What Hi-Fi? Verdict
Tiny box with big sound; but there are stronger rivals
Pros
- +
Big, loud sound
- +
Loads of bass
- +
Plenty of punch
- +
Compact size
Cons
- -
Could do with more subtlety and refinement
- -
Crowded soundfield
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It’s a small system, but the Orbitsound T9 is flexible and doubles up as a respectable iPod/iPhone dock.
Built to be the compact little brother to the Orbitsound T12v3, the T9 comes finished in high-gloss black or white, with metal grilles that are magnetically attached, and nicely so.
Underneath you’ll find a 2.5cm tweeter flanked by two 6cm mid-drivers. Again, there’s no HDMI, but along with digital optical and stereo RCA inputs, there’s a 3.5mm input and composite video output for showing video from a smart portable to a TV.
Orbitsound T9 review: Performance
Big and loud sound with bags of bass are just a few of the familiar traits handed down from the excellent T12v3 to its little bro.
It’s certainly a step up from the thin and reedy sound most TVs produce, with the T9 delivering lashings of deep and powerful sound, giving prominence to dialogue and bass-heavy thrills.
While the sound is gutsy and aggressive – ideal for pairing it with any typical Michael Bay-directed AV assault – there’s little subtlety or refinement on offer to counteract its robust, attacking nature.
Even with a few days’ running in, the T9 retains a brash edge, with things getting a bit unruly when you crank up the volume.
However, a blast of The Rolling Stones’ Gimme Shelter reveals the T9 delivers a slightly crowded soundfield.
Orbitsound T9 review: Verdict
But the T9’s smaller size means it will be a good fit for small TVs in medium-to-small rooms, and could even be used as a desktop speaker if you don’t mind having the equally compact sub under your desk.
However, you can get dedicated desktop speakers with better skills – the Epoz Aktimate Micro, say, at £260 – which would be much easier to live with.
While we applaud the T9’s ability to deliver thunderous sound from its petite casing, there are similarly priced options that provide a subtler performance.
