New Speakers!

dkg999
dkg999 Posts: 5,647
edited July 2006 in 2 Channel Audio
After quite a bit of searching and listening, I settled on Paradigm Reference Studio 20 v.3's for my den/office speakers at the farm in Iowa. I really wanted Totem Rainmakers, however I don't have a lot of room to get the perfect placement, and I have been spoiled from the soundstage of my Maggies and I kept hearing the box when auditioning smaller monitors. So to my surprise, as I have not really been a Paradigm fan, when I listened to the Reference 20's I got a big wide open soundstage, not real picky on room placement, and tolerant of mid-fi gear. And a really good deal from my audio pimp back in Des Moines! I've had these breaking in using my NAD C720BEE receiver and C521BEE CDP and they sound fantastic. These are replacing my aging ESS AMT-1B speakers that have found a new home (would of sold them years ago if I would of realized how much they are now worth!).

I tried very hard to like the Polk LSi9 monitors, however they are just a little too analytical sounding for me, when it comes to music.
DKG999
HT System: LSi9, LSiCx2, LSiFX, LSi7, SVS 20-39 PC+, B&K 507.s2 AVR, B&K Ref 125.2, Tripplite LCR-2400, Cambridge 650BD, Signal Cable PC/SC, BJC IC, Samsung 55" LED

Music System: Magnepan 1.6QR, SVS SB12+, ARC pre, Parasound HCA1500 vertically bi-amped, Jolida CDP, Pro-Ject RM5.1SE TT, Pro-Ject TubeBox SE phono pre, SBT, PS Audio DLIII DAC
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Comments

  • audiobliss
    audiobliss Posts: 12,518
    edited June 2006
    Very nice looking speakers. Glad you're happy with your setup!
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  • schwarcw
    schwarcw Posts: 7,335
    edited June 2006
    Very nice! It looks like there are a lot of speakers in that room:confused:
    Carl

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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,165
    edited June 2006
    Nice snag Doug! Give us a full review when you've had some listening time.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • Demiurge
    Demiurge Posts: 10,874
    edited June 2006
    Those are some neat looking speakers. How do they sound?
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  • fireshoes
    fireshoes Posts: 3,167
    edited June 2006
    Congrats on the new speaks! We gotta do something about that tv stand though. ;)
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  • dkg999
    dkg999 Posts: 5,647
    edited June 2006
    fireshoes wrote:
    Congrats on the new speaks! We gotta do something about that tv stand though. ;)

    What, my $5 entertainment center from a garage sale isn't good enough :eek:

    It works for now! I need to get out of this apt and into a house or townhome out here in IL. Unfortunately the ex is more than a year over the time limit for buying the house from me, so the move to somewhere else has been a little delayed. I plan to leave the choice bedroom entertainment center for the next occupant of my apt :D
    DKG999
    HT System: LSi9, LSiCx2, LSiFX, LSi7, SVS 20-39 PC+, B&K 507.s2 AVR, B&K Ref 125.2, Tripplite LCR-2400, Cambridge 650BD, Signal Cable PC/SC, BJC IC, Samsung 55" LED

    Music System: Magnepan 1.6QR, SVS SB12+, ARC pre, Parasound HCA1500 vertically bi-amped, Jolida CDP, Pro-Ject RM5.1SE TT, Pro-Ject TubeBox SE phono pre, SBT, PS Audio DLIII DAC
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  • W WALDECKER
    W WALDECKER Posts: 900
    edited June 2006
    dkg999 wrote:
    After quite a bit of searching and listening, I settled on Paradigm Reference Studio 20 v.3's for my den/office speakers at the farm in Iowa. I really wanted Totem Rainmakers, however I don't have a lot of room to get the perfect placement, and I have been spoiled from the soundstage of my Maggies and I kept hearing the box when auditioning smaller monitors. So to my surprise, as I have not really been a Paradigm fan, when I listened to the Reference 20's I got a big wide open soundstage, not real picky on room placement, and tolerant of mid-fi gear. And a really good deal from my audio pimp back in Des Moines! I've had these breaking in using my NAD C720BEE receiver and C521BEE CDP and they sound fantastic. These are replacing my aging ESS AMT-1B speakers that have found a new home (would of sold them years ago if I would of realized how much they are now worth!).

    I tried very hard to like the Polk LSi9 monitors, however they are just a little too analytical sounding for me, when it comes to music.
    The reference studio series Paradigms are very good loudspeakers that sound phenominal when paired with the right electronics. i own the studio 100v3s in the rosenut finish. and even though i rarely take them for a spin in my two channel rig i cant seem to part with them.i love the purity of tone with a good two way loudspeaker and the studio 20 v3s have a very good reputation. congradulations....WCW III
    Rogue Audio stereo 100 tube amplifier - Lector Zoe preamplifier with 6H30 pi's
    .Audience AU24SE speaker and ic cables- Chord Qutest DAC - Black Cat Silverstar II 75ohm digital cable-Tyler Acoustics Linbrook Signature system with large bass cabinets to accommodate 10" Seas magnesium woofers.2xhmpsuownoj.jpg
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  • Andrew2112
    Andrew2112 Posts: 59
    edited July 2006
    Congrats on the speakers! Did I see that you have 2 center speakers???
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited July 2006
    Sweet.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • SCompRacer
    SCompRacer Posts: 8,497
    edited July 2006
    That speaker looks good nekkid too Doug! :D Njoy.
    Salk SoundScape 8's * Audio Research Reference 3 * Bottlehead Eros Phono * Park's Audio Budgie SUT * Krell KSA-250 * Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ * Signature Series Sonore Music Server w/Deux PS * Roon * Gustard R26 DAC / Singxer SU-6 DDC * Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive * AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm * AT33PTG/II & Denon 103R * Richard Gray 600S * NHT B-12d subs * GIK Acoustic Treatments * Sennheiser HD650 *
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  • ClemmonsHoo
    ClemmonsHoo Posts: 51
    edited July 2006
    Nice! I almost got the same Paradigms, but got the LSi9s instead. It was a coin toss for me as I was unable to hear either.

    What do you think of the receiver and CDP? I have the 720 also, but with the 542. I have noticed with the LSi9s that they do seem to thirst for more power than what I can give them. They 're in a small room though, so it hasn't been a real problem.
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  • dkg999
    dkg999 Posts: 5,647
    edited July 2006
    Andrew2112 - yep, I run dual center channels in both my HT systems. I run two CSi40's in my main system, and the CSi5/CSi3 combination in the bedroom system. I've found that at the low volume levels I typically use in an apt, that getting the center channel dialogue to fill the room has been an issue. Using dual center speakers seems to fix that issue.

    Clemonshoo - I believe that the LSi9's are a lot more power thirsty than the Paradigm Reference 20's. I had a borrowed set of LSi9's and I didn't think they sounded good at all using the NAD C720. I had to use a Parasound HCA-1000 power amp to get them to open up. The Paradigm 20's seem to work pretty well with the C720, they certainly could use more power, however they seem to work better than the LSi9's when using the 50 wpc that the NAD C720 puts out. Eventually they will be powered by something in the 100 to 200 wpc range. I compared the C521 and C542 CDP players and I couldn't hear much difference, and didn't think the 542 was worth the extra $ for a bedroom system. A store in Rockford IL was selling the C521's brand new for $229, so I called it good!

    I've had the Paradigms breaking in now for about 40 hours (receivers are good for that task!). They are really smoothing out, and the soundstage is really, really nice :) I changed to Signal Cable Ultra Double-Run bi-wire speaker cables, and the change in sound was very nice. Review to come later!
    DKG999
    HT System: LSi9, LSiCx2, LSiFX, LSi7, SVS 20-39 PC+, B&K 507.s2 AVR, B&K Ref 125.2, Tripplite LCR-2400, Cambridge 650BD, Signal Cable PC/SC, BJC IC, Samsung 55" LED

    Music System: Magnepan 1.6QR, SVS SB12+, ARC pre, Parasound HCA1500 vertically bi-amped, Jolida CDP, Pro-Ject RM5.1SE TT, Pro-Ject TubeBox SE phono pre, SBT, PS Audio DLIII DAC
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  • janmike
    janmike Posts: 6,146
    edited July 2006
    Congrats, nice looking speakers.
    Michael ;)
    In the beginning, all knowledge was new!
    NORTH of 60°
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  • starchaser
    starchaser Posts: 354
    edited July 2006
    Very nice and very clean Doug, enjoy!
    "There's a lot of places driving up and down I-95 that smell like ****" F1Nut
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  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,987
    edited July 2006
    Great speakers, solid back end gear. You're in for good sound, period.

