Esquire recommends Paradigm Signature S2 speakers for a good 2-channel stereo system

In a recent article from Esquire's May 2013 issue, Peter Martin suggests ditching the dock and investing in a good 2-channel stereo system:

"With the right stereo system, you can stop listening to music and start experiencing it."

And what does Esquire recommend for a more budget-friendly 2-channel speaker? ... Paradigm's Reference Signature S2! 
 

"Unlike most of the docks, AirPlay speakers, and TVs tuned to satellite radio that many of us use to listen to music, a component stereo system plays songs the way artists meant for them to be heard: clear and full, with a depth that makes listening to an album feel like being at a concert ... Start by finding your speakers. They have the clearest sonic fingerprint of any component..."

Click here! to read Esquire's article on best component stereos. 

Click here! for more information on Paradigm's S2 speakers.

"My listening notes raved about the natural sound of the high frequencies... not the slightest trace of vocal sibilance" - S+V on the Atom Monitor

Earlier this year, Sound + Vision informed us they were going to do a minispeaker round-up. Feeling up to the challenge, we sent along a pair of Atom Monitor Series 7 bookshelf speaker to be a contender. Unfortunately, in the midst of the round-up, there was a mix-up and the Atoms were accidentally left out. Feeling terrible about the whole fiasco, Brent Butterworth decided to publish a separate piece on the Atom entitled: "A late addition to our massive minispeaker roundup".

Nonetheless, out of the minispeaker mess came a decent little review, and here we are sharing a few clips with you...

"One of the speakers in my blind test had that smooth, detailed, delicate treble I expected from the Motion 15 —but when I checked to see which speaker was which, the speaker in question turned out to be the Atom Monitor."

"My listening notes raved about the natural sound of the high frequencies, and that along with the Monitor Audio Bronze BX-1, the Atom Monitor was the only one of the minimonitors that showed not the slightest trace of vocal sibilance..."

"The Atom Monitor’s bass tends toward the conservative side, more of the tight sound audiophiles like than the get-up-and-boogie high-Q bass..."

"...the Atom Monitor sounded to me like one of the top contenders in this test... Speaking of taste, fellow listening panelists Geoff Morrison and Lauren Dragan also ranked the Atom Monitor highly."   (See Geoff and Lauren's comments below)

“Great bass, and maybe a bit ‘smiley’... overall one of my clear favorites."

- Geoff Morrison

“Technically, this one might be the best. It’s definitely the one I’d want to mix a recording on. It sounds the flattest from top to bottom...”

 - Lauren Dragan

Click here! to read Sound + Vision's Atom Monitor review in full.

Click here! for more info. on Paradigm's Atom Monitor Series 7.

"Quite possibly the best sub-one-thousand pound [dollar] Soundbar package, bar none" - AVForums

After receiving two brag-worthy reviews for the Millenia CT and MilleniaOne CT, AVForums wanted more, this time exploring another newbie to the Paradigm family, our first powered soundbar and subwoofer package, the Soundtrack System (or as AVForums put it, 'a slice of convenient class'.)
Though that comment may give it away, here are some of the note-worthy clips from our latest review...

Crisp & Mouth-Watering Bass
"Paradigm gained a lot of their early reputation in the subwoofer market with big bruising war machines of ground-shaking capabilities and whilst the unfeasibly neat sub in this package can’t lay claim to that kind of performance, it does shock in just how accomplished it is."


"If we take an apples versus apples approach and compare with other subwoofers that form part of a soundbar package, then the Paradigm Soundtracks’ is a Granny Smith as opposed to a Golden Delicious – crisp and mouth-watering against superficial and slightly insipid. That’s not to say there’s anything wrong with a good Golden Delicious, just that a Smith is ultimately more satisfying."

Thud & Thunder (With or Without Wires)
"For those wondering if a wired sub arrangement might be preferable to the default wireless configuration, we’d say it seemed to matter little, if any. We at no time sensed any latency between mid/high and low frequencies with the sub putting up a performance of expertly timed thud and thunder."

Beautifully Taut & Warm
"So, with the low frequencies far more than adequately taken care of, the rest is joyously reminiscent of what the Millenia CT’s are capable of. The beautifully taut tweeters seemingly never quaver, even when taken to the extremes of electric guitar or the top-end of a good falsetto."

"On a slightly different tack, but similarly indicative of the mid and high range performance, the guitars and harmonics... emphasised a relationship with the Millenia CT’s internals, by way of that added touch of warmth."

Above: Soundtrack System score card from AVForums

An Absolute Peach
"...we’ve expended quite a lot of page space to the Soundtrack’s musical capabilities when the likelihood is that, for most users, its primary designation will be to replace those shameful little wimps, masquerading as speakers, that populate your flat panel TV. Do we really need to tell you? OK, silly question, but it’s surely far from flabbergasting for you to learn that the Soundtrack System is an absolute peach (enough with the fruit, already) when it comes to movies and television."


