Comparisons –
1More EVO ($139): The EVO provides a stronger feature set with ANC and aware alongside a more flexible app. The Orbit provides a more locked-in fit for my ears. Sonically, the EVO pursues a more balanced sound while the Orbit offers a richer and substantially bassier listening experience. The Orbit immediately has a bigger bass response. Subjectively, it is also a higher-quality bass with greater definition and substantially greater dynamics. The EVO is cleaner with a slight warm tuning but overall, far better separation and balance. The midrange is more present on the EVO and more natural in timbre. The Orbit is a lot more coloured. It sounds bigger, grander but also a lot more coloured.
Separation is the big differentiator, while the Orbit appears to layer a bit better to my ears, the EVO has a lot more space around each element, delivering better detail retrieval. The top-end tells a similar story. The EVO is brighter and has a much crisper note presentation due to its BA tweeter. It also extends a little better. The Orbit is more organic and smoother, its note timbre is more natural, but it does glance over some small details the EVO discerns. The soundstage is larger and more involving on the Orbit by a good degree, the EVO only has the notable advantage of separation here.
Lypertek Z7 ($199): The Z7 is a very similar style of product. It has a sophisticated 3-driver hybrid setup and similar features to the Orbit with eQ but also aware mode. The fit on the Orbit is quite a bit better to my ears and the case is much smaller. The Z7 offers a very high-quality bass with excellent definition and detail retrieval. It has great extension but can’t match the Orbit on dynamics. The Orbit has far more bass in general; it’s warmer, punchier but also less defined. The Z7 offers a more present midrange too. It has excellent balance and cleanliness overall without being sterile or unapproachable for non-audio-enthusiasts.
The Orbit sounds a lot richer and more filled-in. It is more coherent and also more coloured with simultaneously greater articulation and warmth. The Z7 unsurprisingly has much better separation and similarly strong if not better layering. The top-end has excellent detail retrieval on the Z7, the best of the earphones compared here. While it too doesn’t extend terrifically, it does extend better than the Orbit and retrieves greater background detail in proportion. The Orbit does still have a slightly larger stage but the Z7 has sharper imaging. Still, for those concerned about bass quantity, the Orbit is a good alternative that doesn’t sacrifice too much on the technical side whilst providing a hearty dollop of low-end.
Grado GT220 ($259): A good competitors, the GT220 is slightly pricier but offers a similar V-shaped sound with a bit more balance to it. The GT220 is much larger, and the case is bulkier, however, it achieves similarly strong fit stability and isolation. The Orbit is more comfortable, that said. Sonically, both are bassy and well-paced. The Orbit has better dynamics and raw sub-bass slam while the GT220 offers a cleaner deep-bass bias with less bloat and bloom. The GT220 sounds pacier and more defined but the Orbit isn’t too far behind despite its more sizable warmth. The main difference is in the midrange.
The GT220 peaks at 2kHz giving it that signature Grado vocal forwardness. It delivers excellent clarity and a lovely, euphonic timbre. The Orbit is more clearly coloured and far more laid-back. Whilst tonally both skew warm, in this respect they are foils. The GT220 has much better separation but risks sounding a bit thin at times, the opposite experience of the Orbit. The top-end is similar on both, peaking around the lower-treble. Both have similar extension and detail retrieval. The GT220 has slightly more crunch and bite but raw detail retrieval is similar. The Orbit has the larger soundstage, and both perform similarly when it comes to imaging.
Verdict –
Many boutique brands have tried their hand at TWS earphones to very mixed success. Whilst the tuning may not be what many may have wanted from the brand, Campfire Audio has undoubtedly made a genuine attempt with the Orbit. This is clear from the gorgeous aesthetic design to the class-leading ergonomics; simply oozing style and thoughtful design. Isolation and fit stability are excellent and the slim charging case is exceedingly pocketable. Both battery life and connectivity are solid however, the app is flaky with an unreliable connection and frequent issues with disconnection while adjusting the eQ. While the excellent isolation meant I didn’t miss ANC, I did find myself wanting an aware mode, especially given the capable SOC and mic setup. Sonically, the Orbit excels at what it sets out to deliver; that being a rich, larger-than-life listening experience.
For me personally, the superb fit and soundstage were so charming that I found myself gravitating towards the Orbit as my daily TWS earphone. This is, however, a partial recommendation as I have access to many other TWS earphones and wired gear for when I crave a more balanced, critical listening experience. Though eQ aids greatly here, the Orbit could never quite achieve my desired sonic balance for the wide range of genres I enjoy and thus, would not be my sole favourite if I had to buy just one set to do it all. Accordingly, if your preferences are more specific – that for a bassy earphone with sound technicals and a standout soundstage – or you’re looking to complement a more balanced wired headphone, few audio-focussed TWS earphones offer as complete a package as the Orbit.
The Orbit is available from Campfire Audio (International) for $249 USD at the time of writing. I am not affiliated with Audeze and receive no earnings from purchases made through these links.
Track List –
Billie Eilish – dont smile at me
Bob Seger – Night Moves
Courtney Barnett – Rae Street
Cream – Wheels of Fire
Dire Straits – Communique
Dirty Loops – Next To You
Eagles – Hotel California
Elton John – Honky Chateau
Fleetwood Mac – Rumours
H.E.R – I Used To Know Her
Jasen – BYE
John Mayer – Continuum
Kanye West – Ye
Missy Higgins – The Sound of White
Radiohead – OK Computer
TALA – ain’t leavin` without you
The Beatles – Abbey Road
The weeknd – After Hours
Vampire Weekend – Father of the Bride
