First Listen: Paradigm Special Edition 5.1-Channel Speaker System
It’s way too early in the game to comment on the Special Editions’ sonic character, but the net effect is that you really do enjoy sound that is more than a little reminiscent of that produced by Paradigm’s larger and more costly Reference Studio-series speakers. What’s downright weird, though, is to hear that sound pouring fourth from the SE’s compact, Monitor-sized enclosures. If first impressions are any indication, it appears that the “Studio-‘innards’-in-a-Monitor-box” approach really works.
One point worth noting is the fact that the speaker calibration system in our reference AVR (a Pioneer SC-27) immediately recognized the tiny SE 1 monitor speakers (which we are using as Left/Right surrounds) as “Large” speakers—status not all small bookshelf monitors could achieve.
Last night, after installing the Special Edition system in The Perfect Vision listening room and giving it an initial calibration, I put on the Blu-ray concert disk Return to Forever Returns—Live at Montreux 2008 so that the system could begin to break in. I then went to the back of the room to work on some other AVguide.com tasks and was listening to the system only casually when something about the sound of the surround speakers seized my attention. On Stanley Clarke’s bass solos (and on Chick Corea’s deeper left-hand keyboard runs) the tiny SE 1 monitors were putting out serious bass without any apparent distress (most surrounds get classified as “Small” speakers and so don’t have to do any serious bass work at all). I was wowed to hear (even on limited surround channel information) how full and rich the SE 1s seemed to be. It’s purely an intuition or instinct on my part, but I can’t help but feel that when surround speakers sound impressive right out of the box, the rest of the system may be likely to follow in the same path. We shall soon see, and it will be fun to see how the Special Edition system’s sound evolves with further break-in.
Stay tuned for a full review in The Perfect Vision.
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Comments
I want, I want......
Thank You for a real Review! It is about time people understand that today people have real world budgets! This is almost as good as a article all about building your room!
I miss the real deal that made audio so good for so many people. The Wow It sounds good! ; Wow Looks great! ; Wow It is affordable!
I think the best truth in this review is the admittance that there really is big variations that you can hear.
My personal test is the piano tweeter breakup test. I should right a book on that. To date, Almost all the speakers at most of the big box stores all suffer from this.
I can't wait to see this at best buy or Video only.
Cool iMickey503... what cut (or cuts) do you use for your "piano tweeter breakup test"?
Also, you won't find Paradigm at Best Buy or Video Only... just sayin'. Fred's Sound of Music has it in Portland
Very True! about the big box stores.
On what I use to test with it is pretty mundane stuff. I am not an Audiophile. I am a Music Lover. So I use Allot of female Vocals with Piano accompanied with the rest of the band.
If you ever want to Hear REAL breakup. Take a old recording that is all Wrong from the 40 or 50s. and then play it back. You hear a shrill from lesser stuff all the time.
However it;'s nice to know that even a Polk RM15 can be VERY musical. even with the tweeter issue.
When you step up to the real Speakers, it;s life night and day clarity. What bothers me is that the big box stores still sell speakers that can't even hold a candle to what even the LOW end of high end offers.
The mass market wants bass and loud. The tweeter is like a tack on unit in most of these. Balance drive domes are like a SIN to me. But you find them everywhere in the big box stores.
It just boggles my mind how it is. But I think people know why.
I dont like to say it but most of these people are walmart shoppers. with lifestyles to match. Having nice things is something a FEW of us understand. And that is just the way it is.
It is nice to be around people who know that life has it;s finner things to enjoy.. And that makes us who understand the value of these products are in a minority to begin with .
http://www.youtube.com/user/imickey503
I've worked with lots of Audio Visual systems in my trade and twinkled with a few home made speakers, but I have to say that this Paradigm set is a pretty impressive, and great value-for-money, all-in-ones. However, don't take my word for it - go out and take it on a test drive with Frank Zappa live or Quantum of Solace. I'm nostalgic by nature, and am still very happy with my Mirage. Should time, nature and (hopefully not!) my bank account balance decide that I move on, well, this will be in my short list.
