The Official Paradigm Speakers Thread

[aces high]

Originally Posted by GAWD

Didn't know there were problems with Panny. Have had mine for a couple of months now and no issues whatsoever. Only bought it to take the load off my PS3. Haven't noticed any diff in PQ

I started having problems with mine after 4 months or so. I'm with Callas, I'll never buy a Panasonic again.

[-DLS-]

Originally Posted by aces high

I got everything hooked up and all I could hear was feedback. On the way home today I picked up some Kimber Cable interconnects and they aren't sheilded well enough. I had a couple of crappy Monster ones laying around so I tried those and the feedback went away. I guess they're not so crappy after all. For what I paid for the Kimber I'm really disappointed, they aren't very good. I'll return them tommorrow and get something else. Another problem I had was if my receiver and the the amp were both plugged into my Monster power center when I tried to turn the amp on the receiver would shut off. Plugged the amp straight into the wall and everything works fine. By the time I got through all of this it's too late to really try it out and I only have two interconnects that don't hum any way. So I'll try again tommorrow with some new interconnects and see how it sounds. I would love some Seaton's but that would require a pretty large investment that I'm not sure I'm willing to make at this time, I've already spent too much on this stuff this year. I've got a couple of big jobs coming up that will put me way ahead this year but I've got to save for college. I'll have two in college/university at the same time so I have to start saving now, I've only got 13 years left! I've also put off buying a new car, which I need to do soon. So I've got a few things on my plate before some Seaton's, top up the college fund, new car and some speakers for our living room and the after the kids college the most important get my HT room in the basement back together.

Yeah I got my amp plugged straight into the wall too. Don't know about Anthem but Emotiva recommends it straight to the outlet. Hope the new cables work out today or whenever you get'em. Good you got things planned right.. HT can always wait as long as your happy what you got now..

[Guinness6]

I feel like I've missed you, my Paradigm brothers! Its been a busy summer - not only upgrading to the 20's, but getting the house in order for our first child.

I love the Mini Monitors, but immediately wondered: if these sound awesome, how ridiculous will the Studios be??? And I knew I had to snatch them up before the baby.

I also splurged (don't tell my wife) and picked up a Pro-Ject Debutt III Turntable w/usb. I was going to get the regular one, but then my dealer offered the display model for a deal & I just couldn't pass it up.

Now I just sit on my couch fully surrounded by awesome sound, completely satisfied (but not done), listening to music with a stupid grin on my face.

Paradigm freaking rules.

[aces high]

Originally Posted by -DLS-

Yeah I got my amp plugged straight into the wall too. Don't know about Anthem but Emotiva recommends it straight to the outlet. Hope the new cables work out today or whenever you get'em. Good you got things planned right.. HT can always wait as long as your happy what you got now..

Got some new cables today but haven't had a lot of time to listen to much, I got two weeks of vacation coming and lots to get wrapped up before then. One thing has surprized me is that I thought there would be a bigger difference in the sound of the amps between Class D and Class AB, but the SC-07 sounds very similar to the Anthem. The difference in power only becomes evident at high volumes, for two channel -10 and above and depending on the movie anywhere from -10 to -5. It makes me realize how much power the SC-07 has for a receiver. Now I'm starting to get some really good bass for music which was missing before, again only at high volumes. After running MCACC the 100's are set at -3db so I've went as far as +5 with no distortion what so ever. The real test wiil be in the treated room which I've found takes a little more power to reach the same levels. That's one of my projects while on vacation is to crack the whip on these guys to get the basement done. ( for the second time) I realized today that I haven't upgraded this as much as years past, I guess I'm getting closer to what I want. Although I haven't done that badly this year Studio 100's, cc 690 and the MCA 50. I would still love to get a Seaton system, maybe one day. I need some more listening time to post any further thoughts, next week is the slow week of vacation so I'll have some time but the second week is a trip.

[-DLS-]

Originally Posted by aces high

Got some new cables today but haven't had a lot of time to listen to much, I got two weeks of vacation coming and lots to get wrapped up before then. One thing has surprized me is that I thought there would be a bigger difference in the sound of the amps between Class D and Class AB, but the SC-07 sounds very similar to the Anthem. The difference in power only becomes evident at high volumes, for two channel -10 and above and depending on the movie anywhere from -10 to -5. It makes me realize how much power the SC-07 has for a receiver. Now I'm starting to get some really good bass for music which was missing before, again only at high volumes. After running MCACC the 100's are set at -3db so I've went as far as +5 with no distortion what so ever. The real test wiil be in the treated room which I've found takes a little more power to reach the same levels. That's one of my projects while on vacation is to crack the whip on these guys to get the basement done. ( for the second time) I realized today that I haven't upgraded this as much as years past, I guess I'm getting closer to what I want. Although I haven't done that badly this year Studio 100's, cc 690 and the MCA 50. I would still love to get a Seaton system, maybe one day. I need some more listening time to post any further thoughts, next week is the slow week of vacation so I'll have some time but the second week is a trip.

