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What is the consensus on Paradigm speakers?
- Thread starter Wade Haake
- Start date
blackfly
Fidelius Claritus
I have, as my siggy shows, Paradigm Signature S8v2's. I bought them just over a year ago, and are powered by a Bryston 14B SST.
Sound is superb. Highs are rich, extended and with no distortion. Do not have the "ringy metallic sound". Mids are clear, neutral and effortless. Bass is tight, extended, detailed and clear. But they are not the LAST word on the lowest end and perhaps a sub is a good idea in any event, but I think MOST could get away without one. I would suggest, however, that a good amp with good current delivery be used. I have tried the S8's on amps with lesser drive capability and sound as good except where the bass is.
Cabinet quality is superb. The finish is as good as ANY fine furniture.
Now.
I realize there are speakers that cost more and sound a bit better. But they cost FAR more than what the S8's are asking. I decided between the B+W 803D and the S8 and chose the S8 for a number of reasons. The S8 was cheaper, and sounded more "uniform" to me. And the fact they are from a company that makes EVERYTHING in house to spec as needed..... in fact the bass drivers in the S8 are actually specific to them. They have larger magnet structures than the S6. Only a company that does in house can do this and they are one of the few. The beryllium tweeter is simply superb, as the midrange driver.
You would have to spend thousands more to find anything equal, or better, but then again, the cost is the factor. Would I do it if I had the cash? Yes. But for what I could spend they were the best I could afford. In fact, they are a superb speaker period, "for the price" notwithstanding. No, they are not in the same league as Magico M5's, but the S8 is no slouch by any measure. I know, I use them every day.
But they are also the best Paradigm makes, and it should be expected they are superb. But I am suprised by the excellent quality of the cabinet, everything, actually.
Sound is superb. Highs are rich, extended and with no distortion. Do not have the "ringy metallic sound". Mids are clear, neutral and effortless. Bass is tight, extended, detailed and clear. But they are not the LAST word on the lowest end and perhaps a sub is a good idea in any event, but I think MOST could get away without one. I would suggest, however, that a good amp with good current delivery be used. I have tried the S8's on amps with lesser drive capability and sound as good except where the bass is.
Cabinet quality is superb. The finish is as good as ANY fine furniture.
Now.
I realize there are speakers that cost more and sound a bit better. But they cost FAR more than what the S8's are asking. I decided between the B+W 803D and the S8 and chose the S8 for a number of reasons. The S8 was cheaper, and sounded more "uniform" to me. And the fact they are from a company that makes EVERYTHING in house to spec as needed..... in fact the bass drivers in the S8 are actually specific to them. They have larger magnet structures than the S6. Only a company that does in house can do this and they are one of the few. The beryllium tweeter is simply superb, as the midrange driver.
You would have to spend thousands more to find anything equal, or better, but then again, the cost is the factor. Would I do it if I had the cash? Yes. But for what I could spend they were the best I could afford. In fact, they are a superb speaker period, "for the price" notwithstanding. No, they are not in the same league as Magico M5's, but the S8 is no slouch by any measure. I know, I use them every day.
But they are also the best Paradigm makes, and it should be expected they are superb. But I am suprised by the excellent quality of the cabinet, everything, actually.
Massive Lee
Active Member
Among other speakers (mostly vintage Kef products), I have a set of circa-1987 3-ways Paradigm 11se Deluxe (wood finish). They are tall towers, are well built and sound superb if deep base is not what you are after. I have kept them as some types of music sound very nice with these speakers. Strings, vocals, some jazz. But being more a Kef type of listener, the 11Se are now facing the wall, unused. As was mentionned, sound perception is not universal and what will please an ear will displease another.
Massive Lee
Active Member
You didn't notice the concrete slabs under the speakers. :thmbsp: There's cardboard under the slabs, which allows to slide the heavy speakers on the carpet, without any effort. Quite practical.
