Paradigm Owners Thread - Page 611

Originally Posted by kitchen_space

I upgraded my fronts with Studio 100s, center with a CC590 and now I am thinking about the surrounds. I am currently using Infinity Primus P140 bookshelf speakers. What do y'all think about swapping the Infinities out with four Studio 100s for the two rears and two rear surrounds?

I upgraded my fronts with Studio 100s, center with a CC590 and now I am thinking about the surrounds. I am currently using Infinity Primus P140 bookshelf speakers. What do y'all think about swapping the Infinities out with four Studio 100s for the two rears and two rear surrounds?

Originally Posted by kitchen_space

I upgraded my fronts with Studio 100s, center with a CC590 and now I am thinking about the surrounds. I am currently using Infinity Primus P140 bookshelf speakers. What do y'all think about swapping the Infinities out with four Studio 100s for the two rears and two rear surrounds?

Originally Posted by kitchen_space

I upgraded my fronts with Studio 100s, center with a CC590 and now I am thinking about the surrounds. I am currently using Infinity Primus P140 bookshelf speakers. What do y'all think about swapping the Infinities out with four Studio 100s for the two rears and two rear surrounds?

Originally Posted by plasmarulez

if you have the $$$, the space and the amp(s) to drive them, then go for it...but only if you post pictures of the final setup for all of us to drool over. :d

Originally Posted by rjoyer

I just want to thank you for mentioning Ebay, as I was able to purchase an Esprit Center channel from an authorized retailer in WI yesterday after my local A/V guy came back empty handed.

I also spoke with Paradigm directly, and they mentioned that the Esprits are in fact a discontinued product line, and that they have absolutely no inventory in stock. I was also told that Paradigm did release an Esprit v5, but I cannot for the life of me find any reviews, listings or references to anything post v4. The retailer I spoke with yesterday also said that, to the best of his knowledge, Paradigm never released a v5 of the Esprit LCR's.

Originally Posted by Maximum7

I have 60's in a room about the same size as you. I sit about 11 feet away. I am using the 690 for a center channel. I also had a 590 before it. I think the 690 might be a little over kill in my room, but I was thinking long-term which means moving into a bigger room. If you can afford it, I would at least get the 590. I haven't heard the 490, but I don't think you'd be disappointed going a little bigger. However, with either of them, I doubt you'll have any
"panning" issues.

I also have the ADP 590's and while I agree, they are alot of money, they are the best thing about my system.

PS. I'm a huge Pioneer fan, (down with denon), but to make those 60's really sing, think about an amp in the future.

Originally Posted by leadfoot24

Which amp would you recommend? I see Emotiva is a sponsor. Is the XPA-3 good? Should I consider just a 3-channel amp or a 5-channel amp?

Originally Posted by grasshoppers

Did you mean the Studio 10's? That make more sense to me.

Originally Posted by leadfoot24

Which amp would you recommend? I see Emotiva is a sponsor. Is the XPA-3 good? Should I consider just a 3-channel amp or a 5-channel amp?

Originally Posted by leadfoot24

I've gone and done it. Picked up a pair of Studio 60s, the CC-590, and decided to go the middle way with a pair of ADP-390s for surrounds. Had the system on most of the day with both music and movies. We're hearing sounds in the source material that we've never heard before (in a good way!). The sound stage is excellent. Imaging is excellent. Surround sound is very good and I think I might still need to tweak positions and/or channel levels. The CC-590 is definitely the right match. Vocals and dialogue are alive and articulate. On my Pioneer 1120K the sweet volume level seems to be between -22 db and -19 db. Definitely worth the money.

Which amp would you recommend? I see Emotiva is a sponsor. Is the XPA-3 good? Should I consider just a 3-channel amp or a 5-channel amp?

I see on the i/net that there is an older Paradigm product, the ADP-170 for sale. Would those make a good replacement for the surrounds/rears? Or, would four Studio 10s be the way to go?

I have been very happy with the combination, but the increased dynamics can be overwhelming at times (this is a PROBLEM) later at night when the kids are in bed. The difference in volume between dialog scenes and action scenes is substatial.

Originally Posted by Mkard

leadfoot24 Congrat's

Pictures? Position of 390's, etc. Running from Pio amps or?

.....envy......

Mike

Originally Posted by Maximum7

Leafoot,
Good job and good choices. I love the Pioneer with the 'Digms.

Originally Posted by leadfoot24

So do I. I've always loved the Pioneer sound. Have always owned Pioneer receivers. One thing that's exceptional with this combination is brass instruments really come alive. Allen Vizzutti, Summit Brass, Wynton Marsalis all sound fantastic and better than ever.

Originally Posted by cueCrew

I added a xpa-3 when moving to Studio Esprit LCR due to the lower sensitivity, higher amp range and "value perception" of emotiva brand. I guess you could say that if I replaced my receiver with a pre and added an amp that there is room, but that was more than I wanted to spend so just adding an xpa-3 was sustainable improvement at the time.

