Paradigm Speakers are they worth the Price?

[Telon]

I Don't seem to have the time to Game on a PC anymore or at least MPORG's.
So I have been looking into home Theater cost and items.

I heard good things about SVS Speakers and the cost of them are a lot less than Paradigm Speakers.

I Read and can understand that the best place to invest your money in a Audio system is the Speakers, but just don't want to spend the money it would take to buy 2 floor standing Paradigm speakers if they don't sound a great deal better being that the cost of 2 of them would buy a whole 5.1 or 7.1 set up from SVS.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

What paradigms are you talking about? I guess the current SVS speakers would have been competing against the old "Performance series" from Paradigm.

What's your budget, what are you doing/playing with be doing with the system?

There are a ton of options out there besides SVS and Paradigm. Both offer good products, but it's hard to determine what might be the best choice for you.

I'm going to send you a PM with some info I've been working on but haven't finished yet that goes into auditioning and upgrade paths.

EDIT: Overall I would say that if your budget is in the ~$1200 range or so and you aren't planning on making additional purchases, I would look at something like an SVS 5.1 set or AV123 X-series set (maybe not the X-Sub though) and a ~$300-$400 receiver.

 

[CalvinHobbes]

My advice:

1) Determine your budget (very important)
2) Determine if you want 5.1 or 7.1
3) Figure out which speakers fit into your budget
4) Audition as much as you can, at a store
5) Create a list of your top 2 -3 choices and audition more critically, then audition at home.
6) Verify the speakers and receiver are a good match (power, Ohms, etc).
7) Purchase, connect and enjoy

 

[Grimal]

Sorry Was updating my profile to reflect my new email but it got corrupted.
So Back as Grimal now.
I curenlty have a 50" HD rear projection LCD that is 3 1/2 years old so its standar is 480p. puarchesed a Onkyo 5.1 Reciver witha set of Bose speakers that I realy dont like.
The room that it will be in is roughly 15 x 20
Budget for the Speakers and Amp will be like & 1500
TV will be a high end Plasma like the pioner or panasonic

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

What model Onkyo did you get?

You might be able to keep that.

What Bose speakers did you get? Those might be fine for surround / rear duty and you could concentrate your funds on the most important speakers in the system, the front three.

$1500 on a 3.1 setup would get you a very nice setup compared to $1500 spend on 5.1/7.1 + receiver.

 

[michaels]

I'm no expert but I really like mine. I have a CC370 center, Monitor 3's for fronts, ADP 370's for surrounds and a PW2200 for a sub. But I didn't buy all of them new. The sub was 200 from a pawn shop(still had tags on it), the ADP 370's where 250 at an audio shop.

 

[Grimal]

Bose Acoustimass 6 series III , the center channel seems to be the biggest problem with this system

 

[Rio Rebel]

Paradigms are very well respected speakers and generally considered a good value. This doesn't mean you should ignore the advice above and dismiss all other brands, but you can feel comfortable knowing that they are quality speakers.

If you're willing to buy used, you can get some great deals. I bought monitor 7's and the cc370 center new, then later added used mini monitors as surrounds. After hearing them, I regretted buying the new ones. You can save a lot of money that way.

 

[EvilYoda]

Paradigms are great products...awesome company through and through. They have been awarded a 3rd party award for biggest bang for the buck manufacturer for like the last 16 years (been a while since I've read up on them). Yoyo's a big AV123 fan and I'm a big Paradigm fan since I've owned Monitor 9s, Studio 40's and Studio 100's/CC/ADP's, so just do a little reading and go out and audition the Paradigms. Feel free to PM me with questions.

 

[Tiamat]

Paradigm makes some good stuff, but you have to audition them to make sure they are your flavor. I am a B&W fan, at least for now, mainly because to me, they sounded better than the paradigm. But, the next person could also say that they thought that Paradigm sounds better than the B&Ws for the same money so... it is really up to your ears to ultimately decide. Are paradigms worth the money? To many people they are! Just make sure if this is the way you go, this is what you feel as well!

 

[Grimal]

ok many thanks all for all the good replies

 

[Raincity]

Is it still a bargain to purchase them in Canada like it was a few years back.

 

[imported_Imp]

I have Paradigm mains, and love them. I'll probably upgrade in a year or two, and plan on sticking with them. There are a lot of great brands out there, try them out. Each speaker and brand has a "sound", and I seem to adore the ones by Paradigm and hate Athenas.

