Paradigm Monitor series

[edwelly]

Hello all - just tossing around an idea. I currently have the Monitor 7s but I was thinking about upgrading to the Monitor 11s. Has anyone heard both - if so, what are your thoughts???
Thanks!

 

[Takeereasy]

Monitor 11's are fantastic speakers that are head and shoulders above the 7's IMO. Of course this is reflected in the price. If you like the sound of the monitor series you will love the 11's. All of these speakers need some real juice to get them sounding their best, but if you have the proper amplification then 11's are great speakers. My suggestion would be this: If you have the room for bigger speakers, the budget for better speakers, and the need for different speakers then the 11's are a heck of a way to go. Of course there is the studio series and the 100's are just fantastic IMO.

 

[j_garcia]

I'd say 11s also. The 7s are OK, the 9s are a bit boomy to my ears, and the 11s are easily better than both. When you get to the price of 11s though, you are also in the territory of Studio 60s...

 

[edwelly]

I currently have the Monitor 7s, cc-370, PS-1200 and Mini Monitors all being powered by a Sony DA4ES - Not sure if this receiver would give the 11s the juice they want. I have no need for new speakers, just a desire...

 

[Takeereasy]

Very nice setup edwelly. If you don't need em right now I'd save and get the 100's. Those speakers are where it's at. Also once you have the 100's your upgraditis should cease, at least regarding speakers, for a while.

 

[Duffinator]

Very nice setup edwelly. If you don't need em right now I'd save and get the 100's. Those speakers are where it's at. Also once you have the 100's your upgraditis should cease, at least regarding speakers, for a while.

I'll second that. If I had the room for them they would be at the top of my list. But edwelly you didn't mention WHY you want to upgrade? Are the 7's missing something? If you are mostly watching movies I would think the 7's would be fine. If you listen to a lot of music then that upgrade would make more sense. Unless you have the money burning a hole in your pocket.

 

[edwelly]

Thanks for the compliments... No real need, just thinking out loud. Honestly, I really enjoy my current set up and the setup just got a LOT better. I bought a Samsung 56" DLP that is going into the mix this weekend. I do agree that it is a sweet setup for home theater but it does lack something in music. However, I do not listen the enough music out there to really justify speading any more money. I wam hoping to improve on the music end with some serious tweaking this weekend. Keeping the fingers crossed...

 

[j_garcia]

I upgraded from the Monitor line becasue music was lacking, though I listen to more music generally. They're fine for movies, but they lack depth and detail in the midrange.

 

[Snarl]

I have 11's for mains and 7's for surrounds and they are both excellent Speakers. I find that the 11's are awesome when you crank them up with some power, not that the 7's are bad by any means just the the 11's can sound "thrilling" for lack of a better word. Also, and no offense to Mr Garcia, the Monitor series sound great for Music, lots of Bottom, Mid and Top end and excellent imageing. This of course is subjective and I make no claims as their superiority to speaker X or Y but they are, in my opinion, an excellent line of speaker.

 

[edwelly]

I agree on them being excellent, but I also wonder if I got the 11s would I be happier? Or maybe the DA4ES doesn't have the power they need --- arrrgghhhh questions questions qestions...

 

[j_garcia]

I thought they were good for music too and I was happy with them for years, until I heard better speakers. Those speakers all cost more than comparable Monitor series speakers though. Speakers are a very subjective thing, and make the biggest difference in how your system sounds overall. For me personally, I outgrew the Monitor line. I'm not knocking them, because they are great speakers, they just weren't meeting my personal tastes/needs any longer.

I stepped up to the Studios and didn't find what I was looking for either. Then I listened to the Signatures - wow, but price - out of my price range.

If you're happy with Paradigm, stick with them. If you're looking for something different, take some time and listen to some other speakers because there's a lot of good ones out there.

 

[edwelly]

I upgraded from the Monitor line becasue music was lacking, though I listen to more music generally. They're fine for movies, but they lack depth and detail in the midrange.

EDIT - never mind you answered my questions. thank you...

