Dynaudio vs Paradigm

[Pat D]

I have made a decesion to purchase a new set of speakers. Having a bit of extra money is rare for me and having my wife giving me the thumbs up is a pretty nice thing. So this is my experience so far as I have not come to a final answer choosing between two great speakers but two quite differently priced speakers.
The Paradigm Studio 60's with the CC-690 center and the ADP-590 for surrounds and as a center rear speaker. Added to this sweet combination one possibly two Rel 305 subs.


Dynaudio awesome!!! Contour 3.4 main speakers, SCX center, and the Contour SR special couple with a Sunfire 1000 watt sub.

Well here is the final tally. For the Paradigm system as listed with the two subs $7800.00

Dynaudio $13,000

Big difference in price, some $5200.00. Now that is not to say that the Dynaudio's are not worth it. Let's face it the money is relative. If you have it there is no problem.
(I have been saving for something like this now for two years)
My concern is how much better are these speakers than the Paradigms'. I have not heard the Paradigms as of this post. Sometime latter this week I will be test driving them.

Any opinions from anyone having either of these speakers would be appreciated.

Well, Paradigm has an upper line, the Reference Signature speakers, which would be more appropriate to compare with the Dynaudio Contour line. The Paradigm Signature speakers are indeed very fine and are smoother than the Reference Studio line, though the Studios are very good and image very well. I have a pair of Paradigm Signature S2 speakers but your preference may be somewhat different.

I have heard the Contour 1.3 MkII, which are very good and the line certainly has a good reputation. You could hardly go wrong with them.

I have heard some of the PSB Platinum line, too, quite impressive, and there are a number of others you could look in to.

Unless you need a very small sub, I would suggest getting a larger one than the Sunfire, as within that price range or less there are many which will outperform the little cuby ones. Paradigm makes some very good subs, as do Hsu, SVS, PSB, Energy, Velodyne, and some others.

 

[jostenmeat]

Hi FrankF, my first post here at Audioholics although I signed up a while ago. Gee, what a tough predicament you're in...

The Dynaudio speakers are fantastic for music. For HT, which I find to be 100x easier, I could see them being deemed as overkill. +1 on SF Cremona's, but -1 on the PSB Platium. I believe better can be had for less here as far as Platinum; the value isn't as rich here as with their other lines such as the Images. In any case, I thought the T8's port overhang exhibiting common muddy bass was unforgivable, even in the context of the speaker doing very well in other arenas. Too many other good choices at that price point.

May I ask what kind of electronics you will have upstream? Something to consider is that if you succeed in spoiling yourself with Dynaudio's, they in turn will scream to be spoiled with nice sources, pre/pro, amp, etc ... don't blame them

Regarding the REL. Don't get them. Get the JL sub. I've heard the 305 at two stores, and the 505 at one, and I find them to be extremely musical and attractive. They blend very well, exhibited extremely even response during music auditions (of course much dependent on setup). However, they just don't cut it in the HT arena. At least that's how I felt about the 505 watching X-Men3. On top of that, the JL sub being much, much more adept with HT material, it is still also a decidedly better musical sub due to the extremely detailed transients it provides. I auditioned the JL with two sets of Dynaudio's, Contours and also with some huge Evidence towers (local JL dealer happens to exclusively sell Dynaudio speakers). Great match indeed. If interested, I can pm you with a good deal I found in TX (I live in CA. Local dealer wouldn't budge from msrp).

With that budget, you have so many options its scary. But perhaps you are relegated to the choices that your CI can provide, since I'm sure they should be giving you the best prices (or they better be !!!). If you are not constricted to your CI's choices, what else have you heard that you liked? Let's not put the cart before the horse, but you may want to consider room correction devices such as Audyssey and/or a SMS-1 bm unit with such a high-quality setup. More money perhaps...

I wish you the best of luck. I recently obtained my first high quality rig after an enormous amount of confusion and auditioning. Fun Fun Fun !

 

[frankf]

B&w

Sorry that I have not been able to find the time to get back to this forum.

This is one for the books. While I was looking at the Paradigm and Dynaudio speakers I was really in a dilemma about making a choice. I spent at least a dozon or more hours listening to both speakers with music and movies that I enjoy at home.
Both the Paradigm and the Dynaudios' were impressive sounding and good looking speakers not to mention the high cost of the Dynaudio speakers at a final price of $15,645 and I was still unsure if there was a better speaker out there than the Paradigm S6. Do not misunderstand what I am saying here. The S6 sounded excellent, It was my sixth sense that was pulling me away. The urge to continue the search.
I sure forum readers have had that feeling before they buy. Should I buy now or wait?

