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April 2017 review of the Paradigm Persona 9H A home run for Paradigm!

I have been following all the contested threads about the new Paradigm Persona line of speakers and it seems that many people are having difficulties in believing that Paradigm, a company well respected for value loudspeakers could produce a product that can rival the best exotic loudspeakers on the market.

The review came out today in the Absolute Sound April 2017 issue and what my ears have told me is true, is true. 
John Atkinson, compared the Pardigm 9H $35k to the Magico S7MK 2 $58k and found that Personas to be in the same class as these highly thought of prestigious loudspeakers. I think I read on one  of the threads that a Magico owner was saying that wasn't possible!

I am not an expert, on loudspeakers, I do know what sounds real to me, and when I heard these speakers my jaw hit the floor. Stunning realism. I could almost reach out and touch the Beatles, and Miles Davis. Huge sound stage, totally transparent, and smooth, with dynamite bass. 

At this point I am torn between the Legacy Audio Signatures and The Paradigm Persona 3F which shares the same driver technology of the 9H but costs $10k, I am lucky to be working with a dealer that represents both of these awesome lines of loudspeakers. 

It seems to me that many audiophiles need to open their minds and stop being so brand loyal to the point of obsession,  and start looking at the sound, and only the sound. I know for me as a professional photographer, I have gone back and forth between Canon and Nikons, and I love them both but am wedded to neither. Why in the audio world do people have such furvor over what they buy with the belief that their product and only their product is the best? In the camera world it seems much more fluid with people changing camera brands without ever starting a written riot if someone dares to bring up another brand or question their choice. 



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twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,318 posts
 

@ctsooner is entirely correct.  Imagine the attitude most companies would take to the reviewer who panned their product, and to the mag that published it.  Are they going to be queuing up to lend other $$$ units for them to review?  Likewise other companies, when a reviewer gets a reputation for publishing unfavorable commentary, how many companies are going to risk a review from that person?  Reviewers, mags and companies are locked in a symbiotic relationship, wherein the companies provide, rent-free, long-term expensive loaners.  How are they going to feel when that gets repaid in a certain way?

BTW, that's why many (not all) reviewers also shy away from comparative reviews.  Even if they like product A and B, if they say A is better, what does that do to B's sales?  There's only a certain number of punters in the market for that item, and this kind of review can literally sink a product, and occasionally a company.

Paradigm exemplifies a certain "modern" sound apparently aimed for by not a few current speaker companies, large and small, and which has little to do with the long-term, non-fatiguing enjoyment of music.

Finally, even if those models by Thiel and Vandersteen are similar in design (are they?), I greatly doubt they sound anything like the same.

yyzsantabarbara
4,917 posts
 
There are quite few review sites that compare the products under review with other similar items. My favorite site is the very popular Soundstage.com. I like almost all the reviewers writing there and they also answer email.

https://hometheaterhifi.com/ also does comparisons within a price range. Even Stereophile in the recent Bartok DAC was comparing it with a Mytek.

I get the feeling that there are certain PUNTERS for brands on A’gon. What I hear and what people say on here about certain products do not match.

Here are a couple of sites that pan products. Heck even Stereophile did that to the Bryston 7B-SST amp (Fremer) and yet Bryston still goes back to Stereophile.

http://www.10audio.com/paradigm_persona-b.htm (Persona B)

http://www.audiodrom.net/cs/ (KEF Blade test with a inadequate amp)

I ain't too audio technical, but the Thiel and Vandersteen have the 1st order cross over and they have the sloped profile (for time alignment?). I do not keep track of these specs but there is commentary here on A'gon about the similarities in the design. Like I said above they do not sound the same and I prefer the Thiel.
ctsooner
2,480 posts
 
There is so much more that goes into a component other than specs or similar design.  It's all about execution of design.  Different boxes and ways to dissipate energy, cone and full speaker driver materials and design.  Internal components, crossovers etc..  

I personally didn't like Jim's speakers as they too were fatiguing to me.  Great guy though and a true pioneer.  

It's Paradigms first foray into the higher end.  I feel Vandersteen's 'high end' line starts at Treo.  

It's different strokes as I've always posted on most any thread I post.  I don't put down the 9H's as much as saying they are tipped up on the top end and fatiguing to my ears.  There are many who post and many who don't who feel the same way.  I know many of their dealers and a bunch have said they sell them because they sell well in the lower lines.  They are in business and have customers who like different sounds.  

Plenty of folks don't listen to the Vandersteen's.  I'm not even saying they should.  Folks do however need to trust their own ears end not listen to the sale's pitches online or at the dealer.  Most don't.  They let themselves get told how to hear and what to listen for and of course there are great demo's for showing off one's speakers (or chose any component).  That's not even peeking behind the curtain.  it's been the norm since I started in the hobby in the late 60's.  


twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,318 posts
 
A long time ago I owned Thiel 2.3's for less than a year, then was seduced into getting the 3.6's by a generous trade-up policy and the quest for more bass.  Biggest single hi-fi mistake I've ever made (and I've made several).  The 3.6's drove me into the arms of single-ended, class A 300B's combined with ProAcs.  Never heard the 3.7's but after the 3.6's never really had any desire to do so.
ctsooner
2,480 posts
 
I had Proac's for many years as did the rest of my family, lol.  I still enjoy their new top floor standers.  
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