Paradigm Studio 20 v3 vs. B&W 705

[alcamaya]

Has anyone auditioned and compared these bookshelves? I need some input please.......

[jasmit]

Yes, but not in the same store at the same time, etc. Based on my very unscientific comparison, I thought the B&W 705's sounded marginally better than the Paradigm Studio 20's. However, in no way did they sound "twice as better." The B&W's are better looking, IMO, and have a better sounding top end -- they should at almost twice the cost. But, the Paradigms give you, by far, much more "bang for the buck" than the B&W's -- IMO, of course. I ended up with the Studio 20's and am very satisfied. They are excellent speakers -- worth far more than their MSRP, IMO.

Have you auditioned them? What did you think?

[Aric M L]

I would, hands down, take the 705's I jsut listened to both and thought the Paradigms underperformed in every category, even if only a little. The 705's IMO really are a better speaker

[N. Abstentia]

I simply couldn't justify why the B&W's cost twice as much, I actually liked them both but I really preferred the 'alive' sound of the Studio's as opposed to the 'dark, laid back' sound of the B&W's. I like my speakers to be a little more forward, with vocals and instruments in your face and the Studio's made that happen where the B&W's just kind of took everything down a notch. It's more personal preference, but I much preferred the Paradigm Studio's.

[Peter Duminy]

A couple of interesting reviews here. For the B&W 705:

http://www.stereophile.com/loudspeakerreviews/204bw/

and for the Paradigm Studio 20 model:

http://www.soundstage.com/revequip/p...tudio20_v3.htm

"You pays your money - you takes your choice".

[RGA]

A couple of interesting reviews here. For the B&W 705:

http://www.stereophile.com/loudspeakerreviews/204bw/

and for the Paradigm Studio 20 model:

http://www.soundstage.com/revequip/p...tudio20_v3.htm

"You pays your money - you takes your choice".

It is obvious that Stereophile reviewers read AA because so many people complain about the lack of driver integration with B&W speakers -- so this review surprise surprise goes out of its way to note the seamless (chuckle chuckle) integration of the Metal tweeter with the Kevlar woofer. Man I wonder which B&W employee told the reviewers what to say. What an embarrassing state the high end is in -- I notice they never talked about the LACK of integration on the prior models - I wonder why that is? Not that any of this in itself is a deal breaker - I like the CDM 1SE and NT even though there was and is a clear audible gap between the drivers simply because the competitores I heard had similar or worse problems -- but the Dane 52 does not and is cheaper.

[topspeed]

Speakers are so subjective, who can say what's better for you? I auditioned the 705's and 20v3's last year when looking for bedroom speakers. I own the 705's predecessor, the CDM 1NT so naturally the 705's had an advantage from the get go. Honestly, I was completely underwhelmed by the newer model. B&W changed the voicing quite a bit and to me, they sounded a lot closer to the 600's than the N800's. A lot of consumers and reviewer alike really like the 705's, I'm not one of them.

The 20v3's are an exceptional value IMO. This is a very good speaker in most disciplines. It images very well and has that uncanny ability to disappear into the room. Overall dynamics were very good, if not as good as what I finally ended up with. The treble response was much improved from the v3 to the v2, which could be a tad sibiliant in certain situations. I would find it extremely difficult to justify the price difference between the two speakers you mentioned.

Still, as Peter pointed out, it's your money so buy what you like and enjoy!

[RGA]

More to the point which one did you like better -- personally I would not buy either one as I personally feel both are overpriced for the sound you get. I think the thre are several speakers in the $600 - $1600.00US range that I would take over both of those -- as a STARTING point and not by any means a complete list are as follows:

Audio Note AX-Two ($600.00US)

Audio Note AN K/Spe ($2300.00US) Slightly more but can be had for $1500.00Cdn at www.soundhounds.com -- 2 pairs left I believe is two years old but new in box with full warranty.

Dynaudio Audience 42 ($750)

Dynaudio Audience 52 or 52Se (~$1300.00)

Magnepan 1.6 ($2,000.00Cad)

Gershman Acoustics X-1 ($1500.00US and looks beautiful to boot)

Totem Rainmaker ($1000.00Cad) Don't know if they charge par in the US if they do this is less of a good deal).

This is a short list --- I would also check into Energy, JM Labs, Linn, Klipsch, and Boston Acoustics..