    Cheers,
    Russ

    PS - those Heil AMT tweeters will bring near 4 Franklins for the pair on the bay - but be prepared to ship them overseas. As far as the rest of the speaker, landfill fodder.
    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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  • Shizelbs
    Shizelbs Posts: 7,433
    edited July 2006
    Cool. Unless there is a HT somewhere in that room, get rid of the TV.
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  • dkg999
    dkg999 Posts: 5,647
    edited July 2006
    Russ - I was offered $350 for the pair locally, and the person thought they were getting a great deal! The hell of it is, I'm enjoying the Paradigms so much that I decided to take my EPOS ELS-3 mini-monitors to the office at the farm and use them with my Marantz 2270B receiver. I picked up a cheap Marantz CDP from Audio Advisor and a slightly used Channel Island DAC, and with the little EPOS monitors it sounds really, really good!

    Shizelbs - there is an HT system hidden in there! The bedrooms a little crowded with electronics! I picked up a nice HT system when CC was dumping the RTi line of speakers, under the premise of using it in the kids play room in the new house. Due to some issues with the ex, the new place hasn't happened just yet, but it's moving along now :)
    DKG999
    HT System: LSi9, LSiCx2, LSiFX, LSi7, SVS 20-39 PC+, B&K 507.s2 AVR, B&K Ref 125.2, Tripplite LCR-2400, Cambridge 650BD, Signal Cable PC/SC, BJC IC, Samsung 55" LED

    Music System: Magnepan 1.6QR, SVS SB12+, ARC pre, Parasound HCA1500 vertically bi-amped, Jolida CDP, Pro-Ject RM5.1SE TT, Pro-Ject TubeBox SE phono pre, SBT, PS Audio DLIII DAC
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  • Joey_V
    Joey_V Posts: 8,552
    edited July 2006
    Cool...
    Magico M2, JL113v2x2, EMM, ARC Ref 10 Line, ARC Ref 10 Phono, VPIx2, Lyra Etna, Airtight Opus1, Boulder, AQ Wel&Wild, SRA Scuttle Rack, BlueSound+LPS, Thorens 124DD+124SPU, Sennheiser, Metaxas R2R
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited July 2006
    Good snag, If I ever went bookshelf, these would be on my short list.
    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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  • Andrew2112
    Andrew2112 Posts: 59
    edited July 2006
    Dual center channel....very clever!!!
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  • univera
    univera Posts: 848
    edited July 2006
    fireshoes wrote:
    Congrats on the new speaks! We gotta do something about that tv stand though. ;)

    Agreed! The stand must be a wife pleaser...Is it really mauve?
    UNIVERA
    Historic Charleston SC

    2 Channel:
    SDA-SRS's RDO tweets
    Biamped Anthem 2 SE's w/1970's NOS Siemens CCA's
    Anthem Pre 2L w/E.harmonix platinum matched 6H23's
    CDP- NAD C 542


    HT setup:
    AVR: NAD T 773
    Rears: Polk LC80i
    DVD: Toshiba 3109 dual tray
    Subs: Velodyne and M&K
    T.V.: Sony KDL-52XBR4 w/Vans Evers Clean Line Jr.
    Conditioner: Panamax M5100EX

    Master Bedroom Sony 40KDL-XBR3

    "I love it when a plan comes together." Hannibal Smith, The A-Team
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  • wingnut4772
    wingnut4772 Posts: 7,519
    edited July 2006
    Cool. Go naked and enjoy!:D
    Sharp Elite 70
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    Oppo BDP 95
    Von Schweikert VR4 Jr R/L Fronts
    Von Schweikert LCR 4 Center
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    Hsu ULS-15 Quad Drive Subwoofers
    Sony PS3
    Squeezebox Touch

    Polk Atrium 7s on the patio just to keep my foot in the door.
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  • dkg999
    dkg999 Posts: 5,647
    edited July 2006
    No WAF to worry about! However the GAF did find the stand at a garage sale, and her and my two youngest daughters did decide on the color based on paint she had at her house and painted it. I'm going to guess that my daughters are going to want it in their room eventually! I have a VTI stand in the storage unit I picked up that will go in the bedroom in the new place.

    FYI - the Paradigm speakers sound better with the grills on than naked! The manual says they should be run with the grills on, and they are correct.
    DKG999
    HT System: LSi9, LSiCx2, LSiFX, LSi7, SVS 20-39 PC+, B&K 507.s2 AVR, B&K Ref 125.2, Tripplite LCR-2400, Cambridge 650BD, Signal Cable PC/SC, BJC IC, Samsung 55" LED

    Music System: Magnepan 1.6QR, SVS SB12+, ARC pre, Parasound HCA1500 vertically bi-amped, Jolida CDP, Pro-Ject RM5.1SE TT, Pro-Ject TubeBox SE phono pre, SBT, PS Audio DLIII DAC
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