Paradigm Studio 100 vs Salk SongTower RT?

[tsweers89]

Well after auditioning many different speakers i have narrowed it down to Paradigm Studio 100s v5 and Song Tower RT. I picked Song Towers because of all the reviews and things i have read online. Only problem is i can not audition them any were in my area. So i come to you guys to help me out. These will be uses as 90% HT and 10% music. Price range is $2800 or under.

Set-up so far
Room size:15'x13' (estimate)
Pioneer elite sc-27 AVR
Martin Logan TF Encore center
Polk rti8 used as surrounds
Sunfire Sub
Kimber Kable used throughout

I don't plan on upgrading to a separate amp anytime soon. Next upgrades will be a matching center and surrounds. Any advice?

 

[Adam]

Hi. You mention that there's nowhere to audition them locally, but have you checked into owners who might let you?

Here is a direct link to a thread that contains owners willing to let people audition, just in case you hadn't already checked that out.

 

[Warpdrv]

I would also look into the new Ascend Sierra Towers with Ribbon Tweeter into your mix..

The Salks and Ascends are much more refined, less harsh in the upper registers (ie tweeters) with their ribbon tweeters compared to the 100's metal dome g-pal tweeter.... Also the midrange of those 2 are cleaner and more accurate then the 100's IMO.

The 100's will easily hit higher spls then either of the others, better power handling, but it you mate your new speakers with a good sub or 2 I doubt you'll ever notice the difference....

Good luck in your hunt... I owned the 100's before I upgraded to the Sig S8's which are great, I personally feel the Salks and Ascends are more geared towards critical listeners....

 

[GranteedEV]

Next upgrades will be a matching center and surrounds. Any advice?

Don't overspend on surrounds. How much do they really impact what we hear?

90% HT and 10% music doesn't really sound like the song towers to me. Not to sell them short or anything... but you might gravitate something with a bit more "oomph" in that 100hz to 200hz region than a pair of 5" drivers might provide. Or maybe not... your room is smaller . i have no doubt that speech intelligibility should be world class with the more balanced Salks.

That said, a lot of people that buy good speakers based on "90% HT / 10% music" end up with 70% music / 30% HT type listening habits

I don't like the Paradigm speakers i've heard... they seem to be great at wrapping you in a blanket of sound but when you get past that they seem to miss the stuff I really want. I suspect that Salks come a lot closer to that.

You may eventually want a larger, more impactful subwoofer.. I recommend multiples. Look into Rythmik, HSU, SVS, and Funk Audio.

Also look into something like an Audiokinesis Rythim Prism perhaps. Their more controlled radiation pattern might be a good fit for your room.

 

[tsweers89]

I would also look into the new Ascend Sierra Towers with Ribbon Tweeter into your mix..

The Salks and Ascends are much more refined, less harsh in the upper registers (ie tweeters) with their ribbon tweeters compared to the 100's metal dome g-pal tweeter.... Also the midrange of those 2 are cleaner and more accurate then the 100's IMO.

The 100's will easily hit higher spls then either of the others, better power handling, but it you mate your new speakers with a good sub or 2 I doubt you'll ever notice the difference....

Good luck in your hunt... I owned the 100's before I upgraded to the Sig S8's which are great, I personally feel the Salks and Ascends are more geared towards critical listeners....

Thanks for advice. Nice to see another Milwaukee member here. I wish i could afford the s8's but its not within my budget right now. What places do you recommend going to in the area? I have gone to audio emporium and soundstage so far.

 

[Warpdrv]

Thats about all you'll get around here for audio shops...

I know both the owners there - My business is in Mequon where SoundStage is...

GranteedEV is on track, I missed the 10% music part.... My bad...

For movies the 100's are great... I have Paradigm Sig S4's & C3 .v1 for sale in the used area, they sold but are pending payment... These speakers are better then even the current 100's in SQ and driver quality. Nice looking as well... IMO they would do well to have a sub added for the low end, I would suggest that for the 100's as well for HT duty...

If they don't sell, I suggest them for your needs...

 

[tsweers89]

I will keep on researching. Maybe someone local has them i can audition

 

[GranteedEV]

I will keep on researching. Maybe someone local has them i can audition

wouldn't Nuance?

 

[Warpdrv]

Yup.... Nuance has the very first Ribbon Tweeter Songtowers made, a few miles from my house up here in grafton... I'm sure he'd be more then happy to audition them for you....

I'll direct him to this thread....

 

[tsweers89]

Yup.... Nuance has the very first Ribbon Tweeter Songtowers made, a few miles from my house up here in grafton... I'm sure he'd be more then happy to audition them for you....