That's good that it helped out with the bass issues. Hope it does well in your actual HT room. I don't think my amp changed the way anything sounded either but just like you said helped out at loud volumes which is how I like to listen or watch movies. Better bass and and much cleaner sound at louder volumes - no distortion.

I wanted to get a second Emo amp last summer but I think switching my receiver from a Yamaha HTR-6190 to my Marantz SR8002 made a bigger change than I could have gotten from an XPA-2. I'm not sure how an amp can change the sound of a speaker much - I would think the pre/pro makes the bigger difference. The amp I think is just extra headroom.. I remember my Onkyo used to shut down on certain scenes with loud explosions.. even happened with my Yamaha before I got the XPA-3 on the HULK campus scene right when he smashes through the window to jump down. Another scene it did that was from Kung Fu Panda Where the Fireworks light him up from the bottom to shoot him into the Stadium. After adding the amp I had no problems with either scenes at even louder volumes. Makes me feel more comfortable not having to worry about damaging the speakers or having my receiver shut off.

Anyway hope your basement gets done soon so you can put the system through the test and finally enjoy watching some movies... and then we can see some pictures of your setup!

[Ferrari Fan]

My new Paradigms arrived monday, and today I took a few photos to post. I hooked them up with my new SVS PB12-Plus subwoofer that I've had for two weeks, but could not hook it up as I had already sold my Klipsch speakers. I really like the look with the grills off, but due to many small children frequently in the house, I'm going to leave them on. So a few each of them "clothed" and "naked

The mains are Studio 100 V.5, center is CC-590 V.5, surrounds are ADP-390 V.5 and the sub is an SVS PB12-Plus. It does not really show in the pictures, but the rosenut color on the Paradigms is almost identical to the rosenut on the SVS which is great. I was expecting the colors to be way different.

Also : I have an extra metal film reel artwork exactly like the one hanging on my wall in the pictures for $75.00 shipped. In the lower USA only please as it's too much extra $$$ to export. Size is approx. 22 H x 38 W. PM me if you're intrested. Thanks.

[i JACK o]

will that bar blocking the 590 effect its performance?

[aces high]

Originally Posted by i JACK o

will that bar blocking the 590 effect its performance?

Yes it will hamper the performance, the bar is completely blocking the mid range driver. Very nice setup Ferrai Fan, just a peice of advice either mount the tv on the wall or you could biuld or buy some type of riser. Through out our renovations to our house I've had a couple of temp setups, if fact I still have one. In these temp setups I didn't want to mount the tv to the wall so I built a riser for the tv. The sub is a the back of the room right now.

[aces high]

Originally Posted by -DLS-

That's good that it helped out with the bass issues. Hope it does well in your actual HT room. I don't think my amp changed the way anything sounded either but just like you said helped out at loud volumes which is how I like to listen or watch movies. Better bass and and much cleaner sound at louder volumes - no distortion.

I wanted to get a second Emo amp last summer but I think switching my receiver from a Yamaha HTR-6190 to my Marantz SR8002 made a bigger change than I could have gotten from an XPA-2. I'm not sure how an amp can change the sound of a speaker much - I would think the pre/pro makes the bigger difference. The amp I think is just extra headroom.. I remember my Onkyo used to shut down on certain scenes with loud explosions.. even happened with my Yamaha before I got the XPA-3 on the HULK campus scene right when he smashes through the window to jump down. Another scene it did that was from Kung Fu Panda Where the Fireworks light him up from the bottom to shoot him into the Stadium. After adding the amp I had no problems with either scenes at even louder volumes. Makes me feel more comfortable not having to worry about damaging the speakers or having my receiver shut off.

Anyway hope your basement gets done soon so you can put the system through the test and finally enjoy watching some movies... and then we can see some pictures of your setup!

Yesterday I had it up to +5 with no distortion with two channel music and it was the first time I've heard the room rattle like that without the sub on. The 100's were really starting to push some bass and I loved it. It makes me wonder what they would sound like with more power because they took everything the MCA 50 could throw at them with ease. I've never had any of my receivers go into protection before, the SC-07 has very good power for a receiver. Before that I had the Monitor 9's and cc 390 v6 which are very easy to drive with my Denon 2309 and SC-07. I'm like you, when I get the chance I love to crank my movies and music. I read somewhere on here that your thinking of an XPR amp, I'd love too hear what the 100's could do with that kind of power.