Since the picture was taken, the Paradigms are now put aside, facing the right wall, along with a set of Kef Cantatas that is resting. The Kef Calindas In the picture) are now used in the living room, upstairs. The empty space now comprises a set of Kef 105/2. A second set is being built with experimental cabinet and custom "heads".
The carpeting will soon be replaced by hardwood floor. Too much bass dampening with all that carpeting.
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Those are predecessors to the 7se's. Pretty sure the tweeter was a SEAS, don't know about the woofer. They probably are from the early eighties.
Was that a plug I saw in the port; I don't know if that was original; the 7se's didn't have one.
Blue Shadow
Waiting for Vintage Gear from this century
Massive,
Nice Calder Art Car.
Nice Calder Art Car.
I've been a Paradigm fan for a long time, having owned a set of 11se, 7seMk3, and a set of Mini Mk3. Friends of mine have had some 9's and some of the Monitor series with the titanium dome tweeters. Overall, they're good speakers and I like their sound. I've got some old brochures - hope you enjoy.
Hi all
This is my first post (bows, acknowledges waves, shouts of "welcome"!). I'm new to 'true' hi-fi, but the bug has bitten deep and fast. I had a Sherwood RVD-8090R (I think?) surround receiver driving a Wharfedale Modus 7 HT speaker setup for years. It was quite good in the HT role but really lousy for music (and the fact that I didn't know how to manage the bass and passive sub properly meant it sounded even worse) so I recently decided to upgrade the fronts by getting a used pair of Paradigm 3 SEs. A revelation! Suddenly I enjoyed my music again - for a while, that is, until I realized that the music was still quite flat, colourless and unengaging, although better than it had been. So I upgraded the receiver, going from the Sherwood to a Yamaha RX-V1500 that I picked up for $150 Cdn. Joy again! The colours were back in the music.
I then stumbled upon a cache of eight speakers - two old Paradigm Export Monitors (smallish 2-way bi-ampable floor-standers), three first-gen Paradigm Titans, a Paradigm CC-150 centre channel and an enormous made-in-Canada Energy PS-180 sub - and an older Denon receiver. I hooked up the Export Monitors to the Yammie's A and B outputs, partly because I wanted to try bi-amping and partly because one of the copper bridges between one speakers' binding posts was missing. To my considerable surprise they sounded even better than the newer 3s, with clarity, imaging and musicality that extended well down into the bass. And that was true even though one of the Monitor's woofers turned out to be blown.... Don't ask me how they done it, they jes' done it.
I paid C$250 for the entire package, sold the Denon for C$55 and the Sherwood for $110, and feel I got a very good deal despite having to repair the Monitor woofer and, probably, the centre channel's tweeter or crossover. It hasn't been checked out yet.
I'm now deciding which of the smaller sets of Paradigms to keep for my surrounds - the 3s or the Titans. Practically speaking, and in view of the very limited space available and the wife's views of the very limited value of hi-fi in general, I should keep the Titans and sell the 3s, but the 3s are such good speakers I'd be loath to let them go. Maybe I should keep all of them, using the 3s for surrounds and two of the Titans as the 'presence' speakers in one of the Yammie's 7.1 schemes.
Between the Yammie, the Monitors and the Energy sub I think I would have to pay a great deal more money to get anything more than an incremental improvement in the sound quality, and I say this before I've exhausted all the possibilities for equalization, etc., that the Yamaha offers.
My $0.02 on Paradigm speakers. I'm pretty much a believer.
This is my first post (bows, acknowledges waves, shouts of "welcome"!). I'm new to 'true' hi-fi, but the bug has bitten deep and fast. I had a Sherwood RVD-8090R (I think?) surround receiver driving a Wharfedale Modus 7 HT speaker setup for years. It was quite good in the HT role but really lousy for music (and the fact that I didn't know how to manage the bass and passive sub properly meant it sounded even worse) so I recently decided to upgrade the fronts by getting a used pair of Paradigm 3 SEs. A revelation! Suddenly I enjoyed my music again - for a while, that is, until I realized that the music was still quite flat, colourless and unengaging, although better than it had been. So I upgraded the receiver, going from the Sherwood to a Yamaha RX-V1500 that I picked up for $150 Cdn. Joy again! The colours were back in the music.
