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Paradigm 3f, KEF reference 3, Monitor Audio PL300II

I've been auditioning speakers in the $15,000 range and am almost ready to decide.  My short list right now is the KEF Reference 3 and the Monitor Audio PL300II.  I'm planning to hear the Paradigm Persona 3f this weekend.  I've also heard speakers from B and W, Wilson, Wilson Benesch and Proac but none made the final cut.  I really expected to be blown away by the Proacs and, while they were very good, I prefer the KEF and Monitor Audio. Unless the Paradigm is even better, it will be a tough call. They both seem to have great imaging and soundstage, reasonable bass and pretty life like presentations.  We all know how hard it is to compare and contrast speakers, especially when there's a large time gap between listening sessions. The Monitor Audio dealer has offered to bring them to my house, set them up and let me live with them for a week at no cost. Sounds like a great offer but I don't want to accept if I'm leaning more towards the KEFs.  Any helpful advice would be appreciated.  
puli
twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,318 posts
 
@verdantaudio Please elaborate on the ways in which they are "radically different".  As you're a designer, I'm interested in your "take" on this issue.
verdantaudio's avatar
verdantaudio
1,500 posts
 
It is ultimately a matter of taste and neither speaker is bad.  But, the Paradigms tend to be a bit more forward compared to the MA,s.  Audiotroy has discussed this extensively in another thread.  

The Personas are great but will pair well with warmer amps like Pass or Conrad Johnson.  Audiotroy has a relevant POV on matching.  The MAs are going to be less forward.  A friend has amazingly good results with Parasound JC-1s.  

if you were to pair the JC-1s with the Paradigms it will lead to a fatiguing system.  CJs with the MA Platinums will be warm, maybe a hair dark.  

the difference is driven by the tweeters and the way the crossovers are designed.  Also, historically my POV is that Paradigm has a forward house sound.  This really shows up in the frequency response curves.  Look at the measurements of the Person3F vs. the MA Platinums.  Sound and Vision and Stereophile respectively.  It is obvious above 10khz the difference in sound profile.  

I am far from obsessed with measurements but in this case what you see is what you get.  Neither is inherently good or bad.  You just need to be aware.  If you are building a system from scratch, no biggie.  If you want to use existing equipment, one speaker may work much better than another.  

  
urbie19
110 posts
 
I agree the monitor audio platinum's are great for long listening sessions and the reason for that is is because they're not harsh bright and in your face and they make everything sound natural like it is in real life which isn't harsh grating or bright.
ricred1
2,053 posts
 
verdantaudio,

The Audiogon community would benefit greatly if more of us responded with the knowledge and responsibility that you display with your posts. You answered the question by describing differences without degrading either speaker or anyone. I really believe that some members make comments about components that haven't listened to or haven't listened to under the right conditions. High-end speakers are chameleon like and can sound drastically different depending on the room and other components associated with the system. 
verdantaudio's avatar
verdantaudio
1,500 posts
 
ricred1 - Thank you for the kind words.  I am far from perfect in my posts but I do try.  
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