[Ferrari Fan]

Quote:
Originally Posted by i JACK o
will that bar blocking the 590 effect its performance?

Originally Posted by aces high

Yes it will hamper the performance, the bar is completely blocking the mid range driver. Very nice setup Ferrai Fan, just a peice of advice either mount the tv on the wall or you could biuld or buy some type of riser. Through out our renovations to our house I've had a couple of temp setups, if fact I still have one. In these temp setups I didn't want to mount the tv to the wall so I built a riser for the tv. The sub is a the back of the room right now.

No, it really does not hamper the speakers performance. The speaker is about 4 inches behind the support pole. I also have tried placing the speaker on a temp stand directly in front of the tv and also slightly behind and slightly above the tv as if it were on a shelf mounted to the wall.

In every position, using movies and 5.1 music, it sounded just about the same. At least to me it did, which is what counts

Aces, I did think about raising my tv on something like what you have if I did not like how my center channel sounded. While I don't think I would like my tv way higher than it is now, as my eye level is right at mid screen, it was something that I definatly thought about.

[aces high]

Originally Posted by Ferrari Fan

Quote:
Originally Posted by i JACK o
will that bar blocking the 590 effect its performance?




No, it really does not hamper the speakers performance. The speaker is about 4 inches behind the support pole. I also have tried placing the speaker on a temp stand directly in front of the tv and also slightly behind and slightly above the tv as if it were on a shelf mounted to the wall.

In every position, using movies and 5.1 music, it sounded just about the same. At least to me it did, which is what counts

Aces, I did think about raising my tv on something like what you have if I did not like how my center channel sounded. While I don't think I would like my tv way higher than it is now, as my eye level is right at mid screen, it was something that I definatly thought about.

As long as your happy with it that's all that counts, enjoy. You have a very nice setup. How well does the 590 keep up with the 100's? I had the 590 before the 690 but never tried it with the 100's, I used it with the Studio 20's.

[i JACK o]

Originally Posted by Ferrari Fan

Quote:
Originally Posted by i JACK o
will that bar blocking the 590 effect its performance?




No, it really does not hamper the speakers performance. The speaker is about 4 inches behind the support pole. I also have tried placing the speaker on a temp stand directly in front of the tv and also slightly behind and slightly above the tv as if it were on a shelf mounted to the wall.

In every position, using movies and 5.1 music, it sounded just about the same. At least to me it did, which is what counts

Aces, I did think about raising my tv on something like what you have if I did
not like how my center channel sounded. While I don't think I would like my tv way higher than it is now, as my eye level is right at mid screen, it was something that I definatly thought about.

that is indeed all that matters. awesome gear btw, love the matching front stage

[aces high]

Originally Posted by Ferrari Fan

Quote:
Originally Posted by i JACK o
will that bar blocking the 590 effect its performance?




No, it really does not hamper the speakers performance. The speaker is about 4 inches behind the support pole. I also have tried placing the speaker on a temp stand directly in front of the tv and also slightly behind and slightly above the tv as if it were on a shelf mounted to the wall.

In every position, using movies and 5.1 music, it sounded just about the same. At least to me it did, which is what counts

Aces, I did think about raising my tv on something like what you have if I did not like how my center channel sounded. While I don't think I would like my tv way higher than it is now, as my eye level is right at mid screen, it was something that I definatly thought about.

I still don't see how you can say that it doesn't hamper the speakers performance. In one of your pictures you can clearly see that the post is blocking both the tweeter and the mid range driver. Four inches behind the post is not enough room for the sound to dispurse around it, I personally couldn't see that and not have it bother me. I don't think it would sound just about the same, it would sound like something was blocking it. But hey it's your money, your system, use it how ever you think works for you.

[-DLS-]

Originally Posted by aces high

Yesterday I had it up to +5 with no distortion with two channel music and it was the first time I've heard the room rattle like that without the sub on. The 100's were really starting to push some bass and I loved it. It makes me wonder what they would sound like with more power because they took everything the MCA 50 could throw at them with ease. I've never had any of my receivers go into protection before, the SC-07 has very good power for a receiver. Before that I had the Monitor 9's and cc 390 v6 which are very easy to drive with my Denon 2309 and SC-07. I'm like you, when I get the chance I love to crank my movies and music. I read somewhere on here that your thinking of an XPR amp, I'd love too hear what the 100's could do with that kind of power.

