Advice on purchasing Paradigm or Infinity speakers

[Harold Walters]

I need to buy new speakers for listening to classical music almost exclusively.
Considering Paradigm Studio 20 or Infinity Primus 160 or Beta 20. I have a NAD C372 amp and NAD cd player. Small room (11.5X23X8), highly reflective (wood floors, no drapes or rugs). I prefer clarity, precise definition of instruments, reasonably clear climaxes, tight bass, moderate volume (not domestic cataclysms). I have hundreds of mono cds and listen extensively to vocal classical as well as recent recordings. I would appreciate your suggestions. I expect to buy a subw to 'flesh out' music at lower volumes.
Thanks.

 

[jaxvon]

You might want to consider a pair B&Ws. They're not my thing, but a lost of classical recordings were monitored on B&W 802s. Go visit your local B&W dealer and check 'em out.

 

[nibhaz]

I need to buy new speakers for listening to classical music almost exclusively.
Considering Paradigm Studio 20 or Infinity Primus 160 or Beta 20. I have a NAD C372 amp and NAD cd player. Small room (11.5X23X8), highly reflective (wood floors, no drapes or rugs). I prefer clarity, precise definition of instruments, reasonably clear climaxes, tight bass, moderate volume (not domestic cataclysms). I have hundreds of mono cds and listen extensively to vocal classical as well as recent recordings. I would appreciate your suggestions. I expect to buy a subw to 'flesh out' music at lower volumes.
Thanks.

Based on your short list I would go:

1. Paradigm Studio 20
2. Beta 20
3. Primus 150

However at this price point I would check out, in no particular order:

1. Axiom M22ti
2. B&W 602 S3
3. PSB Image B25
4. Aperion Intimus 632-LR
5. Mordaunt Short MS912

 

[3db]

PSB ImageT45s is what I recommend

I need to buy new speakers for listening to classical music almost exclusively.
Considering Paradigm Studio 20 or Infinity Primus 160 or Beta 20. I have a NAD C372 amp and NAD cd player. Small room (11.5X23X8), highly reflective (wood floors, no drapes or rugs). I prefer clarity, precise definition of instruments, reasonably clear climaxes, tight bass, moderate volume (not domestic cataclysms). I have hundreds of mono cds and listen extensively to vocal classical as well as recent recordings. I would appreciate your suggestions. I expect to buy a subw to 'flesh out' music at lower volumes.
Thanks.

If imaging is important to you, then you'll be hard pressed to find a speaker for the money that images better than the PSBs. I own a pair and have listened to Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto and you can hear distinctly, the two violins placement with respect to each other and to the rest of the orchestra. The T45s will give you deep and tight bass for most instruments except the pipe organ/ The mids are seductively smooth, the treble clear without being fatigueing and irriitating. They are a "not in your face" speaker. The piano in Beethoven's piano concerto #5 is to life like, its astounding. I strongly urge you audition a pair You won't be disappointed .

 

[gene]

you may wish to peruse this rather old but still useful bookshelf speaker face off we did a few years ago.

I am still looking for a bookshelf speaker, regardless of price that can outperform the RBH Sound 61-LSE's. These speakers particularly excel in classical music and music with a lot of dynamic range. You should definately add these and the Monitor Audio GR-10's to your consideration list.

 

[Tomorrow]

I need to buy new speakers for listening to classical music almost exclusively.
Considering Paradigm Studio 20 or Infinity Primus 160 or Beta 20. I have a NAD C372 amp and NAD cd player. Small room (11.5X23X8), highly reflective (wood floors, no drapes or rugs). I prefer clarity, precise definition of instruments, reasonably clear climaxes, tight bass, moderate volume (not domestic cataclysms). I have hundreds of mono cds and listen extensively to vocal classical as well as recent recordings. I would appreciate your suggestions. I expect to buy a subw to 'flesh out' music at lower volumes.
Thanks.

I'm certainly no expert here, but the speakers you've targeted have gotten little to no mention here as good speakers for classical music. I've heard the Betas and Paradigms and would rather own my crappy Studio Series JBL's for music.

My advice...seriously check out afore recommended RBH's, B&Ws, PSBs, and also ACIs (which I understand are similar to my out-of-price-range-but-wonderful Aerial Acoustic 7Bs). These have all gotten fantastic industry reviews. It's a pretty penny you're looking to spend. Make sure you've done your homework. And Happy Hunting!

 

[j_garcia]

What is your price range? The Studio 20s and the Infinitys you listed are not even in the same ballpark as each other....

Based on what you said, Mordaunt Short and B&W, as recommended by others, might be good places to start.

Online, I'd highly recommend you look into the www.ascendacoustics.com CMT-340 as well.

 

[AV Pilot]

Make certain to Audition First

All of the posts look good thus far but don't forget the obvious--audition them with CDs you listen to often. Ideally you could narrow it down to two or three and then have them put in a listening room for just you to audition. It is difficult to do this quickly because you can't do a blind AB comparison because of volume differences between the loudspeakers. Take your time and continue listening to passages on the various speakers listening for their differences. Each speaker will have its own voicing and one will stand out to you as sounding best for you.

I did this years ago and narrowed it down to Phase Technology and Mirage; I ended up with the Phase Technology. I listen to a lot of jazz and that was the determining factor because the PTs did that better. The Mirage had better imaging but a touch boomy, maybe around 100 Hz or so.

I haven't listened to the particular speakers you mention but having listened to these manufacturers before, I would guess the Paradigm would better suit you. I haven't listened to Mirage's recent offerings but having been impressed by them in the past, you might find a dealer near you and give them a listen.

Your current room won't require very efficient speakers but if you think these speakers will end up in a larger room at some point, you may want to consider their sensitivity numbers.

As far as subwoofer, I would recommend either Velodyne or Sunfire.

Enjoy.