Paradigm Persona series

Thanks for responding. Actually the more I read about these the more I think it would be too risky to buy without listening. And to answer your question I don't think I have a way to audition them. This thread might be the one I read a few months ago that had a lot of people either loving them or not so much. Then I saw a pre-owned set for sale that got me interested. There's a different thread here where everybody pretty much babbled incoherently how unbelievably great they were. I think some linked to some reviews that may have been skewed in Paradigm's favor. One speaker that nobody seems to ever talk badly about is the TAD stand mount. Maybe I should just be happy with what I have and keep in the back of my mind that someday under the right circumstances I may be able to get a set of those

I would take the TAD ME-1 over the Persona 3F. I would take the Persona 5F over the ME-1. I have auditioned all 3 when I was looking to buy. I would use my KRELL K-300i integrated on both lines because they could both use some warmth.

One of the worst auditions I had was with a 9H. Very disappointing that that dealer had no clue about setting up the speaker, he had the bass cranked up to 11.

TAD is no longer sold in the USA.

I auditioned the Usher Mini Dancer (non-diamond). I thought it sounded very good but the TAD ME-1 is much better. I also liked the KEF Reference 1 over the Usher Mini Dancer. The TAD ME-1 over the KEF Reference 1.

Check out the Yamaha NS5000 with some neutral gear. I liked it the best of all the speakers I have listed.

Thanks yyzsantabarbara for the very thorough response. Of all of the speakers you mentioned I think only the Kef and Persona 3F would be speakers I could consider to purchase new. All of the rest would have to be pre-owned to keep the price at 10k or under. Do you not think the Yamaha and the Persona 5F would be too much in a 9x12 room? Also would you feel confident buying TAD knowing they are no longer distributed here? Thinking if I ever needed a replacement part or something. Any thoughts of Dynaudio or Canton? Canton also seems like a company with little or no us presence. Thanks again

I recently called the dealer where I demoed the TAD ME-1 and after I heard they are no longer distributed in the USA I crossed them off my list.

The Yamaha and Persona 5F (naked) would be too much for such a room. I have the same room and I have an equally (well almost) large speaker, the Thiel C3.7, in this room. It was my mission to make it work in this small space. I now have it sounding amazing on my ROON streaming via physical sound panels from GIK Acoustics. I also have software DSP using Convolution files added into ROON Server. These DSP files were created by Mitch Barnett of Accurate Sound in Canada. I measured my room with tools recommended by Mitch and gave him the resulting data files. He cam back with the DSP Convolution file(s). I choose the one that was the best fit for me. Interestingly, when I recently got a CODA #8 amp I switched to the Convolution file that did not have a slight bass bump. 

You could make the Persona 5F and Yamaha NS5000 work in this space with the same technique as I used. However, I would suggest the following more appropriate speakers for you room to make your life easier. I wanted something inappropriate for the small space.

- Magico A1 
- Vivid Kaya 45 (very expensive)
- KEF Reference 1 (I would wait for Meta version if buying new)
- Persona 3F (need warm gear if you listen all day like me)
- KEF LS50 + KEF KC62 sub 

I have the KEF LS50 + KC62 system in a large room driven by a Topping pre90 and Benchmark AHB2 monos and it sounds very good. It would be incredible in my small office.

I was never moved by  Dynaudio. I heard they top of the line stuff about a decade ago. Very expensive back then. I have not heard Canton.