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

[Ratterbass]

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.View attachment 513649View attachment 513650

What's your impression on the bass response and quality of bass reproduction?

 

[MrBlueSky4470]

Bass is good. I've not applied exact filters yet, but it's punchy, deep and precise. Not too much like someone said, but of course you can't just rely on the built in filters. I listen in absolute nearfield, probably 0.6 or 0.7 meters away from the speakers and I enjoy the bass. I have Genelec 8331s with a 7350 subwoofer (with GLM) and I couldn't say one is better than the other.

The Genelecs sound more relaxed, sometimes a touch boring. The Palmer sound very exciting, very crispy. Not sure if that could be too much after a while.

 

[JoeDiMEG]

(...) I have Genelec 8331s with a 7350 subwoofer (with GLM) and I couldn't say one is better than the other. (...)

Remarkable.

Thanks for sharing your impression.

KR

 

[MrBlueSky4470]

That said, I mean they sound very different. Both good in their own way. For the Genelecs the sound stage is built behind the speaker, for the Palmer in front of them. With the Genelec voices are razor sharp between the speakers (sometimes unnaturally sharp). With the Palmer I don't get that strong center image. It's more like I hear the sound coming more from the speakers. But it sounds very direct and lifelike that way (to me).

What do you guys think about the off-centered midrange/tweeter? Is that acceptable? I just think I would hate seeing that all the time. Once you know something like that, you always focus on it and see it. The gap in the 10 o'clock position is half the width of that in the 3 or 4 o'clock position.

 

[Steakhouse]

I'm still amazed at how they get 8.9 on Spinorama with perfect sub and EQ score.

Because the measurements re smoothed. I think they still are very good but those scores need to be taken with a grain of salt when not measured under the same conditions.

 

[denork]

That said, I mean they sound very different. Both good in their own way. For the Genelecs the sound stage is built behind the speaker, for the Palmer in front of them. With the Genelec voices are razor sharp between the speakers (sometimes unnaturally sharp). With the Palmer I don't get that strong center image. It's more like I hear the sound coming more from the speakers. But it sounds very direct and lifelike that way (to me).

What do you guys think about the off-centered midrange/tweeter? Is that acceptable? I just think I would hate seeing that all the time. Once you know something like that, you always focus on it and see it. The gap in the 10 o'clock position is half the width of that in the 3 or 4 o'clock position.

I would process a replacement with the store.

 

[jean-benoit]

That said, I mean they sound very different. Both good in their own way. For the Genelecs the sound stage is built behind the speaker, for the Palmer in front of them. With the Genelec voices are razor sharp between the speakers (sometimes unnaturally sharp). With the Palmer I don't get that strong center image. It's more like I hear the sound coming more from the speakers. But it sounds very direct and lifelike that way (to me).

What do you guys think about the off-centered midrange/tweeter? Is that acceptable? I just think I would hate seeing that all the time. Once you know something like that, you always focus on it and see it. The gap in the 10 o'clock position is half the width of that in the 3 or 4 o'clock position.

thank you for your early impressions!
i have to see if i can try them somewhre, if they dont have a good center image, they are not for me.

ps. the tweeter/offset seems like a minor issue to me, but you have to decide if it really bothers you.

 

[Liftro]

That said, I mean they sound very different. Both good in their own way. For the Genelecs the sound stage is built behind the speaker, for the Palmer in front of them. With the Genelec voices are razor sharp between the speakers (sometimes unnaturally sharp). With the Palmer I don't get that strong center image. It's more like I hear the sound coming more from the speakers. But it sounds very direct and lifelike that way (to me).

What do you guys think about the off-centered midrange/tweeter? Is that acceptable? I just think I would hate seeing that all the time. Once you know something like that, you always focus on it and see it. The gap in the 10 o'clock position is half the width of that in the 3 or 4 o'clock position.

If you can take steps to find out if it affects sound quality, you could measure the good speaker in mono first, and then the other one in the same position and compare. Personally, if it's just a visual issue, I wouldn't mind too much. Thanks for the review. It's good to know that the sound impression is positive.
I suppose the low price has to come at a price. Poor quality control, perhaps?

