Paradigm 5se !

[The Fuxtor]

OK, I don't post very often in this group, but thought I needed to express my new found love of bookshelf speakers. I recently purchased a set of Paradigm 5 SE bookshelf's from some yard sale I came across one Saturday. They were pretty grimey looking and dusty but I noticed them as they were the only thing that caught my attention amongst all the usual junk people sell at these deals. At first I just seen a set of small speakers and asked how much?? He said 5 bucks. OK .... I took a closer look and seen the Paradigm badge on the grills and said I'll take em!
Got them home and cleaned them up and actually had to air one out for a few days due to some strange minty antiseptic type of smell that was aggressive?? It actually still has a small odor of whatever the hell it is but what do ya do??? Pulled the woofer dust caps back out as they were poked in , came back unnoticeable so alright!! Connected them up to a receiver and they both work but one unit has a tweeter out..... OK not a shocker for a five buck deal. Got in the net and found a replacement and ordered it up. Finally arrives and I pop it in and hook them back up.........Holy Crap!!! These sound frickin amazing!! I use some Boston Acoustics A100 for my main rig and I think I like these Paradigms better. I have always been a guy who's mentality has been bigger is better when it comes to speakers and bookshelf's are just dainty and are compromising . This is the second time now I have been proven wrong. I picked up a set of B&W 611i I believe ??? Can't remember exactly the model but they blew my world away as well...amazing sound from little boxes... Look very sharp to boot!!! So I think I will refurbish the boxes in these Paradigms and stick them with the keepers. Listening as I type and find the sound of them very pleasing!!!

 

[lissenup]

I believe older Paradigms are one of the best used speaker values around since you can quite often get a decent pair for less than 50 bucks. Some of the models do things so well you would be hard pressed to find anything approaching $1000 to match them. If you ever come across a pair of 5SE Mk2 on fhe cheap, grab them, you will be amazed. Also the 3se Mini with the paper cones are wonderful.

 

[Drugolf]

Use them in my hometheater. 5se Mkiii as fronts and the CC370iv center. Interesting that the 5se MKiii are floorstanders and the MKii versions are not. They must have wanted to add some volume to the cabinet. Picked up the 5's for $40

 

[Lark]

Old thread, I know, but for anyone looking for info on the 5se... I bought a pair awhile back, and they are the best small speakers I have. For their size, they sound amazing. 20 1/2"h x 11"d x 10"w, with rubber surrounds to boot. Had a broken speaker terminal on the back. I'm lucky enough to live within 20 miles of Parts Express, so a couple bucks later, and I was in disbelief. I wouldn't hesitate to throw up to $100 at another pair, if I ever see them again. Yes, they are that good. To me, anyways. A good, heavy cabinet build, and surrounds that will never have to be replaced, and they sound beautiful to me. What's not to like? Not very often I stumble on a pair of speakers worth writing a few comments about. These really are exceptional. You will not be disappointed.

 

[Z_Zoquis]

I had these in my system back in the late 80s with an NAD amp. They sounded fantastic...

 

[RTally]

I have a pair of Paradigm 5se in my home office. I am listening to them now. I love them. Had a pair of 3se that I recapped. They have been retired in favor of the 5se.

They are currently powered with a Yamaha, but I have an old NAD 7240 PE I am thinking of using with the speakers.

 

[544man]

The Paradigm speakers, almost any model, will be a surprise to anyone who has never heard them before. A fine Canadian speaker, developed in the NRC chambers in Ottawa, Ontario, as were PSB, Camber/Rega, API (Energy, Mirage, Sound Dynamics, et al) and of very good construction and engineering. I have had 3se, 5se MK11, 7s, 7se, 11se MK11, 3se Mini, Phantom, Titan, Atom and some I may have forgotten, oh, 9 v7 towers, and I have always been impressed with their sound. Champagne sound on a beer budget, for sure. Always punched way above their price point. Find them and enjoy.

 

[544man]

I have a pair of Paradigm 5se in my home office. I am listening to them now. I love them. Had a pair of 3se that I recapped. They have been retired in favor of the 5se.

