Paradigm Esprit Opinions
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lab
Well-Known Member
This was Paradigms attempt at making a bipolar speaker (they had a 6.5" model also) and I remember one review that said they were extremely well designed and sounded very smooth with excellent deep bass, down in the low 20's. At $250 you can't go wrong as they were many times that price when new, and their technology is still very current.
Here's a listing from a 1995 Audio magazine directory:
Paradigm Esprit/BP Bipolar bass reflex, 2 6.5" woofers and 2 1" dome tweeters per cabinet, 23 - 20,000 Hz resp. +/- 2 dB, 90 dB/w/m, 1.5 kHz crossover, 6 ohm nominal, 4 ohm minimum, 45 x 9 x 13 inches, 64 lbs, $650 each in 1995
Sound and Image capsule comment "The Esprit/BP has a basic sound quality and spaciousness to spare- whether you use it in stereo or as part of a home theater system. The overall sound was big, wide and powerful. There was ambience-sexy, juicy, out-of-body, hall-filling, room widening, stage-deepening ambience- in spades. No matter what I played - orchestra, choir and organ in a cathedral, blockbuster movies, a special effects CD with a subway lobby track- it hit me with a righteous sense of space.
He seemed to like them. "ambience-sexy"?
Here's a listing from a 1995 Audio magazine directory:
Paradigm Esprit/BP Bipolar bass reflex, 2 6.5" woofers and 2 1" dome tweeters per cabinet, 23 - 20,000 Hz resp. +/- 2 dB, 90 dB/w/m, 1.5 kHz crossover, 6 ohm nominal, 4 ohm minimum, 45 x 9 x 13 inches, 64 lbs, $650 each in 1995
Sound and Image capsule comment "The Esprit/BP has a basic sound quality and spaciousness to spare- whether you use it in stereo or as part of a home theater system. The overall sound was big, wide and powerful. There was ambience-sexy, juicy, out-of-body, hall-filling, room widening, stage-deepening ambience- in spades. No matter what I played - orchestra, choir and organ in a cathedral, blockbuster movies, a special effects CD with a subway lobby track- it hit me with a righteous sense of space.
He seemed to like them. "ambience-sexy"?
Art K.
The Voodoo You Do!
If these are the 5-6 yr old Esprit then they were priced at approx $500 for the pair and were part of the Performance series along with (at the time) the Atom, Titan, Focus and others. They were decent, I had a pair in my home theater with Atoms rear and a CC2 something for the center. Decent speaker but I wouldn't pay $250 used for them. 10 or so years before the iteration of the Esprit I'm talking about they made another far bigger version that was more expensive.
http://www.goodsound.com/equipment/paradigm_esprit_v3.htm
http://www.audioreview.com/mfr/paradigm/floorstanding-speakers/esprit/PRD_341989_1594crx.aspx
As you can see...yours is likely the far older version called the Studio Esprit.
http://www.goodsound.com/equipment/paradigm_esprit_v3.htm
http://www.audioreview.com/mfr/paradigm/floorstanding-speakers/esprit/PRD_341989_1594crx.aspx
As you can see...yours is likely the far older version called the Studio Esprit.
Thanks everyone for the information.
It's confusing when some info seems to lead me to believe that these are older, about 1993 and then I run into the link below which leads me to think that these speakers are in fact 5-6 years old as the seller stated in the ad that I saw.
I'd feel more comfortable if there was more info on these speakers. The lack of info leads me to believe that they were dropped due to lack of success.
I found more info. Please check out the image lower on the page that this link leads you to. Note the larger and the number of woofers and the timeframe of the review.
http://www.canuckaudiomart.com/details/104534-paradigm_esprit_monitor_series_floor_towers/
Thanks again for assisting me on this.
NJA
It's confusing when some info seems to lead me to believe that these are older, about 1993 and then I run into the link below which leads me to think that these speakers are in fact 5-6 years old as the seller stated in the ad that I saw.
I'd feel more comfortable if there was more info on these speakers. The lack of info leads me to believe that they were dropped due to lack of success.