I have been very happy with the combination, but the increased dynamics can be overwhelming at times (this is a PROBLEM) later at night when the kids are in bed. The difference in volume between dialog scenes and action scenes is substatial. So, for now, we really crank it out when everyone's awake but that means watching "UP" again, intead of sneaking in that Star Trek that (unbelievably) is still in the wrapper. On the positive side, sounds that come out of know where add a lot of punch - the down side, is that they send you leaping from your seat... to grab the remote.

Originally Posted by TheFactor

You think it sounds good now just add some seperates . I added a 3 ch amp to my studio and Pio elite avr and it really came to life and I was totaly happy before but im beyond that now

Originally Posted by Maximum7

Have you calibrated your system? If you have, maybe try boosting the center just a touch. Does your receiver have a compression mode? Like "midnite" or whatever?

Originally Posted by leadfoot24

You are bad bad bad bad bad .... (for my bank account).

Hmm. We also do movies at night after the kids are in bed and that might be a problem. I have to think that's correctable somehow by adjusting the channel levels?

Originally Posted by Maximum7

It is. Are you just using the MCACC for calibration? If so, I would invest in an SPL meter.
If I run the Mcacc and go back with the SPL meter and do manual calibration of the speaker levels, the differences are pretty big. Then I will usually boost the center channel up a notch.

Originally Posted by CFX

I'm in the market for a pair of front speakers that will redefine my home theater system. I had bought a pair of Def Tech's 7002 from Best Buy at an incredible deal a couple months ago and ever since then I've been looking to upgrade to complete my system. They will be used almost exclusively for home theater, almost no music.

I've been trying to hunt down a pair of used/demo BP7000/1sc from Def Tech but have been unable to find any on audiogon or ebay. So I figured I'd look at what there is some stock of, Paradigm S8s.

From most of what I've read on the forums the common theme is to listen to both speakers yourself to compare. Well, I probably won't have the opportunity to listen to either of them so I will make my purchase blindly which is unadvised but necessary at the moment.

Knowing that I will listen mostly to home theater, would not the BP7000/1sc be a better choice? I only have the Def Tech 7002s and they create incredible presence in the room. The idea I have in my head is that the S8's are more of a musical speaker with very neutral sound reproduction. Looking at the actual drivers and cabinet, they seem to be of higher quality than that of Def Tech (I've never compared them however, only through pictures).

Which do you think is better for movies? A pair of S8s with one good sub like a Def Tech Trinity/Reference or a pair of BP7000sc? Again I know there is no right or wrong answer and I've read through the comparison thread already, I'd just like to gather your opinions. Thanks!

Originally Posted by leadfoot24

I've gone and done it. Picked up a pair of Studio 60s, the CC-590, and decided to go the middle way with a pair of ADP-390s for surrounds. Had the system on most of the day with both music and movies. We're hearing sounds in the source material that we've never heard before (in a good way!). The sound stage is excellent. Imaging is excellent. Surround sound is very good and I think I might still need to tweak positions and/or channel levels. The CC-590 is definitely the right match. Vocals and dialogue are alive and articulate. On my Pioneer 1120K the sweet volume level seems to be between -22 db and -19 db. Definitely worth the money.

Originally Posted by leadfoot24

Hmm. We also do movies at night after the kids are in bed and that might be a problem. I have to think that's correctable somehow by adjusting the channel levels?

Originally Posted by scoobygt68

I suppose I have a weirds combo as I have Paradigm S8s/C5 up front but a def tech Trinity Sub. Ill actually be selling my Trinity later this year and buying a Paradigm Sub 2 (assuming it gets good reviews from the consumer who are finally beignning to receiver this Sub 2s after months of waiting).

I have not heard the Def Tech 7000s, I Have however heard the Def Tech BP 3000s paired with a CLR 3000 center and BP2000 rears. My friend is a die hard Def Tech guy who actually got me started on Paradigm for some odd reason and Ive never really looked back. We argue alot about whos stuff is better... I think a lot of it is really simply subjective to the listener tastes. For Def Tech you can get a 5.1 or 7.1 set up of their top model speakers (bp7000,70001m clr3000, bpvx etc) for far cheaper than you can for a Paradigm system of top Paradigm models.

When your comparing the speakers for music, def tech really cant hang with the paradigms, atleast thats my opinon. The paradigms simply sounded smoother, cleaner and more defined. For home theater however its a bit different. If you were to compare 2 systems of only speakers and no subs, the def techs would probably come out ahead as they have the built in subs. However integrating a good sub into a Paradigm set up (especually signatures) will yield the awesome top end you were already getting but also a good low end ie bass.

In my opinion if you are on a budget go with def tech. They are just so much cheaper than the Paradigms that I think most people write off the def techs as being cheap and lousy because they cost so much less than their competetors.

If your not on to stringent a budget and want the best overal package Id suggest Paradigms with a nice sub. If your interested in a Trinirt sub let me know