Paradigm Owners Thread - Page 16

deafgoose..Sorry I just don't get that kind of logic What about enjoying what he can afford today? In his room? I bought my Signatures based on my room today, though it is also small, money wasn't an issue with me. Buying more expensive and larger speakerss makes no sense to me based on an idea that some day I'd be moving to a larger house and/or room. I bought what would sound great to me in my room today. And yes, I too will be moving someday, and when that day comes I'll make the adjustment just fine, sell what I have and buy according to what I need then. But at least tody I can enjoy what I have in what the constraints the room size and acoustics allows me.

rjsquirrel, nice choice of speakers Curious...did you give the ADP's a thought or were they unsuitable for your particular needs? I did not have the room in the rear for 2 more S2's so the ADP was they only viable option...and a great one at that for me in my particular setup and constraints.

I'm super pleased with the Signatures using the Arcam gear delivering to them. I get a very smooth mid range , maybe a little warm which is good for the sax/horns, the highs are super articulate an highly defining, bass is deep, tight and fast. I have them set almost perfectly with crossover and the EQ on the sub makes their interaction almost seamless with doing an accurate frequency sweep to set the EQ accurately...it really works folks I assume that you are/or will be useing a sub for the lo-freq's..Mines setupwell and what a difference it makes when the disc is spinning. The ADPS are accurate but I haven't exactly found their sweetspots, and what makes them tick. I set them up using the different audio discs and though they image accurately, you can't help but look at them and know they have way more potential to tap into...


The C3 is a great center for using with the Neo 6 music mode, great vocals and seems like a very seamless integration across the fronts especially music, HT is OK, just not as well recorded as music.

I'm very pleased with Arcam gear with the Signatures, I bi-amp the fronts and setup the rest with an accurate Extech SLM using the Stereophile 4 test CD's ...very useful, especially for a full frequency sweep for setting up the subwoofer EQ... I use their fmj DV29 for DVD-a, and their highly acclaimed fmj CD33 for spinning discs....An excellent match IMO, and brings out what I think to be the very best in the Signatures....these signatures anyway. WOW, I've found my "Happy-Zone" I hope that from a bit of tweaking you'll benefit from what these speakers are capable of producing

Good Luck with yours! Great choice, keep me posted

mikeyc, great choice of gear. I've read some good threads about the AVP700, though I think some minor hdmi switching glitches that need a tweak. Very site specific info over at the Arcam forum AVF. they just hash out Arcam issues and different applications and qualities and minor shortfalls of each piece of gear...good recommendations from em. And some are over her as well in these posts. Are you going with the J-29 stands with theS2s? If so load them up with good playground sand to solidify and change resonances associaated with different stands. The C3 is great when in sync whit the S2s, great using the Neo6 with your Arcam.

Do you plan on any rear speakers? Or just the S2,C3? and maybe a sub for future purchases? I do however bi-amp my fronts using the surround rear back channels and definitely can notice a difference from just being bi-wired previously...yea cables cost don't they, like a necesssary evil

Some of the guys over at the Arcam forum can answer questions based on their experience with the AVP700 and cabeling, check em out

mikeyc, I'll keep that in mind about the sand solidifying, though the particular playground sand was so fine and filled every crevice, and I tamped each quanity carefully, in different stages, little by little. I can't see any physical change taking place within the stands themselves unless they weren't packed and tamped to fill every crevice or some kind of moisture compromises the overall volume of sand, and they are just in my home with a constant temp...but certainly you have arroused some questioning. In any event I'm definitely going to cleck the solidification of the sand and if any changes have created some acoustic anomalies

Perfectly honest filling them with the correct sand was a pain in the but, no to mention time comsuming. I certainly chose that over the lead shot and "cat-liter"

So far my results are fairly predictable, a more solid fell to the bass levels, tight and accurate, the mid and high freq all seem to have a very solid snap and definition about them, no echo, or reverberations or short reflections. Just solid music created by notes operating with in a constraint defined by the limitations emposed on them by the man made restrictions of playground sand. I thought about the "kitty litter" and though I'm sure it's an interesting effect on the overall sound, it would seem to me to be jus a bit more warm, maybe lacking in definition and resonance....I'm so into clear heart pounding sound razor edge articulation, clear articulate highs and mid deep tight bass.

