New addition - Paradigm 11se

RuSsMaN
RuSsMaN Posts: 17,986
edited June 2006 in Speakers
Struck a deal with a local forum member, and ended up with these sorta rare birds. Enter the Paradigm Model 11se. Sold from 1987-1989, with a retail of just under $900 for the pair, factory stands optional.

Oh Canada. I've been singing it for almost 2 weeks now. I can't believe they pulled off a modern AR3, or the early 90's remake 302. 3/4" dome tweeter, 3" dome midrange - coupled with a 10" woofer in a bass reflex enclosure (rear ported).

Not the Paradigm sound of today (sans metal dome), but still just a hair 'hot' on the top end. Not enough to be fatiguing, but just enough to make things lively. Vocals and mids are a real treat, and just slightly forward. Bass is quick and tight, but seems to lack a tad of extension on some recordings. I'm reserving final judgement on low end response, until I can try them in some different rooms, and play with placement. Right now, they are setup on the **** end of the HT room (16x25 with a lot windows), and I'm probably killing the quarter wave due to the fact placement from the side and rear walls is almost identical.

All that being said, I'm very pleased - overall, I feel these are great speakers, certainly worthy of at least getting your ears on. Where will they find a final resting spot? I'm not sure, but they aren't going anywhere, for a while. I like what I hear, and with proper tweaking, tube rolling, cable swaps, etc - they might just gel.

Associated gear:

Arcam CD73 CD Player
Melos SHA-1 Linestage (JAN 6922)
AMPS - Swapping between the two ->
Golden Tube Audio SE40 (Ruby 5881 / Sylvania 6SN7GTA)
Anthem AMP 1 (Jensen caps / JAN EL34 / Amperex BB 12AX7 / JAN 6189)
Audioquest CV4 Speaker Cable
Signal Cable Analog One Interconnects
Signal Cable Magic Power Cords
Signal Cable Magic Power Strip
Lovan Classic Rack
Cardas Myrtle Wood Blocks
Black Diamond Racing Isolation Cones

Cheers,
Russ
Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
Post edited by RuSsMaN on
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Comments

  • aaharvel
    aaharvel Posts: 4,489
    edited June 2006
    some nice looking speakers Nacho.
    H/K Signature 2.1+235
    Jungson MagicBoat II
    Revel Performa M-20
    Velodyne cht-10 sub
    Rega P1 Turntable

    "People working at Polk Audio must sit around the office and just laugh their balls off reading many of these comments." -Lush
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  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,986
    edited June 2006
    The forum isn't ready for 'the next level'. I'll keep it gruntball / common man for now as far as posting goes. ;)

    I figure I do more good here with attainable gear, than esoteric. This is REAL good sound, for just a little scratch.
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,753
    edited June 2006
    Where will they find a final resting spot?

    That's easy, the FM.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited June 2006
    Nice grab, nobody makes "big-mid sized" speakers anymore. There's something about 3/4" tweeter's that has always appealed to me. Few do it anymore...
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,986
    edited June 2006
    I hear you Steve, I wish there were more like it. Actually there are plenty, but only in the high end marketplace. (Spendor, Harbeth, etc)
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
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  • ND13
    ND13 Posts: 7,601
    edited June 2006
    White Stripes on vinyl. Must be an import, huh?
    "SOME PEOPLE CALL ME MAURICE,
    CAUSE I SPEAK OF THE POMPITIOUS OF LOVE"
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  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,986
    edited June 2006
    No, they release all their stuff on wax. That's an amazing album, 200 gram, double LP, one in red, one in white vinyl.

    Cheers,
    Russ
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
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  • DAGLJAM6
    DAGLJAM6 Posts: 635
    edited June 2006
    RuSsMaN wrote:
    No, they release all their stuff on wax. That's an amazing album, 200 gram, double LP, one in red, one in white vinyl.

    Cheers,
    Russ

    "Elephant" is great on vinyl as well as that copy of "Rubbersoul". Russ, looks like that vpi may stay a bit what cart/s have you been running with it?
    The setup looks great BTW.
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  • Normanality
    Normanality Posts: 297
    edited June 2006
    Hi Russ,

    I had that very model of Paradigms! Totally agree about the highs and the amazing midrange. I never could get the bass to work for me in my little room and finally gave up. This was long before there was an internet to research standing waves and bass treatments.

    Nice Find!
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  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,986
    edited June 2006
    Yeah, I'm going to try a couple different setups, rooms, tweaking to get them dialed in.

    Dave, the VPI is running a Sumiko Blue Point Special EVO III. I don't have any plans to change that. ;)
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
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  • TroyD
    TroyD Posts: 13,090
    edited June 2006
    Looking GOOD, broham.

    Lot to be said for that particular speaker design.....it does a LOT of things well.

    BDT
    I plan for the future. - F1Nut
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited June 2006
    I think there's alot to be said about "non-tapered" crossovers and an honest-to-god dedicated midrange driver that's built specifically for midrange. I bet these are beautiful with female vocals.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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