Powerful Paradigms
Written: May 30 '02
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Product Rating:
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Pros: They sound great, and they look nice.
Cons: They're pretty big if you've only got a small space
The Bottom Line: I'd highly recommend these speakers. They sound wonderful, they are priced reasonably, and they look beautiful.
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| sulkn's Full Review: Paradigm Monitor 7 Speaker |
Earlier this year I finally bit the bullet and dropped a good chunk of pocket change on a decent stereo system. After years of getting by with cheap ghetto blasters and department store mini-systems I wanted a stereo that would let me hear my music properly, the way it was meant to be heard. I wanted a system that would last me for years and years and years. I wanted a system that I would not outgrow or want to replace any time in the foreseeable future.
After some consultation with self-proclaimed experts (I am not an audiophile by far, and nor do I ever plan to become one) and after much reading on the web I ended up with the following system:
- NAD 350 Integrated Amplifier
- NAD 541 CD Player
- NAD C420 Tuner
- Paradigm Monitor 7 Speakers
In this review, I will focus on the speakers only. I may at a later time decide to review the NAD components. However, I think that it's important to describe the system that's running the speakers. Obviously, the components will affect the sound of the speakers a great deal. These are fairly large speakers and need a decent amplifier to power them.
The speakers were the part of the my overall system that I had the hardest time settling on. There are so many brands, and each self-proclaimed expert seems to swear by a different type. I knew that I wanted speakers that had a full sound with lots of bass, but at the same time were crystal clear at the high end. Since I'm not really that big on the whole "home theatre" craze and don't even own a DVD player I knew I didn't want speakers that were designed specifically for television viewing. I suspect that the type of sound quality I'd like to hear while watching a movie would differ from what I'd like to hear while listening to music.
Although I'd previewed the speakers by listening to them in a stereo store connected to a similar amplifier, and although I'd heard my friend's Monitor 5s many times, I was still relieved when I hooked up my new purchase for the first time and heard the sound flow through them. Yes, the sound was crystal clear, and the bass filled my apartment. From the very beginning I was happy with my purchase.
I'd already read up on a wiring technique known as "bi-wiring" before I made my purchase, so I planned ahead and bought special speaker wire that allowed me to bi-wire without requiring two separate lengths of cable. Bi-wiring means that the high and low inputs from the amp into the speakers are wired separately; essentially, you need to connect four wires to each speaker instead of the normal two. Apparently this provides clearer distinction between the bass and treble aspects of the sound.
Since I bi-wired my speakers immediately, I never tried listening to them wired otherwise. Therefore, I can't really say whether or not they sound "better" bi-wired or not, and I wouldn't even want to speculate on whether my non-audiophile ears could even pick up the difference. Still, I figured I might as well go the extra mile and get as much value out of my purchase as possible.
After six months I still love the sound of my speakers. I had originally thought that I might need to pick up a sub-woofer to increase the bass on my system. Not a chance! In my small one-bedroom apartment the bass can be overpowering at times. For fear of irritating my elderly neighbours I often have to reduce the bass setting on my amp even when listening at moderate volumes. I suspect this has a lot to do with the fact that I've crammed such large speakers into a small space. In years to come, as I grow into larger accommodations, I expect the sound of the speakers will fit their surroundings better.
Finally, sound quality aside, these are nice-looking speakers. They're large but don't dominate a small room. If it wasn't for dust and cat hair concerns, I'd keep the covers off the fronts of the speakers 24-7. The fit and finish is impeccable, and every part looks like it's well made and fits together precisely. No screws are loose, no parts wiggle, and there are no unsightly gaps between components. The speakers have a hefty, solid feel to them that matches their sound.
In short, I'd highly recommend these speakers. They sound wonderful, they are priced reasonably, they look beautiful, and hey, they're made in Canada.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 500
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Epinions.com ID:
sulkn
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Member: Gary
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Reviews written: 27
Trusted by: 29 members
About Me:
A 30-year-old web developer in Toronto, Canada.
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