The Importance of Audio in Gaming

Sound and Vision editor/blogger Will Greenwald wrote an interesting post about audio and gaming entitled The sound of gaming where he postulates the following:

"Video games and home theater enthusiasm seem like the perfect match. A far cry from the days of pixelated sprites and harshly synthesized sound effects, modern video games have all the hallmarks of a top-notch Blu-ray release: high-resolution graphics, Dolby Digital surround sound, and tons of interactive features. Unfortunately, the twin houses of gamers and home theater buffs almost never mingle, despite how well their equipment can work with each other. "

While we would recommend a Paradigm Cinema Phantom or Micro system over Mr. Greenwald's choice of speakers, we agree with his point about the lack of mingling between home theater and gaming buffs, despite the obvious shared interests.

Greenwald gets very specific in his breakdown of how quality audio can enhance the gaming experience, including this commentary on the importance of a subwoofer:

"When you have a subwoofer, the weak "Bang. Bang. Bang." that used to waft from your television becomes a proper "BLAM! BLAM! BLAM!" Bullets, rockets, bombs, anything involving combustion is going to sound better with the beefy bass of a subwoofer behind it. In Red Faction: Guerrilla, where virtually every man-made structure is destructible, the extra power is invaluable. Between the 5 satellites to provide the soundscape and the subwoofer to provide the rumble, I felt like an EDF stronghold was collapsing before me, thanks to the judicious combination of high explosives and a ridiculously overpowered sledgehammer."

We'd love to hear more noise like this from the gamer community and press.

Studio 100 5.1 System Reviewed!

Hometheaterreview.com raves about the Studio 100 driven 5.1 system they've been testing. Bryan Kahn produces a thorough and well written review that's worth checking out if your considering the Studios. Click here to read the full review.

Paradigm Launches Reference Hybrid Millenia 10 and 20: In/on-wall Style Redefines Architectural Speakers

Ultra-slim flat-panel television displays finally have met their sonic and aesthetic match, as Paradigm Electronics announces its first-ever partly-in-wall/partly-out-of-the-wall speaker designs. The new Reference Hybrid Millenia™ 10 and 20 integrate reference-quality build materials into a form factor that protrudes less than an inch and a half from the wall!

Conventional on-wall speakers jut out four to five inches, dwarfing the depth of most wall-mounted flat-panel displays. Although great sound is paramount, floor space and visual appeal (or discretion) are important secondary factors in the purchase of speakers. Paradigm’s new models are slim enough to visually complement ever-slimming flat panels for years to come, even with the grills on. By partially recessing a Millenia Hybrid into the wall, the speaker gains a deeper, more stable enclosure with inherent performance advantages over traditional on-wall mounting techniques.

Each Paradigm hybrid speaker is engineered to incorporate the predictable effects of a wall on the speaker’s frequency response. The speaker’s pre-attached glass-reinforced injection-molded polymer (GRIP™) bracket is optimized to exploit maximum wall area for a complete absence of vibration, even when performing at maximum output.

Like all Paradigm® Reference Millenia speakers, the Hybrids’ high-frequency drivers exhibit timbral clarity and transparency comparable to the very best electrostatic or ribbon designs. Midrange drivers deliver an accurate, lifelike and critically revealing performance with extraordinary detail. Bass response, free of cone standing waves and micro distortions and reinforced by the wall, offers exceptional articulation. Add Millenia 10 Hybrids or Millenia ADPs as surround/rear speakers and then complete your Millenia home theater system with  room-pounding bass from a Paradigm® Reference subwoofer. 

Millenia 20 Hybrid and 10 Hybrid, designed for two-channel or multi-channel configurations, can be mounted horizontally or vertically. Their simple three-step installation process is made even easier by the mounting templates that securely cradle each speaker. Once the template is in, the speaker is wired and adjusted to cover the cutout. Tighten four screws to hold the speaker in place, and installation is complete.

Subwoofer demo Material - Bring the Boom!

Dennis Burger of Home Entertainment Magazine wrote a great article on great demo material to show off your new subwoofer. Click here for the full article.

Audio Callibration Tips for Home Theater from THX

ElectronicHouse.com offers a helpful and informative article on callibrating audio in a home theater titled Five Easy Steps to Superior Home Theater Sound.

The article is an easy-to-follow and comprehensive look at what you can do to ensure the audio pumping through your Paradigm speakers is not compromised by secondary conditions and is maximized whether it's a two-channel set-up or a 7.2 surround configuration.

Quoting EH.com reporter Bob Archer on why audio callibration hasn't caught up to it's video cousin, "...the audio community has had a difficult time making the transition from two-channel to home theater, and its educational efforts have been primarily equipment-centric, which has limited the public’s knowledge on the topic of audio calibration."

Nice work Bob, hope to see more articles like this in the future.

Paradigm Signature SUB 25 Subwoofer Reviewed by EngadgetHD.com

EngadgetHD.com reviewer Steven Kim recently offered his assessment of the Paradigm Signature SUB 25, laying high praise on our flagship subwoofer.

The best line of the review comes in the summary where Mr. Kim states, "Think of it as a ninja bodyguard packed full of bass -- you won't even know it's there until it's called upon, and then things get done with quick, effortless precision before it disappears again."

Some seriously high praise from one of the most prominent A/V technology sites on the internet today. Who wouldn;t love a ninja bodyguard?

Read the full review and offer comments on the review at this link:

http://www.engadgethd.com/2009/06/09/hertz-so-good-paradigm-signature-sub-25-subwoofer-review/

The RVC-12SQ is a Winner!

Paradigm is proud to announce that the RVC-12SQ is a winner of CE-Pro's Innovative Housing and Technology Award. This award honours the most innovative products, builders and CE pros serving the homebuilding industry.

Click here for the full article.