Pros
- Impressive styling and construct high quality
- Room-filling sound
- Easy set up and operation
Cons
- airSOUND not perfect for music, and cannot be switched off
- No HDMI sockets
Key Specifications
- Review Price: £299.95
- airSOUND expertise
- Built-in Bluetooth
- 300W quoted energy output
- Wireless lively subwoofer
- Optical, analogue and three.5mm minijack inputs
What is the Orbitsound M10?
The M10 soundbar affords a wise, handy approach of upgrading your TV’s sound high quality with out swallowing up a great deal of front room area. The key promoting level of Orbitsound’s methods is their use of proprietary airSOUND expertise to remove the concept of a candy spot, providing the identical sound high quality irrespective of the place you’re sitting.
The modern, compact soundbar is paired with a equally compact wi-fi subwoofer to provide bass frequencies a serving to hand. It’s comparatively costly, however we’ve been impressed by earlier Orbitsound methods just like the SB60 airSOUND Base and M9 so we’re optimistic that the M10 can justify the worth.
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Orbitsound M10 – Design & Connections
The very first thing we seen after pulling the 2 parts from the field is how diddy they're – the soundbar measures simply 500mm vast and 95mm deep, which makes it good and straightforward to accommodate. The sub stands 340mm excessive by 130mm vast and may be simply tucked away.
And like Orbitsound’s earlier soundbars, the M10 is superbly made and gorgeously styled. The primary physique is wearing an opulent black lacquer end with curved edges, completed off by a thick detachable fabric grille on the entrance and speaker mesh on each finish panels (extra on these later). It’ll make a fetching accomplice for any flatscreen TV.
The stable, chunky construct is commensurate with the worth. The soundbar is made out of wooden versus plastic, which not solely bolsters the solidity however can be claimed to convey acoustic advantages. The subwoofer’s onerous carrying matt black PVC end is ideal for the rigours of on-floor placement and appears engaging.
Front muddle is proscribed to a single standing LED that shines via the grille, whereas a management panel is discovered on high. The enter, quantity and energy buttons sport a tactile rubber end, demonstrating extra spectacular consideration to element. The inputs are listed on high (Bluetooth, Aux, Optical) and a small white gentle signifies which one is chosen. This brilliantly streamlined design is ideal for technophobes.
The restricted array of sockets on the again underlines its easy plug-and-play method. There are optical, analogue stereo and three.5mm minijack inputs, which allow you to hook up your TV and a few moveable gadgets. But in case you hanker after HDMI ports and ARC then this not the soundbar for you. Built-in Bluetooth supplies one other technique of enjoying music on the M10, although.
Orbitsound M10 – Features
The M10 isn’t teeming with tips however probably the most important characteristic is airSOUND expertise, which makes use of a spread of drive models to make sure the identical listening expertise irrespective of the place within the room you’re sitting.
The 4 speaker drivers on the entrance deal with the majority of the sound – speech, results, music and so forth – whereas two spatial drivers situated ultimately panels ‘bounce’ sound across the room, theoretically leading to a spacious, enveloping soundstage irrespective of the place you sit. Inside the wi-fi subwoofer is a 6.5in bass driver and complete energy output is quoted as 300W.
Orbitsound M10 – Operation
Setup is straightforward. Just place the soundbar in your TV stand, hook up the optical cable and away you go – simply be sure your TV’s SPDIF output is ready to ‘PCM’ and never bitstream.
The presence of airSOUND means the M10 isn’t fussy about the place it’s positioned – so long as the aspect audio system aren’t obstructed. The M10 isn’t designed for wall mounting.
The wi-fi sub talks to the soundbar robotically and there are pairing buttons on each parts to reset the connection in case it drops out. The lack of cables makes every part neat and tidy.
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Orbitsound has improved the distant primarily based on suggestions from earlier evaluations and it’s a winner. Its angled, ergonomic form and pleasing rubberised end really feel cozy within the hand, whereas the nicely-proportioned buttons cowl all bases, together with quantity management, Bluetooth playback and even bass and treble changes. You can toggle via the three inputs utilizing a single button on the high.