Man what I give to hear just the subtle difference with the different stands with different fill, sadly, it's not going to happen with me...what a pain in the ass just to get all that playground sand in thoese J-29

Anyway mikeyc, you choose well with the Arcam. The Sigs are a match made in heaven when set up correctly with Arcam. I wish that I could send you my CD33 and the DV29 to spin some discs with the SIgs and the AVP700. I'd personally love to have the AVP700/P1000 but it's just way overkill for me. The AVR300 was my introduction to the Arcam and with this particul gear I've acquired it's just "PERFECT" nothing else needed to achieve classic audiophile nirvana. Check into these Arcam separates, CD's and DVD"s , though they're a bit more expensive than some....boy are they worth it Read what Arcan users say about their equipment on the AVF

Please keeped me informed

Oh, and the C3 is oustounding, vocals and soundstage perfect, mostly I'm impressed with the bass responce, surprised actually...teriffic. You made some excellent choices now exploit them, push them to their limits..I think you'lll be pleasantly surprised..

I just have the time this morning for one quick answer...the sand was purchased at Home Depot, I think 20lbs playground sand bags each. Sand is pretty fine, dry and I think sterilized, if I remember...

RJ, I don't know the size of your room, mine is rather small 12X12 and with the AVR300 it's superb, couldn't see using the highly touted AV8 or even the AVP700, would be just overkill for me. I just run a 5.1 setup and bi-anp the fronts with the rear back surround channels. Excellent SQ. I mostly do 2ch and DVD-a, maybe 30% HT. I'm not used to using an all-in-one box solution, but after reading the great reviews and listening to my dealer it was worth a go, plus it's really not a bad price tag. It lives up to it's reviews, very pleased here. And again, for my size room, it more than reveals the characteristics of the S2's, C3, and the ADP's. If you have a much larger room you may be better served by the AVP700, almost the same electronics as the AVR with exception to the HDMI switching and I think balanced outs. I'm very pleased overall with Arcam gear, both my DV29 and CD33 are great additions with the Signatures. I mostly use the DV29 for DVD-a's. Not a glitch and when I was breaking in the speakers and the CD player, they sounded better each time I would spin a disc. For example every time I spin the Dire Straits Brothers in Arms, I'm floored, just have to listen to the whole disc, one of the disc's that really make these small signatures shine

mikeyc, I bought the Brothers in Arms dual disc, it does have the 5.1 surround on the one disc but the regular CD is a brilliant recording and my CD33 upsamples that. The SQ is just amazing on the disc...one of the best I've heard recently. I think that you're going to really enjoy the AVP700. I was of the same thought that I'd just buy the DV29 and use it for both dvd and cd. Though the cd playback is very good, very good especially for a dvd player and some are satisfied with using it as double duty. There's several discussions on the Arcam forum regarding this same subjects. I bought my DV29 first and played many discs and was very happy with it, and it should with the 3k pricetag. DVD-a's really shine with the 29. It drove me crazy with many posting that it's a significant difference spinning disc with the stand alone players. The flagship at that time a few months ago was the fmj CD33. I was wondering if it was worth it to justify the $2400 tag on that. Fortunately for me the CD36 was just making it's debut and the new models were tobe soon shipped the states, I called my dealer here in Miami and asked if they would offer any incentives on the outgoing CD33 to make room for the 36, They did and I picked it up for $1900/+tax and I jumped on it. The CD33 has some really great reviews on the net to include PlayBoys top picks in their Sept issue amoung other very good reviews. Clearly the CD33 player compared to the DV29 is a good jump, but it's a one trick pony and therefore can have Arcam focus totally on the one component...and they did, superior sonics. It takes a small breakin period but what a fine disc spinner it's turned out to be. The CD36 I've been told has a few new upgrades that give it a slight edge, but it ia at the same price the CD33 was before the discount to make way for the newer model...so it's back at $2400. I had the money so I wanted to complete the Arcam separates and keep the generic SQ in my room. Check em out, though a bit expensive they do have other models with better prices and with the solid Arcam quality and sound...check em out, go over to avf and read their feedback