2. speakers
  3. 1117755299

B&W JM Labs or Paradigm Signature S8.....Help?

I am deciding on a new pair of speakers. I think I have narrowed it down to:

1. JM Labs electra 936
2. Jm Labs electra 946
3. B & W 803D
4. Paradigm Signature S8

I understand that the JM 946 and B&W 803D cost about $2k more than the JM 936 and S8's.

My questions are:

1. Which will give the best sound quality in a small/mediam size room. (14' x 20' x 10'high) Hard wood floors.

2. I have not decided on amps yet. (different thread, maybe later)

3. I listen to 2 channel CD's and Home theater.

4. I have not heard any of these speakers. I am only going by specifications and reviews

Has anyone heard all of these speakers to compair?

Thanks for any help,

Danny
dffhogs
biomimetic
252 posts
 
Another thing to consider - customer service. Excellent with both Paradigm and JM Labs - some trade-in upgrades in my experience. Not so with B&W and Von Schweikert - plus bad people to deal with just generally.
mimberman
299 posts
 
I doubt many on Agon have heard these, since they're relatively new, but JM Lab did release their Electra 1000BE series based off the success of the 937BE limited edition with the Berylium tweeter that's trickled down from the Utopia experience. Those may be worth a shot (and have been getting good initial reviews, esp. comapred to the 803d) over here in the UK. I'm personally not blown away by B & K, but there are many here who see the magic so I guess trust your ears.
cemoore
11 posts
 
I have the JMLab Micro Utopia Be's with a Velodyne DD15 subwoofer. I think this is a spectacular system for the money. Much better to my ears than the B&W 803Ds or P'digm S8s.

I use these in a 5.1 system with the Utopia Center and 907s for surrounds. The Micro Utopias sound better than the 907s, noticeably so.

I also have the B&W 802Ds in a stereo only system in another room. I haven't ABed them side by side but the Micros/DD15 for stereo listening sounds so good that I use the systems pretty much interchangeably.
saki70
907 posts
 
I have compared the JM Lab Electra line to the Paradigm line. The JM Labs are much better. Before you decide on an
Electra 936 or 946, listen to the 926 as well. I did and did not think that the price difference was justified. Imo.
The Electra's have been called the poor mans Utopia's.
More to discover