I found more info. Please check out the image lower on the page that this link leads you to. Note the larger and the number of woofers and the timeframe of the review.
http://www.canuckaudiomart.com/details/104534-paradigm_esprit_monitor_series_floor_towers/
Thanks again for assisting me on this.
NJA
Thanks everyone. The seller of these claimed that they were about 5 years old.
Nice try. http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/images/smilies/nono.gif
Thanks for all of your help.
I wrote Paradigm and what they wrote back. This is not the first time I wrote them about their product. Very friendly people.
The Esprit Monitor was last manufactured in 1994 and the specifications are:
Design 3-driver, 2-way bass reflex,
Quasi-3rd order resistive port
Crossover 3rd order electro/acoustic at 2kHz
Driver Complement one 25mm(1") Q25/SPT high-frequency driver
two 210mm(8") Q210/SPT bass/midrange drivers
Performance
Low Frequency Extension 34Hz(DIN)
Frequency Response
On Axis 0 degrees +/-2dB from 55Hz-20kHz
Off Axis 30 degrees +/-2dB from 55Hz-15kHz
Sensitivity-Room/Anechoic 94dB/91dB
Suitable Amplifier
Power Range 15-250 watts
Maximum Input Power 160 watts
Nominal/Minimum Impedance 6 ohms/4 ohms
Physical
Internal volume 63 litres/2.2cuf
Height 96cm/37 1/2 in.
Width 28cm/10 3/4 in.
Depth 37cm/14 1/4 in.
Weight 56kg/124lbs per pair
Nice try. http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/images/smilies/nono.gif
Thanks for all of your help.
I wrote Paradigm and what they wrote back. This is not the first time I wrote them about their product. Very friendly people.
The Esprit Monitor was last manufactured in 1994 and the specifications are:
Design 3-driver, 2-way bass reflex,
Quasi-3rd order resistive port
Crossover 3rd order electro/acoustic at 2kHz
Driver Complement one 25mm(1") Q25/SPT high-frequency driver
two 210mm(8") Q210/SPT bass/midrange drivers
Performance
Low Frequency Extension 34Hz(DIN)
Frequency Response
On Axis 0 degrees +/-2dB from 55Hz-20kHz
Off Axis 30 degrees +/-2dB from 55Hz-15kHz
Sensitivity-Room/Anechoic 94dB/91dB
Suitable Amplifier
Power Range 15-250 watts
Maximum Input Power 160 watts
Nominal/Minimum Impedance 6 ohms/4 ohms
Physical
Internal volume 63 litres/2.2cuf
Height 96cm/37 1/2 in.
Width 28cm/10 3/4 in.
Depth 37cm/14 1/4 in.
Weight 56kg/124lbs per pair
energyandair
Active Member
Paradigm have actually used the Esprit name for at least 3 different speakers.
The 37 1/2" high ones with 2-8" woofers that Paradigm sent pou info on
The Bi Polars
The later ones that were I believe a much cheaper and smaller speaker
I have a pair of the ones with 2 8" woofers
They are oak veneer (not vinyl) and are quite good looking and enjoyable to listen to. I would think that $250 would be a pretty good price but they don't come up very often. Due to size and weight, shipping would not be cheap.
David
The 37 1/2" high ones with 2-8" woofers that Paradigm sent pou info on
The Bi Polars
The later ones that were I believe a much cheaper and smaller speaker
I have a pair of the ones with 2 8" woofers
They are oak veneer (not vinyl) and are quite good looking and enjoyable to listen to. I would think that $250 would be a pretty good price but they don't come up very often. Due to size and weight, shipping would not be cheap.
David
Rick Vestal
Have a nice day and duck!
Don't forget, Paradigm (like B&W) LOVE to use version numbers as differentiation for their product lines. Just ask the seller which version it is and go from there. There's tons of info online.
In the letter from Paradigm, its referring to the wrong speaker. See even Paradigm gets confused over its own naming. This is not the Bipolar speaker, in Paradigms letter back to you. It says "Esprit Monitor". I am about to go dig and get my info on them as there is too much miss-info. Paradigm Bipolars were really nice speakers. They were part of the original Reference series. Two drivers per side. So alarm bells went off when I read the above and it said two 8" mid/bass drivers and only one(!) tweeter. I took a close look and noted the name "Esprit Monitor".
