Paradigm 100 v.2 or 60 v.5?

[bradrick]

I am trying to decide if I should pick up a new set of Paradigm Reference Studio 60 v.5 or buy my friend's 100 v.2 speakers. The 100's will be at a great price, less than the new 60's. I am going to use them for 2-channel stereo only in a mid-sized room. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

 

[jamie2112]

I would buy the friends 100's myself..

 

[AVRat]

Ditto.........

 

[JerryLove]

I think one factor would be the size of the room. The other would be the price difference.

Some people find the 100s muddy in small rooms.

 

[jhayman]

Well my friend has the 100's v2's and my other friend just bought the 60's new
My 100 friend wants to sell his 100's because he can get the same sound as the 60's which makes my 60 friend grin from ear to ear...

 

[j_garcia]

For 2ch, I'd go with the 100s.

 

[PENG]

I would get the much newer 60 for the latest tweeter but only if I am allowed to have a sub to work with them. The 100 won't do it without a sub either unless the room is perfect for them. Better yet, I would get a pair of B&W and be done with it for a long time.

 

[Warpdrv]

What B&W's at that price range sound good to you... ?

Make sure you listen to both, for a good amount of time... the .v2 100's have been improved upon greatly. the .v5 60's are pretty good, but you can also shop on audiogon and find some really fantastic deals on better speakers IMO...

You could buy these http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrmoni&1262234966&/Paradigm-S2-version-2-piano-bl, add a sub down the line and blow both of those speakers away IMO...

Trust me they will be more then adequate in a medium size room...

 

[mannoiaj]

I would get the much newer 60 for the latest tweeter but only if I am allowed to have a sub to work with them. The 100 won't do it without a sub either unless the room is perfect for them. Better yet, I would get a pair of B&W and be done with it for a long time.

B&W what? How would they be better than the paradigm's? What B&w's in this price range wouldn't you need a sub with that you would need a sub with the 100's with? Do you think the B&W's are a better price per performance/ bang for your buck?

 

[Warpdrv]

I really enjoy getting speakers on audiogon - such a great way to get good speaks without unloading the wallet !!

 

[PENG]

B&W what? How would they be better than the paradigm's? What B&w's in this price range wouldn't you need a sub with that you would need a sub with the 100's with? Do you think the B&W's are a better price per performance/ bang for your buck?

I think the 804S would sound much better, but sorry, they are probably selling at double the price of the 60s. I am Canadian, biased, and love to support the Paradigms but the B&W sounds more like live music to me than the Paradigms. Far too often people focus too much on electronics when they should first focus on getting the best speakers they can ever afford.

 

[Warpdrv]

Can the OP give a budget.... To me that is the problem with B&W, its not until you get into the really high priced stuff until things start to sound good.

Personally I found the 804s to be very bloated on the low end and lacking in presence in the mids... high end was ok, but certainly could be better.

A good set of bookshelves with a sub for flexibility of placement can and will be a fantastic solution - the S2's .v2 are amazing in all aspects of sweet ribbon like highs that have great dispersion, soundstage and depth and blend extremely well with a good quality sub. More then adequate in a medium to large size room IMO.

I just bought a full line of Sigs to replace my studios... .v3 Sig s8's, .v2 C5 and S2's....

My dealer doesn't even carry the Sigs, studio's is his highest line, but he gave me a very nice price, and IMO they surpassed the 803D's in all the aspects listed above including a better looking cabinet, when we were doing auditions in his really nicely laid out room... He even commented on how much he loved them, though they were fantastic and he's a B&W fanboy as you can see.... His wife thought they were gorgeous

 

[bradrick]

My Budget

Well, my budget was about $1500 for speakers, amp, and CD player when I started on this mission. I auditioned the Paradigm Reference Studio 20's and liked them a lot; however, once I heard the 60's and did more research I began to reconsider my budget. Currently I have no stereo sound aside from a pair of $15 speakers connected to my computer. I have really been pleased with the NAD amps I have heard and their CD player as well. Consequently, $1000 for the Paradigm Reference Studio 100's v.2 seems good as that is less expensive than I can get a new pair of 20's for or the 60's which I really liked.

$1000 for speakers now seems reasonable and about another $800-$1200 for an amp and a couple more for a CD player. A bit more than my original $1500 for everything, but I think it would be an amazing system that would last me many, many years.

