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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
audiotroy's avatar
audiotroy
3,940 posts
 
We can understand why you like the Maggies, they are much softer in the midrange, and present a much bigger overall size of image. 

Personally we have been through the panel world with Quads, and Maggies and they never sounded as realistic as the best dynamic loudspeakers to us. 

Do love the Maggie ribbon tweeter. You would have loved the Kef Blades which are very realistic sounding without the upper octave issues that require careful matching with the Personas.

The good thing is the big Maggies do sound wonderful for big orchesteral works. 

Best speakers ever for this kind of music Scaena Line arrays, except they cost $60k.

Good luck with the Maggies Pwinson. 

Dave and Troy
Audio Doctor NJ 
ahofer
225 posts
 
I heard the Kef Reference 5s at Dave’s with the tracks above, and I agree they give a very solid large orchestra presentation, and a lovely chamber music image as well.

Partly for reasons of size, they aren’t going in my LR. The Harbeths don’t quite do the scale of the Kefs, but I felt they were a bit more revealing of instrument timbre. I also thought they were better at low volume. And I will have some placement options in my apartment.

I had Maggies years ago. The image unsteadiness frustrated me, not to mention the obvious degradation problems with cats and sunshine.
jafant's avatar
jafant
20,674 posts
 
pwhinson

Nice score! on the Magnepan 20.7 loudspeakers. Keep us posted here as you massage these speakers into your room and existing system.
I would be interested to learn how much DSP is needed compared to the 9H model? Also, are you still experiencing that digital artifact/glare as previously reported?

Happy Listening!
audiotroy's avatar
audiotroy
3,940 posts
 
Yes Ahofer, the Kef Ref 5 did sound very realistic, you could have gotten the smaller Ref 3 same sound but smaller in size. 

The difference between the two setups you heard is totally different electronics a tube preamp and a solid state amp is going to sound totally different than the integrated amplifier we demoed.

Was hoping you would swing back and then once we zeroed in on the speakers then we would have explored the range of electronics we have  which includes one of the best tube preamplifiers ever made the Manly 300b preamp with a suitable matching amplifier. 

Dave and Troy
Audio Doctor NJ 
bill_k
943 posts
 
With all due respect, as a dealer for Manley Labs I think they'd appreciate it if you spelled their name correctly when promoting their gear.
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