Paradigm or Klipsch...any recommendations please help?

[Modepp]

Hello, I'm a 70/30 ht audio enthusiast.
Because of financial difficulties i had to sell my paradigm system (see below). things are better now and i'm thinking of re buying my old paradigm system or get the klipsch system (see below) i can get a killer deal on the klipsch, the paradigms would be more expensive. how does the klipsch system compare to the paradigms in terms of sounds for HT, and what about quality? I really need someone's expert opinion on this since i won't be able to hear the klipsch system before i buy it.

thanks for the help.

MD


paradigm monitor 7 v5 fronts
monitor cc290 center
monitor adp 390 surround
ps 1200 subwoofer

klipsch rf 82 tower
klipsch rc 52 center
klipsch rs 42 surround
klipsch rw10d subwoofer

i've tried to look up reviews for both of these systems but have not found anything really helpful.

thanks for the help.

MD

 

[mazersteven]

IMO the Klipsch Reference series would compete more against the Paradigm Studio series. So it's kind of a unfair comparison.

Both speakers sound 180* from one another. If your considering Klipsch I suggest you get your favorite CD, and DVD's and sit in front of them for a good amount of time. You'll know if that horn tweeter is right for you.

 

[tn001d]

I have listened to a lot of klipsh speakers. And i really dont like their sound.. due to there horn style tweeter. They have nice subs though.

 

[jamie2112]

I would get your Paradigms back. I don't like the horns on the Klipsh at all. I think the Paradigms are much warmer than the Klipsh as well....

 

[corey]

I don't think there's any such thing as an expert opinion on your question - just a bunch of personal opinions. My opinion is that the Klipsch reference series is great, & I'm very happy with my RB-61's & RC-52.

Some people like to say that Klipsch speakers are some how "fatiguing", because of their horns. Some music is supposed to be fatiguing. The last time I walked out of a Rolling Stones concert my ears were pretty fatigued, & the idea of good speakers is to re-create the live experience, not the elevator experience.

You need to listen for yourself. If you don't have a Klipsch dealer close enough to get to, try posting on the forum at klipsch.com, and see if there's a forum member near enough that you could visit.

 

[3db]

If you can, I'd see if its possible to do a side by side comparison of the two systems with music you know very well. If that can't be done, I'd take some serious notes writing down all the nuances that you like/dislike and dtermine from their what is a better fit to you.

 

[Guangui]

As you can see, lots of people here are not Klipsch fans, and I'm one of them. But, let's be honest...The Klipsch you want are better than the Paradigm Monitor, your use is 70% HT, and Klipsch make great HT speakers. They are easy to drive, have high sensitivity, very clear, dynamic, good full range, and have enough punch to bring movies to life. Also, due to their horn tweeter they are good speakers to play movies at night with low volume, when you don't want to bother others in your house. Dialogue is very clear.

Having said that, the horn tweeter is not everyone's favorite, it has it's fans, and I'm not one of them. When playing them at upper volume levels the highs can become tiresome, and if you like classical music and the likes they are not suited for that.

Take your favorite CD music, and a DVD with excerpts from action movies. Go to the dealer and play them, don't hear them 10-15 minutes, audition them for 30 minutes or more. If you like what you hear, go for them.

And in a completely unbiased comment, you can always compromise and go with PSB Image Series....

 

[Stormwulf]

Another vote for Paradigms, although I would at the very least suggest the Studio line. If you find a good dealer I'm sure you could find a good deal, better than full retail.

 

[STRONGBADF1]

Hello, I'm a 70/30 ht audio enthusiast.
Because of financial difficulties i had to sell my paradigm system (see below). things are better now and i'm thinking of re buying my old paradigm system or get the klipsch system (see below) i can get a killer deal on the klipsch, the paradigms would be more expensive. how does the klipsch system compare to the paradigms in terms of sounds for HT, and what about quality? I really need someone's expert opinion on this since i won't be able to hear the klipsch system before i buy it.

thanks for the help.

MD


paradigm monitor 7 v5 fronts
monitor cc290 center
monitor adp 390 surround
ps 1200 subwoofer

klipsch rf 82 tower
klipsch rc 52 center
klipsch rs 42 surround
klipsch rw10d subwoofer

i've tried to look up reviews for both of these systems but have not found anything really helpful.

thanks for the help.

MD

Hi Modepp,

Your own ears must guide you. Don't limit yourself to just these two. Go listen to all the locally available speakers in your price range.

If I was looking at those two companies I would get (5) Paradigm Studio 20's and go looking for a better sub. But that's me. Go satisfy your own needs and have a great time doing it! (I like the current Klipsch Reference series also.)

SBF1

 

[fredk]

As Cory wisely mentioned, what you will get here is a bunch of opinions. There is no one best choice.

If someone has done a direct comparison of the two speakers they can give you their informed opinion of which of the two they prefer, and there is a range of preferences.

I have listened to the Monitor 7 vs. studio 20 and 40 and my preference was for the studio line. To me they give more detail, and a better sound stage. After listening to the Studios, the Monitor 7 sounded muddy/muffled, particularly in the mid/upper bass.