OK the name that differentiates them (what separates them) is "/BP" suffixing the name. Easy to drop when spelling it and get it confused with other speakers. Heck even Google gets confused trying to find Paradigm speakers. Yea great speakers I know but lets hope they make bigger name differentiators. Like Studio 20, what ver. No just call it Studio anything but 20 once used.
FWIW this was an interesting time in speaker history. Paradigm (all from memory so it may be off a bit ) did make them after Definitive Technology BP10 were introduced and made a big hit. I was proud Paradigm fought back and made some great Bipolar speakers themselves and read all of the reviews. With Paradigm reviews, note the words written about the sound stage. This naturally make you think of Definitive Technology speakers. Paradigm quickly realized the error of doing this as it added a lot of credibility to a bipolars sound stage, and stopped making them! Paradigm did not make them for long. But what the reviews of Paradigms Bipolar speakers did was make Bipolar an option for me, I was open to the idea of trying them out as most of the expert reviews really liked the bipolar sound. Yea that's what Definitive Technology says today and was Paradigms big mistake at that time. Of course Paradigm was and still is one of the best sounding speaker per dollar versus any.
You may wonder why I bother to write on a post that's so old. Because with Google you may as well have posted this one hour ago :yes:. People search and read to find info to this day. That's how I found this. Google keeps it all. So when someone is searching for info on Paradigm Bipolar speakers (like me) they will find this and read the letter from Paradigm that is talking about a none bipolar speaker. A 100% different speaker of a different time. But the Internet is basically timeless.
OK the name that differentiates them (what separates them) is "/BP" suffixing the name. Easy to drop when spelling it and get it confused with other speakers. Heck even Google gets confused trying to find Paradigm speakers. Yea great speakers I know but lets hope they make bigger name differentiators. Like Studio 20, what ver. No just call it Studio anything but 20 once used.
FWIW this was an interesting time in speaker history. Paradigm (all from memory so it may be off a bit ) did make them after Definitive Technology BP10 were introduced and made a big hit. I was proud Paradigm fought back and made some great Bipolar speakers themselves and read all of the reviews. With Paradigm reviews, note the words written about the sound stage. This naturally make you think of Definitive Technology speakers. Paradigm quickly realized the error of doing this as it added a lot of credibility to a bipolars sound stage, and stopped making them! Paradigm did not make them for long. But what the reviews of Paradigms Bipolar speakers did was make Bipolar an option for me, I was open to the idea of trying them out as most of the expert reviews really liked the bipolar sound. Yea that's what Definitive Technology says today and was Paradigms big mistake at that time. Of course Paradigm was and still is one of the best sounding speaker per dollar versus any.
You may wonder why I bother to write on a post that's so old. Because with Google you may as well have posted this one hour ago :yes:. People search and read to find info to this day. That's how I found this. Google keeps it all. So when someone is searching for info on Paradigm Bipolar speakers (like me) they will find this and read the letter from Paradigm that is talking about a none bipolar speaker. A 100% different speaker of a different time. But the Internet is basically timeless.
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mikeybc
Listener
The first monitor lineup was around 1988 a few years before the bipoloars showed up , the line was "compact monitor" a 6.5 inch 2way, then "control monitor" a 8" 2 way, then "export monitor" an 8 inch 2 way in a larger cabinet, then there was the floor standing "esprit monitor" 2 8" woofers and 1 tweeter then the "eclipse monitor" with the same driver configuration but a larger cabinet and finally the "studio monitor" with 2 8' woofers and a 6.5" midrange plus tweeter. The first generation monitor line included 1 inch textile dome tweeters with round face-plates then they switched to semi round oval shaped face-plates in later years before the bi-polors showed up.
1st pic is a pair of 1st generation export monitors....I used to have a pair identical to these...very solid cabinets and veneered on all 6 sides outside and on the inside of the cabinet walls...pull the woofer and you'll see oak veneer on the inside too.
