Totem Forest or Paradigm Studio 60 v5 ?

Hi Everyone,

I recently purchased an Arcam AVR 300 and now I need to make my first speaker purchase. I have pretty much limited my choices down to two speakers:

1) A used set of Totem Forest.
2) A new set of Paradigm Studio 60 v5

I would like to get your opinions on what would pair best with the Arcam. I mostly will use them for music (80% music 20% movies).

I know the best answer is to listen to both and decide on my own. However, I have a couple of problems with this. The Totems would be purchased used, so there is no easy way to audition them. The local Paradigm dealer does not allow customers to audition the speakers at home and I think it is pointless to listen to them in store (different receiver, different inputs and different room).

If you were in this situation what speakers would you choose? Or would you do something completely different.

FYI - I listen to a very broad range of music (e.g. Pearl Jam, Norah Jones, Jazz & Blues, Christmas, Nirvana, 10,000 maniacs, Marley, even R&B and various types of Latin music) so I need something that can really kick when I need it, but also be very clean/clear when playing something more quiet and laid back. Also, I will not have a subwoofer for at least a few months.

Thanks for your help.

anyone have thoughts on these speakers?

The local Paradigm dealer says that they do not allow at-home auditions or returns. I am sure I could at least get store credit, but they don't have much else but magnepan (sp?) so store credit would not do me any good. Anyone have advise on how to deal with a shop like this? I would prefer to not deal with them, but I also dont want to have to drive all over to get the paradigms.

I will look into revel and c series.

Thanks

anyone else have an opinion on these two?

I am located in southern california, just outside of L.A.

Yeah, I was set on the paradigms up to about a week ago and I know of only 3 dealers that are even drivable for me. I am about to head out to one right now that sells both totems and paradigms, so hopefully I will hear what want and get it figured out.

Thanks

So this sucks.

I went to three different paradigm dealers yesterday trying to listen to the 60v5, but hit nothing but trouble. All three places claim to have a "no return policy" as in all sales are final. That is absolutely ridiculous for speakers in this price range. On top of the lack of ability to know how it sounds in my house, I hit other issues.

The first place I went made it clear that they would not do [u]anything[u] after I make a purchase - worst customer service I have ever seen at AV store. I asked to listen to my CDs that I brought so I could at least hear how the speakers sound. The store manager would not let me touch the CD player, or the remote. He claimed that no stores allow this because I may damage their equipment. He also would not allow the music to be turned up to even a reasonable level, and that was with my first CD - Norah Jones (not like I would be blasting that). They were just terrible. Never been to a place that I cannot adjust volume to hear what I want and not be able to skip to songs I am interested in hearing. I left there VERY frustrated.

Next place was about the smallest place I have been in. They were very nice, but just had nothing to offer. The only speaker in the v5 series they had was the 20v5. I was able to listen to the 60v4 but was in a room no deeper than 8 feet and the speakers were tucked behind others (far from ideal listening environment). The 60v4 are so much different than the v5s that I dont think I would be able to make a fair assessment. Again - they have an "all sales are final" return policy which sucks, but at least they were friendly.

Final place I went to also had the 60's setup in very small room where I had to stand no further than 5 feet from the speakers. They are willing to move things around if I want to come back and listen to them in a normal size room, but again I am left with "all sales are final" and they would barely budge off the MSRP.

I am frustrated because my house is NOTHING like the showrooms. I have hardwood floors, three sets of windows around the room, split level with 18 foot ceilings and the room is positioned oddly. I know there is no way things will sound the same. Just bringing some old JBL bookshelf speakers out of my office that sound quite good in there, they sound like utter crap in my living room. I cannot see spending $2000 on a set of speakers and by stuck with them if I dont like them. I know I can resell them for a bit of a loss.

What do I do? I am in L.A. (Northridge) anyone know of a place that will allow me to audition paradigms? I am open to other brands at this point as well if I am able to bring them home and give them a go.

Thanks

BTW, the place that I though sold Totems turned out to not sell them. This was my mistake. I am hoping to stop by a place this week to give the Forests a listen.

I was originally set on Paradigms from reading review/comments online and they seem to match what I am looking for - A neutral sound and listening to 70-90 music. My plans were to buy a used pair of Paradigms so I did a lot of internet research and thought they would be a safe bet. Also, I did not realize at the time that it was normal practice to be able to audition the speakers.

The other reason for the Paradigms was cost and WAF. I am somewhat limited on what is "acceptable" to bring home (paradigm 60s are as big as I am "allowed" to get ). Also there was the price factor. New 60v5 are at the top of my price point. This is basically the same price as used Totems, which I was told will also be OK in my living room (BTW she hates the previous versions of the Paradigms with the plastic tops, so used is out of the question).

The link for local paradigm dealers was not much help. I have already been to Shelly's and the only other place is quite a drive (may try it though).

Thanks for the advise on local dealers for other brands though. I will try hitting them up as it is time to expand my options if I am not willing to gamble on the Paradigms.

Thanks again