Paradigm Reference Signature Series V.3 - First Look

[admin]

Ribbed. It's not just for her pleasure anymore. Paradigm has carried this ribbed/corrugated butyl rubber surround theme into their entire Signature product line for a claimed 3dB more efficiency and higher output over its predecessors. The re-vamp of their acclaimed Reference Signature series piqued my interest into soliciting a review of the S2s after the 2009 CEDIA show. We’ve always been impressed with the quality of Paradigm speakers so we are confident these won't disappoint.


Discuss "Paradigm Reference Signature Series V.3 - First Look" here. Read the article.

[fredk]

Well, thats a timely first look. When someone posted that the new Signature drivers had significantly upped their efficiency it left me wondering why Paradigm would do something nobody is exactly asking for. Looks like there is significantly more to the surround changes.

I'm looking forward to the full review of the S2.

[mechafreq]

Nobody? I'm looking for efficient speakers to make the use out of a low powered tube amp.

[fredk]

You are right. I should have put not many. It does come up, but is not a commonly asked after feature.

[Warpdrv]

One thing not mentioned was that with all the upgrades they made to the driver compliment, they did not increase prices on the .v3 series.

I am a bit concerned about the mid range driver and the change from a solid phase plug to a dust cap that is made to look like a solid phase plug. IMO it could have been handled better in a speaker of this caliber. Why bother - no need to fake it for looks.... Maybe someone from Paradigm can fill in the reasoning on that here...

When I questioned the guys at CEDIA - they were miffed that I brought that up, and then kinda fumbled about - finally stating that there would be too much air movement/leaking around the phase plug with the increase of cone movement.

Im sure the upgrades will be a nice step up, but I certainly wasn't dissapointed with the performance and output from the .v2 Sigs... My intentions would certainly not be toward using them in a 2 channel setup - so the extra SPL may not be warranted.

For what its worth - the new upcoming 2009 18" TC-Sounds LMS's (Raw Sub Woofer Drivers) are going in this same direction with the "Non-Limiting Corrugated Surround" (Ribbed) material and design to gain even more excursion and output then previous models - which were already rated some of the best measured and performing drivers on the planet.

[oppman99]

Warp,

I guess your post answers the question I asked in my reply to your PM. The phase plug being replaced by the dustcap was one of the things I noticed too. I would have expeced more considering this is their flagship line. I will agree that I don't really need them to be more efficienct than v2's either and I am planning on using them for 2 channel. I did talk to a guy who has a friend/dealer connection. He claims the increase in efficiency is because the v2's were not utilizing all the capabilities of the Be tweeter. Don't know if it's true or not, but it does make me curious.

[Warpdrv]

from your pm oppo... I did not get the chance to listen to the .v3's, they just had them on display, but in all honesty - I just had a conversation with my dealer who was also at cedia and we came to the same conclusion that the faux phase plug was truly a corner cutting move on paradigms part - IMO just not worthy of their flagship lineup... my goal will be to acquire a set of .v2 before they phase them out.

I'm sure that could very well be that they were trying to match the output capabilities of the Be tweet, but really ?

I think Paradigm is really starting to get too many Irons in the Fire - and starting to lose sight of the prize.... too bad

[fredk]

Hmm. Improving damping with the new surround and increasing linear excursion should give you cleaner sound should it not? I wonder if the greater excursion also translates to better bottom end extension.

It seems to me Paradigm is trying to drive improvements while maintaining a price point (damn marketing guys ).

I have no idea what a phase plug does, so I haven't the slightest clue how eliminating it would affect sound quality.

[bigred7078]

i wish they would have done something cosmetic....like using magnetic grills to get rid of all the grill holes. But i guess since they recommend keeping the grills on its kind of a moot point.

[mechafreq]

It has been suggested that more efficient designs have better dynamics. A pretty simple analogy is the difference between a heavy car and a lightweight sports car. A lighter car makes performance gains in many areas at once. Not certain this applies to loudspeakers as directly; in theory it does, assuming no other significant variables like a reduction in cone rigidity.

I doubt the efficiency improvements are due to the tweeter. Usually, most of the power consumption in a loudspeaker comes from the low end and gradually decreases as you measure the higher frequencies. I won't make any solid assumptions, but it seems dubious that the reduction in power is from the tweeter.

From what I see and read, it's mostly a reduction in the cone mass, decreased resistance of the new surrounds, and a new motor design.

Whatever the case, does it sound and perform better?