Paradigm monitor/reference budget/pricing

[Hammer]

Visited the local Paradigm reseller yesterday. As mentioned in previous posts, I currently have a Paradigm setup of 4 mini monitors (2 front & 2 rear), cc-350 center, and PDR-10 sub (and looking to upgrade). They had Monitor 7's hooked up for demo'ing movies in 1 room. Monitor 9's and Studio 20's in another room for audio demo's. Didn't get a real good apples-to-apples comparison as each was hooked up to different receivers. My current receiver is Sony that will be upgraded to Yamaha V2500 soon. Salesman mentioned that moving from mini monitors to Monitor 7's ($695/pr) would not be that much of difference from what I have and that I'd have to go to Monitor 9 ($833/pr)for the added base it offers for significant upgrade. Matching CC-370 center ($352) would be optional since I already have 350 center. Or move from Monitor series to Studio 20's ($740/pr) for a better/clearer sounding upgrade. Matching CC-470 ($600) can be purchased down the road if I let the Studio 20's provide a phantom center. Then add a PW-2100 sub ($695) for kickass bass. Started off w/ a $1200 budget (stretched) and this can quickly be overtaken and surpassed by another $k if I go full bore.
I know its all a matter of listener's tastes but must say that I'm thoroughly confused at which way to proceed. Upgrades are mostly for TV/Video watching. Any guidance from the experts, in particular Monitor 7/9 vs Studio 20's?

 

[Hammer]

Should have mentioned....upgrade is to increase volumes for a large den, high ceiling, tile floor area.

 

[jaxvon]

Well, I'm not an expert, but I don't think you'd get what you want with the Studio 20s. While they will sound better than your minimonitors, they still lack driver surface area. You have a big room, and thus you need to move a lot of air. I don't care how awesome of a bookshelf you have, if it's just one midbass and one tweeter, it simply isn't enough for big rooms.

Thus, I'd keep looking at the floorstanding models, being the Monitor 7, 9, or even 11. Comparing the specs of the 7 and 9, the 9 only goes 2Hz lower anechoically and has 1dB higher sensitivity. It also can handle a few more watts of power. However, the sound may be different in person and the 9 might be just what you're looking for, despite the seeminly minor differences on paper.

As for subs, you may also want to check into SVS and Hsu, as you've probably heard all the time on this forum. Of course, your dealer might be able to give you a killer deal on the Paradigm sub. Lotsa shopping to do!

 

[sts9fan]

If

If you have 1200 then I would go with the studio 40's but then again if you get the 40'd you should just get the 60's due to the stand costs. i hhave the studio 60 v3's and they are great imho.

 

[suburbanjoe]

I compared the 7's and 9's side by side with both music and movies, with the receiver I was purchasing (Denon AVR-3805) and found that the 9's had a slightly fuller sound. It was noticeable enough for me to know when the sales guy had switched between the two without me watching him, if that makes any sense. The price difference ($150 a pair) was worth it for the increase in sound.

-Brandon

 

[cam]

If you compared the 7's and 9's side by side, did you hear one set, then unhook them and rehook up the other set in the same place the first set was sitting, or did you switch seamless from one set to another. The reason I ask because whatever set was wider (outside) the other set may seem more 3 dimensional and fuller. Example, if the 7's are in front of you and the 9's are outside of those, the 9's may seem better, but if the 9's are in front of you with the 7's outside of those, then the 7's may seem fuller.

 

[jimmit]

Hammer - I have the Studio 20's in a large room (18' x 18' x 12' open to other rooms) and they fill the room for me. They are very robust speakers and with a sub should be more than adequate in all but the largest of rooms. That's my experience. To me, the 20's imaged better and that was more important to me than that fuller sound. That said, larger speakers (Studio 40's, Monitor 7's and 9's, etc.) will sound more full and will fill a large room easier. It's probable that, to most people, particularly those who prefer HT over music, a larger speaker would give a more satisfying fullness of sound.

By the way, when I was shopping for speakers, I narrowed it down to the Studio 20's and Studio 40's. I preferred the sound of the 20's so my dealer offered the following: purchase the 20's and if, after ten days, I wasn't satisfied, I could return them for full credit toward the 40's. If you decide to go with the Studio series, you might consider asking for such an arrangement. Also, just as a point of reference, at an authorized Paradigm dealer, I got 12.5% off the 20's, 23% off the CC-470 and 18% off the surrounds (SA-10R's). That works out to 17.5% off of the package. IMO your dealer may be able to do better on his prices.

 

[sts9fan]

???

What did you like about the 20s better then the 40s? The lack of a bass mid-driver?

 

[suburbanjoe]

Cam,

I see what you're saying. With the TV in the center, it went 7s, 9s, 11s radiating outward, so I guess the 9's were outside of the 7's. However, when they switched to the 11's for a comparison between the 9's and the 11's, there was no difference, at least not to my ears anyway. Thanks for the advice though. The next time I go speaker shopping, I'll ask for a true positional comparison.

-Brandon

 

[cownd]

I think the point here is you will be very satified with with the Moniter 7/9 or even the studio 20 due to the fact that your new reciever will provide the wattage neccessary to fill your room. Heck, you might even notice a big difference with just that new reciever keeping the mini's.

 

[jimmit]

What did you like about the 20s better then the 40s? The lack of a bass mid-driver?

Like I said in my post, I felt the imaging was better in the 20's. Also, I listen to music a fair amount and to me the 20's came across "clearer" than the 40's. To me, the fullness of the 40's came at the sacrifice of better imaging and clarity. Besides, I figured that as long as I had a sub to fill in the lower freqs in an HT setup, I wouldn't miss the other driver -- and I'd save $400.

 

[sts9fan]

gottcha

see I only use my system for music. Strictly two channel for my 60's.

 

[claudermilk]

Hammer - I have the Studio 20's in a large room (18' x 18' x 12' open to other rooms) and they fill the room for me. They are very robust speakers and with a sub should be more than adequate in all but the largest of rooms. That's my experience. To me, the 20's imaged better and that was more important to me than that fuller sound. That said, larger speakers (Studio 40's, Monitor 7's and 9's, etc.) will sound more full and will fill a large room easier. It's probable that, to most people, particularly those who prefer HT over music, a larger speaker would give a more satisfying fullness of sound.

By the way, when I was shopping for speakers, I narrowed it down to the Studio 20's and Studio 40's. I preferred the sound of the 20's so my dealer offered the following: purchase the 20's and if, after ten days, I wasn't satisfied, I could return them for full credit toward the 40's. If you decide to go with the Studio series, you might consider asking for such an arrangement. Also, just as a point of reference, at an authorized Paradigm dealer, I got 12.5% off the 20's, 23% off the CC-470 and 18% off the surrounds (SA-10R's). That works out to 17.5% off of the package. IMO your dealer may be able to do better on his prices.

The 20's are amazingly strong being the small bookselves of the line. They have more bass than I was really expecting (almost don't miss a sub in most cases). The imaging is truly amazing--the other day I had to cycle through the receiver's surround setting to verify to myself it was indeed in 2-channel mode; I could have sworn the dormant center channel speaker was on.