Well in comes the B&W series 800. Now B7w speakers I have not heard in more than three years. The reason was simple. I could not afford them and I was not in the market for speakers at the time.
I went to a store out of state but only a thirty minute drive from my home and stopped in a audio visual store...Overtures.
I new the saleman there from the days of roaming in and out of HT stores

 

[frankf]

B&w

Sorry that I have not been able to find the time to get back to this forum.

This is one for the books. While I was looking at the Paradigm and Dynaudio speakers I was really in a dilemma about making a choice. I spent at least a dozon or more hours listening to both speakers with music and movies that I enjoy at home.
Both the Paradigm and the Dynaudios' were impressive sounding and good looking speakers not to mention the high cost of the Dynaudio speakers at a final price of $15,645 and I was still unsure if there was a better speaker out there than the Paradigm S6. Do not misunderstand what I am saying here. The S6 sounded excellent, It was my sixth sense that was pulling me away. The urge to continue the search.
I am sure forum readers have had that feeling before they buy. Should I buy now or wait?

Well in comes the B&W series 800. Now B&W speakers I have not heard in more than three years. The reason was simple. I could not afford them and I was not in the market for speakers at the time.
I went to a store out of state but only a thirty minute drive from my home and stopped in a audio visual store...Overtures.
I new the saleman there from the days of roaming in and out of HT stores loking for the latest of....well anything. This is a great hobby for me.
The salesman introduced me to B&W.
I told him that he might think that I am crazy but I did not like B&W speakers and was not interested.
He suggested that I listen just for five mintutes to the B&W Series 800, 804S speakers.
Damn!!! I was impressed. The speakers sounded to me impressive enough that I stayed another hour listening to a cd I had bought and watching Toy Story 2.
Bo (salesman) had the 804s toe in ever so slightly. The imaging was awesome, the B&W PV1 sub was hard hitting and tight.
Yes B&W sub. I never, never thought that I would use a B&W sub.
A Martin Logan sub was demo'd also and it was my decesion to go with the B&W.
Cost was well below the $15,645 for the dynaudio system and the sound was a lot more accurate and revealing than the Paradigms.

Here is a list of what I purchased. I am picking these babies up this Saturday September 1st.
B&W 804s Pair Mains
B&W HTM 3s Center
B&W DS7S Surrounds (three)
B&W PV1 Subwoofer

Thanks for all your suggestions
Frank

 

[avliner]

Holy Cow Frank (just dubbing Don Sutherland on Space Cowboys..)!

Congrats on your purchase,

the missing link for you now is the "M", as for BMW (you might have one already, I don't know)... if not and the wife still gives you thumbs up, you could become both, BM & W

Enjoy your system

Regards, Chuck

 

[mazersteven]

Here is a list of what I purchased. I am picking these babies up this Saturday September 1st.
B&W 804s Pair Mains
B&W HTM 3s Center
B&W DS7S Surrounds (three)
B&W PV1 Subwoofer

Thanks for all your suggestions
Frank

B&W DS7S? or DS8S surrounds?

I haven't listened to the 804's, but loved the 803D's.

And I just don't know about the PV1. For $1500 bucks I just don't know.

Congratulations on the system.

 

[frankf]

B&w

The surrounds are the DS7S. The DS8S surrounds are 24 iinches in width and because of my room configuration as well as my room sconces on the walls I had to step down to the DS7S.
The room at the audio store was set up with the DS7S and they sounded great.

The PV1 was a decision made first because of sound quality. Tight not boomy bass, power...good clean unobstructed power, and last size...it equates to the size of two bowling balls.

I hope to be putting updated pictures of my Home Theater room within the next two weeks.

Thanks for looking

 

[frankf]

Ht

Mazer I just finished looking at your Home Theater. Really nice. Those speakcraft in walls must sound pretty nice also.

 

[mazersteven]

Mazer I just finished looking at your Home Theater. Really nice. Those speakcraft in walls must sound pretty nice also.

Thank You for the kind words.

I'm really happy with my system. The Speakercraft AIM8 Five's are excellent IMO.

 

[jostenmeat]

Congrats Frank. I gave those 804s a couple of serious auditions. I thought that they did many things very well, and a few things better than any other speaker at that price point that I've heard. I did have an issue or two with them, but I was still damn close to getting those at one point... cheers

 

[Duffinator]

Yep; if you are comparing the two you have to step up to the Sigs to make it fair.

As far as subs; dont buy the one you are looking at until you research more. SVS and HSU have great subs that are priced really low. I would opt out on the Paradigm seismic subs as they are not very impressive. The Servo-15 is a really nice sub so take a listen to it too.

Good point.

If you have a little extra money and you are using your system mainly as a HT I might be inclined to spend less on the speakers and more on the sub. The new JL Audio subs look very impressive for both music and movies and I would include them on my list to audition.

