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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
rlovendale
93 posts
 
If you believe that all amps sound the same, you either have poor hearing or haven't demoed on a decently resolving system. I don't disagree with your second point though, but everyone knows my opinion of the Personas in any event.

Anecdotally, my local dealer who runs a pair of Persona 3Fs in his second system at home says that he is done after a couple hours of listening.
ctsooner's avatar
ctsooner
2,480 posts
 
Interesting read.  One of the most polarizing speakers I've kept up on in recent memory.  Lot's of parallels with the older Wilson's (when David was in charge and his team used that metal dome tweeter) that everyone always claimed need the perfect electronics and cables.  

Just very interesting.  
steve59's avatar
steve59
1,863 posts
 
Speaking for the masses that will look at the measurements of a certain speaker and decide without even listening to like them or not, and there's plenty out there as this thread has shown.
bubba12's avatar
bubba12
469 posts
 
I have heard the Persona 9H and prefer it to the Vandersteens I have heard. I don't own either and have no dog in this fight.
trudat
60 posts
 
@audiotroy

"Most truly high resolution loudspeakers will only come alive with the right group of components."

Says the guy who sells crazy expensive cables, iso-footers etc.

Will a better source, amp, pre-amp and ROOM make a difference, sure. But that goes for just about any speaker above 2k.

But a "great" speaker shouldn’t need uber-expensive everything to outperform a "less resolving" speaker.

Take say, a Focal Sopra 2 and a Persona 7F, and something mid-fi, say a paradigm Halo A21, and a reasonable pre-amp, similar source, room etc.

The 7f should outperform the Sopra 2 hands down at almost 2x the price, without needing uber expensive everything.

In fairness, I don’t care for either speaker. (I think the Focus SE wipes the floor with both to take speakers in your line-up).

Keep shilling bro.

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