Paradigm Signature S-2, S-4:Good, bad, indifferent

S2, S4 good.

I stumbled onto a listen last year - had gone to my favorite audioholics emporium looking for something else. They said "come on downstairs and give a listen", and I wound up grinning ear to ear. I'd kinda thought the Sig series was a bit of higher-$$$ hype, but I first heard the S2's that day in the same room w/ all the B&W biggies and they more than held their own. Well, to my ears, that is. You really, really have to audition for your own ears and preferences (unless, of course, you'd prefer to just buy them and send 'em to me! ;~).

I can't comment on really extensive A/B compares w/ other monitor-style speakers - I just haven't had the chance for long term comparisons. I thought the Sigs did fine w/ Mac (and later Anthem) driving them, so I'd guess you'll be just fine w/ your electronics. The little S2's surprised me so much that I probably expected way, way too much more out of the S4s when I later heard those. Both are quite good, I thought the S4s maybe had a bit more bottom, etc. (but that was maybe/probably part expectations & part poor memory - couldn't A/B the 2 & 4) but in the dealer's listening room (not a huge barn) the S2s more than held their own w/o a sub (mostly jazz, not slamming rock for that audition). W/ your DD-15 either should be killers. Good luck!

I currently use Paradigm Studio 40 v.3. I listened to the S4's with a McIntosh MA-6900 integrated last winter. They sounded considerably better than the Studios. The only thing that kept me from buying them was this stingy little thing called my 2004 IRA contribution. If I was twenty years younger I would be listening to them right now.

I have heard the S-4 and they are excellant. I also heard that S-8 and they were absolutely stunning. Compared to the Studio series, they are such a huge step up that the price difference does not matter. (unless you ain't got the coin!) Seriously, when Stereophile tests them, they'll be Class "A", considering the current Studio 100 V3 is a "B" rating. Where can you get a full range Class "A" speaker in the mid 5K range? (The cabinet woodwork is incredible too)
Back to the S-4. Like the other guys say, go listen, but only if you can afford them, because you'll want 'em.

I spent a lot of time listening to the 2's, 4's and 8's in the same room. There was a very audible difference betwen the 2 and 4 series, and careful blending with the sub is required to get a seamless transition, but the 4's are some of the best satellites I've heard. The S8's were, on their own, stunning. The only other demo I liked better that day were Maggie 20's, and the Paradigms humbled Vandersteen 3's. Had it been in my budget, I'd have gone home with the 8's. They really have a sonic winner here.

I posted here some time ago on my impressions of the two speakers. Since then I have had a third listen to the S-4's, again in comparison to the Revel M22's. The session was about an hour, again, and I went through different kinds of material. As stunned as I was when I first heard the S-4's, this time I concluded that the Revel M22 was actually the better speaker overall. It has the more accurate midrange. The S-4 may have slightly better imaging, but that was inconclusive because of the showroom's limitations. Male vocals were much more accurate on the M22. Surprisingly, the M22 doesn't lag behind the S-4 in bass extension or slam. My impressions: highs: tie; midrange: clear win for M22; lows: tie. Victory for Revel M22. I was in the process of purchasing a pair myself when I was persuaded by testimonial (by those who have heard Revels and Merlins) that Merlin TSM's were better yet, and bought a pair. I'll know for sure when they arrive. Unless you want to do something similar, the S-4 is an excellent choice, but the M22 is less expensive, and in my opinion, the better speaker.