Paradigm Monitor series dilemma

[MontyBurns2000]

Hello everyone

I’m planning to buy a Pionner VSX1015 receiver + a set of Paradigm Speakers (4 mini monitor + CC-370 + PS-1000). I really liked the sound of these speakers in 5.1 but I’m a little concerned about sound quality in stereo. I like to listen my CD in stereo, And I LOVE the bass, so I’m considering to buy 2 monitor 3 + 2 minis instead of 4 minis. The problem is that my seller don’t have the monitor 3 in store, so I didn’t listened them yet. I can still order them I want so.

My question is: Am I better to stick with de minis and use the PS-1000 or go for 2 monitor 3?

Sorry for the poor english, I’m french canadian…nobody’s perfect

 

[Takeereasy]

Being French Canadian you are halfway to perfect already, just keep working on the English to get all the way there, lol . I'd suggest the minimonitors and the sub. The Monitor 3s are better speakers and will produce more bass but it will be nowhere near the bass put out by that ps1000. I think that the minis and the sub will sound great for stereo. Have you had a chance to play with multi channel stereo and different sound modes yet. I used to be a stereo purist but now I find that I truly love listening to a lot of my cds in Dolby Prologic II movie mode. Really makes for an enveloping experience.

 

[jfabes]

Hello everyone

I’m planning to buy a Pionner VSX1015 receiver + a set of Paradigm Speakers (4 mini monitor + CC-370 + PS-1000). I really liked the sound of these speakers in 5.1 but I’m a little concerned about sound quality in stereo. I like to listen my CD in stereo, And I LOVE the bass, so I’m considering to buy 2 monitor 3 + 2 minis instead of 4 minis. The problem is that my seller don’t have the monitor 3 in store, so I didn’t listened them yet. I can still order them I want so.

My question is: Am I better to stick with de minis and use the PS-1000 or go for 2 monitor 3?

Sorry for the poor english, I’m french canadian…nobody’s perfect

I'm not sure you would really benefit - bass wise - to step up to the monitor 3's as the frequency response is about the same as the mini monitors. Stepping up to the Monitor 7's would make a difference as they play about 10Hz lower and are more efficient (93db as opposed to 90 for the mini monitors).
Plus, the Monitor 7 configuration is the exact same as the mini monitors (and cc370), just has an extra driver....so sound would be identical, just warmer with better lower end. If you listen to a lof of 2-channel stereo, towers are the way to go, IMHO.

 

[j_garcia]

I'd probably skip the Paradigm sub. Look into HSU Research, they have a Canadian distributor (assuming you are in Canada). Dollar for dollar, you'll get a lot more for your money.

I've owned quite a few 'digms and found the Monitor series to be fine for movies, but as you seem to be finding as well, I found them wanting a bit for music. The 3s aren't going to make anything better, they are boomy, IMO. The 5s are clearly the best of the bookshelf speakers in the Monitor line, but they are also quite a bit more. What you might want to do is give the Axiom line a look; they're also Canadian natives, as well as PSB. For the price, the Axioms are a bit more musical to my ears, and you should be able to get a pair of M22s for somewhere between Minis and 3s, and a pair of M3Tis for surrounds for less than Minis.

The Monitor 7 is a Monitor 5 in a big enclosure. The driver array is NOT the same as the CC370, which is a 2-way vs the 2.5-way of the 5s and 7s.

 

[Takeereasy]

J Garcia, I didn't know I'd find a chance to pimp PSB in this thread, thanks a bunch! If you are willing to examine the PSB brand, and if by some chance you are close to Ontario (I'm assuming either QC or NB due to the French) you may want to check out 2001 Audio Video. They bought out all the old Image series stock from PSB's distributer Lenbrook. I picked up my speakers at a real steal, and to be honest their main competition was the Paradigm Monitor series. I liked them better for musical performance and about the same for movies. Warning though you will not be able to ge a good demo at 2001, their setups suck as a rule, so you may want to hit an authorized retailer and find out for sure. PS I got my PSB 2B's for $300 and $321 CDN a pair including tax from 2001.

