Sound off Polk vs. Paradigm

zombiemusic

I am shopping for speakers, and I want you to sound off on what speakers you prefer between the two. I am still thinking about old SDA's but I am leaning towards new.

can anyone compare and contrast Polk Rti A9 and Paradigm Studio 100?

so far I have only heard a lower version of Paradigm monitor speakers and my own Monitor 50's.

Thanks as always, looking forward to getting some great imput.

mantis

Ok,
I know both Paradigm and Polk very well. I know polk better as I have owned many of there speakers and worked with them for years. I also work with Paradigm but only for the last 6 months.

The Rtia9's are a nice speaker. Not really in the same class as the Studio 100. I would probably compare the Monitor 11's to the Rtia9's . Both speakers have there place in the world. I can't tell you what you would like better but I will give you a short opinion. The Monitor 11's will rock your house. They will blow you out for theater use. They have excellent dynamic range and mad slam. Bass extention is very very good but I would say they are heavy in the bottom end. Great theater speakers. The Rtia9's are more refined and a better musical speaker. I really can sit and listen to them without getting tired. They are very even across the spectrum. For theater they also rock but not as hard as the monitor . So if music is your game, then the polks will probably be a better choice. If theater first then it's a toss up giving a slight edge to the Monitor 11's.

The Studio 100's are a higher end speaker. They are very musical but personally I don't care for them. I really like the Studio 20's. I find them to be much better and don't try to produce low end that they shouldn't. The 100's sound to me like they are forcing every last bit of sound out of them uncontrolled. I don't like them at all. I also don't like the Signature 8's. I do however like the Signature 2's. Another gem.

Dan

sucks2beme

I've had the Studio 60 v2 and still have the Polk RTi10.
The 60's were a very good speaker. Easy to drive, good
for music and HT. I would of kept the 60's and dumped the Rti10's
if the wife had let me. Black matched what was downstairs, and the
60's weren't black. The new Rti's are a better speaker than the old series.

steveinaz

I don't think the RtiA9 and Paradigm Studio 100 is a "level" comparison. Maybe the Lsi15 and Studio 100?

zombiemusic

So Steveinaz,

just to be clear. The Rti A9 speakers are no match for the Studio 100? So would you recomend me perhaps focusing on fining a place to listen to the Lsi15?

Menasor

zombiemusic wrote: »

So Steveinaz,

just to be clear. The Rti A9 speakers are no match for the Studio 100? So would you recomend me perhaps focusing on fining a place to listen to the Lsi15?

Yeah honestly the LSi 15/25 would be closer to the Studio 100

Rti A = Monitor
LSi = Studio
nothing = Signature

Rocco1

Menasor wrote: »

Yeah honestly the LSi 15/25 would be closer to the Studio 100

Rti A = Monitor
LSi = Studio
nothing = Signature

Hopefully

nothing = Signature

will equal something soon.;)

Freak When C

mantis wrote: »

I really like the Studio 20's. I find them to be much better and don't try to produce low end that they shouldn't. The 100's sound to me like they are forcing every last bit of sound out of them uncontrolled. I don't like them at all.
Dan

What version of the 20's did you listen to that you liked so much? I'm looking around shopping for used speakers like OP, and don't really have a clue as to which version I should consider when considering the Paradigm Studio line.

Hawkeye

The Sig 8 is about a 6K speaker. It would be interesting to see what Polk would come up with in that price range.

Gordon

reeltrouble1

yes it would be, but I fear Polk is not headed in that direction, of course they have not really been interested in building hi-end for a long time, its been about good sound for mass market.

RT1

Hawkeye

I just get the feeling there is something in a lab at Polk that would blow the tweeters or panels off any comparably priced speaker, maybe more. Unfortunately, where to sell a speaker of that calibur and how many units would be sold each year probably keeps them locked up in vault.

Gordon

reeltrouble1

they have the know how, no doubt about it, still, all the newly released products have been geared at HT, nice stuff though.

RT1

BigMac

Since you are considering the SDA line of Polk I would like to add my 2 cents. I currently have Polk monitor 10b. I love the sound they produce but have wondered if there was a speaker that was a little more up to date looking (WAF) and that had the strenghts of the M10 but not its weaknesses. I have listened to a ton of speakers and almost all of the ones that sound as good or better are expensive. I happened to stop in to a local audio store with cds I knew very well and started listening to different speakers. The prices ranged from $350.00 powered monitors up to $7,000.00 speakers.

One of the last pair of speakers I listened to was the Dali Concept 8. When I first started listening I thought I was listening to my M10. After some time passed I came to the conclusion that the speakers had all the strengths of the Polk M10 but none of the weaknesses. Alot of folks say the M10 has a "smear" in the midrange and the highs can be "kinda" harsh for some. Well, the Dali's did not have the smear or harsh highs. The music sounded just like it was intended it to. The speakers had nice tight,punchy bass,a solid smooth midrange,and detailed,clear, highs. The soundstage was wider than that of the M10 as well. Imo the Dali speakers are like a special edition M10 with minor flaws fixed; plus it has a more up to date look. Great speakers for almost any type of music you can throw at them. Led Zepplin sounded awesome. Diana Krall singing sounded as if she was right there singing to me. Hip hop music was very clear and detailed but still had a very nice low end (was kinda weird hearing hip hop that clearly...use to hearing just the BOOM-BOOM). Classical was very detailed and instruments had a very nice seperation which made the music sound that much better. I could keep going about how well rounded these speakers were. Here is how I break them down.

