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

[amirm]

Erin shows measures additionally a 30s compression based on the multitone stimulus of his MD measurement which is more demanding and closer to reality, exemplary the short sine one

Reality of what? No speaker is driven continuously for 30 seconds at any frequency let alone in treble, when playing music.

Such tests are useful for PA speakers used in live venues and such. This is why such testing is not done for domestic speakers.

As is, i am getting push back from speaker manufacturers that we are triggering their integration based protection circuits. This is with the short sweep and I have to agree with them. And you are advocating 30 seconds flat sweep as reality???

 

[thewas]

Reality of what? No speaker is driven continuously for 30 seconds at any frequency let alone in treble, when playing music.

Such tests are useful for PA speakers used in live venues and such. This is why such testing is not done for domestic speakers.

As is, i am getting push back from speaker manufacturers that we are triggering their integration based protection circuits. This is with the short sweep and I have to agree with them. And you are advocating 30 seconds flat sweep as reality???

First of all I didn't talk about a 30s sweep but a multitone signal, second the discussion was about heating of the voice coils for which a longer signal is needed than a short sweep.

 

[artemtch63]

Palmer Orbit 11 : une surprise venue du monitoring trois voies compact

Palmer n'est pas une marque identifiée sur le marché des enceintes de monitoring, et c'est avec un certain étonnement qu'on voit arriver en ce début d'année 2026 le très ambitieux modèle Orbit 11... de quoi titiller fortement notre curiosité !

fr.audiofanzine.com

 

[Purité Audio]

They appear to like them!
Keith

 

[thewas]

Looking really promising, if anechoic third party measurements confirm its data sheet performance they would probably be my next buy this year.

 

[Tell]

Palmer Orbit 11 : une surprise venue du monitoring trois voies compact

Palmer n'est pas une marque identifiée sur le marché des enceintes de monitoring, et c'est avec un certain étonnement qu'on voit arriver en ce début d'année 2026 le très ambitieux modèle Orbit 11... de quoi titiller fortement notre curiosité !

fr.audiofanzine.com

Quite harsch and bad lighting in those photos, but they don't look particularly good, that orange ring with the shiny plastic look make them look cheap. But I guess they have to cut some corners when making a (potentially) really well performing speaker at that low price.

 

[dickiefunk]

I do test for real compression in active speakers (amplifier limiting). What he measures is not "compression" but slight frequency response changes with levels. That is not compression.

Neither Burst decay, nor MD should enter your equation in making a buy/no-buy decision. As I have repeatedly explained, but the folklore doesn't go away, multi-tone spreads non linearity across the full audible spectrum, making it highly unlikely that it rises above threshold of hearing. And if you can't tell resonances from frequency response, I don't know what to tell you.

As to testing more wild samples, two out of countless when sent by manufacturer is not going to achieve that.

So while there is some tiny benefit in having Erin also test a speaker, that is not going to change the landscape post my testing. Heck, we haven't even gotten samples for me to test as to already ask for other reviews!

Look forward to your review

 

[staticV3]

they don't look particularly good, that orange ring with the shiny plastic look make them look cheap.

The shiny plastic is the midwoofer cone, so performance characteristics likely outweighed aesthetics there.

Though I'm not a fan of the orange ring either.

 

[dickiefunk]

I’m also not a fan of the orange ring or front led. Hopefully the front led can be disabled?

 

[Tovarich007]

Yes of course. Cardioïd patterns don't work in bass frequencies.
It's intended to work on low medium/ medium range.

It's indeed a misinterpretation of cardioïd patterns to think it can properly correct bass room modes.
This confusion was partly reinforced by the marketing communication of Kii Audio, not enough precise in theiritstechnical explanation.
In the Kii Audio speakers, the bass correction is processed thru the rear drivers and the cardioïd correction by the side mid bass woofers.

In Geithain, D&D and now Palmer, it's done in a passive way thru the side slots. I hope it's working fine in this Palmer affordable monitor.

 

[Tovarich007]

These looks very interesting yes, on perfect almost perfect! Well except for the looks, they need less orange and more wood.

I like their looks too, even if it's less important for me than their amazing techs and specs for the price.

Black and orange match pretty well IMO (a little bit like Mc Laren f1 cars, the only F1 cars with the red Ferrari that don't look ugly to me, since Mercedes has abandonned their beautiful black livery two years ago).

 

[Tell]

The shiny plastic is the midwoofer cone, so performance characteristics likely outweighed aesthetics there.

