Paradigm Monitor vs. Klipsch Reference

[blu_man_916]

So, I just got back from several stores today looking at speakers and I have narrowed it down to (I think / I hope) these two speaker brands. The problem that I'm having is that I haven't actually heard the Paradigm Monitor 9's because nobody in Northern California has them in stock, but they do order them. There is a store in Sacramento, called, Paradyme Sound + Vision, which carries Paradigm speakers, but only the Monitor 7 v6's. (I have read that there is a big difference between the 7's and 9's, which is why I didn't bother listening to them). I was able to hear the center, bookshelf and surrounds and they sounded fantastic.

The other option I have is the Klipsch Reference Series. I was able to hear the exact package listed below and was blown away by the sound and quality. (Although, I'm sure if I heard the complete Paradigm package I would be thinking the same thing).

Which set do you think I should get?

* The room size is 18' X 20' / mostly for movies

Here are my packages listed below. The cost of the two is very similar, so that's really not a factor.

Paradigm Monitor 9 - Floor standing speakers
Paradigm Monitor CC-290 - Center channel speaker
Paradigm Mini Monitor - Bookshelf speakers
Paradigm ADP-190 - Surround speakers

or

Klipsch Reference Series RF-82 - Floor standing speakers
Klipsch Reference Series RC-52 - Center channel speaker
Klipsch Reference Series RB-51 - Bookshelf speakers
Klipsch Reference Series RS-42 - Surround speakers

Any suggestions or help would be GREATLY apprecitated!

[CasualKiller]

Kind of hard to compare soft dome tweeters to horn tweeters. At a glance both seem to be some of the preferred speakers on this forum that many are happy with. I'd leave this to what you prefer sound wise and say that either way you go would be a good choice.

[bigred7078]

Originally Posted by blu_man_916

So, I just got back from several stores today looking at speakers and I have narrowed it down to (I think / I hope) these two speaker brands. The problem that I'm having is that I haven't actually heard the Paradigm Monitor 9's because nobody in Northern California has them in stock, but they do order them. There is a store in Sacramento, called, Paradyme Sound + Vision, which carries Paradigm speakers, but only the Monitor 7 v6's. (I have read that there is a big difference between the 7's and 9's, which is why I didn't bother listening to them). I was able to hear the center, bookshelf and surrounds and they sounded fantastic.

The other option I have is the Klipsch Reference Series. I was able to hear the exact package listed below and was blown away by the sound and quality. (Although, I'm sure if I heard the complete Paradigm package I would be thinking the same thing).

Which set do you think I should get?

* The room size is 18' X 20' / mostly for movies

Here are my packages listed below. The cost of the two is very similar, so that's really not a factor.

Paradigm Monitor 9 - Floor standing speakers
Paradigm Monitor CC-290 - Center channel speaker
Paradigm Mini Monitor - Bookshelf speakers
Paradigm ADP-190 - Surround speakers

or

Klipsch Reference Series RF-82 - Floor standing speakers
Klipsch Reference Series RC-52 - Center channel speaker
Klipsch Reference Series RB-51 - Bookshelf speakers
Klipsch Reference Series RS-42 - Surround speakers

Any suggestions or help would be GREATLY apprecitated!

tough call IMO. I think you would be happy with either set. The RF-82's will have a bit more impact than the Monitor 9's.

In either case i would recommend upgrading the center channel to the next size up. So for Klipsch instead of the RC-52 i would get the RC-62(just a bit more costly but definately much better than the RC-52) and for the Paradigms instead of the CC-290 get the CC-390 ( i know its huge but its an incredible center you would appreciate it more).

[bigred7078]

Originally Posted by CasualKiller

Kind of hard to compare soft dome tweeters to horn tweeters. At a glance both seem to be some of the preferred speakers on this forum that many are happy with. I'd leave this to what you prefer sound wise and say that either way you go would be a good choice.

the paradigms are not soft dome tweeters....they are Titanium Domes.


And of all the speakers out there i think the Paradigm Monitor line is the closest sounding to klipsch as a metallic tweeter can to a horn-loaded design. They are also both EXTREMELY efficient.

[CasualKiller]

Yeah I went and looked after I posted, must have been thinking Polk for some reason....

