Best Audio Electronics for Paradigm S8v3 Speakers

Not surprising Jafant. I own the S8 v3 speakers. Amp matching has been a persistent concern for me, especially since I own a tube amp. Some might say that the S8s are not on the same level as my electronic gear. Perhaps so, ... but maybe not so far off.

Speaker alternatives that I have in mind are just as tube unfriendly as the S8s and perhaps even more so, e.g., Revel Studio 2, or the Focal 1038s. For those familiar with these speaker brands might recognize the common denominator with all 3 -- they all use beryllium tweeters.

Notably, in the case of the Studio 2 speakers, many have posted that these speakers require lots of current (amps) to sound their best, which implies a high power solid state amp. The same has been said about the S8s.

My tube amp (ARC Ref 150), only rated at 150 wpc, may be a tad light. OTOH, the Ref 150 has relatively low output impedance and tight output voltage regulation, thus making it perform somewhat like a solid state amp (i.e., constant voltage source). In addition, the amp has a pretty robust power supply -- 1040 joules. That much juice will likely curl your hair if you put your fingers across the output terminals while I play Stravinsky's Rites of Spring at high gain. ;-')

I still think the S8s are one of the best high-end bargains in audio-land. Until I hear something better in a live audition using a tube amp like mine, I'm sticking.

But as to the OP's question, I for one would like to hear the S8s driven by a high-quality/high power solid state amp.

I dislike going against the adage 'if you don't have anything good to say' but if my frustration can be of any help...

Before I had any in home experience with a decent speaker system I joined the Paradigm fan club. Purchasing the Studio 100 v1 with its eventually harsh tweeter followed by the marginally better v2. I began replacing tube and SS electronics including the original (pre Paradigm) and stunningly noisy Anthem One Phono pre amp. A long story short, my dealer ended up assuming responsibility replacing the ONE with another brand.

My undefinable dissatisfaction continued. I was able to audition in home the S8 against the 100v2. The S8 was simply more of the same. Late that afternoon I had an opportunity to buy a pair of locally owned and very reasonably priced used Avalon Acoustics.

With all three in the house I now had an undeniable ear opening perspective of what a proper speaker system can do. The most immediate and glaring difference was that the Avalon's are more of a single point source compared to an almost discrete three way sound. This was the basis of my once undefinable dissatisfaction. Pile on low volume resolution, time and phase accuracy, and on and on. It also showed me how well my older electronics worked.

Another aspect learned was just how much more vivid comparisons are at home.

This financially obvious unfair comparison left me with the impression that electronics and cabling are an almost futile effort and the main reason for sharing my experience. On the other hand there is a world of electronics out there and an acceptable success may be at hand.

Vic ... sorry to read you learned the hard way. Of course, I respect your opinion. I sure wish more dealers would arrange for home auditions. It's really the best way to make informed decisions. OTOH, let's face it, most gear needs a forklift to move around. So even if dealers were more inclined to arrange for home auditions, you may wind up with a hernia.

Let me throw a few comments out there. The version numbers of the Paradigm speakers that you had in your home look like early models. You didn't specify a version number for the S8. It might have been the first version.

The current model, version 3, has come a long way since version 1. For example, version 3, my model, uses a beryllium tweeter, a cobalt/aluminum alloy midrange, and a re-designed high efficiency woofer.

By contrast, the version 1 used the G-Pal tweeter (aluminum/gold anodized), which was known for being "hot." The version 1 also used a mica loaded polymer mid. The woofers were a scaled down version of the current version.

The S8 v3 has garnered top reviews from Marc Mickelson, Steven Stone, Jerry Del Colliano, and many others. If it matters, last summer, I was checking out other speakers because .... I was bored???

Well, a buddy of mine who is a Paradigm dealer had taken in trade an ARC VS-115 tube amp, which was my former amp. We hooked up other speaker models to the VS-115 and A/B'ed them against the Paradigm 30th anniversary tower -- call it the S5. (The S5 uses the beryllium tweeter. The other drivers are a cross between the Signature and Reference lines.)

I won't mentioned an A'gon favorite darling speaker that was in the shootout. But call it speaker X. If speaker X was born with a tail and legs, let's just say it crawled out of the showroom with its tail between its legs.

My point is that Paradigm's Signature line has come a long way since the S8 v1 was first introduced. I'm not saying you wouldn't come away with the same conclusions if you road tested it again. Just that it's worth a listen.

Right now, I'm driving my S8 v3s with an ARC Ref 150 amp, and am listening to a Mozart medley a musician neighbor ripped for me. The CD is surprisingly well recorded. Mozart is not what I would call "single voice or single instruments" -- we're talking about a full symphony orchestra here. The separation of instruments, lack of compression, faithful sound, imaging, ... and so forth and so on, .... just great.

Cheers.