Do I really have to match all speakers?

[corysmith01]

So I've taken the advice and I'm looking around a bit before I buy. I tried loacting a Monitor Audio dealer near me and nothing doing. One has closed and the other never answered the phone. Next on my list was Paradigm. I actually found a dealer and plan to go listen to them. I'm looking at the Monitor 3 or the monitor 5. Both are in the range of the B&W DM601's (with the monitor 5 being about $100 more). I've never heard them, but have heard good things about them. The specs on their website shows that they seem to get better frequency response in the low end as compared to the B&W's...but what about overall sound. I was really impressed with the B&W's midrange...anyone have any opinions or first hand experience with either of these 2 models from Paradigm?

Thanks again.

 

[jaretsky]

I'm looking to upgrade my current Polk setup, and I too am looking around. I'm looking at bookshelves and my reciever is a yamaha rxv 1300. (It does what I need it to do,.....FOR NOW) I've auditioned PSB Image b25, Paradigm mini monitor and Studio 20, some Monitor Audio,(Forgot the model), and B&W 600s3, 601s3, 602s3. I learned that I tend to like a little of a bright, open, forward (if you will) sound. The psb for @$450 was pretty impressive, b stock can be found for less$. The Paradigm and MA's were nice, But to me sounded a bit muddled. Impressed as I was with the PSB, crisp,clean mids adequate lows, the highs seem just a bit harsh. So I find myself leaning towards B&W. The 600, nice highs, lacking a bit of mid lows. The 601 lesser highs and boomy mid low. The 602 ahhh just right (as it should be with ascending order) Clear precise highs, ditto for mids, and a nice "little" punch in the lower reigons. I'm probably going with the 602's but I told another dealer I would listen to alon L'il rascals (anyone heard these?)

I need to add that my budget is around $500 - $700. I had higher hopes for the Paradigms and might have gone to $800, but I prefered the $600 B&W's. Not because of the price, but it doesn't hurt. We'll see about the rascals.

 

[Von Soundcard]

About your B&W speaker model

Regarding B&W's bookshelf 600 Series 3 I would seriously advise you to listen to (and buy) the DM 602 S3. They are a bit bigger, heavier and yes... more expensive, BUT they sound clearly better than the 601. Especially in the bass region which you will need for movies (even with a subwoofer). Also, the "bright" characteristic of B&W sound is less of a problem with 602 than 601. I belive that at their (common) price, the 602 S3's are the real bargain.

On the matching of speakers, I think B&W's have a very distinctive sound which you should take into consideration when choosing the other speakers, particularly the center one, and also the subwoofer. This will become more important if you also listen to music on more than 2 channels (the fronts).