Paradigm Millenia 20 or Definitive Technology Mythos Two?

[drummerboy_2002]

I'm upgrading my kit. Have size and style restrictions (WAF), and need small (<5.5" wide) speakers with big sound. Have looked at the likes of Polk, Klipsch, Canton, KEF, B&W, and many others. Have narrowed down the list to the Paradigm and Definitive Technolgy. Which one? Anyone hear the two back to back?

[CosmoKid]

I have. I own the Paradigm 200s and 20s. I was in the exact same situation as you are. I originally was going to buy Paradigm Studio Series, but due to their size and the amount of room needed behind the speakers to place them accurately, I had to change my options.

I listened to both. You can not go wrong with either. It really comes down to personal preference. I love Paradigm in general so maybe I had a bias from the start. They both amazed me with what they could do for the size.

Both were being driven by an Athena amp. I tested them with music only and the Paradigm's had slightly better separation to me.

Whichever you choose to go with, make sure you power them properly. Yamaha 663/863, Onkyo 705/805, etc...I think may be under-powering them a bit. I don't think those budget lines do the speakers justice.

My receiver (rx-v1700), any of the Yamaha 1X00 lines, the Onkyo 876/906, Denon 380X type receivers are a minimum for these speakers. Separates would be even better. I plan on using my Yamaha as a pre-pro in the future and adding an amp.

[Twitch9]

I would go with Paradigm just for the cost savings over the mythos, witch ever you choose you can't go wrong they are both beautiful looking speakers, the one thing about the Paradigm's are they need allot of break in time before they sound good.

Good luck on choosing

[drummerboy_2002]

Originally Posted by CosmoKid

Whichever you choose to go with, make sure you power them properly. Yamaha 663/863, Onkyo 705/805, etc...I think may be under-powering them a bit. I don't think those budget lines do the speakers justice.

I've got a Sony STR-DG1200 (100 x 7). It's almost the same thing as the 2400es. It just swapped pre-outs for a few extras. It's the same weight, so likely the same internal amp. Is that suitable to power the 20's or Two's?

Originally Posted by Twitch9

I would go with Paradigm just for the cost savings over the mythos, witch ever you choose you can't go wrong they are both beautiful looking speakers, the one thing about the Paradigm's are they need allot of break in time before they sound good.

That brings up my next question, where to buy? I know I can get the Mythos from BB or Amazon, but currently at full price (must be black). Meanwhile, it's my understanding the you can't buy Paradigm online (6Ave???), but I have no local dealer. Where can I find either at a great price?

BTW, I'm in the Atlanta area.

[CosmoKid]

Originally Posted by drummerboy_2002

I've got a Sony STR-DG1200 (100 x 7). It's almost the same thing as the 2400es. It just swapped pre-outs for a few extras. It's the same weight, so likely the same internal amp. Is that suitable to power the 20's or Two's?



That brings up my next question, where to buy? I know I can get the Mythos from BB or Amazon, but currently at full price (must be black). Meanwhile, it's my understanding the you can't buy Paradigm online (6Ave???), but I have no local dealer. Where can I find either at a great price?

BTW, I'm in the Atlanta area.

I think it will do the job for now. But in my opinion, you should upgrade in the future when you can. Your receiver weighs in around 25lbs where as the ones I am talking about are over 40lbs and some close to 50lbs. I don't want to get in to a conversation about capacitors, etc. as it even confuses me a bit, but let's say that you will get much cleaner power from a better receiver.

I don't think it should steer you away from it at all, but I think the speakers will be even better with a better amp powering them. You may want to think about using the pre-outs on the Sony and adding a separate amp in the future. I am.

As for where to buy, 6th Ave is local to me. If you are serious about buying I can call someone I know over there and have you call in to get a price and talk with them. They should be able to do a phone discount for you and you can negotiate with them.

[Twitch9]

Originally Posted by drummerboy_2002

I've got a Sony STR-DG1200 (100 x 7). It's almost the same thing as the 2400es. It just swapped pre-outs for a few extras. It's the same weight, so likely the same internal amp. Is that suitable to power the 20's or Two's?



That brings up my next question, where to buy? I know I can get the Mythos from BB or Amazon, but currently at full price (must be black). Meanwhile, it's my understanding the you can't buy Paradigm online (6Ave???), but I have no local dealer. Where can I find either at a great price?

BTW, I'm in the Atlanta area.

I can get the millennia 200's brand new in box for $600 cdn but no warranty, and the 20 for $225 cdn.

[CosmoKid]

Originally Posted by Twitch9

I can get the millennia 200's brand new in box for $600 cdn but no warranty, and the 20 for $225 cdn.

per pair?

[Twitch9]

Originally Posted by CosmoKid

per pair?

Yes

[drummerboy_2002]

Originally Posted by Twitch9

Yes

Damn, dude. How do you manage that? I figured markup would be about50%. Are those some store closing deals or something? I almost have to assume those are grey market speakers. Not that I'm complaining. I've bought some subs from a distributor before. Need details.

