B&W or Paradigm speakers

[mike c]

I have an incredible itch to buy something audio ...

Im not even sure where I'm gonna use it but probable locations are right beside a CRT tv or as computer speakers (but with LCD monitor).

I was ready to buy the B&W 602 Series 3 bookshelves - enough to buy it solely based on looks. (although I have listened to it and it sounds great to me - the yellow kevlar is what gets me)

I would then like to ask if anyone has compared the above speaker to a Paradigm Monitor 5 (same price) and/or a Paradigm Studio 20 (same specs but higher price)

which in your opinions sound better?

I cant demo both at the same place or time (and my acoustic memory is about 20 seconds max if I tried really hard and without thinking about anything else)

 

[jcPanny]

Bookshelf speakers

The studio 20's are in a league above the other two options. For a good deal on a used pair, check Audiogon. Also, some people compair the Axiom M22 and Ascend bookshelf speakers to the Paradigm studio 20's. Both companies are internet direct.

 

[j_garcia]

Out of all those, the 20s are the best. I'd have to agree with the Ascends being a bit more accurate than the 20s (for less than the 20s you can get CMT-340s), but the M22s are not quite as good as the Studios IMO (but they are a lot less expensive).

 

[Johnd]

I agree with jc. You'd have to step up to the B&W 7 series to compare with the 'digm Studio series. I compared both, and went with the Studio 100's and love 'em. But they're your ears...and it's your money, so you have to be the ultimate judge. Cheers.

 

[mike c]

audioholics has a review of the studio40, will the extra driver of the 40 improve SQ or just extension?

http://www.audioholics.com/productreviews/loudspeakers/faceoff3_d.php

look at the paradigm version of the audioholics review!
http://www.paradigm.ca/Website/SiteReferenceProduct/RReviews/Reference/Audioholics/Audioholics_St60v2.pdf

see any differences?

 

[ht_addict]

Here's a couple of more recent reviews of the v3 20's/40's from Secrets and S&V

http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_12_2/paradigm-reference-20-470-speakers-5-2005.html

http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/article.asp?section_id=3&article_id=580

 

[mike c]

ht addict, thanks for the links. I will now put weight only on reviews that are directly linked to the reviewers website instead of from paradigm.

did you check out the links I posted? one is linked to audioholics, one is linked to paradigm (supposed review from audioholics) - they are supposed to be one and the same review.

I dont know about anybody else, but I'd say what paradigm did was plain deceiving.

 

[corysmith01]

did you check out the links I posted? one is linked to audioholics, one is linked to paradigm (supposed review from audioholics) - they are supposed to be one and the same review.

I took a look. Maybe I'm missing something, but isn't one a review of the Studio 40 and one a review of the Studio 60, therefore, reviews of two different speakers?

 

[ExtraCheese]

If you are looking for really sharp looking speakers, I'd really like to suggest KEFs. I went to listen to them with a friend recently and thought that they were great, especially for the price!
Of course the room I was listening in was pretty foreign, so it's hard to really say exactly what the "sound" of the speakers was... Either way... I'd seriously suggest only using reviews to figure out what the popular brands are, after that you just have to decide based on what speakers you have listened to first hand.

 

[Nick250]

I took a look. Maybe I'm missing something, but isn't one a review of the Studio 40 and one a review of the Studio 60, therefore, reviews of two different speakers?

A quick look showed that the reviews are the same but the words "studio 40" have been changed to "studio 60" at the Paradigm site.

 

[corysmith01]

Ah hah. Verrrrry sneaky.

 

[mike c]

the justice system in my head is now messing with my choices...
a part of me is saying, I should not reward such trickery ...
a part of me can't deny a crap load of people saying the studios are pretty good.

btw, how do you rank the monitors and b&w 600 series? is it:
800
studio
700
monitor
600
?

 

[TABCON]

Dang, didn't I post this question a few months ago...lol.

For my ears, and for home theatre use, the Paradigms definitely beat out the B&W's. Especially after you do the math on the pricing.

I ended up with Axiom's. I haven't fired them up yet, but I'm chomping at the bit. A review will follow.

Good luck!

Tabcon

 

[PENG]

the justice system in my head is now messing with my choices...
a part of me is saying, I should not reward such trickery ...
a part of me can't deny a crap load of people saying the studios are pretty good.

btw, how do you rank the monitors and b&w 600 series? is it:
800
studio
700
monitor
600
?

I would rank them as follow:

80XD (X=0,1,2,3)
80XS (X=0,1,2,3)
Signatures
804
703
Studio 100,60,40
805
Studio 20

Bottom line, this is largely subjective.

 

[mike c]

I have finally decided that due to the higher price of the studio series, I am not including it in my choices.

new choices:
B&W 602 - 500USD

KEF Q1 - 300USD

the KEF Q1 has been replaced by the iQ series, which is why it is being given to me at a lower price.
what do you guys think?