I finally took the plunge

[jliedeka]

Ordered a set of Paradigm Studio speakers today. I'm getting 20s for the fronts, 10s for the rears and the smallest CC-490 center. I went with the cherry finish.

I had started on a speaker building project a couple of years ago but after getting sidetracked, it's become clear that I'm a long way from finishing. I've been pretty happy with my Jamos but have been using some old low end Klipsch speakers to round out the set.

I'll probably be able to pick them up early next week. I can't wait to hear what they are like in my living room.

Jim

 

[Alex2507]

I was pretty relieved to see that this thread was in the Loudspeaker Forum. I was worried that you got married. Congrat's on the new speakers. I remember hearing from an owner of the Studio 20's how much he liked them.

 

[Grador]

I would love to upgrade my bookshelf system with studio 20's and cherry to boot. Would really like to hear what you think about them when you've got them on your system.

 

[its phillip]

Congrats! Enjoy your new speakers

 

[zieglj01]

Hope you enjoy them, and have fun.

 

[enrique]

Let us know how they do with your sr8002.Should be fantastic.enjoy

 

[GO-NAD!]

I love my 20's. Hope you enjoy yours.

 

[psbfan9]

Congratulations! Let us know how you like them.

 

[jliedeka]

I'm really happy with them. I've been listening to various types of music and watching movies.

For two channel stuff, they throw a big soundstage and image well. I generally leave the sub on but for a lot of music they have enough extension to turn it off.

Surround is pretty seamless. The CC-490 matches the 20s well. The 10s sound pretty similar as well. I probably could have gone with 10s for the front L&R without any noticeable drop off but I really like the 20s.

I would consider these to be audiophile speakers. They do really well with well recorded/mastered material. With bright sounding mixes they could probably get fatiguing. I would characterize them as somewhat analytical. They can also handle a bit of power. I watched AC/DC Live at Donnington with the volume kind of highish. I was measuring peaks around 82-83 dB at my listening position. They sounded great with loud rock 'n' roll. They also did great with Sade, Diana Krall, Paul Simon's Graceland, Bela Fleck's Throw Down Your Heart, Dead Can Dance, Shaman's Harvest and various classical recordings.

Jim

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I went with the cherry finish.

You have chosen wisely.

I love cherry finish.

 

[GO-NAD!]

I'm really happy with them. I've been listening to various types of music and watching movies.

For two channel stuff, they throw a big soundstage and image well. I generally leave the sub on but for a lot of music they have enough extension to turn it off.

Surround is pretty seamless. The CC-490 matches the 20s well. The 10s sound pretty similar as well. I probably could have gone with 10s for the front L&R without any noticeable drop off but I really like the 20s.

I would consider these to be audiophile speakers. They do really well with well recorded/mastered material. With bright sounding mixes they could probably get fatiguing. I would characterize them as somewhat analytical. They can also handle a bit of power. I watched AC/DC Live at Donnington with the volume kind of highish. I was measuring peaks around 82-83 dB at my listening position. They sounded great with loud rock 'n' roll. They also did great with Sade, Diana Krall, Paul Simon's Graceland, Bela Fleck's Throw Down Your Heart, Dead Can Dance, Shaman's Harvest and various classical recordings.

Jim

I'm glad you're enjoying them. There's been some dissing of Paradigm (although not as bad as the dogpile on Axiom) around here lately and it's good to hear from someone who likes them.

 

[GO-NAD!]

I love cherry finish.

Freud would've had a field day with that statement.

 

[pg_rider]

I would consider these to be audiophile speakers. They do really well with well recorded/mastered material. With bright sounding mixes they could probably get fatiguing. I would characterize them as somewhat analytical. They can also handle a bit of power.

Funny, this exactly how I would characterize my Studio 10s as well. Enjoy your new speakers!

 

[jliedeka]

Funny, this exactly how I would characterize my Studio 10s as well. Enjoy your new speakers!

I see you also have good taste in subwoofers.

 

[jliedeka]

I'm glad you're enjoying them. There's been some dissing of Paradigm (although not as bad as the dogpile on Axiom) around here lately and it's good to hear from someone who likes them.

I felt these speakers were a good value proposition and about where I wanted to be from a quality standpoint. I had pretty much narrowed down my choices to PSB, Paradigm and Aperion (Verus Grand). I had to rule out PSB because you had to go to their Synchrony line to get a center that's not a straight line MTM. After hearing the Paradigms, I decided they were what I wanted.

I'm sure there are better speakers but the differences are probably lost on me. My main concern was whether or not I could live with the metal tweeter. It's actually fine except on a couple of things that are mastered a bit bright. That's fixable with the treble control. I'd rather start from pretty good accuracy and fiddle with it from there.

Jim

 

[PENG]

It's actually fine except on a couple of things that are mastered a bit bright.
Jim

I think the metal tweeter being bright thing is likely due to placebo effect. The way I see it, many musical intruments have high metallic contents to begin with, so if metal tweeters sound bright, that could simply mean high fidelity and that's fine for me. In fact I have never heard a bright sounding Paradigm Studio speakers, not even the older versions. I consider them quite neutral sounding in general. Like you said, if the source was "mastered a bit bright", your Studio will sound bright accordingly, they won't hide it for you.

 

[jliedeka]

Exactly, my previous speakers were a little laid back so I didn't notice. It's like having an equalizer you aren't in control of. I'd rather have a neutral speaker and mess with tone or EQ for the occasional disc that needs it.

You may be right about materials, too. While materials do have different properties they shouldn't be in your face in a well designed driver or loudspeaker. I'm not aware of any inherent problems in aluminum tweeters. Ribbons, in general, have a lot of distortion which audiophiles call air or sparkle. Most dome tweeters, even fairly inexpensive ones, don't have that problem.

Jim

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I love cherry finish.

Freud would've had a field day with that statement.

I don't get it.