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  1. #1
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    Paradigm Reference Studio 20s - alternatives?

    I'm looking to purchase a new speaker setup, primarily for 2-ch music, and secondarily for 5.1 HT. Last week I listened to a pair of Paradigm Reference Studio 20s, which have a list price of $1300. I tried a wide range of music, and they performed very well for almost everything - beautifully clear sound on acoustic guitar, quite punchy on dance music etc - but a little dissapointing on the most important: heavy rock - specifically Led Zep and Muse. Just seemed to miss alot of the power on the guitars. This could be the quality of the recordings, so i'm going back with better versions tomorrow to retest, but in the meantime I wanted to ask if there were any alternatives worth considering in a similar price bracket? Bear in mind I'll also need a corresponding center speaker when I buy, of similar power. Receiver is an Onkyo 608.

    Thanks in advance!

  2. #2
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    You might give the Klipsch Reference series a listen, not sure which model would come in around $1300.00. The prices are on Klipsch's website or crutchfield.com

    The Monitor Audio Silver RS-6's could be another option.

  3. #3
    Forum Regular Woochifer's Avatar
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    Have you thought about Paradigm's floorstanding Monitor models? Those sacrifice some of the Studio series' refinement for a more aggressive sound. You might like those better.
    Wooch's Home Theater 2.0 (Pics)
    Panasonic VIERA TH-C50FD18 50" 1080p
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    Adire Audio Rava (EQ: Behringer Feedback Destroyer DSP1124)
    Yamaha RX-A1030
    Dual CS5000 (Ortofon OM30 Super)
    Sony UBP-X800
    Sony Playstation 3 (MediaLink OS X Server)
    Sony ES SCD-C2000ES
    JVC HR-S3912U
    Directv HR44 and WVB
    Logitech Harmony 700
    iPhone 5s/iPad 3
    Linksys WES610



    The Neverending DVD/BD Collection

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  4. #4
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    Thanks guys - going in today to retest the Paradigms with better recordings, alongside your suggestions

  5. #5
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    Thanks for the suggestions guys. Paradigm Studio 20s sounded better with the remastered Zep recordings, but also listened to the Monitor Audios, and then the Paradigm Monitor 7 floorstanders. Now being the amateur I am I've never actually listened to floorstanders, and the extra punch they had over both the bookshelves was exactly what I'd wanted. Unfortunately, as Woodchifer suggested, they lose alot of the clarity and refinement of Studios and Monitor Audios. I decided that, taking into account longevity, I'd prepared to increase budget and try and get the best of both worlds! Planning on testing the Paradigm Studio 60s next week, but any other suggestions at same budget? (~$2k)

  6. #6
    Musicaholic Forums Moderator ForeverAutumn's Avatar
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    I don't know as much about speakers as the rest of the folks giving you advice, but since you're looking at the same speakers that I looked at a couple of years ago and we seem to have similar taste in music, you should wander through this thread and this thread for my adventures in speaker shopping.

    In the end, nothing that we listened to topped the Studio 60s for us. We've had them for 1.5 years now and I still love them. They can handle any music that I send their way (folk, blues, rock, broadway) and they sound good at all volumes. We still need to upgrade the rest of the system, but the speakers sound so great with what we have that I haven't been in a huge hurry to do so.

    If you're planning on listening to the Studio 60s be prepared to fall in love...but, of course, I'm biased.

  7. #7
    Forum Regular Jack in Wilmington's Avatar
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    The Studio 60's are a very nice speaker, but if the price tag scares you a little, Monitor Audio does make some nice floorstanders like the Silver RX series. You didn't say which MA speaker that you listened to.
    2 Channel System
    Dynaudio Contour 1.8 Mk II
    Pass Labs X150.5 (Amp)
    Cary SLP-03 (Preamp)
    Music Hall MMF 5.1 (TT)
    Goldring 1012GX (Cart.)
    Pro-ject SE II (Phono Box)
    Rotel RCD-1072 (CD Player)
    Bryston BDA-1 ( DAC )
    Sennheiser HD-600 (Headphones)
    Musical Fidelity Xcan V3 (Headphone Amp) _

    HT System
    Usher X-719 (Mains)
    Usher X-616 (Center)
    Usher S-520 (Surrounds)
    Rel T2 (Subwoofer)
    Anthem MCA20 (Amp)
    Yamaha RX-A830 (Receiver)
    Panasonic TH-46PZ85U (Plasma TV)
    Denon DBT-1713UD (BluRay/SACD)

  8. #8
    frenchmon frenchmon's Avatar
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    The 60's would be a great choice.
    Music...let it into your soul and be moved....with Canton...Pure Music


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  9. #9
    Feel the Tempo eisforelectronic's Avatar
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    For < $2000 I'd look at Silverline Preludes or Totem Staffs
    Audio Physic Avanti IV w/upgraded mids and crossover
    Emotiva UMC-1
    Emotiva XPA-3
    Peachtree Audio iNova
    Rega Brio-R
    Rega RP-1
    Sony PS3
    BAT VK-D5se
    Totem Acoustic Dreamcatchers

  10. #10
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    Totem is another good suggestion.