I then stumbled upon a cache of eight speakers - two old Paradigm Export Monitors (smallish 2-way bi-ampable floor-standers), three first-gen Paradigm Titans, a Paradigm CC-150 centre channel and an enormous made-in-Canada Energy PS-180 sub - and an older Denon receiver. I hooked up the Export Monitors to the Yammie's A and B outputs, partly because I wanted to try bi-amping and partly because one of the copper bridges between one speakers' binding posts was missing. To my considerable surprise they sounded even better than the newer 3s, with clarity, imaging and musicality that extended well down into the bass. And that was true even though one of the Monitor's woofers turned out to be blown.... Don't ask me how they done it, they jes' done it.
I paid C$250 for the entire package, sold the Denon for C$55 and the Sherwood for $110, and feel I got a very good deal despite having to repair the Monitor woofer and, probably, the centre channel's tweeter or crossover. It hasn't been checked out yet.
I'm now deciding which of the smaller sets of Paradigms to keep for my surrounds - the 3s or the Titans. Practically speaking, and in view of the very limited space available and the wife's views of the very limited value of hi-fi in general, I should keep the Titans and sell the 3s, but the 3s are such good speakers I'd be loath to let them go. Maybe I should keep all of them, using the 3s for surrounds and two of the Titans as the 'presence' speakers in one of the Yammie's 7.1 schemes.
Between the Yammie, the Monitors and the Energy sub I think I would have to pay a great deal more money to get anything more than an incremental improvement in the sound quality, and I say this before I've exhausted all the possibilities for equalization, etc., that the Yamaha offers.
My $0.02 on Paradigm speakers. I'm pretty much a believer.
my $.02 .
I have a pair of 7se's. I tried them in my main system for a while but was underwhelmed, but I like them in my AV system quite a lot.
Michael Fremer reviewed this particular speaker for TAS years ago (it's a very old model) and he really did not like them at all...
I have a pair of 7se's. I tried them in my main system for a while but was underwhelmed, but I like them in my AV system quite a lot.
Michael Fremer reviewed this particular speaker for TAS years ago (it's a very old model) and he really did not like them at all...
When you say "these speakers," are you referring to the Export Monitors, which do seem to be pretty old, or something earlier in this thread? I'm still enjoying the Monitors and find them very musical and easy to listen to, but their soundstage and imaging are nothing special (to be polite).
OK - let's retract some of the gushing about the Exports. I've replaced them with a pair of Kef Q5s, and the difference is like that between chalk and something that's not at all like chalk. The Kefs project a beautiful soundstage, very crisp and airy in the treble and equally good all the way down to the 60hz cutoff for the good old Energy monster. The Kefs are surprisingly sensitive to placement and the sweetspot is also much smaller than many reviews suggest ... but this is supposed to be about Paradigms, so I'll shut up about Kefs now. The Exports are OK but not great, as Kirk57 suggested above.
Blue Meanie
Scratch 'n' Sniff
Well, the KEF Q5 is about 12-15 years newer than the Paradigm Export Monitor. As time marches on, speaker sound quality has improved, and better sound can often be found for the same money or even less.
BigManAndy
Well-Known Member
I love my Paradigms. Sure I haven't heard that many speakers, but I don't see myself getting rid of mine any time soon. Plus I still don't have the space/setup to get them set up properly, but working on that.
Paradigm 7SE (pics are from the day I brought them home. April 2009)
Paradigm 7SE (pics are from the day I brought them home. April 2009)
I love my Paradigms. Sure I haven't heard that many speakers, but I don't see myself getting rid of mine any time soon. Plus I still don't have the space/setup to get them set up properly, but working on that.
