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Paradigm Persona series

I'm beginning to poke around and gather opinions and information about a "super speaker" to replace my aging Thiel 2.4s.  I like the idea of bass dsp room correction and I am a bit of a point source type imaging nut (thus the Thiels).  So among other choices I've been looking at the Paradigm Persona series specifically the powered 9H with room correction for the bass.  However I'm skeptical of the "lenses" i.e. pierced metal covers on the midrange and tweeter specifically because of Paradigm's claim that such screens "screen out" "out of phase" musical information.  The technology in the design seems superlative but I just can't get past the claim re out of phase information and the midrange and tweeter covers.  What could possibly be the science behind this claim?  It just seems like its putting a halloween moustache on the mona lisa given the fact that the company is generally a technology driven company.
pwhinson
ctsooner's avatar
ctsooner
2,480 posts
 
I know that Gryphon will stop a dealer from selling their gear if they discount it.  I know that most will only buy 'discounted' gear.  In the end, that's what the real price of the gear is.  20% off gear is a lot for a company to give.  It's very rare that any high end company to offer that type of discount from the company.  


What I have read you can trade in any speaker regardless of brand or size will get you 20%.  That's 20% off the MSRP and to ME devalues the product.  I"m happy for those who get great deals on audio.  Enjoy the music!! :). 
mr_m
1,900 posts
 
Vandersteen awhile back offered to give people a $500 discount on any new Vandersteen speaker that was their Treo Ct. or higher with a trade of any Series 2 speakers.
pwhinson OP
158 posts
 
OK, I’ve now tried to put into words my reaction to this speaker having lived with it in my own space for four days. Its a bit lengthy. I’ve measured the speaker in-room from here to kingdom come numerous different ways with pink noise and frequency sweeps and think I now have a good idea of how it sounds in MY ROOM. Your mileage may vary. I’ve put all my remarks in a pdf here:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/7j9fg6ladl2ttjw/Paradigm9hReview.pdf?dl=0
audiotroy's avatar
audiotroy
3,853 posts
 
There is a difference between a dealer who is not supposed to discount a product that highly, vs a manufactuer. 

In the case of Paradigm they routinely offer promotions, they are a very large company and can afford to do so. The dealer is getting something off of their invoice so it makes the sale more palitable.

As per routinely offering high discounts, most dealers will not and those that do can lose their franchises,  also it depends on the product certain very high end loudspeakers, not Kef nor Paradigm, but  have a higher than standard profit margin which allows for more discounting if that dealer wants to flaunt what they are actually supposed to offer their clients. 

Hope that clairfys this issue. 

Dave and Troy
Audio Doctor NJ Persona dealers
ctsooner's avatar
ctsooner
2,480 posts
 
Thanks Dave.  My own personal thoughts are that I'd never buy from a company that does this on a regular basis unless I got that same type of discount when they weren't running a promo.  Why would you want to take that kind of a loss?  

I know they do it, but I never felt it was good business for those paying full or close to full price as many do.  I have a local dealer (as you know) who is a great guy. I've even purchased a pair of Paradigms from him years ago, but it was at 30% off.  Daughter likes them for her parties at college as she blasts them lol.
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