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Opinions on Paradigm vs. Axiom vs. NHT?

System is in room that already has slight brightness/reverberation issues (hardwood floors, though with a very absorptive couch and good area rug setup). Overriding criteria are that music and dialogue sound terrific. Not a big explosions freak but being a professional sound effects editor, I certainly appreciate good action scenes having nice dynamics, power, and punch. TV as yet unpurchased, receiver is a Denon 2802 (90W/ch). Receiver capable of 6.1 but I am currently not interested in installing the center surround.

My biggest dilemma is that I have been spoiled by having by Mackie HR824's as my stereo setup for three years. Absolutley unbeatable sound: custom biamping, passive radiator...mmmm. So every budget system I've heard has fallen short. For my budget, here are my three final speaker options:

1) Purchase a pair of Mackie HR624's as surrounds and make the system "quad." This is actually sonically viable, as the Mackies get down into the 35Hz range cleanly. We use them at work and haven't needed to buy a subwoofer yet. They're pretty awesome. However, the wife was looking forward to a more traditional 5.1 setup,which I kind of agree with, and I don't feel like running AC across the ceiling for the surrounds, so this is my least favorite option. The battle is really between the final three plans.

2) PARADIGM: Any of the System 3's or System 5. Keep in mind I'd like to appropriately match the Denon's power to the speaker's capacity, so more is not necessarily better.

3) AXIOM: A system consisting of M22's for the fronts, VP100/center, QS8/surrounds, EP125/sub. I might actually prefer to replace the EP125 with an EP175, in exchange for downgrading the QS8's to QS4's.

4) NHT: The System 15, available through Crutchfield and perhaps other places, which is SB2's/front, SB1's/surround, SC1/center, and the SW10/sub. The most noteworthy difference is this is the only system without dipole surrounds, which I'm not sure if I care a whole lot about or not in my weird little room.

NOTE: My friend has NHT's, albeit in a nicer setting and also much larger speakers. But I understand their characteristics somewhat. I can demo Paradigm locally and will do so before making this purchase, but haven't done so yet. Axiom, of course, is mail-order only and I don't know anyone who has them. Hence, your opinions, especially on the Axioms, will be tremendously important.
bjengs
bjengs OP
4 posts
 
I got to check out the Paradigms locally. Un-friggin-believable. It was actually pretty funny, I settled on a system of Titans/front, CC270/Center, Atoms/Surr, and the PDR10/sub. I figured this would be slightly out of range and in need of downward revision, but I got a price on it anyways. With mounts, and after tax (8.25%), the salesman quoted me $1210. I about crapped my pants, because this system was really doing it for me, and now I find out it's in my range. If I go with Paradigm, I'll probably get a CC170 instead of a CC270, but upgrade the sub to PDR12.

Hopefully get to demo some NHT's this Saturday.
phasecorrect's avatar
phasecorrect
2,013 posts
 
I think they all are "bright" sounding...if I had to choose...go {Paradigm
geoffgarcia
92 posts
 
In your price range I hope your looking at used products?
I almost barfed when I saw the mention of crutchfield on this post, that should be an instant banning for life *LOL*

Warranties are only good for one thing, and since toilet paper is cheaper thats what I use.
andrejb
8 posts
 
In your case, I'd go with Axiom. They are truly outstanding
and best value for the money among the brands you mentioned.
Paradigm speakers don't sound very musical to me (especially on classical), but they do have great bass. I'm also a fan of NHT, but they do need a lot of power to sound good and your receiver might be a bit to bright to bring the nest out of them. Good luck!
abex
322 posts
 
I've heard Ratshack Speaker's and they were not to bad for the lowest economy system ,but in your range I was looking at Axiom's,but never hearing them and trusting on faith is pretty hard.
They do give you a 30day listening period which to me is a hassle if you do not know weather you really want to keep them or not.

I got lucky and found a former worker that worked for NEAR and have all NEAR modified speaker's which have metal driver's.

Good luck and consider the PSB 5t also.PSB's are easy to live with. Jean Marie Reynaud(JMR) are really good of what i under stand.Atleast the descriptions of there feedback seems to be to my taste.

Anything which disappear's in the sounstage and makes you forget that your listening to speaker's is what I favor.JMR's are suppose to do that for a good price.

Good luck!
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