The ORB verdict is in

[hearingimpaired]

I took the 30 day audition challenge on the ORB Mod 2's and Super eight sub and I decided to keep them. Let me say that I am new to the sat/sub system and being a former Klipshorn owner it is hard to put into perspective this smaller system. I did get to briefly audition the Paradigm/sub, M&K/sub, and the B&W without sub. I also did a quick listen to some polks and was going to listen to the energy's at the same store where the M&K's were but the dealer told me they couldn't hold a candle to the M&k's so I passed on them. Also auditioned a couple of years ago the similar Gallo Acoustic Micros, NHT, and PSB.

I may have muddied the auditioning waters somewhat by shopping for a new DVD player at the same time to serve as my audio source. This made it a little more difficult to sort out what the speakers sounded like compared to the DVD. Luckily I was able to compare 5 different DVD players on the ORB's.

Of course I allowed some time for break-in. I'm not sure whether the speakers needed all that much break-in but I am a believer that most components need some breaking in. It's pretty hard for me to buy into the placebo effect when my head is throbbing on day one and a week later I'm not uptight. I do use a Sheffield labs breakin CD on new components.

Now, in my humble opinion comparing the ORBS to the other sat/sub systems that I auditioned I have concluded that the ORB's are in a class of their own. I really liked the B&W's but they had no sub setup to audition. This audition may have been skewed a little because the speakers were driven by Rotel equipment in a very nice sound room of a high end audio store.

I'm sorry to say that I was not that impressed with the Paradigm/sub system. The sats were played with both a 10 and 12" sub. I believe the source used was a Denon DVD 2900 and a 100 watt + yamaha receiver. Without writing a whole review let me say that they were easy to listen to but just not involving to me. They seemed to lack what ever it is that makes music exciting.

I really liked the M&K's initially but when driven a little bit they fell apart. Again they seemed to have decent components which I believe consisted of Rotel and NAD.

Conclusion, the ORBS are small metal spheres in a nice white finish. To say that the bass from this little 12"x12" 230 watt 8" sub is impressive is an understatement. I say this knowing what 2 15" Klischorn woofers can do. This system can play very loud without distortion. The detail is superb, the highs extended and sweet, and the midrange is smooth, large, and round. I would describe them as neutral sounding. Symbals sound metallic with excellent reverberation, drums are tight, bass is well defined and surprisingly deep, and they are dynamic for their size. If this speaker system is this impressive using a DVD player as my source, I must conclude that a real nice stand alone CD player and a refined amp would have blown me away.

Admittedly I haven't listened to every sat/sub system out there, but I'm pretty confident that for $629.00, the ORB system owns the market.

Bottomline, is they will never compete with some larger speaker systems in soundstage size, dynamics, etc., but they do compete with every bookshelf speaker I have listened to, and many highly touted tower speakers that I have heard.

My Equipment
Cambridge 500 Amp/Pre amp

Denon 2200 DVD (this is the player I decided on as the best overall player. Other players auditoned were Sony 685?, Denon 1600, Pioneer 45A, and another Sony and Panasonic player that I forget the model number)

Transparent interconnects and Transparent speaker cable.

ORB Mod 2 satellites and 1 Super Eight powered Sub

[markw]

... when a hithero unknown poster uses his first posts to spout euphoric over the greatness of an unknown speaker in a syntactical manner resembling that of an advertisement, I tend to wonder about his/her motives. ...and from whom they draw a paycheck.

[hearingimpaired]

... when a hithero unknown poster uses his first posts to spout euphoric over the greatness of an unknown speaker in a syntactical manner resembling that of an advertisement, I tend to wonder about his/her motives. ...and from whom they draw a paycheck.

Actually, it's not my first post. My first post asked for some feedback on these particular speakers and I recieved one response from one who apparently purchased the ORB's shortly before I decided to give them the 30 day audition.

But forgive me, I didn't know you were so insecure. I'm new here and I didn't know that I should I have trashed the speakers to sound legitimate, or post a positive review of the ORB's only after the 25th or greater post. I didn't realize that positive reviews were reserved for only the speakers you like.

I do find it interesting that you would assume that I have some ulterior motive considering the cult like following of a few brands of speakers that get recycled here. I would think that an objective person would come to the opposite conclusion if someone came along and posted something that differed from the thousands of other posts that promote the same brands day in and day out.

Your cynical response begs the question of why you would feel threatened that I might influence someones buying decision. Unfortunately you will have to audition them to find out for yourself. But remember it could be a sophisticated trap. I may be the great deceiver. Be warned that these speakers may contain alien implant devices that could alter your true perception of their performance through the use of subliminal radio frequencies.

