Paradigm vs. Monitor Audio

[PatrickBateman]

Hi everyone,
I am looking to start a small 5.1 system. I will probably be around 60% music and 40% movies. I have listened to as many different speakers as I could find. My tastes and my budget have me down to
the Paradigm Studio 20's v3 for mains and the Monitor Audio Silver S2's. I will probably be getting a NAD t743 receiver.
I was hoping I could get some feedback on what you guys thought about the Paradigm and the Monitor lines I am looking at.
Thanks for any help-

 

[tedmjr2]

I've heard both pairs and for my ears, I'd take the Paradigms. The discontinued Monitor Audio S2s have a bit boomy upper bass and the mid highs & highs are too suppressed (too warm sounding) for my tastes when listening to music. I prefer a speaker that's just a tad laid back (warm) and the Studio series have that characteristic (being driven by a Yamaha RX-V2500).

Regardless of warm/bright tastes, the imaging and dispersion are where the Studio 20s will shine and differ most noticeably (great for HT). It's probably because the Studio 20's crossover is set down to 2.0 kHz. Not many speakers have a tweeter robust enough to handle frequencies that low (it's more common at 2.5 kHz and above).

I haven't yet listened to the newer Monitor Audio RS1s, but they probably won't sound as good as their Gold series counterpart G10s that would be a much more fair comparison to Paradigm's Studio 20s - but then, it would almost double your budget.

After all is read in numerous forums, it all ends up in how close you can achieve your personal tastes for your particular room given a set budget.

 

[Takeereasy]

I LOVE those two choices. Those are both fantastic sounding speakers, and would be on my short list if I were looking for bookshelfs right now. The question I'd have is what price are you looking at for both. Those MA S2s are officially discontinued and replaced with RS sereis speakers so you should see considerable savings on those. If it were me I'd buy based on which speaker is cheaper I like them that much. If both were identical in price, I'd toss and turn in my bed for a few days, and then I'd have to say I'd bring home the Monitor Audios. I would be proud to own either though.

 

[VS540]

I say Monitor Audio. I found Paradigm to be overly bright, thin and dry sounding midrange. Where as Monitor Audio is richer sounding and is a speaker that can be listened to for long periods of time without fatigue. Plus imo Monitor Audio look much better.

The final choice though is all you....

 

[j_garcia]

A buddy of mine had both of these. He decided to keep the 20s after comparing them. IMO, the Stuidos are a bit too bright for my taste as well. The Studios need plenty of power to bring out the best in them, as they are relatively demanding speakers. Not so much the 20s, but the 40s and up, but the 743 should be able to handle them, and the warmer nature of NAD should offset some of the brightness. My buddy was using a NAD 753 to drive his 20s and he said it was a great match, but swapped it out for a B&K recently.

See if these shops will let you bring them home and give them a listen. That's what I did with v3 40s. I had them for a week, and found that they weren't right for me.

 

[RMK!]

MA GR 10's

Hi everyone,
I am looking to start a small 5.1 system. I will probably be around 60% music and 40% movies. I have listened to as many different speakers as I could find. My tastes and my budget have me down to
the Paradigm Studio 20's v3 for mains and the Monitor Audio Silver S2's. I will probably be getting a NAD t743 receiver.
I was hoping I could get some feedback on what you guys thought about the Paradigm and the Monitor lines I am looking at.
Thanks for any help-

Patrick,

There is a pair (actually two) of Monitor Audio GR 10's on AudiogoN for a really good price. These are the best bookshelves I have heard but I am biased.

 

[PatrickBateman]

Patrick,

There is a pair (actually two) of Monitor Audio GR 10's on AudiogoN for a really good price. These are the best bookshelves I have heard but I am biased.

You know I saw them, and that makes this situation that much more difficult. I was keeping the budget at a certain level, but then deals like the Monitor Audio GR10 and the Onix Ref1 on audigon keep popping up.
A friend of mine has some Ascend 170's I believe, and they are really nice, not much to look at, but sound really good.

 

[RMK!]

Indecision

You know I saw them, and that makes this situation that much more difficult. I was keeping the budget at a certain level, but then deals like the Monitor Audio GR10 and the Onix Ref1 on audigon keep popping up.
A friend of mine has some Ascend 170's I believe, and they are really nice, not much to look at, but sound really good.

So many speakers, so little time

 

[PatrickBateman]

How would you also compare the Studio 20's and MA S2's to the Triangle Titus 202. Its the last version, and I have a chance to pick them up as well?