Paradigm Persona series

Prof, 

Again we get that these speakers aren't for you, but have to ask what was the gear, electronics and source driving them?

We have found that with the right electronics and digital the speakers can sound extraordinary, but with the wrong gear they are not going to be a good sounding speaker, 

The Paradigms are very particular in what you use them with, we have found using them with warmer electronics, and or a dac will bring them alive.

Based on your previous likes with Devores which are very organic but highly colored loudspeakers we would think that you would not find the Personas to your taste.

It is like the Vandersteen or Harbeth guys, they are not going to like a Rockport, or  a Persona. 

Dave and Troy
Audio Doctor NJ Persona dealers

Yes I know audiotroy. As I said, I disagree. I’ve heard the Persona’s in 4 different set ups now, all different gear, and a speaker’s "personality" does not radically change (unless you put some incredibly colored tube amp on it or something).


They are really excellent speakers. But this is a thread in which to discuss them, and if I have further encounters or thoughts, I post them.  If you think for some strange reason I’m posting too many comments on them, compare the number of your posts continually extolling your opinion, vs my meager contribution ;-)


And btw I don’t just like "colored" speakers (and the Persona’s certainly aren’t the most neutral measuring speakers out there - that top end peak!). I also love the Joseph Audio speakers which, especially the Pulsar, measure more neutral than the Persona floor standing speakers.


I was a fan of Dunlavy, again measured very neutral. I also own Waveform speakers (very neutral), Thiel, even the Harbeth SuperHL5 plus I owned and enjoyed, and despite some like to disparage their cabinet design, JA said of the measurements: "measured performance is beyond reproach." And an Aussie mag stated they had the most evenly balanced frequency range from bottom to top than they’d ever measured. And to me even those made instruments and voices sound significantly more natural to me. (Again, I don’t make any claim that anyone else should feel the same).


And of course I’ve heard a great many other speakers that measure everywhere from colored to extremely neutral. So I have a pretty good yardstick.


It’s ok if someone doesn’t fall in love with the Persona’s. It really is :-)

@david_ten ,

That's cool, to each his/her own.  I wasn't trying to convince you. 

I was just saying that I think in ideal world better to get speakers first, if possible, although I didn't do it that way either for various reasons.  Maybe the next time I go through the ordeal I will try to follow my own advice, haha.

Cheers

AT, you are very wrong about VAndy guys not liking some of the Rockport speakers.  I've heard the Personas many many times with great gear.  They are tipped up on the high end and even dealers who sell many have said the same.  That's the sound that you are selling and many are buying and enjoying.  There' room for everyone.

That said, someone I know has a pair of Rockport Lyra's paired with over 400k worth of source, electronics, cords, cables etc...  They sounded very inviting with the reel to reel.  They weren't fatiguing in teh way the Persona's are to MY ears.  Do I still like Vandersteen's Sub Nine system with his own amps?  Yes, I do especially when paired with the Ayre KXR preamp or the Audio Research pre or the D'Agastino pre.  

What you have to realize is that many of us enjoy a specific speaker line or two, but can still enjoy a different flavor of sound.  I just don't like things that fatigue me and hurt my ears (not picking on the Paradigm's, just that type of sound in general).  Heck, I love the Harbeth's.  Can enjoy them all day long, but they don't do many things that I need on a daily basis when spending this kind of money.  JMHO 

@djverne

According to the NRC anechoic measurements the Persona’s 7 inch midrange starts beaming around 1500hz. The driver is crossed over at 2K. The Harman anechoic chamber also measured a sound power drop of about 5db in the 1.5-2k range in their measurements of the Persona.

https://www.soundstagenetwork.com/images/stories/loudspeakermeasurements/paradigm_persona_b/fr_456075.gif

A lot of companies won’t mate a 1" tweeter with a large woofer because of the directivity issues it causes.