Paradigm Persona 3 vs 5 vs Monitor Audio


I just spent a couple of hours comparing the Paradigm Persona 3 and 5. The 3 sounded very good and I was sceptical about whether the 5, for one additional speaker, was really worth 70% more. I expected it to be very similar to the 3 with some added bass. After hearing the 5, I think it offers more than the additional bass. As good as the 3 sounded, the 5 had added depth and realism, even on music without that much bass. I listened to St. Saens 3rd Symphony and Beethoven’s 7th (2nd movement) to hear the bass and Eva Cassidy, Cecilia Bartoli and Brahms Piano Trio #1 for other characteristics.

The 3 is well priced compared the competition and certainly is a good choice. If you can afford the extra $7000, the 5 is definitely better--to me worth the significant price differential.

 To complicate my choice, we then visited another dealer to hear the Monitor Audio pl300ii and it’s an excellent speaker too if you like what I do--wide soundstage, good imaging, realistic rendition of individual instruments. It’s not an easy decision between the Paradigm 5 and the Monitor. To confuse myself further, I’m going tomorrow to hear the third speaker on my short list--the KEF Reference 3 which I’ve liked in prior hearings. I hope to make a decision after that.



brownsf
What’s a joke is not respecting an opinion that’s different than yours. It’s a subjective "hobby", we hear differently and have different preferences. So, if I post a lot highlighting how great Personas are that’s great, but post five bad things about Personas the forum’s a joke. Why participate in something that you feel is a joke? I’ve actually heard the 7Fs and 9Hs. I can hear why some love them, but I can also hear why some don’t.
He has found nearly every Persona thread and added his opinion. Nothing wrong with respecting his opinion but it’s obvious he is targeting Paradigm on purpose to make some point. That is unethical. 
There are several that have found every Persona, Magico, Wilson, etc thread and said they're the best thing since slice bread. Are they unethical also? An opinion that's different from yours or mine doesn't mean it's unethical. 
This should be common sense, but the fact that he just joined and only posted these things is more than obvious.  

Also, simple industry knowledge tells you that companies/stores do stuff like this all the time.

Even weirder is how you have always been anti persona and HAPPEN to piggyback off all of his posts.  
I'm not anti anything in audio. I have as much a right to post my opinion as you do. I'll count how many positive post you have about personas compared to my negative post about them. I think we both know how the numbers will look. I don't trash a company because I don't like the sound of something they make. I just posted, " I’ve actually heard the 7Fs and 9Hs. I can hear why some love them, but I can also hear why some don’t." I actually think they're good at what they do, but requires careful matching of components, just like all speakers do. Doesn't sound anti-persona to me:). I just don't believe in absolutes in audio, as you appear to believe.