Yeah I was thinkin if the new Marantz pre/pro was right I would do that combo. 400wpc for all 7 ch would be nice.. Don't know if that would be a huge difference since they are doing fine now but you never know. If the AV7005 won't decode DSD I'm not really into the 3D thing and don't use room correction so I think it might not even be worth the cost to upgrade. The SR8002 I got now ain't no joke either - I would like to see how the newer SR7005 and even the AV7005 would compare to the SR8002 or AV8003.

[aces high]

Originally Posted by -DLS-

Yeah I was thinkin if the new Marantz pre/pro was right I would do that combo. 400wpc for all 7 ch would be nice.. Don't know if that would be a huge difference since they are doing fine now but you never know. If the AV7005 won't decode DSD I'm not really into the 3D thing and don't use room correction so I think it might not even be worth the cost to upgrade. The SR8002 I got now ain't no joke either - I would like to see how the newer SR7005 and even the AV7005 would compare to the SR8002 or AV8003.

I have a Marantz intergrated which I quite enjoy, but have never tried any of their avr's. Just finished pumping the 100's for a while at 0, does that MCA 50 get hot then. I'm thinking I would like to have more power for two channel with those. I'll have to look into getting a P2 one of these days to run the 100's. Do you find that your 100's and 690 could still take more power easily than what you have on tap now?

[-DLS-]

Originally Posted by aces high

I have a Marantz intergrated which I quite enjoy, but have never tried any of their avr's. Just finished pumping the 100's for a while at 0, does that MCA 50 get hot then. I'm thinking I would like to have more power for two channel with those. I'll have to look into getting a P2 one of these days to run the 100's. Do you find that your 100's and 690 could still take more power easily than what you have on tap now?

Must've put it through a good workout to get hot like that.. the XPA-3 barely gets warm even after back to back movies.. I was also thinking about getting a 2ch amp(XPA-2) but just not sure if it's worth it. I have no problems at all - the 100's take whatever I give em with ease so I see no need but will more power do that much more? I know they can take more than I give them - I listen LOUD but never pushed them to the limits. My room is not that big though so maybe in a bigger room I would have to push them alot harder. I watch and listen anywhere from -5 to -20(which is anywhere from 90 to 110 db peaks from my main spot) so maybe at +5 more power would probably be good.. that would be too loud for my room size though..

[aces high]

Originally Posted by -DLS-

Must've put it through a good workout to get hot like that.. the XPA-3 barely gets warm even after back to back movies.. I was also thinking about getting a 2ch amp(XPA-2) but just not sure if it's worth it. I have no problems at all - the 100's take whatever I give em with ease so I see no need but will more power do that much more? I know they can take more than I give them - I listen LOUD but never pushed them to the limits. My room is not that big though so maybe in a bigger room I would have to push them alot harder. I watch and listen anywhere from -5 to -20(which is anywhere from 90 to 110 db peaks from my main spot) so maybe at +5 more power would probably be good.. that would be too loud for my room size though..

I don't normally listen that loud, I just wanted to see what the MCA 50 could do. Most of the time I listen in the same range as you, I don't know if more power would do any good it just makes you wonder what could they do with more power.

[Fors*]

IMO, better clarity at both higher and especially at lower volumes is what I feel I gained the most by adding an amp to my speakers. The monoblocks work exceptionally well for when I listen to 2 channel music, and my speakers are older Monitors. The amps gave them new life and they opened up their dynamic range more than I thought they were capable of. I also like the extra headroom when I really want to push it, as my range for watching movie is in the same range as you guys, around -5db's to around -20db's

[Ryan Peddle]

Ace,

Glad to hear you are enjoying the amp. High Volumes is definitely where you are going to notice the difference between amps. Once you get accustom to the MCA50 in a few months, try switching back and play it at a higher volume. You will hear the difference the MCA50 makes.

I have horrendously pushed my 100s with my bi-amped M25 and they don't break a sweat. I don't think I am pushing my M25 that hard at these high levels as it is above warm, but not hot.

Glad to hear that you are enjoying it.

[aces high]

Originally Posted by Ryan Peddle

Ace,

Glad to hear you are enjoying the amp. High Volumes is definitely where you are going to notice the difference between amps. Once you get accustom to the MCA50 in a few months, try switching back and play it at a higher volume. You will hear the difference the MCA50 makes.

I have horrendously pushed my 100s with my bi-amped M25 and they don't break a sweat. I don't think I am pushing my M25 that hard at these high levels as it is above warm, but not hot.

Glad to hear that you are enjoying it.

Thanks Ryan, I wanted to get the same amp as you but this one came along at a price I couldn't pass up. The only problem with it has been that it makes me want to add a P2 for the mains, maybe one day.