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PSB Stratus Goldi vs Paradigm Studio 100 v2

Just thought this would be an interesting thread.

In an exhausting search to find a loudspeaker that could make me happy I made my way to the purchase of a pair of PSB Stratus Goldi's. Along the journey I tried many fine loudspeakers from manufacturers such as B&W, KEF, Energy, Mirage and of course Paradigm. Although I have read many articles comparing the Goldi's to speakers from B&W (including the 802 which I also auditioned), I have yet to read a detailed head-to-head comparison between the 2 Canadian speakers that seem to just beg for comparison.

My findings where that the Goldi's were just much more a refined speaker than the 100, I did enjoy my time with the Paradigm's, but they just didn't seem to match the level of articulation the Goldi's are capable of (please remember, these are MY opinions). The 2 other area's that I found the Goldi's to excel in were bass power and definition, and most important to me, soundstage.

Please don't take my comments in a negative fashion, we all hear differently, I think this thread will be fun if we keep it to our honest opinions.

My system:

Classe Audio CDP.5 CD player
Classe Audio DR-6 preamp
(2) Classe Audio Ten amps bridged
All interconnects and cables are Monster
PSB Stratus Goldi loudspeakers

Fire away...
rjhalla
foreverhifi
229 posts
 
The Magnepan 1.6's, which I used to sell on a retail level, are indeed more detailed, and refined sounding overall than the PSB speakers. The Magnepan ISN'T HOWEVER the DYNAMIC SPEAKER that the Silver's are!!!! Infact, the Manepan IS NOT an edequate rock or HT speaker!...nor adequate WITH ANY HEAVY DYNAMIC MATERIAL!!! The Manapan 1.6's, just to put this bias to closure right up front, are TOO FRAGILE, AND DYNAMICALLY CONSTRAIGNED TO HANDLE ANYTHING MORE THAN POLITE, DELICATED, DAINTLY VOCALS, JAZZ, AND INSTURMENTALS!!! (we're talking about a ribbon that can blow out of it's magnetic field should you blow hard on it!)
You will not see Maggies, for instance in a rock reference rig, techno or rap recording studio, nor in any full fledged exotic custom home theaters featured in any respectable custom HT magazines!...or in any reviewers HT rigs for that matter. So, the Maggie indeed has it's place, just not in mine... I already have issue with passive speakers, by-en-large, being too dynamically challenged and restricted. Let's not even go there with "grandma's" speakers!!!(er, the maggies).
So, is the Maggie better than the PSB Silver I's?...depends on who's "Depends" you wear...Just kidding.(ha ha)
pragmatist
336 posts
 
Foreverhifi,that's cool. My love affair with maggie is a result of her imaging(one I got the placement right). In obligato passages,I can follow the melody,the counter melody, and the third line defining the harmony without the speakers getting in the way. I'm willing to trade off a bit of dynamic range in return for the imaging. As you've worked in the bizz, you've heard more speakers that I have. That said,I'd recommend the Silver i s to anyone wanting conventional speakers. P
rjhalla OP
47 posts
 
I often read similar opinions of the Silveri, that it is a more refined speaker then the Goldi. Having had both the Silver and the newer "i" in my home my findings were that the Goldi was a better performer all around if you had the power amplifier to make it so. As an example, running a pair of Silvers with a single Classe Ten definitely impressed me, so much so that I did at one time consider the purchase of a pair. But head-to-head with (2) Tens bridged (400 watts per channel and enough current to do some welding) the Goldi's opened up in a fashion that to my ears was far superior to the Silvers.

This thread is starting out just fine, but can we get some direct comparisons between the 2 Canadian heavyweights that started this thing.
phasecorrect's avatar
phasecorrect
2,013 posts
 
FOr that kind of money...I would try to audition a phase correct make...such as Thiel,Meadowlark, or Vandersteen...an entirely different sound and coherency level...maybe not as initially exciting as some...but very non-fatiguing in the long haul...Paradigm or PSB is really a lateral move in my estimation...good luck
krelldog
323 posts
 
Having owned the PSB Stratus Golds(not the i's). I personally think they are one of the greatest audio bargains available. They sound incredible,and are a beautiful piece of furniture to boot. I wouldn't second guess your decision. You have purchased a true audio masterpiece. I recently purchased Martin Logan Ascents,and I'm hooked on electrostatics. If I didn't own my Ascents I would of bought another pair of Stratus Golds in a heartbeat.
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