B&W DM 603 S3 vs. PARADIGM STUDIO 60V2
I HAVE THE B&W DM 603 S3's BUT I AM THINKING OF REPLACING THEM WITH THE PARADIGM STUDIO 60 V2's. IS THIS A GOOD IDEA OR AM I MAKING A BIG MISTAKE. I'D LIKE BETTER MIDRANGE CLARITY AND TRANSPARENCY AND I'VE READ THAT THE PARADIGM'S ARE BETTER THAN THE B&W'S. PLEASE HELP!
ANY INPUT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.
Hello... actually, I would...
...hold out for a speaker on a different plane altogether. Both are good transducers, each having their own strengths. BUT, IMO, neither "blows away" the other.
Having said that, I chose the Studio 60s (about 5 years ago) and I still feel they are a very good speaker for many different kinds of music. I think B&W is going the laid-back approach (warmish mids) while Paradigm is cooler-sounding overall. One speaker will certainly sound better with X type of music, while a different genre will be more palatable with the other speaker. IMO, the B&Ws are more "forgiving" overall.
Now... if you desire cleanliness and transparency above and beyond what the 603s (or the 60s, for that matter) can deliver, I would look elsewhere. The used market may be your answer - I have a pair the Revel M20s and they are rediculously grit and grain free.... better than any other speaker (is this regard) that I can think of, irregardless of pricing. Bonus - despite cabinet size, the Revels go deeper and are more dynamic than either said speaker.
I can remember someone over at AA (AudioAsylum.com) saying all they can hear with the M20s is bass and treble - no midrange. I can almost understand what they mean.... BUT, now I'm VERY sensitive to cabinet colorations and "bloomy", artificial (or colored) mids. For better or worse, you will get EXACTLY what you put into them.
Not saying this is the end-all speaker, but if a clean, transparent midrange is your thing, I would try to give them a listen.