I'd go Klipsch hands down.

[Slec]

Originally Posted by bigred7078

tough call IMO. I think you would be happy with either set. The RF-82's will have a bit more impact than the Monitor 9's.

In either case i would recommend upgrading the center channel to the next size up. So for Klipsch instead of the RC-52 i would get the RC-62(just a bit more costly but definately much better than the RC-52) and for the Paradigms instead of the CC-290 get the CC-390 ( i know its huge but its an incredible center you would appreciate it more).

Just wanted to re-iterate this great post. You will be happy either way, but spring for the larger center channel.

out of curiosity, although this is primarily for movies, have you listened to both speakers (or the 7's) with your favorite CD. Take one that you know intimiately well. Whichever speaker reveals the music to you, should be the one you choose. I only say this because there are more nuances in music, if you listen to something you are familiar with, you'll pick things up immediately.

[got rice]

this is a tough call. It probably would be in your best interest to go and listen to both. You might as lucky to find a boutique/local dealer that stocks both lines and do a side by side comparison.
I was in your same exact situation, and was able to listen to both side by side. I had intentions with the Klipsch, but went with the Paradigms. As mentioned before in an earlier post, they are both efficient or bright. However I found the digms to be a little less harsh on the music side. So I gave the digms an edge overall. Both offer a good sound from an HT perspective, pretty much a wash there. There really is no right or wrong choice, it is just a matter of preference. Good luck with your search. Hope this helps.

[blu_man_916]

Thanks for the posts everyone!

I think both speaker brands are excellent picks and the sound quality is comparable, but one of the reasons why Klipsch is winning me over is availability. There are only a few stores in the area (150 miles +) where I can get Paradigm and I think the prices run a bit high, where Klipsch can be purchased at a lot more locations - including online, which in many cases you can great deals. With that said, if both speakers are the same in sound, then I think (If I'm patiet ) I would be able to get a better deal on Klipsch.

Don't you think?

A good example is if I went with the higher end center speakers. If you look at the at the Klipsch RC-62 and the Paradigm CC-390 - the price difference is a lot, in some cases $300.00 to $500.00

I'll do more reseach. Thanks again everyone!

[Steve]

I also think this is a tough choice and that you would be happy either way. I want to second what bigred7078 posted above about the center channel though. The center recommended for the RF-82s is the RC-62. You can see the recommended package here. It's fine to go with a bigger speaker than what's recommended, but usually not a good idea to go smaller. You can see the system Paradigm recommends to go with the Monitor 9s here, and again, the bigger CC-390 is the recommended center.

[Twitch9]

Both good speakers but i find klipsch hard to listen to for an extended amount of time, the horn tweeters become very harsh to the ears. I own Paradigm and have for over 15 years and find them to be the best speaker for the money both in build quality and sound. As for the the 7's and 9's there really is not that much difference in sound, the 9's have a bit more bottom end but where talking about 2hz difference, i have auditioned both versions in the store side by side when getting my newer 7's and found it almost impossible to tell what speaker i was listening to. I would go with Paradigm you would be hard pressed to find anyone saying bad things about them on the other hand you will find a lot of bad reviews on the Klipsch speakers mainly because of the horn tweeters you either love them or hate them, it's just that type of sound.

I read in this post that Paradigm sound close to Klipsch, i don't know anyone that would compare the sound of Paradigm to Klipsch, 2 very different sounding speakers and don't resemble sound in anyway, that's why your 2 choices puzzle me, go out and listen to the Paradigm Monitor 7's you will definitely here the difference.

[callas01]

Why not try driving into San Fransisco or to Stockton to hear more Paradigm speaker, I would call first to see if they have the Monitor 9 though, or will bring them in for audition.

PERFORMANCE AUDIO
2847 CALIFORNIA STREET
SAN FRANCISCO, CA
94115
415-441-6220

MUSIC LOVERS AUDIO & VIDEO
2295 BUSH STREET
SAN FRANCISCO, CA
94115
415-345-8111

GLUSKINS CUSTOM AUDIO VIDEO
2087 GRAND CANAL BLVD. STE#11
STOCKTON, CA
95207
209-888-4609

I know they aren't exactly down the street, but a trip to the city is always nice, you could make a whole day out of it.

