Orbs and Anthony Gallo

[Tone Deaf]

A good friend of mine is looking at both of these speakers (and so am I for my HT). Can anyone share their insights?
Thanks alot,

 

[ParadigmDawg]

I have never listened to either but people say they sound good for their size. I am sure that a modest bookshelf will out perform them but if you have to have a small speaker than they are your better options.

 

[rnatalli]

I've heard and compared both. They're very close sonically. The Gallos tend to be more expensive, but I've seen them for about the same prices as Orbs so price isn't a factor in my book as both can be had for the same coin. I felt the Orbs were a little brighter with a tad more detail (or just more forward). Both put out some large sound for small speakers. I was surprised when I first heard them. They will compress and distort if you push them hard enough, but it took more power than I thought. Of course, they can't outdo larger speakers with separate drivers, but they are no slouches.

 

[Tone Deaf]

I've heard and compared both. They're very close sonically. The Gallos tend to be more expensive, but I've seen them for about the same prices as Orbs so price isn't a factor in my book as both can be had for the same coin. I felt the Orbs were a little brighter with a tad more detail (or just more forward). Both put out some large sound for small speakers. I was surprised when I first heard them. They will compress and distort if you push them hard enough, but it took more power than I thought. Of course, they can't outdo larger speakers with separate drivers, but they are no slouches.

Thanks Bro. I really appreciate it. Ya know, now that I am all done with the construction of my HT room it has become evident that space is an issue. I think I may want to mount everything on the walls (with the exception of the sub). Can you recommend other small speaker sthat deliver?

As you (and others) might know, I plan to use the system for movies and sports 85% of the time. Thanks again

 

[ParadigmDawg]

You built a dedicated HT room and now you dont have room for "real" speakers? You are bringing tears to my eyes.

How much room are we talking here? I would like to see you at least use enclosed speakers for the LCR. If you cant do that, then look at some "on-wall" speakers (not in-wall). Axiom and Triad make what I am talking about and I am sure other companies do too. If you cant do that maybe get some really good in-ceilings like the SpeakerCraft Aims.

 

[rnatalli]

You could go with Orbs or Gallos as they take up little space and they offer mounts for every possibility. Or like Greg mentioned, in-walls such as Speakercraft will take up little space. Don't forget to keep a corner free for a sub

 

[flippo]

Mirage Omnisats

Mirage Omnisats can be wall mounted.

 

[AVRat]

Did you put in the columns? Try Def Tech Mythos 2/3 for the fronts with the BP2Xs for surrounds.

http://www.definitivetech.com/loudspeakers/mythos/mythos_table.html#mythos2
http://www.definitivetech.com/loudspeakers/mythos/mythos_center.html#mythos3
http://www.definitivetech.com/loudspeakers/surround/surround.html#bp2x

 

[Tone Deaf]

You built a dedicated HT room and now you dont have room for "real" speakers? You are bringing tears to my eyes.


Boys,
You guys rock. Thanks for the replies. I should have been a little more clear. Instead of saying I don't have the room I should have said I don't have the room/desire to look at big bulky equipment. I have a couple of pics of the buildout. I will attempt to attach but am not sure if the site will let me.

Anyway, Its just that the more I think about how little I know/understand and can hear the differences in a killer system wouldn't I be better off and happy as a clam with a physically smaller system (one that is at least good enough for me).
My other thought is that I am putting a Guy room/TV room right next door to the theater and so if the Orbs (lets say) start to bore me I could slot them in as the system for the TV room and step up in the HT. Am I sensible to think that way?
Also, I haven't ordered the columns yet and have scratched the idea of putting speakers in them.

Go Pats...

http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=14gsvxjm.170fusia&x=0&y=ap21v9

 

[Alex2507]

http://www.kodakgallery.com/Slideshow.jsp?Uc=14gsvxjm.170fusia&Uy=ap21v9&Upost_signin=Slideshow.jsp?mode=fromshare&Ux=0&mode=fromshare&conn_speed=1

That's an 8' wide stage! I'm seeing all kinds of room. Can you just not get the columns and put the speakers in thier place? To get decent movie sound the speakers only need to go to 80hz and lots of bookshelf speakers do that.