"Paradigm’s slice of superior sound was able to demonstrate its full versatility, never losing it with the bass notes and locating effects with admirable precision and immediacy."

Formidable Engineering
"Paradigm has brought to bear its formidable engineering resources to deliver a soundbar package equally at home with music as it is with movies and TV... it’s beautifully composed and impressively capable of providing precise effects localisation."

"In fact, for our money, it’s quite possibly the best sub-one-thousand pound [a.k.a. dollar] Soundbar package, bar none."

Delightful! We'll take fruity analogies any day if it means another review like this one! As always, we encourage you to read the full review for details. Click here! to do so.

Click here! for more information on the Soundtrack System or to buy online.

Paradigm makes a big impression in The Absolute Sound Editors' Choice Awards & Buyer's Guide

We are proud to announce that the Paradigm SHIFT Series A2 and Paradigm Reference Studio 10 have both been named Editors' Choice Award winners by The Absolute Sound, as published in the Guide to High-Performance Loudspeakers 2013!

The Guide to High-Performance Loudspeakers 2013 is a thorough 115 page document, featuring some of the best loudspeaker coverage from TAS during the past year, as well as a number of other features, such as: Sneak Previews, Further Thoughts and Editors' Choice Awards etc.

After receiving a great review from Wayne Garcia, The Absolute Sound also included the Paradigm Monitor 9 floorstanding speaker review. We encourage you to download the guide, but here's a preview of what you'll find inside about Paradigm's products...

A2 Review Summary
"The Paradigm Shift A2 represents a very high order of value and performance - incredibly versatile for small-room, family-on-the-go, and impromptu listening anywhere there's an outlet. Frankly only a dog is more companionable than the A2."

A2 - 2013 Editors' Choice Award
"A 2012 Golden Ear recipient, the Shift A2 is more than just a cleverly named loudspeaker. Compact,
internally powered, and equipped with DSP bass management and enough back-panel inputs to connect to almost any source, this is what 21st century entry-level high end is all about. A combination of sound and value, it extends the welcome mat to budding highenders who may have felt they couldn’t afford the entrance fee."

Monitor 9 Review Summary
"Now in its seventh generation, Paradigm’s Monitor Series is one of the benchmarks for good-sounding, affordable speakers that... offer tremendous across-the-board performance, musical satisfaction, and value. Which, of course, are the very traits that have made this Canadian firm’s designs such a success over the past quarter-plus century."

 
Studio 10 - 2013 Editors' Choice Award
"Paradigm’s diminutive Studio 10 is inherently warm and full, with a remarkably large presentation that will appeal to a wide range of listeners. It’s not the most transparent design, but is nevertheless lively and involving. This front-ported two-way can sit on a shelf, but performs best on a rigid stand placed somewhat into the room."

Click here! to download
 the Guide to High-Performance Loudspeakers 2013.

Paradigm's A2 wins "Editors' Choice Award" and inclusion in The Absolute Sound Buyer's Guide

After receiving a raving review from Neil Gader, The Absolute Sound not only included the Paradigm A2 powered speaker review in its "Guide to High-Performance Loudspeakers 2013", they also named it a 2012 Golden Ear recipient and a 2013 "Editors' Choice Award" winner!

The Guide to High-Performance Loudspeakers 2013 is a thorough 115 page document, featuring some of the best loudspeaker coverage from TAS during the past year as well as a number of other features, such as: Sneak Previews, Further Thoughts and Editors' Choice Awards etc.

We encourage you to download the guide, but here are some clips you'll find inside about our very own award-winning A2 powered speaker...

Review Summary
"The Paradigm Shift A2 represents a very high order of value and performance - incredibly versatile for small-room, family-on-the-go, and impromptu listening anywhere there's an outlet. Frankly only a dog is more companionable than the A2."

Further Thoughts
"Although I finished the review of the nifty [Paradigm] Shift A2 some months ago, I’ve had a chance to revisit it thanks to a relative who bought a pair based in part on my review. This family is heavy into computers and loves wireless—their home is fully networked. The missing variable was a satisfying, go-anywhere, small speaker. Enter the Shift A2— powered, versatile, reasonably priced, and easy to setup. And cool-looking, too. With an Airport Express plugged into each speaker the Shift A2 fills a high ceilinged living room with streaming music. Each time I visit I especially appreciate the solid low-end oomph and rich vocal midrange."

2013 Editors' Choice Awards
"A 2012 Golden Ear recipient, the [Paradigm] Shift A2 is more than just a cleverly named loudspeaker. Compact, internally powered, and equipped with DSP bass management and enough back-panel inputs to connect to almost any source, this is what 21st century entry-level high end is all about. A combination of sound and value, it extends the welcome mat to budding high-enders who may have felt they couldn't afford the entrance fee."

Click here! to download The Guide to High-Performance Loudspeakers 2013.

Click here! for more information on the Paradigm SHIFT Series A2 or to buy online.