Now, there are a number of other speakers out there that perform similarly to the studios that are priced closer to the Monitor 7. PSB (T45/55) as mentioned above is one. I have listened to the T55, but not in a good listening environment, so I can't give you an opinion on them.

There is also the option of Internet Direct companies like Axiom, Aiperon, AV123, Swan... if you are willing to do a 30 day in home audition. Some of these companies have auditioning programs where local people who own the speakers will let you listen to waterver they own. Its a good way to get a sense for the general sound characteristics of a particular line. My personal bias here is Axiom (I own the M80s) and I would suggest that the M60, which is similarly priced to the monitor 7 would be good to look at.

If you are going to limit your choice to the Monitor 7s and Klipsch make sure you can return them should you not like what you hear.

At the very least, give the studios a listen as that may open you up to some very good alternative choices.

Good luck in your search.

 

[TheFactor]

Paradigms For the win I personally didnt like the highs on the Klipsch probably do to the horn. I think there more suited for a huge room or theatre were you can prosper from there very dominating highs but thats just my personal preference .

 

[Guangui]

I think FredK put it best, and also managed to confuse you...Don't mean anything against FredK, it is just that there are so many options out there, just like he mentioned, that you can go nuts trying to find the best speaker for your taste and budget. This might be helpful (Buyer's guide floorstanding under 2K):

http://magazine.playbackmag.net/playback/200806/?folio=212

 

[fredk]

Hey, I aim to confuse!

 

[TheFactor]

Hey, I aim to confuse!

.................

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Well, I don't know about the RF-82, but here's the RF83:

http://www.hometheatermag.com/floorloudspeakers/1007klip/index2.html

Looks like it's @ -4dB around 1 kHz, -2dB around 10 kHz, and -1dB around 17 kHz. It' doesn't appear to be too "bright" from this graph. I've listened to the RF-82 at a local store. It sounded fine to me. But that's just another opinion as well.

 

[corey]

As you can see, lots of people here are not Klipsch fans, and I'm one of them. But, let's be honest...The Klipsch you want are better than the Paradigm Monitor, your use is 70% HT, and Klipsch make great HT speakers. They are easy to drive, have high sensitivity, very clear, dynamic, good full range, and have enough punch to bring movies to life. Also, due to their horn tweeter they are good speakers to play movies at night with low volume, when you don't want to bother others in your house. Dialogue is very clear.

Having said that, the horn tweeter is not everyone's favorite, it has it's fans, and I'm not one of them. When playing them at upper volume levels the highs can become tiresome, and if you like classical music and the likes they are not suited for that.

Guangui brings up a good point. People spend most of their time debating "horns" and "brightness"; but one of the things I like best about my Klipsch speakers is that while they'll crank way up, even with my modest receiver, I can listen to music & movies at lower volumes & it's still good. If you don't have a sound proof listening room, or have considerations about keeping the volume down at times for family and/or neighbors, lean towards the Klipsch.

BTW Guangui, I find Klipsch suited for both Bach & Burbeck, but I do think your post deserves to be a "sticky" in the great "Klipsch vs. everything else" debate on this forum, because it sums it up very well.

 

[TheFactor]

I think the Studios would be a closer comparison but the with a larger price differential I beleive

 

[sgtpepper9]

I have the klipsch rf-63s and I think they sound great. A good buddy of mine has the rf-5s (which are now the rf-82s) and I find mine to be much more lively and articulate. Specifically I find the mid-range on the 82s to sound a little muddy compared to my 63s. I never noticed it until I got mine though. The bass on the 63s is very tight and articulate, but can still provide enough oomph when watching movies.

I recently did a little DIY project and made some acoustic panels for my room. Before making the room treatments my speakers did sound quite bright compared to my buddy's, but after hanging the panels it really tamed the high end and now they sound nice and warm.

I can't compare the klipsch to the paradigm but I can tell you that I am very happy with my klipsch speakers. BUT, everyone seems to say the paradigms are a great speaker and I don't doubt them. They are a bit more expensive than the klipsch though. Either way, I think you would be happy with either brand. Good luck with this one....

 

[zhimbo]

Some people like to say that Klipsch speakers are some how "fatiguing", because of their horns. Some music is supposed to be fatiguing. The last time I walked out of a Rolling Stones concert my ears were pretty fatigued, & the idea of good speakers is to re-create the live experience, not the elevator experience..

I have no opinion at all regarding Klipsch, but I think you're talking about something else entirely. ANY speaker set at the "STUN" volume of a typical arena rock show will be "fatiguing" (And anyone who regularly listens at that volume doesn't really have any hearing left anyway, and might as well buy B*se.) While "fatiguing" isn't a precise acoustical term, I'm fairly certain people are talking about the sound at moderate-to-loud volume, not Mega Rock Arena-loud.

 

[corey]

You're right on two points, zhimbo. "Fatiguing" is neither well defined nor measurable, and my example spoke of loudness more than anything else.

What I was trying to get at, is that a recording of fingernails scraping a blackboard should sound bad, and not somehow be transformed in to a pleasant sound by our speakers. Or just that if there are some sharp edges in the source material, our speakers shouldn't dull them.