation port? Some sealed speakers do have some mechanism to allow outside and inside air pressure to balance out over time. Otherwise, differences in pressure can cause the speaker cone to move away from center position.

 

[artemtch63]

Finally

Palmer Orbit 11 Powered Desktop Speaker Review

Palmer Orbit 11 Review

www.erinsaudiocorner.com

 

[90sNintendoKid]

Finally

Palmer Orbit 11 Powered Desktop Speaker Review

Palmer Orbit 11 Review

www.erinsaudiocorner.com

I am going to be analysing Erin's multi tone distortion graphs at some point. I expect that will inform how I EQ my Orbits.

 

[illusonic]

No surprises. Very similar results as seen before.
I like how well THD graphs match between Erin and @stoneeh.

Low IMD in the midrange thanks to 3-way design. So no problem to run them fullrange.
Also no surprise to anyone owning the speakers. Some 2-way speakers attached for comparison.

 

[Karmacoma]

I am going to be analysing Erin's multi tone distortion graphs at some point. I expect that will inform how I EQ my Orbits.

With these, you shouldn't pass on using a umik and rew. From what we know of their dispersion caracteristics , this is the way.

 

[90sNintendoKid]

With these, you shouldn't pass on using a umik and rew. From what we know of their dispersion caracteristics , this is the way.

I fully agree, I suspect the Orbits are a bargain and yes they require EQ but for me that’s not a problem, I see it as a perk. Plus I always use subwoofers, even if I had full range cardioid speakers, I would still use subwoofers or use the full range speakers to support the subs in Dirac ART.

 

[jeo12]

I messed up . I removed the four exposed screws on one of my Orbit 11s. Apparently, they hold the SMPS in place. Can I fix this myself?

 

[Salt]

Go open the enclosure you have to remove one woofer.

 

[illusonic]

It should be possible to pull off the plastic cover around the woofers to get to the woofer screws. There is a notch on the inner diameter of the cover ring. That's where I would try to pull off the ring. Be carefull with metal parts (e. g. screw driver) close to the bass membrane. If attracted by the magnet they may damage the membrane. Once you're at it, you could take some pictures of the internals to share with us. Would be much appreciated.

 

[UffdiePalme]

I messed up . I removed the four exposed screws on one of my Orbit 11s. Apparently, they hold the SMPS in place. Can I fix this myself?

Hi Jeo,
would higly recommend to write to our customer service: [email protected]

All the best!

 

[Henrik]

Seeing UffdiePalme reaching out in a situation like this warms my heart.

 

[jeo12]

Seeing UffdiePalme reaching out in a situation like this warms my heart.

Totally! However, customer service predictably recommends not opening it myself

 

[Karmacoma]

Seeing UffdiePalme reaching out in a situation like this warms my heart.

I shed a tear.

 

[MarkS]

I removed the four exposed screws on one of my Orbit 11s.

I just have to ask: why???

 

[jeo12]

I thought I remembered reading those were the ones (to use to screw them onto a horizontal surface). My actions need to adjust more quickly to my fading memory...