A few minor complaints to report – the unit hesitates briefly after distant instructions and there’s no visible help when tweaking the degrees, other than the LED flashing briefly. It’s all carried out by ear.
Orbitsound M10 – Performance
The M10’s full of life sound is a minimize above many similarly-priced rivals. Much of the credit score for this could go to airSOUND, which delivers on its promise with an enveloping soundstage.
Unlike most digital encompass modes (that are usually ineffective) airSOUND doesn’t attempt to replicate a 5.1-channel impact – as a substitute it concentrates on increasing the sound as a complete, providing the identical high quality from each listening place. It succeeds.
We span Marvel action-fest Captain America: The Winter Soldier on Blu-ray, and the M10 kicks out a loud, invigorating sound when Cap and pals face the Winter Soldier on the freeway. Deep, bassy explosions and rumbling engines engulf you, whereas gunshots and crashing vehicles fireplace into each nook of the room.
We’re additionally impressed by the soundbar’s full-bodied, pure sound. Some of the soundbars we’ve examined just lately provide a skinny, onerous tone with virtually no bass extension in any way, which makes the accompanying subwoofer sound indifferent and disjointed.
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But right here the M10’s wider frequency vary ensures a fuller and extra cohesive output. There’s a seamless crossover between sub and audio system, which is helped by the presence of a devoted quantity dial on the again of the sub to get the extent good.
So consequently, the sub’s bass notes are tight and punchy. When the 4×Four smashes into the again of Cap’s automotive, there’s spectacular slam and weight behind the impression.
At the opposite finish of the spectrum the M10 digs out a lot of element and conveys motion results with loads of chunk. There’s a crisp forefront to rifle blasts and the fragile tinkle of shattering automotive windscreens is superbly clear. The tone is straightforward on the ear, not sharp and abrasive like some soundbars, though when pushed to excessive volumes it’s not solely comfy with some the scene’s extra aggressive results.
The M10 does an honest job with music, providing a pleasant stability throughout the frequency vary, incisive excessive frequencies, natural-sounding voices and nimble bass work.
However, using airSOUND will divide opinion – on the plus aspect, it accentuates treble and widens the stereo stage, making every part sound greater and extra layered. But it additionally provides an echoey impact to vocals that reduces the general focus, and it additionally sounds ‘phasey’ at instances. Audiophiles will little question roll their eyes, whereas others will discover the impact fairly pleasurable. Either approach, you possibly can’t flip airSOUND off, so that you’re caught with it.
Should I purchase the Orbitsound M10?
With its luxurious construct high quality, easy operation and massive, enveloping sound, the M10 is a positive soundbar for the cash. Its efficiency is dynamic with out sounding brash, with a lot of top-end element and deep, punchy bass.
There’s a satisfyingly cohesive union between soundbar and subwoofer that places some rivals to disgrace, and the presence of airSOUND makes it sound nice no matter placement or seating place.
We have reservations over utilizing airSOUND with music although, and if you need HDMI ports you then’ll must look elsewhere.
Verdict
The M10 is one other spectacular soundbar from the Orbitsound steady, boasting a tasty design, straightforward operation and room-filling sound.
Score intimately
- Performance 9
- Features 7
- Value 8
- Sound Quality 9
- Design 9
Features
| 3D Ready | No |
| Number of Speakers | 7 |
| Supported Channels | 2.1 |
| DVD Player | No |
| Blu-ray participant | No |
| Audio Processing | airSOUND |
| Dolby Digital | No |
| DTS | No |
| Dolby Pro Logic II | No |
| Dolby TrueHD | No |
| DTS Master Audio HD | No |
Connectors
| S/PDIF Optical In | 1 |
| Subwoofer Out | Wireless |
| Stereo Line In | 2 |
| iPod Dock | No |
| Power (Watt) | 300W |
Physical Specifications
| Height (Millimeter) | 90 (soundbar); 340 (subwoofer)mm |
| Width (Millimeter) | 500 (soundbar); 130 (subwoofer)mm |
| Depth (Millimeter) | 95 (soundbar); 230 (subwoofer)mm |
| Weight (Gram) | 11.4kg |