| Paradigm Reference Studio Home Theater System (100v4/CC-690/ADP 570/Servo 15v2) |
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| Home Theater Loudspeakers Speaker Systems | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Written by Ken Taraszka, MD | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Tuesday, 01 May 2007 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Page 4 of 4 The Downside The Studio 100v4s are not small, and need a good amount of space behind them to really show off their bass capabilities. If you need something to go close to the front wall, the Studio 100v4s may not be your best choice. However, Paradigm has a variety of speakers suited for such an occasion. The center is three feet wide before you put the grille and feet on, and just over that width afterwards, so its size can cause placement issues, especially in small or medium-sized rooms. The bass produced by the mains and especially the subwoofer is extreme, so if your room is poorly constructed, or you share a wall with neighbors, you might want to reconsider these bass monsters for something further down in the Paradigm line. Looks always are subjective. I liked the industrial look of the speakers with the grilles off, while my wife liked the grilles on. Obviously, you’ll need to make your own judgment here. Though not quite as smooth in the upper end or as tightly defined in the bass as my Canton 809 DCs, the differences are subtle and the Studio 100v4s offer amazing lower bass reproduction at less than half the Canton’s price. Conclusion The Studio 100v4s are phenomenal speakers, offering a vast dynamic range mated with nimble highs and full, deep bass. The matching CC-690 center and Studio ADP-590 surround speakers blend together seamlessly, giving smooth transitions for multi-channel audio and movies. Paradigm produces this system almost entirely in-house and has done a fantastic job with them. The Servo 15v2 subwoofer offers a multitude of options for control and connection, making it easy to integrate into this or any system and/or room. The seemingly limitless clean bass produced by this sub is awesome and I can’t imagine needing or wanting more. Even on my most brutal tests, the Servo 15v2 never flinched; it simply shook everything around it. I was constantly impressed during my movie sessions with these speakers. While I’ve heard far more expensive speaker systems, few bettered the Paradigms for theater sound. Their slightly forward nature, combined with limitless depth of bass, made for a theater experience rarely found at any price, let alone what these sell for. When shopping for audio gear, we all have our price points, and accept the limitations they impose on us. This new Paradigm system can change that, offering huge performance at a realistic cost. I doubt you could find a better speaker system at this price, though you could easily spend more on a lesser one. If you are in the market for a new speaker system for your home theater, go listen to the Paradigm Studios and stop accepting compromises.
3.26 Copyright (C) 2008 Compojoom.com / Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."
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