Seriously, I could care less if you buy or consider these speakers. My opinion, and it's only an opinion was derived from comparing many of the very systems that get plugged here everyday.

To tell you the truth I had no idea what to expect and I took a $629.00 chance on a new product from a new company that may be out of business in 6 months for all I know.

I intend to post an overall positive review in the review section, but I will also be critical of a number of things that I feel could be improved.

[markw]

...some people actually use this forum to shill products. I know that you might not have seen it yourself but, this is a big, nasty world and some unscrupulous people actually do prey on the unknowing here. .. .and in white vans as well, which actually do show up on the review pages periodicaly.

I'm (we are?) always open to new and worthwhile products but sometines they are met with skepticism, for good reason. I'm surprised that nobody has seen anything on them in print.

So, if you've got anything on these miraculous apeakers, please share. Like, where are they available, who makes 'em, company backgtround, etc...?

So, you see, it's not actually a matter of paranoia but past experience that causes me to react as I did. One might also wonder why you bristled so at being challenged, as if something hit too close to a nerve.

[Jim Clark]

If you like them, that's the main thing isn't it? That said I have several reservations about the speakers and their ability to do anything right. I looked over website, admittedly very briefly, and saw no specs, which strikes me as very odd. I couldn't even find the specs for the sub and it would be kind of nice to know their claims for the subs extension. What I did find, and for me I found it most troubling is that they say you can use their speakers with your existing sub, given certain limitations. The say, and I quote: Subs using a 10 inch woofer will also be fine as long as they have a variable crossover that goes to at least 120." At this point you don't have a sub, you have an ordinary woofer, and only one at that. Since it's widely accepted that bass is directional at over 80, any claims of stereo imaging are going to be severely compromised by this set up. Can't see where it's going to help soundstage either for that matter. I just don't see how this is a better alternative than anything I've ever seen.

I've never heard them so take the comments as they were intended, puzzlement as to why they would make a good choice for anyone.

jc

[topspeed]

That's all that really matters.

It would've been a little more useful for the readers if you would've posted which models of Pardigm, B&W, M&K, et. al. that you auditioned against the Orbs. Although, the more I think about it, I guess it doesn't really matter simply because your review would have no bearing on my or likely anyone else's decision making process. The simple truth is we all have very specific, very personal ideas of what good sound is. What you think sounds great could be a completely different concept from the next guy. If we all aspired to the same definition of "great sound," we'd buy Bose

btw, I would've kept the Klipschorns.

[hearingimpaired]

I guess specs are a place to start but having been around for almost half a century now, I have determined that specs are the bait of the deception because if specs were true then buying would be easy. Just buy the product with the best specs.

I learned this a number of years ago when I bought a 130 watt Yamaha integrated amplifier only to find that my 100 watt B&K separate blew it away in raw dynamic power. And I'm convinced that my current Cambridge 65 watt amp is fairly equal to the B&K because I have yet to clip that amp. I trust my ears more than I do specs. I swear that some of the DVD players I auditioned sounded smoother and more refined than others even though they had a higher THD. Now correct me if I'm wrong but isn't distortion a major factor? I mean isn't distortion by definition garbage that is added to an otherwise unaltered signal from the source material?

My Klipschorns were another example of sound defying specs. I used to get these question alot from friends who were not Klipschorn friendly like.. I heard that these speakers have limited bass or... Is it true that they only go down to 35 hz? I could usually leave them with wide open mouths by playing a piece of well recorded thunder. I believe Paul Klipsch understood better than most what the most important factors were when it comes to audio reproduction. He believed that too many speaker manufactuers emphasized measurements while Klipsch concentrated on perfecting the most important areas and then added unbelievable dynamic range which as he put it went beyond measurements and into the emotional realm. Music has always been about emotional involvement not technical specifications.

Since I'm getting a little off topic let me state for the record my real bias. I believe Klipschorns to still be the finest all around speaker ever assembled. I sold my Klipschorns a number of years ago because the wife gave me the ultimatum of either her or the speakers. I agonized over the choice but finally gave into my base instincts and kept the wife. Anyway, having listened to hundred thousand dollar plus systems over the years to this day nothing can do goose pimples like Klipschorns.

I apologize, now it sounds like I'm working for Klipsch. To quell any fears let me also state that Klipsch's new line does'nt do a thing for me. Only the Heritage line and a few models that followed lived up to the legendary Klipsch sound in my humble opinion.