Choosing Paradigm reference 40's v 2&3, 60's v 2&3

Glenn,
I have no info for you - just wanted to mention that I am looking forward to reading responses to your thread. Just like you, I'm shopping for a pair of front mains, and my short list is the 4 Paradigms you mentioned. I'm also using a Rava sub. I'm leaning toward the studio 40 v.3 today, but tomorrow...

Great review Quadophile,Yeah you are certainly correct as for as the equipment goes.These speakers love some good amplification.I auditioned the Paradigm 20v3s at home with a 585 adcom limited audition and a Dared tube preamp.Having owned a near full range speakers(25hz tp 20khz) for over a year...I didn't expect great bass extention from a monitor.Well I was wrong ..the adcom controls the cone on these so well I was blown away with it's performance.The midrange on these speakers just rolls over you and covers my listening room!I could stand 3 feet to the outside of this speaker left or right and still locate the center image.I haven't heard many speakers that could do that!Unfortunetly they only graced my living room for 48 hrs and were sold to a friend that wanted them.But I have ordered another pair and await their arrival! The tweeter on these are smoother than I expected.Also being a fan of silk dome tweeters I find these hold their own very well.Only in initial breakin did I detect harshness but givin 15 hrs there was a big improvement.I know they will improve up to 200hrs or so like any other speaker.Accept for movies I find these sufficient for music.The bass extention is below 40 hz in my room.I can still feel the pluck of Christian McBrides bass strings..so I'am good to go!

Low level resolution and depth are extremely good with these speakers as well.That new 7 inch midrange driver is something else..very fast and clean.I'am also a fan of the Martin Logans having auditioned them recently.I find the Paradigms hold their own with depth and space,While providing a better driver integration.The speakers will disappear even in the smallest room!

The friend who bought my pair is a big fan of B&W.He admitted he was nearly speechless after getting them home and hooking them up.And said from memory they more than held their own against the 805s!A very expensive monitor.

V2 and V3 are sonically very similar. The v3s may be a bit smoother where the v2 a little more forward in the treble. The 40s image better than the 60s but obviously have less authority at the bottom. All the Studio series offer a lot for the money. IMO they are a solid buy. You will need a good front end and authoritative amplification to bring out their best.

Comparing Paradigm studios to Signature B & Ws is not exactly apples to apples. Not only are the Sigs sonically superior they are many many times more expensive. You would be better served auditioning the CDM or 700 series from B & W. However, they will be approx. 25% to 50% more expensive than similar Paradigm studios, but nowhere near as expensive as the Sigs.

If your budget runs from B & W Sigs to Paradigm studios…there are tons of great speakers to chose from. Silverline, Dynaudio, Meadowlark, Soliloqy, Von Schweikert, Joseph Audio, Green Mountain, etc. etc.

Listen to as many as you can.

Gmood1,

Patricia Barber's CD's sound fantastic with all those notes from the Acoustic Bass which Michael Arnopol plays. I am sure you are familiar with her music.

One of the most dynamic recording I heard on these was Keb Mo's Slow Down particularly the 3rd track. This particular CD has the bass slam which can shake and rattle ones bones. Overall an excellent recording.

I would be very curious to know what your opinion is once you have heard them after the break-in period is over. I read somewhere that LS3/5A' take five years to break-in to sound right I cannot be sure as mine are 1978 models. Do you think they have broken-in? LOL

Happy Listening.

Quadophile,

It's funny you mention those cds.I own both and have listened to them with the 20s.They really do justice to these recordings.Well...I figured if I liked them before complete breakin.I will love them after they have loosened up!The new pair just came in today.So they will get the breakin they deserve.

I admit I have bashed Paradigm a time or two in the past.But after owning speakers nearly 4 times the cost of these.I can honestly say they didn't give me 4 times the perfomance!
It is hard to judge a speaker unless you can do it at home and hear how your room interacts with them.I'am glad I gave these a chance and brought them home.I see nor hear a need to spend more on a monitor!

Yeah, Quad I think those LS3/5As are broken in now!
HeeHeeHeeHaHa

Happy Listening!