Paradigm has long been known for the quality and affordability of their speakers. The Canadian company has won the hearts of consumers and critics alike with incredible sonic quality at prices that are about 1/10th of what they should be (not that I think Paradigm should raise prices anytime soon). The Paradigm Reference Studio/20's are a shining example of Paradigm's skill and attention to detail.

My roommate had a pair of the original Paradigm Reference Studio/20's, and I was hooked from the moment he powered up his CD player. They were completely transparent; the quality of the recording made all the difference when listening to these speakers. I recently purchased the revised version (slightly different crossover, minor cosmetic changes, and that's about it) and they sound even better. Due to the constraints of my listening room speaker placement is far from optimal, but the Paradigms still manage to create a soundstage that is enormous at worst and overwhelming at best.

I use the Studio/20's as mains for my home theater setup (Sony STR-DE835 Receiver/Amp and Sony DVP-C650D CD/DVD changer). While listening to music the center and rear channels are silent and only the Paradigms are driven. Even so, there are times I can swear that the rear channel speakers (actually placed at the sides of my room) are being driven - the soundstage is that wide. I have had several people ask if I have a pair of front effects channels - the answer is "no" - and one person even spent a fair amount of time looking for the "satellite speakers I must have in the corners of the room." An excellent CD to demonstrate the Paradigm's imaging prowess is Madonna's "Immaculate Conception." Close your eyes and listen...you will be amazed.

Not only is the imaging fantastic, the quality of sound is also unmatched by anything in the same price range. I have heard $2000 speakers sound worse than the Studio/20's. As I said earlier, the Paradigms are completely transparent - they can be cold and harsh, warm and soft, or anything in between. "Puzzle" by Dada is a perfect album to showcase the warmth and clarity of these speakers....the salesperson at my Paradigm dealer played this disc while demoing the speakers and my jaw hit the floor. I was flabbergasted. Try it yourself; I can't do justice to the experience.

Construction is also top-notch; the cabinets are heavy but rock-solid. Hitting the side of the cabinet makes a reassuring "thud." No resonance here...

The only gripe I have about the speakers is that they're a little weak when it comes to deep bass. No suprise here, considering they're bookshelf speakers and aren't designed for deep bass. Even so, frequency response is good to almost 50Hz. Add a subwoofer for the extra kick down low.

I have nothing but praise for these speakers. They continue to amaze me with their quality and versatility. Paradigms cannot be mailordered (easily); visit your dealer. It will be a rewarding trip.



Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 550-650