 

[Grimoire]

If you can take steps to find out if it affects sound quality, you could measure the good speaker in mono first, and then the other one in the same position and compare. Personally, if it's just a visual issue, I wouldn't mind too much. Thanks for the review. I suppose the low price has to come at a price. Poor quality control, perhaps?

Isn't it bound to affect the sound given that the mid-range cone acts as a waveguide for the tweeter?

 

[Paul7777x]

That said, I mean they sound very different. Both good in their own way. For the Genelecs the sound stage is built behind the speaker, for the Palmer in front of them. With the Genelec voices are razor sharp between the speakers (sometimes unnaturally sharp). With the Palmer I don't get that strong center image. It's more like I hear the sound coming more from the speakers. But it sounds very direct and lifelike that way (to me).

What do you guys think about the off-centered midrange/tweeter? Is that acceptable? I just think I would hate seeing that all the time. Once you know something like that, you always focus on it and see it. The gap in the 10 o'clock position is half the width of that in the 3 or 4 o'clock position.

I’d return them. That is poor quality control at least.

And it (the tweeter) may no longer be exactly on axis and therefore not using the cone correctly as its waveguide.

No excuse at all for that in the 21st century’s quality control regimes.

 

[Geert]

What do you guys think about the off-centered midrange/tweeter? Is that acceptable?

I other owners can confirm if they also have this issue, then it's immediately clear if it falls within Palmers tolerances.

 

[Karmacoma]

That said, I mean they sound very different. Both good in their own way. For the Genelecs the sound stage is built behind the speaker, for the Palmer in front of them. With the Genelec voices are razor sharp between the speakers (sometimes unnaturally sharp). With the Palmer I don't get that strong center image. It's more like I hear the sound coming more from the speakers. But it sounds very direct and lifelike that way (to me).

What do you guys think about the off-centered midrange/tweeter? Is that acceptable? I just think I would hate seeing that all the time. Once you know something like that, you always focus on it and see it. The gap in the 10 o'clock position is half the width of that in the 3 or 4 o'clock position.

I'd hate seeing that all the time too, and that'd be enough to ask for a replacement. It's the beginning of the production, hopefully your return will help their QC process.

 

[Paul7777x]

I other owners can confirm if they also have this issue, ; then it's immediately clear if it falls within Palmers tolerances.

If that were the case then their ‘tolerances’ aren’t good enough.

The tweeter is clearly and obviously off centre.

That would be unacceptable in any modern speaker at any price; and certainly at £1600.

 

[Mort]

And we enter the trough of disillusionment.

 

[TimVG]

While I won't excuse a misalignment - I've seen it on Revel Performa3 speakers, and even on B&W 800 series. I don't like it either and I would ask to replace it.

 

[MrBlueSky4470]

Regarding the fingerprints again: I know it's not a catastrophe in itself. Nevertheless, I expect something different from a new product. Once, 30+ years ago as a student, I did an internship at a factory that, among other things, manufactured industrial lighting. I was assembling these lights and, out of ignorance, left fingerprints. I got the dressing-down of my life, and the lights had to be repaired. These speakers were covered all over with fingerprints.

 

[Paffi]

These writings about "forward", "livelike", "in your face" is what I'm missing with my KEFs. I'm getting more and more eager to order them

 

[Paul7777x]

Regarding the fingerprints again: I know it's not a catastrophe in itself. Nevertheless, I expect something different from a new product. Once, 30+ years ago as a student, I did an internship at a factory that, among other things, manufactured industrial lighting. I was assembling these lights and, out of ignorance, left fingerprints. I got the dressing-down of my life, and the lights had to be repaired. These speakers were covered all over with fingerprints.

Really, I’d return them. You can always get a new pair sent out. But allowing awful quality control to pass uncorrected just encourages the practice.

 

[MrBlueSky4470]

While I won't excuse a misalignment - I've seen it on Revel Performa3 speakers, and even on B&W 800 series. I don't like it either and I would ask to replace it.

View attachment 513667

This is hardly noticable and I think not comparable with the offset on the speaker I have here.

 

[TimVG]

This is hardly noticable and I think not comparable with the offset on the speaker I have here.

It's noticable enough for a speaker costing €8k/piece. I'm receiving my Orbit 11 pair tomorrow and will report back here.