Thanks for all of the terrific feedback. Taking @douglas_schroeder @roxy54 and others' advice I did try swapping out components to see if it was an amplification preference.
I have done this exercise before, but it has been a while, so I brought the Revel bookshelf speakers into the other listening room to do some testing. (The Paradigms are too big for me to move by myself, so I haven't had a chance to do the converse yet.) The results somewhat surprised me.
It turns out Douglas et al were right on a number of counts:
First of all, though I did still prefer the character of the Revels, the differences were not as extreme and pronounced as I had recalled when matched up side-by-side with the same electronics.
Second, I also found that the Paradigms did sound much closer to what I wanted when paired with a different amplifier. I tried powering them with a Peachtree Audio Decco 65 and they presented a much more transparent sound with greater separation of instruments and more deliberate positioning in the soundstage. I had not tried this in the past since my receiver (an NAD T758) and the Peachtree integrated amp only deliver 60-65 wpc, whereas the Adcom supplies a hefty 300 wpc. Indeed, I would still want more power than the Peachtree can deliver, but the difference in the character of the sound was unmistakable. [I will also follow up with the Anthem receiver which is normally paired with the Revels, but there is a lot of plugging & unplugging that has to be done for that to happen!]
I think the other differences I heard between the Paradigms and Revels can be chalked up to what everyone else has mentioned -- much newer, well-designed speakers and room treatment.
I have already learned a lot and there are many opportunities to tinker and upgrade (and spend money). I think my next step will be to audition a few amplifiers before making a move. In a totally emotional and irrational way, I'd love to make the Paradigms work (and it feels like I can), just because I've wanted them to for so long, but there is clearly a world of options out there.
I have done this exercise before, but it has been a while, so I brought the Revel bookshelf speakers into the other listening room to do some testing. (The Paradigms are too big for me to move by myself, so I haven't had a chance to do the converse yet.) The results somewhat surprised me.
It turns out Douglas et al were right on a number of counts:
First of all, though I did still prefer the character of the Revels, the differences were not as extreme and pronounced as I had recalled when matched up side-by-side with the same electronics.
Second, I also found that the Paradigms did sound much closer to what I wanted when paired with a different amplifier. I tried powering them with a Peachtree Audio Decco 65 and they presented a much more transparent sound with greater separation of instruments and more deliberate positioning in the soundstage. I had not tried this in the past since my receiver (an NAD T758) and the Peachtree integrated amp only deliver 60-65 wpc, whereas the Adcom supplies a hefty 300 wpc. Indeed, I would still want more power than the Peachtree can deliver, but the difference in the character of the sound was unmistakable. [I will also follow up with the Anthem receiver which is normally paired with the Revels, but there is a lot of plugging & unplugging that has to be done for that to happen!]
I think the other differences I heard between the Paradigms and Revels can be chalked up to what everyone else has mentioned -- much newer, well-designed speakers and room treatment.
I have already learned a lot and there are many opportunities to tinker and upgrade (and spend money). I think my next step will be to audition a few amplifiers before making a move. In a totally emotional and irrational way, I'd love to make the Paradigms work (and it feels like I can), just because I've wanted them to for so long, but there is clearly a world of options out there.