Internal

External

An RCA input is included for use with older gaming consoles or analog gear like turntables or cassette players. A USB-C input lets you bypass the generally poor sounding onboard audio on PC or Mac for a solid connection that supports up to 16 bit/48 kHz. Finally, Bluetooth® 5.0 lets you connect an iPhone, Android, or smart home device to round out the comprehensive input section.

The LED on the front switches between Green for RCA, Yellow for USB, and Blue for Bluetooth® based on whichever input you’ve selected. The knob on the front of the speaker switches between inputs when pressed inward, adjusts volume when twisted, turns the speaker off with a long press, and powers then back on again when pressed. At the rear of the speaker, you will find a ¼”-20 hole to mount ORA to a wall or compatible speaker stand.

Compact Size

Let’s start with the most obvious external detail – ORA’s size. ORA is only 25% larger in volume compared to YU2 (which has been the de facto choice for compact desktop speakers) but dials up the sound quality by several orders. ORA is narrow enough to place sideways under a monitor which is a lifesaver for ultrawide or dual monitor users who still want excellent sound. ORA is a fraction of the size of full-size studio monitors – you can fit ten ORA’s in space that two Yamaha HS5’s take up and that’s a pretty compact studio monitor compared to similar options.

Studio monitors are a straightforward way to get great sound as they are designed for critical monitoring of audio, but they come with some caveats that can make them a deal breaker for some users. Studio monitors dominate small spaces, require an external interface to work as intended, and can come across as a bit flat sounding. ORA was designed to address these deficiencies – they have a smaller footprint, don’t need external gear to work, and get close to studio-grade sound without being too analytical.

Drivers

ORA’s ¾” silk dome tweeters provide smooth, extended treble and are tuned for long, fatigue-free listening sessions. Special care was taken when designing the waveguide to enhance ORA’s vertical dispersion. With its wide vertical and horizontal directivity, ORA sounds just as good standing upright as it does lying sideways.

Though ORA’s woofer may only be 3”, they’re not shy on low-end extension. Each time we demoed pre-production samples of ORA at tradeshows this Summer we repeatedly got asked the same question, “Is there a sub hooked up?” Even though you have the flexibility of adding a subwoofer, you may not need one.

Magnetic Shielding

ORA’s woofer has another trick up its sleeve – magnetic shielding. Before LCD monitors became the norm, nearly all PC speakers were magnetically shielded to prevent them from distorting the sensitive tubes in CRT monitors. Manufacturers slowly moved away from magnetic shielding, but we’ve brought it back for a niche use – retro gaming.

Older games were designed for the technology of their time. Designers utilized the pixel shape, scan lines, and smoothing of CRT screens to create beautiful 2D sprites and images. The only true way to experience the art-style of older games is with a CRT or high-end tube PVM. Retro gamers can place ORA directly beside their CRT to hear every square wave and sawtooth in stunning detail.

Summary

ORA is the embodiment of our quest for reference-grade sound in a small package. As our first active speaker, it uses modern tech like bi-amplification and DSP tuning to deliver almost unbelievable sound and shockingly deep bass. With the ability to give studio monitors a run for their money, ORA lets creators and musicians focus on their craft even if it’s on-the-go. With plenty of connectivity options and magnetically shielded drivers, ORA feels just as at home paired with a battlestation as it does with a console from the golden age of gaming. Audio enthusiasts will be impressed with ORA’s capabilities especially when a sub is added and the crossover network kicks in. We hope you love ORA as much as we loved designing them!