The Register® — Biting the hand that feeds IT

Feeds
85%

Orbitsound T12 soundbar

Stereo sound from one speaker? That's just crazy talk

Agentless Backup is Not a Myth

Review The T12 stereo ‘soundbar’ represents a totally unique take on the category; it goes back to the dawn of stereo technology itself to deliver a genuine revolution in sound reproduction.

Using technology developed by its sister technology Airsound, the Orbitsound T12 is designed to give a boost to TV audio as well as act as a music system for an iPod (via its own dock) or other peripherals by way of a line-in jack and stereo inputs. Whilst the unit is not the highest specified you will ever come across, what it does in terms of the sound is extremely impressive.

Orbitsound T12 soundbar

T12: can reproduce wide stereo fields from a single speaker

The unit’s ace in the hole is that it can reproduce wide stereo fields from a single speaker. "Impossible!" we hear you cry. By definition stereo is two speakers. Actually, that's not necessarily true, but we have to go back in time to the beginning of stereo reproduction for an explanation.

Airsound explains its technique is based on the theories of inventor Alan Blumlein, who in 1931 described a method of recording and reproducing 'stereophonic' sound. His theories centered around the notion that (as we have two ears) the ability to recognise where a sound is coming from is to do with how the sound reaches our ears - if one side is louder than the other, then the sound is located on the loud side.

Alan thought that it might be possible to record and reproduce 'spatial' sound, using a principle called 'sum and difference' or 'middle and side' (M/S). This involved using an omni-directional microphone to record the main signal information, and a figure-8 response (or 'dipole') microphone set across the 'field of sound' to record the spatial information.

Customer Success Testimonial: Recovery is Everything

Latest Comments

behind small speakers are small minds

And ALL speaker systems use the rooms surfaces to extend the soundfield via "the surface effect"; also known as "reflected sound"> ring a bose bell? (Ever heard a Klipschorn?), All speaker systems are affected by "the surface effect" whether they like it or not > either positively or negatively...with the exception of course of those used out of doors! That is why the best speakers are tested in an anecolic chamber, to map the true output of it, without interaction from the surroundings.

I do not think they hold a candle to my NS-10M's, or NS-1000's, or JBL's, or Klipsch's, or my MP Ribbons..., and well...

"the bass is ???LOW BANDWIDTH???...

...whatever that means...perhaps "LACKING!"

Small minded people get small sound from small speakers.

"And We Did'nt Listen To It

Through Three Inch Speakers...

But It's Still Rock-N-Roll To Me" >Billy Joel

0
0

A bit of clarification

Adrian: All things are relative: This product does have good Bass performance for its price range and configuration. I have never and would never describe myself as an Audiophile.

One speaker: Clearly year we are talking about one speaker enclosure here. Stating the article is inaccurate because there is more than one driver in the array, misses the point, you get stereo sound from the one enclosure, which means less positioning issues.

Ben: We try to use a wide variety of content to test kit, obviously this gives us a good idea of the unit’s all round capabilities. I am a bit confused as to why you think the clip we ended up highlighting has anything to do with who the item might be suitable for. It might be suitable for the type of person you describe, it might also be suitable for my Granny to enjoy her copy of Brief Encounter on. The point is it produces sound well.

Also just for the record I have no idea what 'absolute fantasy' is, some sort of computer game presumably, personally I never made it past Galaga. I also do not have smelly socks or live permanently in a bedroom. If it’s important to you to imagine the person writing a review, then you will have to do a lot better than that to get even close. I think maybe its back to the intuitive drawing board for you?

Lewis.

0
0

Praise indeed........

"it made much of the sacrifice scene from Mel Gibson’s Apocalypto, with every sickening thud and squelch delivered over an engaging sound field with real accuracy"

So the target market would be goulish adolescent males with an interest in (imagined) realistic violence ..........great review mate , so relevant to those of us living outside the city of tiny lights you inhabit ( bedroom , lingering smell of sock , the sensual fog of absolute fantasy , etc, you KNOW that huh? ) ?

On your downers and your wine , your so big its so tiny , every cloud is silver liney , the great escape for all of you....."

Scuse me , i have to rush off and re-invent the elastic band powered trouser press ( dont fret , we factored in the iPod dock at the first meeting with the accountants , i will be minted , yeah?).

This speaker may play the hose on Bose but it is NOTHING . Compared to the new Creato Mythic Flange 9.1 platinum surreal , a "must have" for , well , simply everyone , but especially for those with a head like a fucken ( that's the irredeemably past tense ) potatoe , or at the very least , more than two ears .

Gah ! my Kef 4 way transmission line bins cannot be bought anywhere

and my ears love them , move along nothing to see here , file under fog plaiting , smoke , mirrors , podcast and the travesty codec .

0
0

More from The Register

 breaking news
Curtain drops on Apple Store ahead of WWDC: What lies behind?
Steve Jobs watching from on high. No pressure, lads
 breaking news
Cold, dead hands of Steve Jobs slip from iPhones: The Cult of Ive is upon us
Billionaire biz baron's death clears way for uber-shiny iOS 7
First look: iOS 7 for iPad
No, Apple hasn't released it yet, but that doesn't stop intrepid devs
Airbus imagines suitcases that find themselves
Point your mobe at your smalls to track their every move
Surprise! Intel smartphone trounces ARM in power trials
Tests show equal performance while sipping significantly less juice
Apple said to be 'exploring' 5.7-inch iPhone
Who's the copycat this time, Mr. Cook?
Samsung plans LTE Advanced version of Galaxy S4
1Gbps download capability could stiffen drooping S4 sales forecasts
Google Chromebooks now in over 6,600 stores
Major, worldwide retail push begins this summer
Review: Belkin Thunderbolt Express Dock
Missing Mac ports reunited, for a price