Paradigm Studio 60 V5 Fingernails on Chalkboard

I had the same problem with my Studio 60v.5. I was driving them with the Onkyo A-9555 integrated amp (85W @ 8 Ohm) which is a class D amp. The sound was very detailed, lean, and the highs were absolutely painful at times. I don't have any room treatment, but my living room has plenty of soft surfaces to at least partially tame the highs. I decided to try out the Exposure 2010S2 integrated amp, and what an amazing difference it made. All the harshness disappeared, the sound was fuller, instruments and voices had more body and the highs were detailed but not harsh at all. The main culprit was the Onkyo amp, which didn't agree with the speakers at all, although I'm sure that my untreated room contributed to make the highs harsh as well. The Exposure amp and the Studio 60 v5, seem to have a nice synergy and this works very well in my room. I'm absolutely enjoying my system now.
Don't give up on the Paradigms just yet. I suggest you try out the Paradigms with a different amp, and they might just surprise you.

Hi Knik,

Thank you for your one last appeal - it has changed my plan a little bit:

By trying the speakers in different rooms, I've convinced myself that the problem truly does not depend on room and is therefore probably due to some other factor. And, from your comments, as well as those of Kotta, Kbarkamian, Wizard454, Wilsnet, Sprink, and Sthomas12321 the amp is the most likely culprit.

So, having already located some inexpensive AR91s on the net and ordered them, I'll first try those old geezers to see if they'll work for me. If they don't, I'll beg or borrow enough $$ to try in my home, and then purchase, either the Exposure2010S that you recommended, a vintage Sansui that Kotta recommended, the Peachtree Decco 2 that Wilsnet recommended, or the B&K that Sprink and Sthomas12321 recommended as appropriate for the Studio 60s. I feel confident that this approach will work.

Meanwhile, instead of immediately selling off the Studio 60s, I'll pull them off the classifieds for the time being, so I'll have them to try if the AR91s don't work out. And, if the AR91s do turn out to work for me, I can just sell the Studio 60s later at a loss.

I do love experiments and, so far, I'm actually enjoying this audio adventure and learning from all of you. What a great forum! I'll report back here later to let you know how this all plays out.

~Bobagov

My experience is with the V2 Active series. For that era of Paradigm's, it was often recommended not to orient the tweeters directly at listener ear position but up to maybe 30 degrees outside from listener position--small speaker adjustments at a time worked for me. For me it was also best to leave the grill screens on. The Actives have adjustments for High and Low Frequency Contour. In general, I have these zero'd on the High Frequency with slight bump for Low. They are still with me and now in use as surrounds. I may put them back in use as mains and surrounds in a bedroom system--very good speaks. Patience and good luck.

Will

Why not getting a little nad 316 and see how they sound with that?

The Studio 60s need a lot of current, plain and simple. No other way around it. If you're looking for a warmer and smoother presentation, an NAD 375/372/370 integrated can drive them pretty well without breaking the bank. NAD seperates may work a bit better, albeit at a higher cost.

I really like Rotel's seperates with them, but that'll give a bit leaner and brighter sound than I think you're looking for.

The Plinius gear as mentioned should sound fantastic too.

Again, I don't think it's the speakers themselves that ate causing the issue, and it seems like you've played with placement too. I'm very confident it's due to the Denon running out of gas. When amps ate pushed too hard (low impedance in this case), the sound gets pretty shrill among other things.