I'll direct him to this thread....

Thank you so much. That would be a great help.

 

[Warpdrv]

I would also look heavily at the New Ascend Towers with the ribbon tweeter...

For the money they are really great speakers - Had them at my place for a gtg against my Salk Sound Scapes...

read through the thread on them a few down from here...

 

[Nuance AH]

Nuance has been directed to this thread.

tsweers89,

You are more than welcome to come visit for an audition. It's going to be an extremely busy Christmas holiday for my family and I, but I took vacation through New Years (the 23rd through the 2nd), so I'll be around. Otherwise any time after that works for me as well. Just let me know if you'd like to make the drive 30 min north.

 

[tsweers89]

Nuance has been directed to this thread.

tsweers89,

You are more than welcome to come visit for an audition. It's going to be an extremely busy Christmas holiday for my family and I, but I took vacation through New Years (the 23rd through the 2nd), so I'll be around. Otherwise any time after that works for me as well. Just let me know if you'd like to make the drive 30 min north.

Were are you located? I am from Germantown. I dont want to bother you in the holiday season for something as silly as auditioning speakers. Much more important things to due with your time off. Sometime after the first of the year is ok with me. I plan on mamking my purchase late in january. Thanks so much for offering this. Makes my decision much easier.

 

[tsweers89]

I would also look heavily at the New Ascend Towers with the ribbon tweeter...

For the money they are really great speakers - Had them at my place for a gtg against my Salk Sound Scapes...

read through the thread on them a few down from here...

Do you have any idea how these compare to the Song Towers? I again wont be able to audition them unless someone has them in the area which is doubtful. Thanks again for all your help.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

My Orion would fail miserably in full range for movies. But when I cross them over @ 80Hz and let my subwoofers do all the heavy lifting, they sound absolutely amazing for movies.

I don't see why the Salk, Ascend would have any problems for movies as long as you cross them over @ 80Hz and let your subwoofers handle the bass.

 

[billy p]

Do you have any idea how these compare to the Song Towers? I again wont be able to audition them unless someone has them in the area which is doubtful. Thanks again for all your help.

The owner of those Sierra's is friends with both Warp and Nuance....I'm sure they'll hook you up there as well...

Good luck....

 

[Nuance AH]

Were are you located? I am from Germantown. I dont want to bother you in the holiday season for something as silly as auditioning speakers. Much more important things to due with your time off. Sometime after the first of the year is ok with me. I plan on mamking my purchase late in january. Thanks so much for offering this. Makes my decision much easier.

I'm in Grafton, literally 3 minutes from Warpdrv. You'll welcome over for an audition any time.

The owner of those Sierra's is friends with both Warp and Nuance....I'm sure they'll hook you up there as well...

Good luck....

That he is. His name is Brandon, just like mine. He lives in East Troy.

 

[tsweers89]

Studio 100s can be had for about $2900 + tax a pair. Looking at Song Towers and Ascend Towers both with RAAL ribbon tweeters, they will be only about a couple hundred less. Since i will be using these for HT purposes mostly i am wanting to know how much will a comparble sub be for either of these and will i need 2? My avr only has one sub out. I understand this can get expensive fast, which is something that i dont want to get out of hand. Id also want to get a matching center. These will all be staggered buys. Probably one item a year or so.

 

[Nuance AH]

Studio 100s can be had for about $2900 + tax a pair. Looking at Song Towers and Ascend Towers both with RAAL ribbon tweeters, they will be only about a couple hundred less. Since i will be using these for HT purposes mostly i am wanting to know how much will a comparble sub be for either of these and will i need 2? My avr only has one sub out. I understand this can get expensive fast, which is something that i dont want to get out of hand. Id also want to get a matching center. These will all be staggered buys. Probably one item a year or so.

Well, I do have the matching center at my house for the Salk's, so you can watch some movies scenes when you audition. However, I'll be honest and tell you the Paradigm's will go louder with less power; that is one of their design features. The Salk's and Ascend's will sound more accurate in the midrange and while listening to music, so it depends which trade-off you want to live with. If your listening habits are mostly movies, maybe the Paradigm's would be better.

Your room isn't huge, so one quality subwoofer should suffice. Most of the really nice subs cost right around $1000, but I'm pretty picky so you might be able to get away with something cheaper. The main benefit about multiple subs is they can be placed in difference spots around the room and naturally even out the frequency response, giving a more realistic and enveloping sound. DIY subs are the best approach IMO, for what it's worth.

 

[Warpdrv]

I have a few DIY subs and some leftover options for DIY subs laying around here that I could let go.... You'd need an external amp for them....

Careful about coming to my house if you like bass...