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

[DschayAge]

@DschayAge Could you tell us which model of minidsp you used to tame down the Orbit 11s ?
A few reviews have mentioned it has a bit of a bump in the midrange (probably in the 1K region) did you feel that ?

Hay , Minidsp HT.
I don’t hear any frequencies that bother me, and I’m quite meticulous about that. It’s just this 150 Hz issue that causes that unpleasant booming sound.

Wanting to return a speaker because your room has bass issues is, strange... Especially when it appears the user had some form of EQ to manage room issues.

Okay, so are you telling me you would keep a 15” subwoofer that shakes your house with bass, while at your listening position you don’t actually hear anything—apart from the rattling of the cabinets?

If you have a way to eliminate this using a DSP, then of course that would encourage you to keep the subwoofer rather than send it back, simply because it’s not compatible with your room.

And I did mention that the frequency “corrections” available on the speaker were not sufficient to get my problems under control.

 

[kemmler3D]

I think it's most likely that they already used most of the DSP processing power to tune the speakers and 3 bands is all that was left to expose to the user.

Alternatively, someone on the product side determined that their target market would not understand how to use more bands (let's be clear: most people outside of a studio setting and enthusiast listeners don't) and they decided to reduce the number exposed.

Possible but not likely: a product marketer (my current job) advised to ship with 3 bands and "upgrade" to 10 later, to get a free swing at the PR pinata, enhance goodwill with early customers, etc etc.

 

[Ratterbass]

3-Band is already pretty advanced as far as studio monitors go. Some don't even have room placement correction, let alone mid EQ.

Many people will already be using Arc Studio or similar solutions anyways, so why spend time and money for a feature that probably few people will actually use?

 

[Breeze98]

Good point, however some digital upstream EQ solutions can add significant latency which may make it challenging to comfortably play instruments through the system in real time. For listening to recorded sources and mixing the latency created would not be an issue, although sync issues may need amelioration with video.

Understood, thanks.

Possible but not likely: a product marketer (my current job) advised to ship with 3 bands and "upgrade" to 10 later, to get a free swing at the PR pinata, enhance goodwill with early customers, etc etc.

You may well be right!

 

[MrBlueSky4470]

Here is a new review on YouTube. Not really anything new and not very good in my opinion, but maybe some would like to see.

 

[Grimoire]

Here is a new review on YouTube. Not really anything new and not very good in my opinion, but maybe some would like to see.

I understand that these guys need their taglines, but underrated? Really???

 

[G|force]

I understand that these guys need their taglines, but underrated? Really???

At this point I think we have to call it unrated.
I'm very much looking forward to Amir's testing.

 

[G|force]

Looking at Keith's photos, I think they look really nice in white and the orange ring doesn't bother me at all.

Is it published or has it been mentioned what type of power supply it has? I would prefer SMPS, but haven't seen that discussed.

 

[Ratterbass]

Looking at Keith's photos, I think they look really nice in white and the orange ring doesn't bother me at all.

Is it published or has it been mentioned what type of power supply it has? I would prefer SMPS, but haven't seen that discussed.

Definitely SMPS. A linear supply for that power would be too big.

 

[Salt]

Looking at Keith's photos, I think they look really nice in white and the orange ring doesn't bother me at all.

Is it published or has it been mentioned what type of power supply it has? I would prefer SMPS, but haven't seen that discussed.

You mentioned the size of the enclosure, then virtualize the size of a transformer for 1kW ...

 

[Salt]

First feedback at Thomann.de about Orbit 11 and ASR simultanously (chuckle):
"Der orangene Ring stört mich persönlich nicht (in einem Forum lang diskutiert)"

Use a translator of your choice ...

 

[Ktacos]

Okay, so are you telling me you would keep a 15” subwoofer that shakes your house with bass, while at your listening position you don’t actually hear anything—apart from the rattling of the cabinets?

I would because I know the problem isn't with the gear, it's with the room. I'd figure out the correct spot and integrate it properly.

