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Want to Upgrade Speakers from Paradigm

I have had my Paradigm Signature 6 version 3's since 2012 and I am getting the upgrade bug.  The honest main motivation is I am tired of their looks: outrigger feet; the gray plates; cherry veneer.  I do like their slim low profile.   I am pretty happy with the sound but I am sure they are not the end all of speakers.  I spent $6K for them and adjusted for inflation, that is about $7.2K today.  However, I believe high end audio does not follow inflation and increases at a much higher rate.  So my question is how much in your opinion would I need to spend today to better the sound.  I really like the looks of the Sonus Fabers such as the Olympica Nova 3 which retail at $13,500.  How would my Paradigms compare to them or maybe Revels?

Thank you!

Rest of my equipment is Benchmark DAC3 and AHB2 amp with Macbook as streamer.
adurerca
adurerca OP
38 posts
 
I live in a small house with an open floor plan where the kitchen, dining and living room are one big room.  The stereo is tucked away in a corner at the end of the kitchen cabs.  The speakers are only 4'-6" apart on tile floors.  The dining table is directly in front of the stereo area.  There is a solid slab of marble on the same backwall which is the kitchen backsplash and ends right before the speakers.  The room has vaulted ceilings, like a tent.

A pretty horrible acoustic situation.  I listen mostly at lower volumes (until the wife leaves the house) and at low volumes I miss out on bass and nice details.  Really not sure what I would want to improve.
freediver
1,222 posts
 
^^^OMG you could NOT have a worse miss match IMO than hard acoustics & Paradigm speakers...
 If I were you I would
1: keep the speakers & get a REALLY good headphone system for low volume listening..
2:Change whatever amp you have to a Sugden A21SE &  get a pair of Fritz Carbon 7SE or whatever his latest version is...I just spent 2 WONDERFUL weeks with the A21Signature version(22wpc.) & am now converted away from tubes to Pure Class A Single Ended SS...What sold me most was LOW Volume listening,simply amazing...The Carbon 7SE's are a darkish,very warm signature speaker,it will lighten up in your acoustics & truly shine with the Sugden...
freediver
1,222 posts
 
So I've been reading up on your amplifier.On paper it should provide excellent low volume listening..One thing comes to mind is that it's distortion levels are non existent & the amp may come off as very dry sounding,which is not a good match either with the Paradigms,add in the hard acoustics & IMO you have a sonic disaster.With your DAC/Amp & Acoustics I would really really look at something like the Fritz or something from Sonus Faber..You certainly need a speaker on the rich/warm side of neutral in your situation... 
adurerca OP
38 posts
 
Thank you Freediver as I kind of suspected what you are telling me:  that I have a sonic disaster and acoustic nightmare . 

My Benchmark dac-amp combo is great especially in this weather.  I did have a Pass XA30.8 but the heat input into my small house was ridiculous so I am not going back to Class A.  That is why I am rethinking my speakers.  
m-db's avatar
m-db
994 posts
 
After Studio 100's versions 1 and 2 then S8's, two preamplifiers and an embarrassing number of amplifiers I realized I'm one of the dumbest hackiest persons here to make a speaker suggestion.

If you're able to keep your Paradigm's I'm certain you'll be able to hear their signature house sound by direct comparison. Within the first minutes even my family could hear it. While not as prominent, I heard it in their newest high dollar line. 
To be fare the used replacements were quite a bit more expensive but its been years since I've spent any significant money on equipment. All the electronics I went through were actually quite good with the replacements. I kept the tubes.

Good luck with your journey.  
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