paradigm monitor 9 or EMP E5Ti

mcghee33

mcghee33

Audioholic Intern
I currently have paradigm titans v.3 and want to move up to a floor standing speaker with more range. There is a huge price difference in these speakers but if I get the paradigms then I will be matched all the way around. Has anyone heard the Emp's? I have heard the monitor 9's and like them but I am not sure If I will be getting a better "bang for my buck" with the EMP's.
 
mcghee33

mcghee33

Audioholic Intern
another option I have been contemplating is getting the studio 20's since they are about the same price as the monitor 9's but again I am worried about the matching with the other speakers in my set up. Is it possibly worth getting a new center channel and switching over to the studio's?
 
GO-NAD!

GO-NAD!

Audioholic Warlord
another option I have been contemplating is getting the studio 20's since they are about the same price as the monitor 9's but again I am worried about the matching with the other speakers in my set up. Is it possibly worth getting a new center channel and switching over to the studio's?
I would go with the Studio 20's - especially if you have, or plan to get, a subwoofer. I just got the 20's for my 2-channel setup and already have Monitor 9's for my HT. But, the 20's are superior in my opinion. I'd personally be less concerned about the timbre matching than getting superior speakers.
 
G

griffinconst

Senior Audioholic
+1 on the 20's. I see them all the time used, in excellent condition for $500-$600. I like newer versions better than the v1 or v2 but that's me.
Do you already have a sub?
 
mcghee33

mcghee33

Audioholic Intern
I would go with the Studio 20's - especially if you have, or plan to get, a subwoofer. I just got the 20's for my 2-channel setup and already have Monitor 9's for my HT. But, the 20's are superior in my opinion. I'd personally be less concerned about the timbre matching than getting superior speakers.
I have been seriously considering the 20's but have just been really worried about timbre matching since the idea is to finish my theater with these speakers. Well atleast for the next 3 or so years. BTW I do have a sub and just failed to mention it, it is a B&W ASW 600. I guess my question is, is it really worth getting the 20's and not matching versus having 9's that will match?
 
GO-NAD!

GO-NAD!

Audioholic Warlord
I have been seriously considering the 20's but have just been really worried about timbre matching since the idea is to finish my theater with these speakers. Well atleast for the next 3 or so years. BTW I do have a sub and just failed to mention it, it is a B&W ASW 600. I guess my question is, is it really worth getting the 20's and not matching versus having 9's that will match?
That's a tough one. Would your dealer allow you to try a pair at home, so that you can listen for yourself? Then you can decide if there will be an issue with timbre matching. If you've decided that you will be purchasing one of these pairs of speakers, he may have no problem with it, since he knows he will be getting a sale out of it.

OTOH, you may want to look at it this way. Going to Monitor 9's from the Titans won't give you much, if any, improvement in sound quality. They're from the same line, using the same drivers and probably the same crossover components About all you will gain is deeper bass extension. And, if you already have a subwoofer and don't run your mains set to 'large' on the AVR, you get virtually nothing for your investment.

With the Studio 20's however, there is a definite improvement in sound and build quality. That would be a worthwhile investment, if you want to upgrade your system.

To sum up, I'd say try to get a loaner pair of 20's, try them at home and decide if timbre matching is going to be a problem. If it isn't a problem, you're all set! If they don't match well and you have no intention of upgrading your centre speaker, I would stick with the Titans and maybe think about an earth-shaking sub instead!:D

Good luck!
 
R

rayneman725

Enthusiast
I’m not sure about the studio 20's, built I just got the monitor 7's with the
cc290 center speaker and all I can say is these are AMAZING!! I listen to the monitor 9's and the studio series towers, they were both very nice, but for the money I could not see upgrading. The monitors are basically the same as the 7's just a little louder, but the Studios are supposed to be on a different level. I listen to them side by side in the same room and I could barely hear a difference! The only thing I could see as a major advantage is the cabinets are beautiful!!
Also in doing some research I found that for the money this company is the best quality for the money! And now that I own a set I believe it, stick with Paradigm you can not go wrong!!
 
mcghee33

mcghee33

Audioholic Intern
I am still terribly torn between the studio 20 and the monitor 9. I am actually waiting til my local ship gets both the 9s and 20s in so I can do a side by side comparison. It's so tough because cost is such a big factor. With that said I understand I can buy the 20s here for the same price I can get the 9s for but everyone I have talked toand everyhing on these forums said that I will then not match at all across te front. I am then left with having to buy a 800 dollar center channel. My issue is that I want to finish my system, not start over. All in all the 20s better blow me away for me to invest another 800 bucks that I really don't have. But we will see later this week or next week. Thanks againg for everyones help
 
I

Imitation

Audioholic Intern
If you have a dealer that carries both the monitor line and studio line, good chance you'll be able to audition a setup with the 20's for LR and a monitor center to see if the timber is off or not. They probly won't be excited to do that for you but I wouldn't see why it couldn't be done.
 
B

Boerd

Full Audioholic
another option I have been contemplating is getting the studio 20's since they are about the same price as the monitor 9's but again I am worried about the matching with the other speakers in my set up. Is it possibly worth getting a new center channel and switching over to the studio's?
Studio 20 gets my vote too - you'll have to add a sub.
 
mcghee33

mcghee33

Audioholic Intern
Thanks again for everyones input, today I went and finnally compared the monitor 9 and the studio 20 and agree with what everyone has been saying about the 20s. So now I will begin shopping audiogon for studio 20s and a cc490
 

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