My original point was that different speakers aren't going to fix room problems. I was under the impression that the common suggestion here is to learn how your tools and room works so you don't have to spend more money chasing non-fixes, but maybe that has changed.

 

[Salt]

If you have two positioning options, listening place and sub position, you may arrange it by physical placement. If only one position, here obviously MLP, is unchangeable, only the sub can be arranged, and, if not, we run into discussion of EQ, delay, FIR and that. But that is not content of this thread.

 

[dasherzx]

Here is a new review on YouTube. Not really anything new and not very good in my opinion, but maybe some would like to see.

What’s the part that’s not that good in your opinion. Just an honest question.
Or are you referring to the review?

 

[Trinkle]

Hay , Minidsp HT.
I don’t hear any frequencies that bother me, and I’m quite meticulous about that. It’s just this 150 Hz issue that causes that unpleasant booming sound.



Okay, so are you telling me you would keep a 15” subwoofer that shakes your house with bass, while at your listening position you don’t actually hear anything—apart from the rattling of the cabinets?

If you have a way to eliminate this using a DSP, then of course that would encourage you to keep the subwoofer rather than send it back, simply because it’s not compatible with your room.

And I did mention that the frequency “corrections” available on the speaker were not sufficient to get my problems under control.

Looking at your setup you are probably using a stand with rubber pads, AFAIK they stop being effective for frequencies below 500 Hz, and Isoacoustics Aperta 200 is supposed to perform better. I will get those ( I ordered the speaker by the way, in canada a store is selling it at 800 CAD, but they said the shipment is delayed due to demand)

 

[MrBlueSky4470]

What’s the part that’s not that good in your opinion. Just an honest question.
Or are you referring to the review?

I was refering to the review itself. He's basically just giving us the specs but no new info or detailed listening impressions.

 

[Torin Krell]

Not to overstate my previous point, however the above video review also used the Palmer website as a reference for the Orbit 11's specs as evidenced by the narrator stating "you get a class D amplifier with a peak output of 1000 watts . ." Most people will use a manufacturer's website as the final word for specs rather than a forum - even ASR's forum. I hope my observations here will encourage Palmer to quickly change their website to more accurately describe the Orbit 11's amplification. I wish the launch of this exciting new monitor every success and for it to hopefully receive high ratings from other upcoming reviews (including Amir's and Erin's).

 

[Ratterbass]

Not to overstate my previous point, however the above video review also used the Palmer website as a reference for the Orbit 11's specs as evidenced by the narrator stating "you get a class D amplifier with a peak output of 1000 watts . ." Most people will use a manufacturer's website as the final word for specs rather than a forum - even ASR's forum. I hope my observations here will encourage Palmer to quickly change their website to more accurately describe the Orbit 11's amplification. I wish the launch of this exciting new monitor every success and for it to hopefully receive high ratings from other upcoming reviews (including Amir's and Erin's).

They already wrote in this thread that they will change the spec. No need to keep flogging this horse.

Edit: and they already did.

 

[pat355]

They already wrote in this thread that they will change the spec. No need to keep flogging this horse.

agreed!

 

[MrBlueSky4470]

Sooooo... I just got mine and I really have mixed feelings now and I'm also quite upset. I think they really have some quality issues. You might say they are minor, but to me they matter.

First thing that upset me while unpacking them was that they were covered with fingerprints. And yes, the packaging was original and unopened. I expect new things that I get to be flawless and not with fingerprints all over them. I was able to wipe them off, but the painting is also not very high quality. Not horrible, but it just seems a bit uneven.
Okay. Now the BAD thing. One speaker has the centering of the midrange/tweeter really off. I think you can see it in the picture. In reality it is way more obvious. Do they check their items before they pack them? This is obviously not acceptable.

But: They sound good. I just did some basic EQing and they sound nice. Very forward sound in your face (which I like), very detailed and clear. Nice transients, nice sound stage, voices sound great. Bass is punchy and precise inspite of my very basic adjustments. My Genelecs present everything kind of behind the speakers which sounds kind of distant. The Palmer punch everything in your face.

I like the first sound impression, but I'm actually really pissed about the quality.