[Twitch9]

I friend of mine, his friend works at a store that sells Paradigm and every 2nd year each employee is allowed to spend $3000 at the store and get the items for cost, he buys Paradigm speakers and sells them to friends for $75 a pair on top of what he paid. The millenia are the biggest mark-up speakers at the store, over 100% mark-up, so he buys more of them. I can also get the new studio line speakers at 40% of list price but again no warranty because no receipt.

[drummerboy_2002]

If I were close enough to do the deal in person I would buy seven of them. Sadly reason won't allow me to buy something sight-unseen from someone I've never met in person, no matter how well their intentions or how insanely good the deal. Sucks for me. Thanks for the offer though.

[dobyblue]

The 200's list 130w as the maximum power recommended, the 805 won't be pushed too hard to power the 200's.



The 805 at 130w/ch in stereo hits an excellent 0.0348% THD.

It doesn't hit 1% THD until 173 watts.

http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volum...06-part-5.html

You might not want to power Magnepan 20.1's with it, but for Paradigm Millenia series it'll be more than adequate.

[drummerboy_2002]

Well, I finally managed to find a store that had the Paradigm Millenia 20, but just one. They were using it as a center in a demo setup. They unhooked it and brought it in to the switching room. To my pleasant surprise, they also had the Definitive Technology Two. I was able to listen to a demo CD and some of my own music while switching between the two. The Paradigm did sound a bit fuller and clearly had more bass extension. I wasn't using a sub in the demo, as will in my home. I just wanted to measure the preformance of the fronts alone. My wife agreed that we liked the sound from Paradigm better, we we have a winner.

Originally Posted by CosmoKid

As for where to buy, 6th Ave is local to me. If you are serious about buying I can call someone I know over there and have you call in to get a price and talk with them. They should be able to do a phone discount for you and you can negotiate with them.

CosmoKid, I may be taking you up on that offer. I've got two local Paradigm dealers that I can chack with first. Once I've got my best offer, I may check with your friend at 6Ave so I don't waste him time going back and forth. I think I'm just looking at the fronts and center for now, and update the surrounds and sub later.

[Twitch9]

Nice choice you can't go wrong with Paradigm i've been using them for 15 years and still have not found a speaker that i like the sound of better.

[drummerboy_2002]

Any recommendations on sub or surrounds? I'm likely to get a better deal the more I buy, but can't go over $2000 for the time being. The recommended Millenia ADP surround may be a bit to large. For the sub I need to keep the size minimal while keeping the bass clean and tight down to about 25Hz, and high enough to integrate well with the Millenia 20 and whatever surrounds I get.

[CosmoKid]

Originally Posted by drummerboy_2002

Any recommendations on sub or surrounds? I'm likely to get a better deal the more I buy, but can't go over $2000 for the time being. The recommended Millenia ADP surround may be a bit to large. For the sub I need to keep the size minimal while keeping the bass clean and tight down to about 25Hz, and high enough to integrate well with the Millenia 20 and whatever surrounds I get.

The Millenia ADPs didn't fit right in my set-up as I had a window where the surrounds would go. I ended up with the Paradigm Atoms (v6) as surrounds. I was hesitant at first but WOW, what a great little speaker. If I were you I would use whatever you have as surrounds for now and invest the money in a sub.

Also, don't think that buying a sub in the same place you buy your speakers will make a difference. Most good subs on a budget come from internet direct dealers. You will get way less sub for your money from a store.

[drummerboy_2002]

Originally Posted by CosmoKid

Also, don't think that buying a sub in the same place you buy your speakers will make a difference. Most good subs on a budget come from internet direct dealers. You will get way less sub for your money from a store.

I take it you don't particularly like the Paradigm subs for the money then, since they are storefront only.

[CosmoKid]

Originally Posted by drummerboy_2002

I take it you don't particularly like the Paradigm subs for the money then, since they are storefront only.

I just think you can do MUCH better for the money than you can with Paradigm subs. I also think their subs >1k are MUCH better than their <1k counterparts. I am not comparing the two, I just mean v. other subs in a similar price range in the market.

Is your budget 2k for all the speakers and sub?

[drummerboy_2002]

Originally Posted by CosmoKid

Is your budget 2k for all the speakers and sub?

Originally, yes, but I've already blown that by choosing the Millenia 20's for LCR. I was originally looking at satelites until my wife decided she could live with slim towers. No, $2000 is the current bidget for LCR + sub. I guess I'll deal with the surrounds later. I'll just rotate my Sony's to the back for now. And to be honest, the sub isn't pressing right now either. The Sony is adequate.

[CosmoKid]

Slim towers? The Millenia 20s are wall mount/bookshelf style. The 200s are slim towers.

You can add an eD A2-300 for $350 + shipping. Everyone on here raves about them, I just wish they looked a bit nicer.

You can also add a HSU STF-2 for $350 + shipping.

If in the budget I would add the HSU VTF-2 instead for $494 on sale.

Or you could search around the subwoofer forum and drive yourself crazy.