Second pic is a second generation export monitor with the metal dome and oval faceplate.
Damn, I didn't realize this thread was so old...anyway hope it helps someone in the future
1st pic is a pair of 1st generation export monitors....I used to have a pair identical to these...very solid cabinets and veneered on all 6 sides outside and on the inside of the cabinet walls...pull the woofer and you'll see oak veneer on the inside too.
Second pic is a second generation export monitor with the metal dome and oval faceplate.
Damn, I didn't realize this thread was so old...anyway hope it helps someone in the future
Attachments
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molecules01
New Member
Eclipse Monitors
Good information. Would you have any info on the Eclipse Monitors ? I just bought a pair, two 8-inch drivers with the metal dome tweeter. According to the Orion Blue Book, Eclipse Monitors went for 1,550 a pair 1991-1994. I also lists:
Esprit monitor 1,200 pair. '91-94
Export Monitor, 800 pair '88-94
Eclipse BP, 1,900 pair '94
Esprit BP, 1,400 pair '94
Export BP, 950 pair '95-97
I can't find any information on specs and what their goals were vs. for example the 11se MK3 , which had the same configuration, but also included a midrange (and was cheaper !) $1,050
Good information. Would you have any info on the Eclipse Monitors ? I just bought a pair, two 8-inch drivers with the metal dome tweeter. According to the Orion Blue Book, Eclipse Monitors went for 1,550 a pair 1991-1994. I also lists:
Esprit monitor 1,200 pair. '91-94
Export Monitor, 800 pair '88-94
Eclipse BP, 1,900 pair '94
Esprit BP, 1,400 pair '94
Export BP, 950 pair '95-97
I can't find any information on specs and what their goals were vs. for example the 11se MK3 , which had the same configuration, but also included a midrange (and was cheaper !) $1,050
mikeybc
Listener
The old monitor line was their top line above the SE line, built to higher standards with real wood veneer and better cabinet bracing, each speaker was hand calibrated to within ,25 db of the design reference, you'll notice the adjusting pot with red goop on it to keep it from moving. I'd take any of the old monitor line over any SE regardless if what model and version they were and over any of the newer monitor line of the late 90's early 2000's. they seem rare though, don't see them for sale much.
BTW the eclipse monitor was one notch below the studio monitor, which was paradigm's flagship speaker at the time.
BTW the eclipse monitor was one notch below the studio monitor, which was paradigm's flagship speaker at the time.
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molecules01
New Member
Paradigm Eclipse/Esprit Monitor
I received this from Paradigm:
"The Eclipse Monitors were discontinued in 1994.
Please see info below.
Cheers!
Design 3-driver, 2-way bass reflex,
Quasi-3rd order resistive port
Crossover 3rd order electro/acoustic at 2kHz
Driver Complement one 25mm(1") Q25/SPT high-frequency driver
two 210mm(8") Q210/SPT bass/midrange drivers
Performance
Low Frequency Extension 34Hz(DIN)
Frequency Response
On Axis 0 degrees +/-2dB from 55Hz-20kHz
Off Axis 30 degrees +/-2dB from 55Hz-15kHz
Sensitivity-Room/Anechoic 94dB/91dB
Suitable Amplifier
Power Range 15-250 watts
Maximum Input Power 160 watts
Nominal/Minimum Impedance 6 ohms/4 ohms
Physical
Internal volume 63 litres/2.2cuf
Height 96cm/37 1/2 in.
Width 28cm/10 3/4 in.
Depth 37cm/14 1/4 in.
Weight 56kg/124lbs per pair"
But Mine are larger 38 1/2 x 16 x 11 1/2. I wonder if he gave me the specs for the Esprit instead ?
I received this from Paradigm:
"The Eclipse Monitors were discontinued in 1994.
Please see info below.
Cheers!