My personal opinion is the Paradigm speakers, only because I don't find them so bright. I prefer warmer speakers so Klipsch isn't my personal taste.

[killerbee]

I laugh at the "harsh" assumptions....how many times have you oranyone you know left a movie theater saying that their ears hurt because of the speakers...and yes, movie theaters choose Klipsch for a reason.

I listen to mine all day long, as do several people I know who run their TV's off their speakers with no complaints. That only time my ears hurt is when I have Metallica absolutely cranking to the point where any sane person would fear going deaf ....and that would happen with any speaker played that high.

Fact is its a misconception.

[bigred7078]

Originally Posted by Twitch9

Both good speakers but i find klipsch hard to listen to for an extended amount of time, the horn tweeters become very harsh to the ears. I own Paradigm and have for over 15 years and find them to be the best speaker for the money both in build quality and sound. As for the the 7's and 9's there really is not that much difference in sound, the 9's have a bit more bottom end but where talking about 2hz difference, i have auditioned both versions in the store side by side when getting my newer 7's and found it almost impossible to tell what speaker i was listening to. I would go with Paradigm you would be hard pressed to find anyone saying bad things about them on the other hand you will find a lot of bad reviews on the Klipsch speakers mainly because of the horn tweeters you either love them or hate them, it's just that type of sound.

I read in this post that Paradigm sound close to Klipsch, i don't know anyone that would compare the sound of Paradigm to Klipsch, 2 very different sounding speakers and don't resemble sound in anyway, that's why your 2 choices puzzle me, go out and listen to the Paradigm Monitor 7's you will definitely here the difference.

your being very subjective here. People post bad reviews on Klipsch because the just regurgitate what they read on forums. Klipsch is one of the best selling speaker brands on the market, and they are that way for a reason. Of course they have a certain sound signature, but so does every speaker. Klipsch is just the easiet to pick on because it is the most widespread and easiest to demo.

I'm a dealer for both paradigm and klipsch and have sold more of the two sets the OP listed than you could imagine. And yes actually IMO the Monitor line from paradigm does have the closest sound to klipsch than any of non horn speaker. They are both extremely efficient and the Monitor line (but nothing else from Paradigm) is actually pretty bright (not a bad thing), so in a way yes it is very similar. As a matter of fact i have them a switch side by side running off a Anthem integrated amp and they are very very similar, but of course not the same.


Like i said before choose whatever you like because either way you cannot make a bad decision.

[bigred7078]

Originally Posted by killerbee

I laugh at the "harsh" assumptions....how many times have you oranyone you know left a movie theater saying that their ears hurt because of the speakers...and yes, movie theaters choose Klipsch for a reason.

I listen to mine all day long, as do several people I know who run their TV's off their speakers with no complaints. That only time my ears hurt is when I have Metallica absolutely cranking to the point where any sane person would fear going deaf ....and that would happen with any speaker played that high.

Fact is its a misconception.

lol i agree with you, but i would not say its a misconception. Klipsch definately has an emphasis on the treble, but thats just the nature of a highly efficient speaker, especially a horn loaded design. It in fact can be a bit harsh for some music types, but often times this is more over emphasized because of the room or the soure material. People just overlook that stuff, and they overly read into forums.

But i LOVE your example of coming out of a movie theater without feeling that "oh man those speakers were harsh" haha. But remember only half are klipsch the other half is JBL . But anyway most people will never feel klipsch is overly harsh for HT. In fact bright speakers make the best HT speakers because they are dynamic and allow you to hear all the small nuances. They also dont require vasts amounts of power which again is a great spec for a HT speaker. The people that really call out klipsch for being bright are those that have used them for music. In most cases people generally prefer a nuetral or laid back speaker because they will listen to music over a longer period of time.

anyway this could go back and forth all day (and in fact this topic has been beaten to death) and thats why i recommend that you go with what you truly enjoy and don't let others overly push their opinions onto you. Let your ears decide. We all have different women preferences correct? Same goes for speakers.

Rock on

[JasonR]

Originally Posted by bigred7078

your being very subjective here. People post bad reviews on Klipsch because the just regurgitate what they read on forums. Clips is one of the best selling speaker brands on the market, and they are that way for a reason. Of course they have a certain sound signature, but so does every speaker. Clips is just the easier to pick on because it is the most widespread and easiest to demo.

