Amazing Value
Written: Jan 13 '00 (Updated Jun 02 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Solid. Put you on stage and in the studio. Breathtaking.
Cons: Average looks, unless the grills are removed.
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| pmbuko's Full Review: Paradigm Monitor 9 Main / Stereo Speaker |
I have evaluated many speaker models and makers in the past few days, but none filled me with as much awe as the Paradigm Monitor 9. I've listened to Infinity's Reference series, PSB Century and Image series, Energy tower speakers, Polk RT series, and Cambridge Soundworks Tower speakers looking for a pair of towers to anchor my home theater and music listening experience. Cambridge Soundworks Tower came very close, but at $1299/pair, they were out of my price range.
But enough about the competition. Now I'll tell you about the Paradigm Monitor 9. Quite simply, they are the best speaker I have heard for under $800 a pair. Their sound is absolutely flawless and colorless. My auditioning material and impressions of the speaker's performance follows:
Bela Fleck's "Flight of the Cosmic Hippo" -- If you've never heard this one, you absolutely MUST get yourself a copy. This piece features a 5-string fretless jazz bass playing loud and low (into ranges that only a subwoofer can do true justice) accompanied by banjo and drums. The speakers handled it perfectly. So well, that I could tell for the first time that the drums were not in fact live, but sampled. With the bass response, I could have sworn there was a subwoofer on in the room, but the salesman assured me there was not. WOW!
Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds "Crash Into Me" -- This live, 2-guitar show was a definite shoe-in for auditioning material. I wanted to see how "there" the speakers made me feel. I was more than there. I was on stage with Dave and Tim. I closed my eyes and it felt like they were in the room with me! Wow again!
Sting's "Mercury Falling" -- The recording quality and mastering of this album is superb, and the Paradigms showed this. They handled the wide range of dynamic sound in stride.
In summary, if you're looking to spend no more than $800 on a pair of speakers, these are the ones for you. You know they're excellent when you can immediately tell the quality of your source material!
Enthusiastically recommended to beginners and veteran audiophiles alike!
**UPDATE**
After a long speaker auditioning process that began in early February of this year, I finally purchased the Monitor 9s (and the matching center, CC-350, all for under $1000) on May 14. I am absolutely 100% satisfied with them. At one point, I was ready to spend $1500 on a different pair of speakers, but then I came to my senses and realized what I could do with the money I saved on the Paradigms.
I feel I must stress this: Unless you already own a pair of absolutely amazing speakers, you WILL NOT be disappointed with the Paradigm Monitor 9.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
pmbuko
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Member: Peter Bukowinski
Reviews written: 3
Trusted by: 2 members
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