  11. #11
    Forum Regular blackraven's Avatar
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    Pass Labs X250 amp, BAT Vk-51se Preamp,
    Thorens TD-145 TT, Bellari phono preamp, Nagaoka MP-200 Cartridge
    Magnepan QR1.6 speakers
    Luxman DA-06 DAC
    Van Alstine Ultra Plus Hybrid Tube DAC
    Dual Martin Logan Original Dynamo Subs
    Parasound A21 amp
    Vintage Luxman T-110 tuner
    Magnepan MMG's, Grant Fidelity DAC-11, Class D CDA254 amp
    Monitor Audio S1 speakers, PSB B6 speakers
    Vintage Technic's Integrated amp
    Music Hall 25.2 CDP
    Adcom GFR 700 AVR
    Cables- Cardas, Silnote, BJC
    Velodyne CHT 8 sub

  12. #12
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    So far all good choices.

    I think PSBs and Salk would be on the top of my list below $2000.

  13. #13
    Forum Regular harley .guy07's Avatar
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    I would also give Dynaudio a listen if you can find a dealer in your area, they have a very punchy and detailed low end that will surprise you for their size and they can play about any type of music you throw at them with ease. But I am not sure you are going to find a floorstander in the price range you are looking for since they are pricey speakers.

    Marantz SR5008(HT)
    Nu Force P8 Preamp (2 channel)
    Pass Labs X150.5(2 channel)
    Adcom 545 mk2 power amp(rear channel amp)
    Spatial Audio M3 Turbo S Mains Speakers
    Dayton 8" HO custom sealed subwoofer(2 channel)
    Yamaha NS-c444 center channel
    Emotiva ERD-1 surround speakers
    JBL e250p subwoofer highly modified
    Samsung 46" LED TV
    OPPO BDP-83 blue ray/multi format player
    ps-audio NuWave dac (2 channel)
    Dell I660 music server running fidelizer windows 8 audio optimizer
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  14. #14
    Man of the People Forums Moderator bobsticks's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by eisforelectronic
    For < $2000 I'd look at Silverline Preludes or Totem Staffs
    The Danes, Silverlines, and Salk are great suggestions, capable of strong performance under the circumstances for which you've allowed. I have found the Totems to lack punch or the ability to truly displace air on more strident material. I believe I'm not alone in this observation, neither on this board nor among reviewers, and I doubt the situation would be helped with amplification being provided by a receiver.
    So, I broke into the palace
    With a sponge and a rusty spanner
    She said : "Eh, I know you, and you cannot sing"
    I said : "That's nothing - you should hear me play piano"

  15. #15
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    Thanks all again for your suggestions. Sounds like I have a good list of 3 or 4 alts to test alongside the Studio 60s (provided my local dealers have them). Will post feedback!

  16. #16
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    I believe one can probably get a Dynaudio floorstander in the DM series. I'm going to have to go hear how good those are.

  17. #17
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    I also have the Studio 60s as part of the living room HT along with the Studio Center, Atoms (rear) and Velodyne sub. Sounds great for 2 ch and multichannel for movies.

  18. #18
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    Just to wrap this one up, I eventually went for the Studio 60s and built the other channels around that. They sound absolutely fantastic! Thanks everyone for your help.

  19. #19
    Musicaholic Forums Moderator ForeverAutumn's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by pedro78 View Post
    Just to wrap this one up, I eventually went for the Studio 60s and built the other channels around that. They sound absolutely fantastic! Thanks everyone for your help.
    YAY! I win! LOL! Take that you Audiophiles! (FA runs a victory lap).

    Seriously, great choice. I hope that you love your Studio 60s as much as I love mine. Enjoy the tunes.

  20. #20
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    I would also suggest you try and listen to Dynaudio Excite X12s which list at $1200, and get a decent sub if you can.

    If you can stretch the budget to closer to $1600, theX16s are getting awesome reviews.

    http://www.dedicatedaudio.com/inc/sdetail/25569/21107

    I recently heard the $2800 X32s driven by a $400 NAD Integrated and $300 CDP and was completely amazed at the sound it put out.