Paradigm 7SE (pics are from the day I brought them home. April 2009)
Nice speakers! I like Paradigm to. Right now I am stuck on my Definitive BP10s the first model, it uses the exact same tweeter on both sides as your soft dome. What some may not know is Paradigm and Definitive both used/use Vifa drivers. I like Bi-Polar (cause I am :scratch2
speakers; Paradigm use to make them. They had 2 models and their biggest was one heck of a speaker. Back to Vifa, Paradigm makes derivatives of Vifa drivers, as Definitive. The Definitive 6.5" drivers used in their towers are stamped with the Definitive name but are Vifa drivers. I have known this for years. But its been 100% confirmed because when calling Definitive about replacement drivers for my original BP10s he told me the Vifa numbers that replace the tweeter, and woofer but Definitive plans on keeping the woofers in stock for a long time as the new (well) BP10s still sold today uses the same woofer but now with the new metal dome Vifa tweeter that Paradigm used as well. The 6.5" clear woofer Paradigm used is also the same (and others; they do improve the basic Vifa design many times however) to differentiate themselves they just did not use the black pigment or whatever they use to color the cone, they could make them pink lol I think they do in car audio. Those guys all went to the same school; well serious the NRC... but those guys know how to make good speakers :thmbsp: IMO as good as any can, because of the NRC; they put science into what good sound is, and not just art and voicing. But what do 'most' consider good sound, is now a science.EDIT: Looking up some data I have I found that Paradigm does design most of their mid/bass drivers; only the tweeters were/are co-designs. Also buyers guides only show 2 Bipolar Paradigm models not 3.. (memory is failing...big). However I still believe I remember some sort of relation at least in the beginning with Vifa for mid/bass driver, a license or something. In any case let me keep the facts strait. Definitive did use derivatives of Vifa drivers both tweeter and mid/bass drivers. Paradigm only tweeters AFAIK...
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theebadone
Super Member
Since you will be auditioning paradigm at an upper end hi-fi retailer, why not take a listen to some JBLs or B&W, MIGHT GET A LITTLE MORE SPEAKER FOR THE SAME MONEY.
I've owned 4 different pairs of Paradigm speakers. The first, Atom v2, were bought new from a now defunct Paradigm dealer. For their tiny size, they sounded very nice, although they suffered from what most ported speakers of their size do; a pronounced mid-bass hump. They were also so small that the tweeters were below ear level when placed on 24" stands.
The next week, I returned them to the dealer and traded them in for a pair of Studio 20 v2. Very good speakers, but the tweeters could get "grainy" sounding when pushed. When the v3 version came out, I immediately traded in the v2 for them. It's tweeter was much improved. Again, excellent sounding speakers with fantastic build quality for their price.
The only other model I've owned was a used pair of original Mini-Monitors. Like the Atom, they suffered from the same mid-bass hump, and had a boxy sound to my ears.
Paradigm has always offered much bang-for-the-buck, as do many of their Canadian counterparts. Having access to the national testing laboratory doesn't hurt.
The next week, I returned them to the dealer and traded them in for a pair of Studio 20 v2. Very good speakers, but the tweeters could get "grainy" sounding when pushed. When the v3 version came out, I immediately traded in the v2 for them. It's tweeter was much improved. Again, excellent sounding speakers with fantastic build quality for their price.
The only other model I've owned was a used pair of original Mini-Monitors. Like the Atom, they suffered from the same mid-bass hump, and had a boxy sound to my ears.
Paradigm has always offered much bang-for-the-buck, as do many of their Canadian counterparts. Having access to the national testing laboratory doesn't hurt.
My first 'serious' speakers were a pair of 3se Minis (1988) that paired quite nicely with both a Pioneer SA5800 (I wish I hadn't sold this amp!) as well as a Robertson 4010 / Lazarus Cascade Basic. Over the years, my choices in equipment outgrew the Paradigms (low powered tube amps are not a terribly synergistic match with somewhat inefficient speakers), but they're still in my possession as part of my garage system hooked up to a Technics SA-410 receiver (which *is* a good match). I haven't heard the more expensive Paradigms, but I have nothing but praise for the old-school baby of the bunch.
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