-Dali tweets gave the detail of the Polk LSi line
-Dali Midrange was very good and compares to the LSi line (imo the Dali's sounded better)
-Dali low end was very tight and punchy. I suppose you could say they sounded like the M10 but the bass was tighter and a little more punchy.

In conclusion, if there is a pair of Dali Concept 8 near you I would suggest a listen........if for nothing else but **** and giggles.:)

pvsat

Menasor wrote: »

Yeah honestly the LSi 15/25 would be closer to the Studio 100

Rti A = Monitor
LSi = Studio
nothing = Signature

I actually agree with all the comments posted on this post. I recently ended up purchasing Polk TSI500 towers and had a comparison with my friends Paradigm Reference Studio 100 towers. I put my findings in a review i did of the TSIs. If you have the money! to put into good amplification and the ear! to hear every little detail go ahead with the paradigms...you wont regret it...they are indeed incredible as people have portrayed them to be.

steveinaz

zombiemusic wrote: »

So Steveinaz,

just to be clear. The Rti A9 speakers are no match for the Studio 100? So would you recomend me perhaps focusing on fining a place to listen to the Lsi15?

"No match" might be a bit too harsh. The P-Studio 100 is a step up from the RtiA line. Better tonal linearity, better build quality, etc. Now if you like the RtiA "sound" then that is all that really matters. The Lsi15 is very close--but a bit more difficult to drive than the Studio 100. Treble is also very different between the 2.

danz1906

steveinaz wrote: »

"No match" might be a bit too harsh. The P-Studio 100 is a step up from the RtiA line. Better tonal linearity, better build quality, etc. Now if you like the RtiA "sound" then that is all that really matters. The Lsi15 is very close--but a bit more difficult to drive than the Studio 100. Treble is also very different between the 2.

Agreed, its like comparing apples to oranges.

Face

I can't stand Paradigm's voicing and am surprised that so many do. Kind of like B&W I guess.

sucks2beme

The RTI10 were demo room speakers at CC(had some cosmetic issues).
The Studio 60's were a trade in. The 60's were $50 more than the
Polks, and beat them is every way possible. The Paradigm 40' or 60's
are pretty good all around speakers at their price points. The new Polk's
do look better and seem to perform better. And new, the new Polk
RTI's are cheaper. Like anything else, go find some and listen.

markmarc

Flat out, the Paradigm Studio Series is the competitor to the LSi's. The RTiA series and the Paradigm Monitor series are comparable.

dkg999

I have to agree with Mantis on the Paradigm Studio Reference 20's. I have the 20v3's in a second 2 ch system, and after you give them about 300 hrs of break-in, they are wonderful! Seriously, the tweeters take that much break-in to settle down, prior to that they can sound a little shrill.

ViperZ

markmarc wrote: »

Flat out, the Paradigm Studio Series is the competitor to the LSi's. The RTiA series and the Paradigm Monitor series are comparable.

Well said. That's exactly what I was thinking. Studio = competition with LSi. Monitor = competition with RTiA. Signature... well, too high end.

mantis

I will go on record to say I prefer the Lsi series over Paradigm to a point. The Studio 20's the brand new model is a remarkable speaker. I think they will suprass the the Lsi7's and 9's. The Lsi9's to me try to squeeze out to much bass. If they where crossed over a bit higher, I think they would sound a lot better. Add a great sub and man you would have a great pair of speakers. I like the Lsi7's more. I know the Studio 20's will give the Lsi's all kinds of problems. It would be a hell of a shootout. Without having both speakers in the same room, same gear etc, Can't honestly say who would win. But from memory, I'm leaning Paradigm. Sad but might be true to me.

I now have to get my hands on a pair of Lsi7's and 9's, anyone Interested in bringing a pair or 2 to my store for a killer shoot out??? I'm game if you are. Anyone local would be welcome to come down for the shootout and take notes, have a blast and hear what's up.

Dan

markmarc

After owning both the Studio 40v2 and the LSi9 here are my thoughts:

Bass detail in favor of the LSi9's
Mids are a push, both speakers do very well
Highs go to the Studio 40's

IMHO, it's not that too much was put into the LSi9 cabinet, but rather that parts used in the crossover are of mediocre quality. The Vifa tweeter should sing, instead it's constrained and limited. No wonder that the crossover mod that has been done by a few in the forum makes such a significant improvement.

Face

I agree Mark, modded LSi9's sound fantastic. It's a shame the stock crossovers have mediocre parts.

dkg999

Mantis - I have the LSi7, LSi9, and Paradigm 20v3's all in the same house. For HT I would go with the LSi9's (and did in my HT system). I've always thought the LSi7 was a better speaker for music than the 9's. The Paradigm 20v3's in my opinion just edge out the LSi9's for music, and have a depth and width of soundstage that the LSi7's don't produce. Paradigm did a hell of a job on the tweeter and cross over on the 20's.

Menasor

dkg999 wrote: »

Mantis - I have the LSi7, LSi9, and Paradigm 20v3's all in the same house. For HT I would go with the LSi9's (and did in my HT system). I've always thought the LSi7 was a better speaker for music than the 9's. The Paradigm 20v3's in my opinion just edge out the LSi9's for music, and have a depth and width of soundstage that the LSi7's don't produce. Paradigm did a hell of a job on the tweeter and cross over on the 20's.

All this talk about the Studio 20's is giving me the itch. Stop it!

dkg999

Menasor wrote: »

All this talk about the Studio 20's is giving me the itch. Stop it!

One of the best in the entire Paradigm line, IMHO.