 

[KEW]

What B&W's at that price range sound good to you... ?

Make sure you listen to both, for a good amount of time... the .v2 100's have been improved upon greatly. the .v5 60's are pretty good, but you can also shop on audiogon and find some really fantastic deals on better speakers IMO...

You could buy these http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrmoni&1262234966&/Paradigm-S2-version-2-piano-bl, add a sub down the line and blow both of those speakers away IMO...

Trust me they will be more then adequate in a medium size room...

If you like the sound of the studios, I think this is a pretty safe bet, those are great speakers!
$1300 and pick up a used receiver from GoodWill for $50 if that is what it takes. If you are near Atlanta, PM me and I'll hook you up with CD and Receiver for $150!

 

[KEW]

I really enjoy getting speakers on audiogon - such a great way to get good speaks without unloading the wallet !!

Bookshelf speakers are pretty safe, but shippping damage on the bigger speakers can be a real problem. Definitely stay away if they do not have original packaging (which is shown on the Audiogon link).

 

[Alex2507]

If you like the sound of the studios, I think this is a pretty safe bet, those are great speakers!
$1300 and pick up a used receiver from GoodWill for $50 if that is what it takes. If you are near Atlanta, PM me and I'll hook you up with CD and Receiver for $150!

The studio 100's want external amplification that can go pretty close to 2 ohms IIRC. I'm not sure but I don't think there are any rec'rs that will drive them right. Check out their impedance graph.

That phase angle isn't helping them be easy to drive either from what I understand.

 

[KEW]

The studio 100's want external amplification that can go pretty close to 2 ohms IIRC. I'm not sure but I don't think there are any rec'rs that will drive them right. Check out their impedance graph.

That phase angle isn't helping them be easy to drive either from what I understand.

Yet another reason to buy the S2's!

 

[Warpdrv]

Bookshelf speakers are pretty safe, but shippping damage on the bigger speakers can be a real problem. Definitely stay away if they do not have original packaging (which is shown on the Audiogon link).

I agree, I got my .v2 C5 off audiogon, and it barely made it to me in one piece, or at least not all hacked up, you should have seen the box - it was sitting in water and half melted - seriously smushed on one end - a hole puncture by what looked like a forklift I don't trust UPS with valuable items period.

Of coarse - I opened the box right away, I have my deliveries sent to my work place. Speaker itself was in perfect shape, but ended up having 2 bad drivers, the small mid and one of the large mids were both bad, the seller turned out to be a dealer and is taking care of it for me, it was a demo model, but cosmetically very nice.

Got my .v2 S2's off Audiogon, but no way in hell was I going to buy Sig S8's in that manner... Got a good price from my dealer, and got a new set of .v3's... they are spectacular !!!

 

[JerryLove]

Got my .v2 S2's off Audiogon, but no way in hell was I going to buy Sig S8's in that manner... Got a good price from my dealer, and got a new set of .v3's... they are spectacular !!!

And what is to become of the v2s?

 

[PENG]

Can the OP give a budget.... To me that is the problem with B&W, its not until you get into the really high priced stuff until things start to sound good.

Personally I found the 804s to be very bloated on the low end and lacking in presence in the mids... high end was ok, but certainly could be better.

A good set of bookshelves with a sub for flexibility of placement can and will be a fantastic solution - the S2's .v2 are amazing in all aspects of sweet ribbon like highs that have great dispersion, soundstage and depth and blend extremely well with a good quality sub. More then adequate in a medium to large size room IMO.

I just bought a full line of Sigs to replace my studios... .v3 Sig s8's, .v2 C5 and S2's....

My dealer doesn't even carry the Sigs, studio's is his highest line, but he gave me a very nice price, and IMO they surpassed the 803D's in all the aspects listed above including a better looking cabinet, when we were doing auditions in his really nicely laid out room... He even commented on how much he loved them, though they were fantastic and he's a B&W fanboy as you can see.... His wife thought they were gorgeous

I agree the 804s may not be the best but to me they are far better than any Studio series except the V5 that I have not heard yet. The 803D, in fact even the 803S are better than the original S8 but again I have not heard the latest Sig versions. To me, Paradigm speakers are over rated. That being said, it is very nice to know our Canadian company enjoys such popularity and respects from audiophiles outside Canada.