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Paradigm 3f, KEF reference 3, Monitor Audio PL300II

I've been auditioning speakers in the $15,000 range and am almost ready to decide.  My short list right now is the KEF Reference 3 and the Monitor Audio PL300II.  I'm planning to hear the Paradigm Persona 3f this weekend.  I've also heard speakers from B and W, Wilson, Wilson Benesch and Proac but none made the final cut.  I really expected to be blown away by the Proacs and, while they were very good, I prefer the KEF and Monitor Audio. Unless the Paradigm is even better, it will be a tough call. They both seem to have great imaging and soundstage, reasonable bass and pretty life like presentations.  We all know how hard it is to compare and contrast speakers, especially when there's a large time gap between listening sessions. The Monitor Audio dealer has offered to bring them to my house, set them up and let me live with them for a week at no cost. Sounds like a great offer but I don't want to accept if I'm leaning more towards the KEFs.  Any helpful advice would be appreciated.  
puli
verdantaudio's avatar
verdantaudio
1,500 posts
 
What is your amplification?  That is a HUGE part of this. Are you planning on tailoring your system to these new speakers.  I can't imagine a scenario where you would put the MA Platinum's and the Paradigm Personas into the same system and expect a good result from both.  They are radically different speakers and amplifier matching for them will be critical.  


urbie19
110 posts
 
I hope you're ready to have your ears bleed with the paradigm that beryllium Tweeter is so bright compared to the MPD Twitter of monitor audio it's not even funny and same with that beryllium mid-range the voice sound so hard compared to monitor audio it sound so humid and warm I listen to the 7s and they were terrible compared to the Platinum 200 which I bought.
urbie19
110 posts
 
well if the monitor audio dealer is willing to let you use them with your own system for a week I would take him up on that offer because at least you'll know what the speaker sounds like with your equipment so go ahead and do it you got nothing to lose and I guarantee you you will love them they're amazing sounding speakers.
twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,318 posts
 
@verdantaudio Please elaborate on the ways in which they are "radically different".  As you're a designer, I'm interested in your "take" on this issue.
verdantaudio's avatar
verdantaudio
1,500 posts
 
It is ultimately a matter of taste and neither speaker is bad.  But, the Paradigms tend to be a bit more forward compared to the MA,s.  Audiotroy has discussed this extensively in another thread.  

The Personas are great but will pair well with warmer amps like Pass or Conrad Johnson.  Audiotroy has a relevant POV on matching.  The MAs are going to be less forward.  A friend has amazingly good results with Parasound JC-1s.  

if you were to pair the JC-1s with the Paradigms it will lead to a fatiguing system.  CJs with the MA Platinums will be warm, maybe a hair dark.  

the difference is driven by the tweeters and the way the crossovers are designed.  Also, historically my POV is that Paradigm has a forward house sound.  This really shows up in the frequency response curves.  Look at the measurements of the Person3F vs. the MA Platinums.  Sound and Vision and Stereophile respectively.  It is obvious above 10khz the difference in sound profile.  

I am far from obsessed with measurements but in this case what you see is what you get.  Neither is inherently good or bad.  You just need to be aware.  If you are building a system from scratch, no biggie.  If you want to use existing equipment, one speaker may work much better than another.  

  
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