Thanks, Chris, for your being right there on the spot for these and other interesting new audio/video items at AVguide.com. And reviewing cars, too... my,my --
busy guy! Something prospective Paradigm customers should know is they are, in my experience, absolutely
intransigent in refusing to give out any really useful
information that would allow you judge the suitability
of their models for use with the amplifier(s) you may
own. Want a bit more information about the the impedance curve for the Special Edition models(got a nice low-loop-feedback 35-watt tube amp, for example)? -- 'SORRY, THAT'S PROPRIETORY INFORMATION! Watts is watts, friend -- stop being so contrary with all this audiophile nonsense. Why not just buy a THX certifed AV receiver?' If you, however, think your amp's basic performance may be hard to duplicate at Best Buy, their postion is kind of like this --Q: "How's the engine and transmission on this truck rated for hauling my 23-foot sailboat?" A: "Well, it's
a very nice truck. Buy it, and if the transmission siezes on you at rush hour on I-95, you'll know you made the wrong choice."
What is the chance of a head to head comparison between these Paradigms and Monitor Audio RX, reviewed here few weeks ago?
What's in the small red package on top of the SE3 ?
That looks to be the PBK-1, the Perfect Bass Kit for the sub.
Anyone know when the full review will be released, so I can stop checking every day?
Just read your first impressions. I have just auditioned the center channel on my new SC25 as I am looking to add new speakers to go with the receiver. Awesome right out of the box (my center is the weak link for the new receiver so replacing it first). Dealer allowed me to take home for the weekend to listen in my home which is helping to make the choice easier.Set yourself up with a good full service dealer who will work with you and spend your money in his or her business, good for both of you after they know you are a loyal client (and no I am not a dealer or employee, just a loyal customer who appreciates the dealers time in situations like this). Sure makes buying a lot easier and easier to live with
Look, we all wish we could date supermodels/strippers, but inevitably, there's always something horrible about the scenarios. We're too fat/bald/old/poor to be seen with such a beauty, and she's only good for a few weeks anyhow. But when you find the great woman that's pretty damn good looking, and throws mayonnaise on both sides of the bun, you got a keeper! I feel that way about Paradigm. They cover most budgets and just put out damn good speakers, constantly. No filler, no fluff, they just make good damn speakers. Nice looking, great sounding, and you can take the wife out for drinks afterward. I was put off by these SE for a while, as I'm saving for the on-wall Studio Espirits, but had a chance to listen to them at my friend condo,and they were just incredible. He had the same towers as reviewed, freaking amazing speakers. He didn't have a subwoofer and when we get to drinking we like to turn it and piss off the downstairs and these things did just that. Great bass for floorstanders, of course they were only two weeks old and we had to keep cranked to OMG levels, you know, to set the glue a bit...Lol. These things performed. He wasn't going to buy surrounds (keep his older PSBs, which he says sound similar tonally, I'm not so sure.), but now he's gonna shell out the cash, a true converted believer!
What is the chance of a head to head comparison between these Paradigms and Monitor Audio RX, reviewed here few weeks ago?
What is the chance of a head to head comparison between these Paradigms and Monitor Audio RX, reviewed here few weeks ago?
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i thinking of buying a monitor silver rx8 ht system or a paradigm SE 3 ht system ... any opinions or suggestions please ... secondly what are the suggested cables, receivers or amps that would bring out the best in the speakers ...
i thinking of buying a monitor silver rx8 ht system or a paradigm SE 3 ht system ... any opinions or suggestions please ... secondly what are the suggested cables, receivers or amps that would bring out the best in the speakers ...
There's a difference of more than IK between the price of the Paradigme SE and the Monitor AudioA RX packages. Is the difference justified? and if budget is no object, what would you recommend? thanks