 

[Tone Deaf]

http://www.kodakgallery.com/Slideshow.jsp?Uc=14gsvxjm.170fusia&Uy=ap21v9&Upost_signin=Slideshow.jsp?mode=fromshare&Ux=0&mode=fromshare&conn_speed=1

That's an 8' wide stage! I'm seeing all kinds of room. Can you just not get the columns and put the speakers in thier place? To get decent movie sound the speakers only need to go to 80hz and lots of bookshelf speakers do that.

The screen will take up most of the space above the stage. I can put a center speaker on the stage but don't think the left and right can go there as well

 

[nygren]

I originally tried the Orbs and although they sounded "ok", there was no
comparison once I tried comparing them against real bookshelf-sized speakers.
The orbs just can't go quite deep enough to fill in the 60Hz-120Hz range.
Perhaps look at something like the Axiom M22. They're fairly narrow so don't
take up that much more space and will end up sounding much better.
A number of other companies also make speakers with 5.25" woofers which
fit in fairly well in a horizontally constrained space.
For surrounds, the Axiom QS8 is a great speaker and since you should
be putting surrounds up on the wall well above ear level, you shouldn't
have to worry about size as much.

 

[Tone Deaf]

Mirage Omnisats can be wall mounted.

How would these be rated vs the Gallo's?

 

[Tone Deaf]

http://www.kodakgallery.com/Slideshow.jsp?Uc=14gsvxjm.170fusia&Uy=ap21v9&Upost_signin=Slideshow.jsp?mode=fromshare&Ux=0&mode=fromshare&conn_speed=1

That's an 8' wide stage! I'm seeing all kinds of room. Can you just not get the columns and put the speakers in thier place? To get decent movie sound the speakers only need to go to 80hz and lots of bookshelf speakers do that.

I suppose I could do away with the columns but I still don't have a lot of room on the left side of the stage. Q: Do I need 80hz per speaker or in total? thanks

 

[Alex2507]

Each speaker should do BELOW 80hz and then you would use your crossover in the receiver to make it only reproduce frequencies above that. The sub is there to take care of the rest. For me 80hz is the magical cut off point.

Here is a link to a post that discusses the CLAIMED frequency response as opposed to the measured FR. The Anthony Gallo's are at the top of the list due to alphabetical order.

http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showpost.php?p=352933&postcount=1

If audio is really of that little importance then it's all a moot point, right? Audio really does matter to most people here.

Greg Gable has already shed tears over this!

 

[Tone Deaf]

Each speaker should do BELOW 80hz and then you would use your crossover in the receiver to make it only reproduce frequencies above that. The sub is there to take care of the rest. For me 80hz is the magical cut off point.

Here is a link to a post that discusses the CLAIMED frequency response as opposed to the measured FR. The Anthony Gallo's are at the top of the list due to alphabetical order.

http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showpost.php?p=352933&postcount=1

If audio is really of that little importance then it's all a moot point, right? Audio really does matter to most people here.

Greg Gable has already shed tears over this!

Audiomost definitely matters otherwise I would have already picked up HT in a box for $200. I was just trying to say that I wont be sitting in the theater to listen to music too much.
Cheers

 

[stratman]

I've had the Gallos for the last 3 years, they're excellent as long as they're used for their purpose, my HT is rather small 10x12 (approx), they sound great, very detailed and pump plenty of volume for their size in the given room, I recommend them if you're tight for space. Orbs were engineered by someone that worked at Gallo (if I'm not mistaken) the only thing I didn't like about the Orbs were the speaker wire connectors and their wall mounts, not as nice as the Gallos, besides that they sound very similar. Asked if I would buy them again, given the same room dimensions? Yes.

 

[Alex2507]

Hey Strat,

Would you give us the details? The crossover point, receiver and sub that you use? I'm guessing that there is another set up for music. I'm curious and it could help the OP should he go that route.

Thanks,
Alex

 

[stratman]

Sub: Gallo TR-1 X over @ 80

Receiver: Panny SA XR 700

DVD- Panny S-97

Direct TV recvr. H20 Hi Def.

Panny 42" plasma ED TV 4 years old.

All speakers: Gallo Nucleus Micro

They sound great with music also, but like I said they're meant for smaller rooms such as mine, Gallo has other speakers for larger application. For an apartment or small area these are hard to beat.