  21. #21
    frenchmon frenchmon's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by pedro78 View Post
    Just to wrap this one up, I eventually went for the Studio 60s and built the other channels around that. They sound absolutely fantastic! Thanks everyone for your help.
    congrats....thats a fine speaker.
    Music...let it into your soul and be moved....with Canton...Pure Music


    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    W10 i5 Quad core processor 8GB RAM/Jriver 20/ Fidelizer Optimizer/ iFI Micro DSD DAC-iUSB 3.0/Vincent SA - T1/Vincent SP-331 MK /MMF-7.1/2M BLACK/MS Phenomena ll+/Canton Vento 830.2

  22. #22
    Forum Regular pixelthis's Avatar
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    Cool

    Quote Originally Posted by ForeverAutumn View Post
    YAY! I win! LOL! Take that you Audiophiles! (FA runs a victory lap).

    Seriously, great choice. I hope that you love your Studio 60s as much as I love mine. Enjoy the tunes.
    INDEED, your response is most puzzling. Are you
    implying that PARADIGMS are somehow non-audioholic?
    TRUE the one time I WASTED a few hours that I won't get back,
    the PARADIGMS (2 grand a pair) sounded like your average garbage truck, but it would seem that, since audiophiles love such things as
    1934 SET tube gear and 1950's LONG PLAYING STEREOPHONIC
    record albums that they would louuuuv something that sounded
    like that really big robot on the last TERMINATOR MOVIE.
    haven't felt this way since the old warp drive broke down in
    the wrong side of town.
    Attached Images Attached Images  
    LG 42", integra 6.9, B&W 602s2, CC6 center, dm305rears, b&w
    sub asw2500
    Panny DVDA player
    sharp Aquos BLU player
    pronto remote, technics antique direct drive TT
    Samsung SACD/DVDA player
    emotiva upa-2 two channel amp

  23. #23
    Musicaholic Forums Moderator ForeverAutumn's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by pixelthis View Post
    INDEED, your response is most puzzling. Are you
    implying that PARADIGMS are somehow non-audioholic?
    No, I was implying that I know the least of anyone in this thread and pedro78 bought the speaker that I recommended. It was a joke.

    Quote Originally Posted by pixelthis
    TRUE the one time I WASTED a few hours that I won't get back,
    the PARADIGMS (2 grand a pair) sounded like your average garbage truck,
    You must have some nice sounding garbage trucks where you live.

  24. #24
    Forum Regular Woochifer's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by pedro78 View Post
    Just to wrap this one up, I eventually went for the Studio 60s and built the other channels around that. They sound absolutely fantastic! Thanks everyone for your help.
    Awesome! Glad you're enjoying your setup. I bought my first pair of Studio 40s about 10 years ago, and gradually added the matching center and surround speakers over the following two years. Great performance for the money, and it's still my primary system.

    Quote Originally Posted by ForeverAutumn
    You must have some nice sounding garbage trucks where you live.
    Wooch's Home Theater 2.0 (Pics)
    Panasonic VIERA TH-C50FD18 50" 1080p
    Paradigm Reference Studio 40, CC, and 20 v.2
    Adire Audio Rava (EQ: Behringer Feedback Destroyer DSP1124)
    Yamaha RX-A1030
    Dual CS5000 (Ortofon OM30 Super)
    Sony UBP-X800
    Sony Playstation 3 (MediaLink OS X Server)
    Sony ES SCD-C2000ES
    JVC HR-S3912U
    Directv HR44 and WVB
    Logitech Harmony 700
    iPhone 5s/iPad 3
    Linksys WES610



    The Neverending DVD/BD Collection

    Subwoofer Setup and Parametric EQ Results *Dead Link*

  25. #25
    Forum Regular pixelthis's Avatar
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    Cool

    Quote Originally Posted by ForeverAutumn View Post
    No, I was implying that I know the least of anyone in this thread and pedro78 bought the speaker that I recommended. It was a joke.



    You must have some nice sounding garbage trucks where you live.
    ACTUALLY I was being mean, never meant to insult garbage
    trucks like that.
    See the Axiom of PARADIGM below.
    Attached Images Attached Images  
    LG 42", integra 6.9, B&W 602s2, CC6 center, dm305rears, b&w
    sub asw2500
    Panny DVDA player
    sharp Aquos BLU player
    pronto remote, technics antique direct drive TT
    Samsung SACD/DVDA player
    emotiva upa-2 two channel amp

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