Design 3-driver, 2-way bass reflex,
Quasi-3rd order resistive port
Crossover 3rd order electro/acoustic at 2kHz
Driver Complement one 25mm(1") Q25/SPT high-frequency driver
two 210mm(8") Q210/SPT bass/midrange drivers
Performance
Low Frequency Extension 34Hz(DIN)
Frequency Response
On Axis 0 degrees +/-2dB from 55Hz-20kHz
Off Axis 30 degrees +/-2dB from 55Hz-15kHz
Sensitivity-Room/Anechoic 94dB/91dB
Suitable Amplifier
Power Range 15-250 watts
Maximum Input Power 160 watts
Nominal/Minimum Impedance 6 ohms/4 ohms
Physical
Internal volume 63 litres/2.2cuf
Height 96cm/37 1/2 in.
Width 28cm/10 3/4 in.
Depth 37cm/14 1/4 in.
Weight 56kg/124lbs per pair"
But Mine are larger 38 1/2 x 16 x 11 1/2. I wonder if he gave me the specs for the Esprit instead ?
Shadowchek
New Member
Paradigm eclipse
I'll bet that is what happened. Mine measure the same as yours. Well 15 3/4 instead of 16. The power ratings should be the same I would think but most everything else would probably change due to the larger cabinet.
I'll bet that is what happened. Mine measure the same as yours. Well 15 3/4 instead of 16. The power ratings should be the same I would think but most everything else would probably change due to the larger cabinet.
Paradigm Esprit/BP
I currently own a pair of the Esprit BP speakers I bought brand new back in '96 and they have never failed me as they've been great speakers. I always used them for straight audio listening powered by an Acurus A-150 amp that I still use and I've been really pleased. I currently bought a bigger house and finally have a basement where I wanted to do something with a center channel and connect my TV for better sound. Not looking to get all crazy and add more speakers other than a center channel speaker and maybe a sub-woofer. I know I'm really late to this game but was wondering if anyone had any recommendations for a real solid A/V receiver (I'm assuming I need one) and center channel that would go well with my speakers. I have a magnum dynalab tuner and antenna that I'm going to look to sell to help fund my additional purchase but was looking for some direction. Thanks for any help!
I currently own a pair of the Esprit BP speakers I bought brand new back in '96 and they have never failed me as they've been great speakers. I always used them for straight audio listening powered by an Acurus A-150 amp that I still use and I've been really pleased. I currently bought a bigger house and finally have a basement where I wanted to do something with a center channel and connect my TV for better sound. Not looking to get all crazy and add more speakers other than a center channel speaker and maybe a sub-woofer. I know I'm really late to this game but was wondering if anyone had any recommendations for a real solid A/V receiver (I'm assuming I need one) and center channel that would go well with my speakers. I have a magnum dynalab tuner and antenna that I'm going to look to sell to help fund my additional purchase but was looking for some direction. Thanks for any help!
Blue Shadow
Waiting for Vintage Gear from this century
Hi Steve,
Welcome to AK.
You might want to start your very own thread on this subject since this thread is old and about a certain group of Paradigm speakers and not really a place folks are going to look to make a recommendation about a receiver/center/sub. Good Luck with your search.
SonicsAS-441
New Member
I know that this is a very old thread, but I have seen it pop up in my searches a lot, and thought I would chime in with details on the 4, yes 4 distinctly different speakers that Paradigm has used the Esprit name on, not different generations, but fundamentally different speakers!
The original post was about the oldest Esprits, the Esprit Monitor, these are the ones that Paradigm correctly gave the specs to in their response, and these were the correct speakers. In various threads above these are detailed, but a quick summary, these were 37" tall conventional towers with 2 8" woofers and a 1" dome tweeter, soft dome on the early versions, aluminum PAL tweeters on the "2nd gen". These were from Paradigms Reference level and among their top speakers at their time (and I bet they still sound great), but are exceptionally rare.
Next up are the Esprit BP (and later BPa). These are the ones that many posters thought these were and even made fun of Paradigm for not knowing their own speakers, but in fact they were the ones confused. These were also part of the reference series and also among the best speakers Paradigm made at the time and I can confirm that they still are great! These are more common than the Esprit Monitors, but still tough to find. As stated above these are bipolar towers (45" tall) with a 1" PAL aluminum dome tweeter and 6.75" woofer on each side. Later the Esprit BP was upgraded to BPa level, which consisted of the woofers being upgraded to yellow kevlar from the black ones on BP. BPa are very rare. Just a note on this family, as mentioned there were also Eclipse BP and BPa and Export BP (I have been unable to confirm existence of Export BPa). The Eclipse have 8.25" woofers so are obviously a good deal wider in addition to being 48" tall. The Exports were much shorter at 40", but they also had slightly different woofer cone material (I assume of slightly lesser quality, and had soft dome tweeters.