 

[Snarl]

I thought they were good for music too and I was happy with them for years, until I heard better speakers. Those speakers all cost more than comparable Monitor series speakers though. Speakers are a very subjective thing, and make the biggest difference in how your system sounds overall. For me personally, I outgrew the Monitor line. I'm not knocking them, because they are great speakers, they just weren't meeting my personal tastes/needs any longer.

I stepped up to the Studios and didn't find what I was looking for either. Then I listened to the Signatures - wow, but price - out of my price range.

If you're happy with Paradigm, stick with them. If you're looking for something different, take some time and listen to some other speakers because there's a lot of good ones out there.

Well to this end I agree with you, many times over the years I've had speakers I thought were awesome until I heard some higher end units that sounded better. I think to some degree or another that will always happen however that doesn't mean the "Monitors" aren't a great speaker, just that there are some that are greater.

 

[j_garcia]

Well to this end I agree with you, many times over the years I've had speakers I thought were awesome until I heard some higher end units that sounded better. I think to some degree or another that will always happen however that doesn't mean the "Monitors" aren't a great speaker, just that there are some that are greater.

Yep, that's what I was trying to say.

Caution: listening to speakers that are out of your price range can be hazzardous to your happiness and wallet becasue you won't be quite as happy with what you have

I've heard speakers that I like better than the ones I have now too, but they are WAY out of my price range....

 

[cam]

Thanks for the compliments... No real need, just thinking out loud. Honestly, I really enjoy my current set up and the setup just got a LOT better. I bought a Samsung 56" DLP that is going into the mix this weekend. I do agree that it is a sweet setup for home theater but it does lack something in music. However, I do not listen the enough music out there to really justify speading any more money. I wam hoping to improve on the music end with some serious tweaking this weekend. Keeping the fingers crossed...

You say it is a great setup for HT but lacks something in music. After looking at your setup it is very obvious to me why you have come to this conclusion, I personally have gone through exactly what you are going through now.

Drum roll please...........get rid of your ps1200. I don't know about other manufacturers bandpass designs but I can atleast say that the ps series is great for HT and not so great for music. I use to have a ps1000, While I was absolutely floored by its output for HT it was its quality of output for music that left me needing more and at the time I couldn't put a finger on it.

I still remember that day I demoed the ps1000 at the store.....WOW! I thought I will never need to upgrade again, this thing pounds. Well it sure pounds but after a while, especially when listening to music, you start to feel something is missing. But what, this thing pounds, after awhile it starts to sink in, is it my amp, is it my mains, oh $hit, its my sub. I finally realized that I not only need a sub that pounds but I need a sub that can articulate the bass line while pounding at the same time.

My setup is similar to yours, Monitor 7's, cc370, and adp 370's. While there are alot of great musical subs by alot of manufacturers out there, I chose to stay with Paradigm because my sales guy was going to take back my ps1000 for almost what I paid for it 17 months prior. I stepped up to the PW-2200 v2 and have never looked back. My whole system sounds way better for HT and music then it did before with the ps1000. You might be thinking that I had the ps1000 and you have the ps1200, it doesn't matter, they are designed the same and for the one sole purpose of big output, not quality output. I hope this helps.

PS, if anybody agrees with what I said I could sure use a little help with getting rid of this red chicklet. I think I'm the only one on these forums with one

 

[Tex-amp]

Your receiver shouldn't have a problem driving those.

If you get a chance listen to the Ascend Acoustics 340. I was a big Paradigm guy before switching over to Ascend. The 340s compare favorably with the Studio 100s from 50hz up.

 

[edwelly]

CAM - that is exactly what I was talking about. Can you tell me what the PW-2200 cost? I cannot find an online dealer for Paradigm... Thanks!

 

[lubmar]

What music You listen to ?
I do have the 7's V4 and when set to large they have all the bass I need !

 

[edwelly]

I like lots of different types of music. Anything other than country I usually like. I wonder if a 10" sub would be a better choice for me vs. the 12" n- any thoughts???

 

[j_garcia]

SVS PB-10. It won't hit as hard as the PW-2200, but it also won't cost you as much at just $429 + tax & shipping. Step up from that and there is the PB-12 or HSU STF-3.