As for skipping the Paradigm sub for an HSU, it might not be a bad idea depending on the cost. An STF-3 is a better sub than the PS1000 in my opinion, but for $450 CDN or less the PS is a hell of a sub.

 

[jfabes]

I'd probably skip the Paradigm sub. Look into HSU Research, they have a Canadian distributor (assuming you are in Canada). Dollar for dollar, you'll get a lot more for your money.

I've owned quite a few 'digms and found the Monitor series to be fine for movies, but as you seem to be finding as well, I found them wanting a bit for music. The 3s aren't going to make anything better, they are boomy, IMO. The 5s are clearly the best of the bookshelf speakers in the Monitor line, but they are also quite a bit more. What you might want to do is give the Axiom line a look; they're also Canadian natives, as well as PSB. For the price, the Axioms are a bit more musical to my ears, and you should be able to get a pair of M22s for somewhere between Minis and 3s, and a pair of M3Tis for surrounds for less than Minis.

The Monitor 7 is a Monitor 5 in a big enclosure. The driver array is NOT the same as the CC370, which is a 2-way vs the 2.5-way of the 5s and 7s.

What I meant by "the same" is that it has the same 6.5" cone and 1" tweet......and not the 8" cone which gives a different sound. And, although the 7 is a bigger enclosure over the 5, that IS where the extra bass is coming from. It also avoids you having to buy stands

I have the 11's and think they are great for music and ht. This is my opinion, of course, since speaker sound is totally subjective.

 

[j_garcia]

Yeah, I was going to mention that too, that with stands the 5s are pretty close to the cost of 7s, but you can also find decent stands cheap. The cabinet is tuned lower with the 7s, but I found the 7s to be more picky about placement otherwise they sound boomy when played full range. The 11s are the best in the line (the 90p doesn't count )

 

[Snarl]

What I meant by "the same" is that it has the same 6.5" cone and 1" tweet......and not the 8" cone which gives a different sound. And, although the 7 is a bigger enclosure over the 5, that IS where the extra bass is coming from. It also avoids you having to buy stands

I have the 11's and think they are great for music and ht. This is my opinion, of course, since speaker sound is totally subjective.

The 7's are in my opinion an excellent choice, so are the 11's

 

[thinkingHT]

Do you listen to more music or watch more movies?

I think you will have to realise that the Monitor line is a a budget line of speakers and there are compromises. For the money they sound fine for both music and movies...how can one speaker sound better for movies and vice versa, accurate sound is accurate sound whether its movies or music it doesn't matter. If you plan to use bass management through your receiver, I recommend you try and save up for a better sub, something like a PW2100 or PW2200 to go along with the mini monitors or monitor 3s. Subs below this level are not worth it in my opinion (may not go as low as you would like and with too much THD), and being in Canada you should be able to get these at a very good price.

Hope this helps
THT

 

[j_garcia]

Speakers definitely can be good for movies and not so good for music, because music tends to be less visual (if visual at all normally) and often intended for more critical listening. While movies tend to either draw you to dialogue (which does require some finesse), the rest of the sound is usually ambient or big, explosive dynamic scenes that still do not require speakers/sound to be as critically scrutinized. Movies and music are generally mixed with different listening conditions in mind and are mixed in very different environments.

IMO, generally musical speakers will do OK for movies, but not all speakers that are good at movies are good at music, so it is a fair statement.

 

[MontyBurns2000]

Paradigm dilemma...and now Mordaunt Short

Thanks for your great advices! I continued my speakers shopping yesterday and my dealer made me listen to a Mordaunt Short 500 series system. I must say that I was blown away. Really really good for home cinema and pretty good for music (I will use my home theater 35-40% for music in stereo).

Compared to the the paradigms “4 minis + cc370 + ps-1000”, the price for the Mordaunt Short kit is up by 500$ (2500$ CND VS 2000$ CND) It seems a good deal for me.

What do you think about it (the Mordaunt Short 500 series and the price)

Thanx