I'm a dealer for both paradigm and clips and have sold more of the two sets the OP listed than you could imagine. And yes actually IMO the Monitor line from paradigm does have the closest sound to clips than any of non horn speaker. They are both extremely efficient and the Monitor line (but nothing else from Paradigm) is actually pretty bright (not a bad thing), so in a way yes it is very similar. As a matter of fact i have them a switch side by side running off a Anthem integrated amp and they are very very similar, but of course not the same.


Like i said before choose whatever you like because either way you cannot make a bad decision.

Yeah, when doing an A/B with my MAs the efficiency was definitely noticeable. The Paradigms were MUCH louder at a lower volume. I initially was attracted to this, but after level matching the volume I chose the speakers I did. I found the Paradigm Monitors just a bit more difficult to listen to musically, but would probably make for a rip-roaring home theater system. The Paradigm Studios and Signatures are a completely different animal.

Anyway, whatever you choose is definitely a nice speaker and I am sure you will enjoy them.

[SammyG]

Okay, I own both Klipsch reference and an older set of Paradigm monitors. I can say both speakers sound wonderful. With that said I prefer the Klipsch for HT, bigred nailed it with his response. Klipsch are super efficient and sound great with movies. The Paradigm's are no slouch either, whichever way you go you're gonna be very happy when it's time to watch a movie.

[blu_man_916]

Originally Posted by callas01

Why not try driving into San Fransisco or to Stockton to hear more Paradigm speaker, I would call first to see if they have the Monitor 9 though, or will bring them in for audition.

PERFORMANCE AUDIO
2847 CALIFORNIA STREET
SAN FRANCISCO, CA
94115
415-441-6220

MUSIC LOVERS AUDIO & VIDEO
2295 BUSH STREET
SAN FRANCISCO, CA
94115
415-345-8111

GLUSKINS CUSTOM AUDIO VIDEO
2087 GRAND CANAL BLVD. STE#11
STOCKTON, CA
95207
209-888-4609

I know they aren't exactly down the street, but a trip to the city is always nice, you could make a whole day out of it.

My personal opinion is the Paradigm speakers, only because I don't find them so bright. I prefer warmer speakers so Klipsch isn't my personal taste.

Guess who's going to the city tomorrow?

[tbizzle]

Originally Posted by blu_man_916

Guess who's going to the city tomorrow?

wish I could afford some Paradigm Monitor 11's, then I might go! lol

[nezff]

This is the thing with the setup you are asking about.

Paradigm Monitor 9s have three 6 1/2 drivers and a 1 inch tweeter.
Klipsch RF 82s have two 8 inch woofers and a 1 inch horn tweeter.

Paradigm CC290 again is a three way speaker with two 6 1/2 woofers and a 4 inch midrange with a tweeter. The Klipsch RC 62 has two 6 1/2 woofers and tweeter.

The Paradigm surrounds have 5 1/2 midranges with tweeters and the RS 52 Klipsch have 5 1/2 woofers with tweeters.



The Paradigms might have more of a full sound considering they have a midrange 6 1/2 driver and two 6 1/2 woofers. The Klipsch are more of a two way speaker with just woofers and tweeters. If you are going to get the Klipsch RF 82s, Get the RC 62s center and if you can, get the RS 52 surrounds that match. Paradigm offers more finishes which is something I would like considering I love my Klipsch CHERRY RF63s.

This is no doubt a tough decision. When I first went to look for home theater speakers, I was up against this same dilemnia. Paradigm or Klipsch. The problem with Paradigm, you dont get as much for you money as Klipsch. I noticed smaller towers cost more than larger Klipsch towers at least in the store I was in. Are the Monitor 9s around the same price as the RF82 Klipsch?
Also, get the biggest speakers you can afford now, that way you dont have the upgrade bug later like I did.

[callas01]

Originally Posted by blu_man_916

Guess who's going to the city tomorrow?

Just remember to take 1-2 CDs that you are really familiar with and a BD that you know very well for reference. My local Energy dealer told me I could bring my own receiver if I wanted since he only had Denons and nothing else, you could try that too.

Have Fun.