Paradigm S8 vs. Sonus Faber Cremona M

"I have heard of Krell, Ayre and Bryston, is that what I should be looking for?"

Those brands offer very different types of sound, especially Ayre compared with the other 2. What kind of sound do you like? The warm, lush, silky, romantic? Or the cooler, clean, dynamic, extra-detailed, slamming, rockin' kind? Not that those are all necessarily opposites, but things tend to group that way.

What are your musical tastes?

If you're willing to put down MC601 kind of coin and am looking to Sonus Faber for speakers, I suggest you aim higher at Elipsas, Amatis, or Guarneris. How big is your room?

Out of the brands mentioned, this is how I'd categorize them in general. The MAC that has output coupling transformers (Autoformers) have highs that can be too mellow or soft sounding, in comparison to a neutral amp. Krell can be at the opposite end, having too much highs, too revealing, or some may refer to them as bright sounding. Bryston would fit in the middle somewhere, and lean towards being neutral, and may be one to consider. Ayre is also in the middle of this group, but sort of a more refined version of a Bryston. Sometimes people will say the Ayre may be a little bright in some systems, but I don't think it is the case all of the time. This is my personal take on these. Again, this is just in general, and going by memory for some. Also my use of neutral is for the highs and lows, being closer to flat, nothing added, or taken away. Every brand may have some products that stray from their more common sound, or house sound.

The paradigms are very linear (look up the freq response) and shouldn't sound harsh or hot by any means. That said take a look back at your room and source material. You may be surprised with how revealing these speakers are.

Paradigm is pretty big and can spend less money to make a better speaker with more buying power and research. The S8s will hang with the best of them.

01-31-12: Docks
The paradigms are very linear (look up the freq response) and shouldn't sound harsh or hot by any means

I haven't seen a good review test of this model done by someone like Stereophile to verify that. Their other models seem to have a history of it, from what I see, and hear.

http://www.soundstagemagazine.com/measurements/paradigm_signature_s8/

That's the S8s tested in a true chamber.