 

[frankf]

Subwoofer

I watch a lot of movies, But I also listen to alot of CD's and SACD's not to mention 5-6 channel music DVD's. So for me the idea of spending more for a subwoofer and less on the main speakers was not and option.
I am pretty critical when it comes to music. Another thing is that the center channel is also very impotant.
The PV1 is not a cheap investment by no means.
I could have spent another $2500-$3000 but made a decesion based on my hearing ability and the salesman professional opinion.

I was not bragging about the money. I had been saving and bribing the Mrs. for a year and a half.
Suprisingly I spent about $2800 less than I thought I would and... could. Now I intend to look out for a remote with a decent size color LCD screen. Somewhere in the $1000.00 to $1200.00 price range.

PS I have heard the SVC Cylinder sub. My friend has a 20-39PC Plus sub and it kicks ***.
The PV1 in comparison will do an adequate job given my dedicated room size. Believe me this subwoofer is a tight sounding tough little hombre.

 

[jostenmeat]

Another thing is that the center channel is also very impotant.

No kidding. Congrats on being able to get a Real center. No dinky, horizontally arrayed MTM dispersing vertically rather than horizontally, with a fraction of the volume of the "matching" towers. I wish I could have done as you did

 

[mazersteven]

The PV1 is not a cheap investment by no means.
I could have spent another $2500-$3000 but made a decesion based on my hearing ability and the salesman professional opinion.

Now I intend to look out for a remote with a decent size color LCD screen. Somewhere in the $1000.00 to $1200.00 price range.

PS I have heard the SVC Cylinder sub. My friend has a 20-39PC Plus sub and it kicks ***.
The PV1 in comparison will do an adequate job given my dedicated room size. Believe me this subwoofer is a tight sounding tough little hombre.

I am by no means passing any judgment on your system.

But you say your friends SVS "Kicks Arse". And that the PV1 is "Adequate". I'm a little lost. I'm just thinking you could have had the new PB13 Ultra, or PB12-Plus/2 for the same money as the PV1. I know the PV1 is smaller. But I still would have a hard time justifying it against the SVS's.

And $1000-$1200 on a remote?

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Your comment would hold more merit if you were not gay...hehehehehehehe

I would have said to go with the ultra too!

I am by no means passing any judgment on your system.

But you say your friends SVS "Kicks Arse". And that the PV1 is "Adequate". I'm a little lost. I'm just thinking you could have had the new PB13 Ultra, or PB12-Plus/2 for the same money as the PV1. I know the PV1 is smaller. But I still would have a hard time justifying it against the SVS's.

And $1000-$1200 on a remote?

 

[Duffinator]

I watch a lot of movies, But I also listen to alot of CD's and SACD's not to mention 5-6 channel music DVD's. So for me the idea of spending more for a subwoofer and less on the main speakers was not and option.
I am pretty critical when it comes to music. Another thing is that the center channel is also very impotant.

A sub can have just as much impact on music as movies. Just because you spend more on speakers doesn't necessarily mean they will sound better. A fancy remote isn't going to make music or movies sound any better.

 

[mazersteven]

Your comment would hold more merit if you were not gay...hehehehehehehe

And all this coming from a guy who's balls are in his wife's purse.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Hey; what do you want from me?

I spent 5k on stuff that may have been a step backwards this week

And all this coming from a guy who's balls are in his wife's purse.

 

[frankf]

SVS verus B&W PV1

Sorry that I was not exact in my description about the SVS and the PV1. Yes I did say adequate.
I also said given my room size. It is like getting the right size tire for your car. Even to much speaker could be overkill. The room that the B&W speakers were in was almost double the size of my dedciated theater room. Another thing is that if I am not happy with the PV1 sub in 30 days I can bring it back in exchange for another subwoofer.
One of the ideas' of having a dedicated HT room is to keep unwanted sound out and movie, music home audio sound in. Especially in a well ascousticlly designed room. That being said if your HT is located in an open area in your home one needs a more powerful sub to fill in the spaces...open doors, arch ways...etc.

Another thing, not spending more money on speakers does not mean music and movies will sound better?

Yea, Ok realistic speakers from radio shack should be your listening design.

Also whoever said that a $1000.00 or more remote is going to make a system sound better. I sure didn't.

Also I am not saying that a person has to spend a lot of money for a decent HT system. However there is nothing wrong with spending a lot of money when you have it to spend.
If I had the money to spend on Crestron remote I would do it. The money is all relative. You spend what you can afford.

If I made a mistake with the PV1 I will fine out this Saturday. This forum will be the first to know the results.
However I still stand strong in my opinion and decesion for buying the B&W's and the PV1.....and a $1200 remote if I choose.

 

[mazersteven]

and a $1200 remote if I choose.

http://www.universalremote.com/product_detail.php?model=34

http://www.remotecentral.com/index.html