Speakers are a function of personal taste the music you listen to etc and what premium you want to pay for style. I did an A/B with the 705 and the AX Two (a plain Jane looking product) - as one of a few listeners in the demo we chuckled at how much better the AX Two was and no more obvious was in piano and vocal and large scale music. Goes to show it ain't all about how much you spend. The Gershman is a better looking speaker IMO costs less sounds better because it has some sort of dynamic ability -- needs power though, the Danes are more ballsy a bit darker sounding but feed it big power and they lighten up quite a lot -- the K has incredibly extended treble range as was illustrated in a shootout on Saturday and creates a huge open presnetation unboxy presentation. Other than the Model Nautilus for $60kCanadian there isn;t a B&W or paradigm I would take ofver the K musically but obviously there is a limitation to bass.

Klispch has a more in your face less refined presentation but to me more exciting and fun to listen to than the B&W - and is cheaper than bot -- I'm thinking of the Reference series standmounts.

Also there is the Reference 3a Dulcet - I have not heard it but I heard the De Capo which is excellent. The Dulcet is $1500.00US the De Capo is $2500.00US

And lastly the PMC TB2 -- I heard the original version which is IMO much better than the standmounts you're considering at about $1500.00US. But PMC has gotten rid of the metal tweeter and upgraded to a silk dome as used in their higher end speakers. My main complaint with the original was the treble so if the new tweeter fixes that slightly fatigue inducing etchy response -- so if the new tweeter crossover fixes that complain then this is going to be one serious speaker because it has exceptional bass response and can play to chest pumping levels with a very tight sound. Again needs high clean power which can be pricey.

[Woochifer]

More to the point which one did you like better -- personally I would not buy either one as I personally feel both are overpriced for the sound you get. I think the thre are several speakers in the $600 - $1600.00US range that I would take over both of those -- as a STARTING point and not by any means a complete list are as follows:

Last time I checked, you hadn't even listened to the Paradigm Studio 20 v.3 yet, so how would you know that it is "overpriced for the sound you get"? Given that you offered up nothing of substance about the characteristics of the 20 v.3, it seems that you still haven't done any first hand listening of those models. (And don't respond by telling me that you've listened to the Studio 100 v.3s and the 20 v.2 -- either you've heard the speaker in question and can comment on it, or you haven't and need to admit as much; any other response from you would be just tangental blather) Your dislike of the 705s have been oft-repeated in any number of different ways.

The original poster was asking for comments about those two particular speakers. Offering up your usual list of personal favorites is nothing more than taking the mic and doing yet another soapbox rant. Oh, and covering up the fact that you haven't even listened to one of the two speakers in the original query.

It is obvious that Stereophile reviewers read AA because so many people complain about the lack of driver integration with B&W speakers -- so this review surprise surprise goes out of its way to note the seamless (chuckle chuckle) integration of the Metal tweeter with the Kevlar woofer. Man I wonder which B&W employee told the reviewers what to say. What an embarrassing state the high end is in -- I notice they never talked about the LACK of integration on the prior models - I wonder why that is? Not that any of this in itself is a deal breaker - I like the CDM 1SE and NT even though there was and is a clear audible gap between the drivers simply because the competitores I heard had similar or worse problems -- but the Dane 52 does not and is cheaper.

Huh? What kind of presumptuous nonsense are you spinning now?

Obvious that the Stereophile reviewers read AA? What, just because the reviewer noted the integration between the drivers? Why don't you just disagree with the reviewer's viewpoint and move on. (Oh, but that would be too simple a response and not worthy of the fury and moral outrage that you feel everytime the 705 is mentioned. No, you have to impugn the ethics of the company and presume that the groupspeak/circle jerk at AA represents the universal truth about how everybody's observations about the 705 should come out.)

Instead, you have to talk about AA and whether B&W told the reviewer what to say. If you have any proof to support your speculations, then spell out your source. Otherwise, just fess up and admit that you're doing nothing more than hatching unsubstantiated conspiracy theories.

[alcamaya]

Hey RGA,

With all the speakers that you mentioned which do you think will match better with my gear. I have a Rotel RSP-1066 processor and RMB-1095 amplifier. I was wondering about the Totem Rainmaker or Dynaudio Audience 52SE, these speakers can be purchased used from audiogon.com. I don't know how they compare to The Studio 20v.3 though.....

