Something wrong with the Studio 100 v.2?

Horn...you should also demo Monitor Audio speakers. I have heard very good things about them. Pretty wide price range as well.

http://www.monitoraudio.com/

No bloated bass with mine driven by Bryston 7B STs. In fact, if one thing struck me when I got these speakers it was how low and quick the bass is. They did sound unremarkable with my previous amps, especially when I got a tube line stage. Once I teamed the AR line stage with the Bryston 7B STs the sound became quite good to my ears, with the bass being about as good as I ever heard, this side of systems with powered woofers like Vandy Fives or Infinity Prelude MTS. One thing I do find is that the 100v2s require a good volume to come alive, unlike some of the small monitors. The one thing that 100v2s may lack, somewhat, is a degree of airiness found in some other box speakers, that, normally, lack any deep bass. To get both the airiness and deep bass a substantial amount of money (read way way more than the what the Paradigms cost) is required. I know that Vandy fives up here have a suggested retail price of $18,000 CDN, while the Studio 100 V2s are in the neighbourhood of $3,5000 CDN, with a street price, including sales taxes of 15%, leaving you some change from $3000.

Insofar as imaging, set-up and the room itself (proper size and proper acoustics are of paramount importance. BTW speakers in this price range (and well up from it, I might add) are always a compromise.

As another excellent speaker, Canadian made also, with a great price/performance ratio, I would suggest the Energy Veritas which, for what it's worth was well received by TAS. For openness and bass that is nowhere near bloated you should audition the Magneplanar 3.6R, which does requires a powerful amp though.

For the money....the $1500 Quad 21L simply embarrases the majority of floorstanders I have heard...and in the great Quad tradition...very transparent, open, and unreal 3-d imaging...with tight, musical bass...a must audition...

I can't say that i listened to these speakers under ideal conditions, but i found them to sound somewhat "jumbled" and less than articulate. By "jumbled", it was as if all of the notes being played were dumped into the speaker box, mixed up and then spit out in clumps. There was no real separation of notes or instruments, imaging was lacking and i recall a lack of "crispness" and "air" to the overall presentation. I listened to the Paradigm's at the same time i heard several different JM Labs products. While the JM Labs were far more articulate sounding, all three models that i listened to had a very "woody" or "resonant box" quality that made female vocals sound completely wrong.

Other than that, my impressions of the Studio 100v.2 were that it would work best for rock music at high levels. In order to hit those high levels and do it reasonably well, i think that you would have to have a very sizable amount of power. If this does not sound like something that will interest you, then you should probably move on. From what you've already told us, i think that you already know this deep down inside but just don't know where else to turn. Here's one hint though: trust your ears and your gut instinct. Both are trying to tell you something that you don't want to ignore. Sean
>

PS What kind of music do you like, what gear are you using, etc ????

Give a listen to the Sonus Faber Grand Piano Home and Revel
F-30's. Those are in a higher price bracket than the Paradigm 100's, but if you take advantage of some of the
deals I've seen here on Audiogon, you can get a set of
Sonus Fabers or F-30's for a similar price to what you'd
pay for new Paradigm 100's retail. The Sonus Fabers are
a really enjoyable speaker, non-fatiguing -- I recommend that you find a pair and give a listen.

The Paradigm 100's with the Anthem gear is also a nice set-
up, I'm going to guess that it is a room problem, or the
dealer hasn't run his gear long enough to "burn" them in,
or else it is just a taste issue -- we all have different
ideas about how bass should sound, one person's detailed
high end is another person's sonic nightmare, etc.

But, there are alternatives to the Paradigms that have
also received great reviews, are considered great bangs
for the buck, don't feel compelled to force a square
Paradigm into your round ear-hole.