Orbitsound BAR A70 Sound Bar With Air sound (aptX Bluetooth)

Product Information

It would have been nice to have a display on the front to show the input/mode currently in use. There are telltale lights on the top of the unit, but you need to be very close to see which one is lit. The M10’s lively sound is a cut above many similarly-priced rivals. Much of the credit for this should go to airSOUND, which delivers on its promise with an enveloping soundstage. The four speaker drivers at the front handle the bulk of the sound – speech, effects, music etc – while two spatial drivers located in the end panels ‘bounce’ sound around the room, theoretically resulting in a spacious, enveloping soundstage no matter where you sit. Inside the wireless subwoofer is a 6.5in bass driver and total power output is quoted as 300W. In terms of drivers, two 2-inch midrange drivers flank a tweeter behind the central speaker grille with side-firing neodymium drivers at each end delivering spatial detail. They’re driven by digital amplifiers with a hi-fi analogue crossover, offering a ‘best of both worlds’ scenario, according to Orbitsound. Power output is quoted as 300W.

However, airSOUND is a more of an acquired taste when playing music. The side drivers tend to over-emphasise treble, which makes percussive instruments like hi-hats and tambourines a little too prominent – and you can’t turn it off either.The A70 eschews the rectangular shape of previous Orbitsound bars with a curvier design that emphasises the presence of airSOUND technology. The rounded aluminium grilles at the ends of the cabinet draw attention to the side-firing drivers, while the front speakers are hidden behind a pill-shaped grille. When you combine Bluetooth with NFC, streaming your music becomes easier than ever. Rather than having to pair your mobile device with the soundbar, you simply swipe it alongside. Once connected, you can stream music stored on your smartphone/tablet or stream your favourite music services, such as Spotify or Deezer. Setting up the A70 couldn’t be easier, one of the benefits of a single-cable optical connection. The bar nestles nicely in front of our 55in set, although the size difference did look a little odd – aesthetically, it’s better suited to TVs between 32 and 42in. The main soundbar unit features five drivers: three fire outwards, including one 20mm tweeter, while two 5cm units fire sideways. These side speakers combine with sound processing, to produce Orbitsound’s SST (Spacial Sound Technology) which claims to help radiate sound all around your room.

The buttons are responsive, and you can also tweak the bass and treble levels of the A70. Small dots on the right side of the bar show just how far up or down the tonal controls go. The display also shows which input you’re using (in very small letters).

M series

The overall effect is incredible. Standing to the side of the speakers produces clear audio and eliminates the need to stand in the ‘sweet spot’ in front of the speakers. In fact, you can see this in action, but turning off the side speakers using the switch on the rear and listening to the more muffled tone music takes when you’re not straight-on to the speakers. The side speakers are particularly good for parties, as you can easily fill a room with clear audio. We have reservations over using airSOUND with music though, and if you want HDMI ports then you’ll need to look elsewhere. Verdict

There’s a learning remote function, which allows you to control volume using your existing TV remote. Panasonic TVs aren’t currently supported but it works with Sony, LG and Samsung sets. Orbitsound A70 airSOUND Bar – Performance

If only the quality of Orbitsound service was aligned with the quality of its products, it would be a best in class company. Unfortunately it is not.

Setup is easy. Just place the soundbar on your TV stand, hook up the optical cable and away you go – just make sure your TV’s SPDIF output is set to ‘PCM’ and not bitstream. Already highly regarded for their Spatial Sound Technology (SST), the Orbitsound BAR A70 uses two 'spatial' drive units mounted at the sides and Airsound technology to reflect sound around the room. Unlike some other systems, everybody gets the best seat in the house with the BAR A70. In addition to this, a further speaker array in the centre provides crisp dialogue and fantastic detail. There’s a satisfyingly cohesive union between soundbar and subwoofer that puts some rivals to shame, and the presence of airSOUND makes it sound great regardless of placement or seating position.The A70 is a decent step above Orbitsound’s previous efforts. There are rivals such as Yamaha that offer a bigger and better surround sound, but the A70’s punchy dynamics, solid presentation and crisp way with voices is exciting. The A70 supports Bluetooth with apt-X for lossless audio streaming, while pairing is made easy by the inclusion of NFC. Orbitsound A70 airSOUND Bar – Operation Don’t be fooled by the A70’s diminutive size – its vast, room-filling sound belies its compact dimensions, investing movies with the sort of scale and excitement that most TVs can only dream of. With its luxurious build quality, simple operation and big, enveloping sound, the M10 is a fine soundbar for the money. Its performance is dynamic without sounding brash, with lots of top-end detail and deep, punchy bass. Prices valid in stores (all including VAT) until close of business on 29th November 2023. (Some of these web prices are cheaper than in-store, so please mention that you've seen these offers online.)