[kexodusc]

I like the Rainmaker a bit better than 52SE, better tonal balance overall IMO and much better at imaging and staging. It's just really engaging speaker for the money.
At the same time, the 52SE is a decent speaker, and I've never met a Dynaudio I didn't like...

[alcamaya]

how would you compare Von Schweikert VR-1 to the Studio 20v3?

[Woochifer]

Has anyone auditioned and compared these bookshelves? I need some input please.......

Have not yet heard the 705s, so I cannot comment on those particular speakers.

With the Studio 20 v.3, those are some of the best all-around speakers that I've heard in that price range. They have a very balanced and compliant sound throughout the frequency band, and don't try to bite off more than they can handle. They don't do deep bass, and they don't pretend that they do by artificially boosting the midbass or other parts of the lower frequencies. The lower frequencies tail off very smoothly and evenly.

But, IMO the biggest strength of the 20 v.3 is its ability to create convincing 3-D sound images, and hold that imaging coherency off-axis. Better than almost any other conventional box speaker that I've heard (and definitely in this price range), the 20 v.3 does a great job at "disappearing" into the room.

In my past auditions of other B&W models, one area where they have fell a little short has been with their tendency to sometimes sound "boxy" and not image very well when sitting off-axis. Not sure if B&W fixed these issues with the 700 series, but this is something to judge for yourself. But, another hallmark of B&W has been their generally neutral and unoffensive sound. They do many things very well and have a balanced character overall, but for your preferences, you might be looking more for speakers that do one or two things exceptionally well, and B&W generally is not as known for that.

I use a set of the Studio 20 v.2s as my surround speakers, and the v.2 series puts more of a rise in the midbass that the v.3 models do not. Some people like this effect, while others don't. In general, I think the improvements in the imaging and midrange coherency with the v.3 models more than offset any reductions in the bass extension that might have occurred when Paradigm revised the Studio series.

These two models are good ones to start with, but you should definitely look at others as well. (Despite my objections to RGA's speculation and tangents, his list of other speakers to consider is definitely worth looking into) You should also look beyond conventional box speakers. These alternative designs include panel speakers in your price range like Magnepan and Martin Logan, bipolar speakers such as Definitive Technology and Cambridge Soundworks, omnidirectional speakers like Mirage, and boxless baffleless speakers like Vandersteen. Just take your time and do as much auditioning as you can feasibly do in your area.

[corwin99]

Oh RGA, I'm honoured that two of the speakers I own are actually on your recommended list, but your stereophile/AA conspiracy theory is a bit much for even me

[RGA]

Oh RGA, I'm honoured that two of the speakers I own are actually on your recommended list, but your stereophile/AA conspiracy theory is a bit much for even me

If you notice the reviews for the new series from B&W you will see that they write that they have improved driver integration which is in fact something I do agree with versus the prior model. But if you have the reivew of the original CDM 1NT which I did, then you will notice that they never mentioned the fact that the drivers don;t integrate -- lie of omission? I am sick of reading reviews of a product that is wall to wall glowing and then the replacement model comes out and NOW they say how much it fixed all the PROBLEMS of the old model they never told you about in the first place.

Wooch
The poster does not need advice on the two speakers -- if one stood out head and shoulders above the other the question would not need to be generated -- if one of the two blew him away he would buy it - neither likely have. I heard the Studio 20V3 in Guildford Mall Surrey BC a couple of weekends back -- Not long enough to make a full report.

The speakers were run by some very expensive Anthem gear. In fact it was the same place I last heard the 100V3. If I had to choose I suppose I would take the 20V3 over the 705 if for no other reason that if I'm going to get a speaker I don't really like I'd rather spend less for it. The 20 had to me more "life" to it and IMO is a better loudspeaker musically but it depends I guess on what is listened to -- for simple acoustic music the B&W -- for everything with a pulse the Paradigm. If I have time and money to make the trip and assuming Soundhounds will let me review the speakers side by side -- as I'm sure they don't like internet reviewers balsting what they sell -- sorry Soundhounds.

And because of the advertising blitz maybe this feller has not heard of some of the lesser known commodoties. I can answer the question any way I wish to prevent people from makintg what I think is a mistake. If this was a Bose VS B&O thread people would recommend other speakers.