Though I'm not a fan of the orange ring either.

I was actually referring to the case of the speaker, which has a rough surface but still quite plasticy shiny.
But of course the material of the cone will affect the performance, but I bet that it could get less glossy without any noticeable difference in sound.

I like their looks too, even if it's less important for me than their amazing techs and specs for the price.

Black and orange match pretty well IMO (a little bit like Mc Laren f1 cars, the only F1 cars with the red Ferrari that don't look ugly to me, since Mercedes has abandonned their beautiful black livery two years ago).

I don't find F1 cars beautiful though, and just generally dislike this modern kind of look and color schemes. Wood is where it's at imo, and if there's any plastic or metal I prefer it to be as matte as possible. But each to their own of course, just hoping for more options in the future if I ever decide on buying these

 

[BeeKay]

If these were just more pleasing in terms of looks. Just cannot imagine them in my living room. Pro-studio fine, but beyond such dens? Nah, thanks

 

[Arindal]

Cardioïd patterns don't work in bass frequencies.

Yes, they do. It just needs tremendous amounts of diaphragm area, power and a clear strategy how to get phaseshift and driver/cabinet geometry to do what they are supposed to do.

MEG is offering k model speakers as small as 8" which work as a true passive cardioid down to like 35Hz. They are just not very powerful in terms of max SPL, so a 12" or 15" woofer I regard to be the minimum.

It's indeed a misinterpretation of cardioïd patterns to think it can properly correct bass room modes.

Fullrange cardioids and woofers cannot correct room modes below 100Hz, but they do excite the modes less according to my experience, so equalization becomes easier and the risk of booming and decay issues persisting after equalization, is reduced.

 

[Paul7777x]

Palmer Orbit 11 : une surprise venue du monitoring trois voies compact

Palmer n'est pas une marque identifiée sur le marché des enceintes de monitoring, et c'est avec un certain étonnement qu'on voit arriver en ce début d'année 2026 le très ambitieux modèle Orbit 11... de quoi titiller fortement notre curiosité !

fr.audiofanzine.com

They look good to me in situ, so to speak. A subtle speckle effect. But that orange bit is even worse.

 

[Oboreal]

Carefull to marketing... For what i can see in spinorama's there is nothing like a fullrange cardioid design. Under 100 hz, every speaker is omni to my knowledge. (Even kii and 8c) Consequence is that it will excite room modes exactly like any other speaker in this frequency range. Maybe Genelec 371 can go lower but i wasn't able to find indépendant measurements.

Close to real full range cardioid do exist in PA but we are talking about huge speakers, big spaces, in free field or in huge rooms with modes way under 20 hz. Nothing like a small speaker in a typical domestic room with several room between 20 and 100 hz.

 

[kharan]

Carefull to marketing... For what i can see in spinorama's there is nothing like a fullrange cardioid design. Under 100 hz, every speaker is omni to my knowledge. (Even kii and 8c) Consequence is that it will excite room modes exactly like any other speaker in this frequency range.

Close to real full range cardioid do exist in PA but we are talking about huge speakers, big spaces, in free field or in huge rooms with modes way under 20 hz. Nothing like a small speaker in a typical domestic room with several room between 20 and 100 hz.

I think Kii extends to 50 Hz with the bass stand.

 

[amper42]

I’m also not a fan of the orange ring or front led. Hopefully the front led can be disabled?

Black electrical tape on a black speaker will cover that light nicely. Also, works great on Buckeye amp LED.
It has 1000 uses.

 

[Arindal]

For what i can see in spinorama's there is nothing like a fullrange cardioid design. Under 100 hz, every speaker is omni to my knowledge.

Check GGNTKT M3 which is clearly a fullrange cardioid:

Several MEG models also achieve a true cardioid D.I. down to like 40Hz, but I am not aware of any full spin graphs existing. But a polar plot 32-125Hz alone clearly proves the case here although it is not sufficient spin data:

Nothing like a small speaker in a typical domestic room with several room between 20 and 100 hz.

The efficient fullrange cardioids with sufficient max SPL are also not small, but we are talking about a 3x8" tower model like the GGNTKT or a 12" or 15" monitor by MEG.

 

[Bwaslo]

I’m also not a fan of the orange ring or front led. Hopefully the front led can be disabled?

Black tape can do it easily.

Wish the damn orange ring were maybe cobalt blue, or just black though.

Maybe the orange is Palmer's way of mitigating supply/demand complications like Ascilab is having