 

[EvilYoda]

Originally posted by: Tiamat
Paradigm makes some good stuff, but you have to audition them to make sure they are your flavor. I am a B&W fan, at least for now, mainly because to me, they sounded better than the paradigm. But, the next person could also say that they thought that Paradigm sounds better than the B&Ws for the same money so... it is really up to your ears to ultimately decide. Are paradigms worth the money? To many people they are! Just make sure if this is the way you go, this is what you feel as well!

Yep, try out as many as you can...I'm not a huge B&W fan, but I love Dynaudio. Hopefully you can compare similar lines from B&W, Paradigm and Dynaudio...get a sense of what "sound" you like...metal tweeters, fabric, paper, etc.

 

[Specop 007]

I really like the Paradigm's, but I want to give Ascend and Axiom a try at some point.

But my opinion is you cant go wrong with Paradigm.

 

[SKC]

I pieced together my system over a few years and it's definitely been worth it. Currently running Paradigm Studios as my front mains and the Studio CC as my center channel. I've been very happy with them. I don't know how much personal bias is involved but I prefer their sound over those of the Rockets (AV123) my friend has. They give off a slightly warmer, fuller sound.

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: Grimal
Bose Acoustimass 6 series III , the center channel seems to be the biggest problem with this system

I don't know why, but I am laughing so hard on this statement...

 

[keeftea]

Originally posted by: sdifox

Originally posted by: Grimal
Bose Acoustimass 6 series III , the center channel seems to be the biggest problem with this system

I don't know why, but I am laughing so hard on this statement...

you are not the only one!

 

[spidey07]

Paradigms are overpriced.

In their beginning they were like polk - produce good speakers at a good price. Since the mid 90s they have moved downhill. The reference series and their powered series were the gems. Otherwise one can do better for the price.

 

[Rio Rebel]

Originally posted by: spidey07
Paradigms are overpriced.

In their beginning they were like polk - produce good speakers at a good price. Since the mid 90s they have moved downhill. The reference series and their powered series were the gems. Otherwise one can do better for the price.

That is not a widely held opinion. I can't speak to the new combined performance/monitor series, but it is pretty widely held that Paradigms are an outstanding value.

All speakers have "moved downhill" in terms of value since the mid 90's. When you compare the price/performance of Paradigms to their competitors, I don't think you would say that their value has decreased, only that speakers are costing more.

 

[GarfieldtheCat]

I'll add my thumbs-up for AV123.

Their rocket line seem to be pretty well regarded, I ended getting their Strata Mini's (8" powered woofer!) last year when they had their moving sale.

Of course, there are plenty of other good brands as well.

 

[s44]

SVS is a great subwoofer company, but I wouldn't build a HTS around their regular speakers.

I would start with a 3.1 or 2.1 setup. Regular speaker brands (Paradigm, B&W, plus the billion smaller brands in your price range) make you deal with often-irritating stereo shop people, but allow you to actually listen before you buy.

Bose sucks, but does seem to have resale value, so sell them and put the proceeds into real speakers.

 

[Deudalus]

Originally posted by: Telon
I Don't seem to have the time to Game on a PC anymore or at least MPORG's.
So I have been looking into home Theater cost and items.

I heard good things about SVS Speakers and the cost of them are a lot less than Paradigm Speakers.

I Read and can understand that the best place to invest your money in a Audio system is the Speakers, but just don't want to spend the money it would take to buy 2 floor standing Paradigm speakers if they don't sound a great deal better being that the cost of 2 of them would buy a whole 5.1 or 7.1 set up from SVS.

It honestly depends on what kind of sound you like.

There are different levels of speakers but when you are comparing similar quality speakers then it really just depends on what you prefer.

I've heard Paradigm (all of lines of them and I own studio's currently), Monitor Audio, Von Schweikert, Gallo, Def Tech, Axiom, RBH, Magnepans, etc, etc. In the end you can take 10 different people listening to 10 different speakers and if they are all roughly the same quality you will get 10 different answers as to which is best.

If you are located in a metro area I would go audition as much stuff as possible. Just bear in mind the room you hear stuff in, the source components, whether a speaker is amped or not, and also what you are listening to (bring your own CD preferrably to audition) will effect what you think.


How big is your room and what kinda music are you into?

 

[Deudalus]

Originally posted by: Specop 007
I really like the Paradigm's, but I want to give Ascend and Axiom a try at some point.

But my opinion is you cant go wrong with Paradigm.

The new Ascend Sierra 1 bookshelves are very nice, the rest of their line is only so/so though in my opinion.

Axioms are also nice, great for movies but I wouldn't use them for critical music listening. Their are just too harsh in the upper end for me.

 

[heinz256]

What do you guys think about this so far for a system:

Harman Kardon avr 247 receiver
Paradigm monitor 7's as fronts
Paradigm cc-290 centre
rears and sub to be added in the future..