Results 1 to 5 of 5
  1. #1
    Forum Regular
    Join Date
    Feb 2002
    Location
    Long Island, New York
    Posts
    494

    Couldn't resist the Paradigm Phantoms for $198/pr...

    ...well, we bought some new bedroom furniture (friggin' 'bout time!) and that didn't leave much room for the semi-vintage Boston A-100s I've been using. I needed a small floor-stander, or a tiny bookshelf with stands. Non-critical listening :^)

    I was thinking about the Totem Arros (maybe used), but @ $1200ish new, quite expensive for a sporadically-used system. They're good in a boom-and-sizzle kinda way, but really not my thing. Also thought about the Silverline Minuets, but I would need stands and that would come in close to $1K. Uuggh...

    To make a long story longer, 6th Ave. Electronics was selling a bunch of gear at 33% normal price... they had the Def Tec 6B for $250, and the Phantoms for $199. The DTs were covered in a wrap-around sock, and I have a cat. The Paradigms fit the bill aesthetically, as well as price.

    I only have about 45 minutes on 'em, but they sound pretty good. Tweeter sounds very reminiscient of the Studio 60s I used to have, the twin 5.75" (?) woofers sound a bit wooly. We'll see if that clears up with some run-in.

    The binding posts are a bit cheesy, and so is the finish...

    Listening to some Patricia Barber (I know, I know... but a clean recording with some fairly deep bass) and they're OK... about what I expected.

    We'll see if they get a bit better...

  2. #2
    Suspended
    Join Date
    Mar 2002
    Location
    St. Louis, MO, USA
    Posts
    10,176
    They should sound pretty good. Maybe play with the positioning if the woofers don't sound better after break in, I would imagine some improvement will happen. But if space is cramped placement could make a world of difference.

  3. #3
    Forum Regular harley .guy07's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    Springfield, Mo
    Posts
    1,594
    I have heard the phantoms when I sold Paradigm years ago and they are good for the money. I do like what Mr.Peabody said and play with the placement of the paradigm speakers.They are placement sensitive. I would pull them further away from the walls and your bass will improve. I have a pair of Paradigm monitor 7's from the mid 90's that I have heavily modified but I still use the same midbass drivers and cabinets and I had to pull mine away from the walls around 2 feet or so to get the bass to tighten up. Just play around with placement. Also they are sensitive to placement when it comes to imaging and soundstaging but when you finally get it right they will do you well.

    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
    PS Audio Quintet power center



  4. #4
    Forum Regular
    Join Date
    Feb 2002
    Location
    Long Island, New York
    Posts
    494

    Yeah, guys... I can't really...

    ...move 'em around too much, they're probably sit where they are - flanking my computer desk.

    I have a feeling they will get a bit better, and if that doesn't work, plugging the ports help. I'll put on that same Jack Johnson song on in a few days and see if the muddiness is as noticeable as hour one.

    The White Stripes' "Elephant" was pretty much unlistenable with the Revel M20s I used to have, but that CD is much more palatable with these 1/11th the cost Paradigms. I think they'll fit the bill with a bit on run-in and tinkering.

    Tell ya what... they sound even better knowing I didn't didn't drain the bank of $1200 ;*)

  5. #5
    Forum Regular
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Location
    Long Island, NY
    Posts
    190
    Congrats on the new purchase. Enjoy the Dickens Festival

    -Mark

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •