Paradigm Studio V1 20s and 100s for under $300

[Seth=L]

Is it too good to be true. I hope not, because the 20s are already in my living room, and the 100s aren't far away from being in there as well.

 

[soundhound]

where are you getting that deal? I'm looking for some 20 v.2s.

 

[Seth=L]

where are you getting that deal? I'm looking for some 20 v.2s.

Pawn shops dude, gotta frequent them to get the deals. I can't count the deals I've gotten in pawn shops.

 

[soundhound]

I see. that sounds like a good deal for those speakers!

 

[Seth=L]

Considering it would probably pay almost $300 just for a pair of used Studio/20s on eBay after shipping, and I am getting both pair for that price (well I just don't see how this is a bad thing at all.)

Pictures...ftw

 

[yettitheman]

I'll definitely have to come up there to see the 100's.

And get a cartridge for the Technics all-ready!

 

[jamie2112]

Damn Seth that is a sweet deal you got there .....Nice score...

 

[mudrummer99]

Where are you finding these pawnshops? All the ones in my area I feel like I'm going to be knifed just walking into them? Awesome snag, though.

Mike

 

[Davemcc]

Yeah, where are you finding these pawnshops? Every time I've gone to a pawn shop, there's nothing but junk, Realistic, Emerson, etc.

Or do you work at a pawn shop and keep all the good scores to yourself?

 

[adk highlander]

Nice pickup Seth! I look forward to seeing them setup and your impressions.

 

[Seth=L]

Nice pickup Seth! I look forward to seeing them setup and your impressions.

I am very impressed with these speakers. They are physically smaller (volume wise) than my Infinity IL10 and Polk RT7 bookshelf speaker systems, yet can be pushed to much higher levels of output without audible stress, and have lower frequency extension. I am nothing short of amazed at what they are capable of doing on their own. Paired with my subwoofer they are flat out amazing. They sound better, to me, than any other speaker I have ever owned.

I've wanted a pair of Studio/20v1s ever since they came out (back when I was a kid with no money). Not only do I now have a pair, but I got them dirt cheap.

I can't wait to hear what those 100v1s are going to sound like, although I am not too eager to be carrying 100+ pound a piece speakers up the stairs to my apartment.

Yeah, where are you finding these pawnshops? Every time I've gone to a pawn shop, there's nothing but junk, Realistic, Emerson, etc.

Or do you work at a pawn shop and keep all the good scores to yourself?

I work at a pawn shop, but I got the Paradigms from a competitor. I've gotten my fair share of deals from where I work as well as other pawn shops. I was getting deals at pawn shops long before I even considered working at one. It took me near 2 years to get a job at the one I work at now.

Where are you finding these pawnshops? All the ones in my area I feel like I'm going to be knifed just walking into them? Awesome snag, though.

Sorry, that was me. Anyone tries to come near my awesome deals and I'll fillet them.

Where is it that you live? No, that last question has no relation to my comments before.

 

[soundhound]

wow - those look brand new! that's a great score even *without* the 100s, but if the 100s are anywhere near that good shape, you got the deal of the year! congratulations.

 

[Seth=L]

wow - those look brand new! that's a great score even *without* the 100s, but if the 100s are anywhere near that good shape, you got the deal of the year! congratulations.

They do have some signs of age and use, both of the grills are less than perfect and there are some scratches. I took very flattering pictures of these speakers. The flash hides a surprising amount of the nicks. There are burs on the grills (which annoys the hell out of me.). Oh well, they sound great and look great in most lighting conditions. You would have to be up close to them to see all the little flaws.

I don't really feel that Indiana is an isolated place that has the only pawn shops with deals. I've found deals in Fort Wayne, Logansport, Kokomo, Indianapolis, and Lafayette pawn shops (all the places I've visited pawn shops basically). I feel if I branched out to more pawn shops I would find more deals. You can also take this approach in thought as well.... If they have great deals on home audio/video equipment then what about all the other stuff they have? Tools, guns, knives (found a few deals on knives myself), jewelry...it's endless man!

 

[soundhound]

Just curious, but what did you like so much about the v.1s compared to other versions? Have you heard any of the later models?

 

[Seth=L]

Just curious, but what did you like so much about the v.1s compared to other versions? Have you heard any of the later models?

Yes, I don't really know. It's possible that I liked them more because of the circumstances I listened to them (small room, and I was a kid). I listened to later models in a much larger room filled with many other speakers. There is no real way for me to be certain which sounds better to my ears unless I DBT them in my own listening environment.

 

[jamie2112]

You did take some great shots of them. They look spankin new to me. I am glad you got such a great deal on a great set of speakers....I can't wait to see the 100's.

 

[jostenmeat]

Great score, Seth, you must be happy as a clam.

 

[Seth=L]

Great score, Seth, you must be happy as a clam.

I've wondered what exactly why a clam is, by default, happy.

 

[abboudc]

Nice scoop Seth! They look great.

 

[jostenmeat]

I've wondered what exactly why a clam is, by default, happy.

Ok, you made me go look it up.


Etymology
Based on the full form of the phrase happy as a clam in mud at high tide (= a clam that cannot be dug up and eaten, which therefore could be considered happy)


Origin

As happy as a clam: Why would clams be happy? It has been suggested that open clams give the appearance of smiling. The derivation is more likely to come from the fuller version of the phrase, now rarely heard - 'as happy as a clam at high water'. Hide tide is when clams are free from the attentions of predators; surely the happiest of times in the bivalve mollusc world. The phrase originated in the north-eastern states of the USA in the early 19th century. The earliest citation that I can find is from a frontier memoir The Harpe's Head - A Legend of Kentucky, 1833:

"It never occurred to him to be discontented... He was as happy as a clam."

The first record that I can find of the 'high water' version is from the Pennsylvania newspaper The Adams Sentinel, August 1844:

"Crispin was soon hammering and whistling away as happy as a clam at high water."

The expression was well-enough known in the USA by the late 1840s for it to have been included in John Russell Bartlett's Dictionary Of Americanisms - A Glossary Words Aid Phrases Usually Regarded As Peculiar To The United States, 1848:

"As happy as a clam at high water," is a very common expression in those parts of the coast of New England where clams are found.

Also in 1848, the Southern Literary Messenger - Richmond, Virginia expressed the opinion that the phrase "is familiar to everyone".