Now here are the red headed step child of the family. These are the ones that the original seller seems to have thought he had. These are from Paradigms entry level performance series and had a 19mm titanium dome tweeter and a 6.5" woofer. They were towers around 30" tall, and while I bet they sounded good, they were nowhere near the level of the others that were all part of the much higher end reference series. There were v3 and v4 versions of these, but I couldn't find any real differences.
Finally the Esprit name was revived for the (hopefully) last time in the form of some really nice on wall speakers. These were 3 way designs with drivers that were very similar to the Studio series, basically an on wall version of the Studio CC-590 v4 consisting of a 1" G-PAL aluminum dome tweeter, a 4.5" dedicated mid, and 2 7" bass woofers. I believe these were only available in one generation and were marked as v4.
I hope that clears it up, lol. Paradigm Esprit, 4 distinctly different speaker lines with that name, and if that wasn't confusing enough a total of 7 different versions. Why Paradigm, there are so many names to choose from, once you used Esprit for something, seriously, just find a new name if the speaker is completely unrelated. A modern example of this is the Mitsubishi Eclipse Crossover, no, just no!
The original post was about the oldest Esprits, the Esprit Monitor, these are the ones that Paradigm correctly gave the specs to in their response, and these were the correct speakers. In various threads above these are detailed, but a quick summary, these were 37" tall conventional towers with 2 8" woofers and a 1" dome tweeter, soft dome on the early versions, aluminum PAL tweeters on the "2nd gen". These were from Paradigms Reference level and among their top speakers at their time (and I bet they still sound great), but are exceptionally rare.
Next up are the Esprit BP (and later BPa). These are the ones that many posters thought these were and even made fun of Paradigm for not knowing their own speakers, but in fact they were the ones confused. These were also part of the reference series and also among the best speakers Paradigm made at the time and I can confirm that they still are great! These are more common than the Esprit Monitors, but still tough to find. As stated above these are bipolar towers (45" tall) with a 1" PAL aluminum dome tweeter and 6.75" woofer on each side. Later the Esprit BP was upgraded to BPa level, which consisted of the woofers being upgraded to yellow kevlar from the black ones on BP. BPa are very rare. Just a note on this family, as mentioned there were also Eclipse BP and BPa and Export BP (I have been unable to confirm existence of Export BPa). The Eclipse have 8.25" woofers so are obviously a good deal wider in addition to being 48" tall. The Exports were much shorter at 40", but they also had slightly different woofer cone material (I assume of slightly lesser quality, and had soft dome tweeters.
Now here are the red headed step child of the family. These are the ones that the original seller seems to have thought he had. These are from Paradigms entry level performance series and had a 19mm titanium dome tweeter and a 6.5" woofer. They were towers around 30" tall, and while I bet they sounded good, they were nowhere near the level of the others that were all part of the much higher end reference series. There were v3 and v4 versions of these, but I couldn't find any real differences.
Finally the Esprit name was revived for the (hopefully) last time in the form of some really nice on wall speakers. These were 3 way designs with drivers that were very similar to the Studio series, basically an on wall version of the Studio CC-590 v4 consisting of a 1" G-PAL aluminum dome tweeter, a 4.5" dedicated mid, and 2 7" bass woofers. I believe these were only available in one generation and were marked as v4.
I hope that clears it up, lol. Paradigm Esprit, 4 distinctly different speaker lines with that name, and if that wasn't confusing enough a total of 7 different versions. Why Paradigm, there are so many names to choose from, once you used Esprit for something, seriously, just find a new name if the speaker is completely unrelated. A modern example of this is the Mitsubishi Eclipse Crossover, no, just no!