They are currently powered with a Yamaha, but I have an old NAD 7240 PE I am thinking of using with the speakers.

The NAD equipment is a perfect partner for the Paradigm speakers, all of them.

 

[tomlinmgt]

I loved my 5se’s with the Vifa tweeter. Although the were far from the final word in detail, resolution and all that kind of stuff, they were beautifully voiced and made pretty much everything that was played through them sound great and with just about any type of gear or placement. You just couldn’t hardly go wrong with them, if you want to get right down to it. I sold them years ago, but would have another pair in a heartbeat.

 

[544man]

I loved my 5se’s with the Vifa tweeter. Although the were far from the final word in detail, resolution and all that kind of stuff, they were beautifully voiced and made pretty much everything that was played through them sound great and with just about any type of gear or placement. You just couldn’t hardly go wrong with them, if you want to get right down to it. I sold them years ago, but would have another pair in a heartbeat.

There will, of course, always be better speakers than any of the Paradigm models, but you are going to pay a lot more money for sometimes a little gain. Bottom line, you get excellent performance for a price that will surprise.

 

[tomlinmgt]

There will, of course, always be better speakers than any of the Paradigm models, but you are going to pay a lot more money for sometimes a little gain. Bottom line, you get excellent performance for a price that will surprise.

Can’t argue with that. I was fond enough of my 5se’s that I sought out bigger Paradigm SE models in an attempt to get a larger helping of the good stuff...first 9se’s then 11se Mk something or another. Though both models could reach lower and play higher SPL’s without losing composure, I didn’t find either or them as satisfying to listen to as the 5se’s. Not long after that I acquired Vandersteens, Magnepan, big vintage Infinity, Acoustats and Altec 19’s...so the 5se’s just collected dust and, as I said before, were eventually sent away. But I’ve grown enough in the hobby that I can respect and appreciate a speaker like the 5se’s...and still check CL every now and then to see if a pair has popped up.

 

[544man]

Can’t argue with that. I was fond enough of my 5se’s that I sought out bigger Paradigm SE models in an attempt to get a larger helping of the good stuff...first 9se’s then 11se Mk something or another. Though both models could reach lower and play higher SPL’s without losing composure, I didn’t find either or them as satisfying to listen to as the 5se’s. Not long after that I acquired Vandersteens, Magnepan, big vintage Infinity, Acoustats and Altec 19’s...so the 5se’s just collected dust and, as I said before, were eventually sent away. But I’ve grown enough in the hobby that I can respect and appreciate a speaker like the 5se’s...and still check CL every now and then to see if a pair has popped up.

I am with you on that, as I as well don't have any Paradigms in my current line-up. But I always look out for them, and just took on a pair of Titan v2 in wood-grain that need re-foam. Regardless, they are quality speakers. The 11se I just sold sounded fantastic, but not at the lower volumes I need to maintain in our house. The guy that bought them was in 7th heaven, though, and we had to audition them at large volume levels with his chosen CD. As I said, he bought them.

 

[tomlinmgt]

I am with you on that, as I as well don't have any Paradigms in my current line-up. But I always look out for them, and just took on a pair of Titan v2 in wood-grain that need re-foam. Regardless, they are quality speakers. The 11se I just sold sounded fantastic, but not at the lower volumes I need to maintain in our house. The guy that bought them was in 7th heaven, though, and we had to audition them at large volume levels with his chosen CD. As I said, he bought them.

The 11se’s will damn sure get loud...and sound way better than any Cerwin Vega or HPM-100 in the process. That punchy and robust bass and clarity in the middle and up top makes for an exciting listen...I can imagine your buyer was thrilled if that’s what he was after.

 

[544man]

The 11se’s will damn sure get loud...and sound way better than any Cerwin Vega or HPM-100 in the process. That punchy and robust bass and clarity in the middle and up top makes for an exciting listen...I can imagine your buyer was thrilled if that’s what he was after.

Exactly. They were very presentable, not perfect, cosmetically, but had all the Paradigm DNA sound-wise. He will be happy.