Paradigm speakers

Just over a year ago I heard a system with a pair of the Reference Signature S8's on the end of it. It had a Light Harmonics Da Vinci DAC at the front end, a JE Audio Pre-amp, and was driven by a pair of Anthem Class D Statement Monoblocs.

The session was helped by the fact that the demonstrator avoided plinky plonky Jazz, and played a lot of my kind of music - mainly hard rock/heavy metal!

I wouldn't claim to have either the best ears or the widest of listening experiences. But.. I've been to a few shows and dealer musical evenings and this system hit the spot for like no other I've heard, including ones that would have cost twice its price. The speakers obviously played their part!

Everyone who I have turned onto Paradigms have been absolutely smitten by them. (I have yet to have someone NOT buy them, and I am not a dealer, just an audio friend, after taking them for a demo). Not cheap and not too expensive, they punch WAY above thier weight class. They are resolving and deliver the goods which set up right and coupled with good amplification.

I have S8s in my Home theater and they sound Damn good.

I've got the S6 in a 2 channel system, as well as a pair of Monitor 7 v3. I do think they punch above their weight. They are not the only good speaker manufacturer, however. IMO, as you get into the higher end you'll find that speakers can produce more detail/resolution, and amps and cabling have more of an effect.

The first amp I paired with the Sigs made them awful bright sounding at higher volumes, an Emotiva XPA amp. After research, I tried a Parasound A21, and the side by side difference in sound showed me that all amps do not sound the same. I same to the same conclusion about cables.

Big fan of the S8s (v3).

Just inserted a DEQX PreMate into my system. I'd say the combo has squeezed the last bit of hi-end juice out of my S8s. Read my comments on the "Sloped Baffle" and "DEQX Game Changer" threads.

While there are many, many facets that make for a good speaker, one indispensable element is driver quality. IMO, I think Paradigm does an excellent job in that department, particularly in its Signature line.

So ... combine the DEQX time coherence and EQ functionality with Paradigm's excellent quality drivers ... you've got a match made in heaven.