S
stiletto pat
Audioholic
Jan 20, 2005
- #9
AVR-507 Experiences
DarkDTSes,
Glad my input could be of help. Let me address a few issues.
First, I did the best I could at a "semi-blind" ABC test. I actually was favoring the Yamaha going into the test, having read all the reviews at Audioholics and other sites. I went to a Sound Advice Store (Tweeters) in Florida, midweek, early afternoon, when it was essentially empty, dressed in a business suit (late lunch), so the Manager waited on me, and was willing to show me his top products for an extended time period. I sat facing the speakers, while he switched between the componentry. It wasn't a quick endeavor - the B&K earned my respect. I even AB tested it against the Ref 50 Preamp and 200.7 amp, and it was indistinguishable up until about +7 db on the B&K volume indicator - which I will submit to you as being exceptionally loud. At that point, the separates began to show why they were superior, but as I've remarked to many of my friends, that is divorce territory, anyway.
Next, as to the Paradigms. I seriously auditioned somewhere around 15 to 20 different brands of mid-high end speakers, over a 8 month period, and found that I was most impressed with the sound of the Paradigm Studio Reference Series. I think you have to come up with some type of relationship - how much you're willing to spend to get the sound, and the Paradigms seemed a bargain to me. While looking, Paradigm introduced the Series 3s, which were a huge step forward over the Series 2s, in my opinion. I continued to listen to them at several different dealers - one even overdrove them to the point of distortion (huge amps), then when he lowered the volume, they went right back to sounding as sweet as ever. I was suitably impressed.
The CC-470 was the recommendation of a couple of the dealers, after I outlined what I felt my system configuration was going to be. My room size is 17.5 x 22 x 10, with large open spaces on 2 sides. The dealers felt that the driver configuration in the CC-470 more closely approximates the vocal information that the center channel traditionally imparts. I have been extremely pleased with the balance - it's extremely clear just for listening to plain old TV, and it wonderful as well for music or movies. As a system, I think the system provides excellent frequency response across the spectrum, with incredible imaging and clarity.
The dipole surrounds are great. Having timbre matched speakers are the only way to go, and these are essentially two sets of drivers from the Monitor 20s. The tweeters and mids are just so nice (same as what populates the CC-470) that it's a joy to listen to great music. I would like to move them to the side positions at some point in the future, but I still love them. My advice to you if you're going to use them for rear channels in a 5.1 configuration is to mount them closer to your seated head height - 4 to 6 feet above the ground. That way, you'll hear them a bit easier. My height was preordained at about 9 feet, so I just increased their relative volume levels with the B&K controls. I will admit that they are poerhaps a little more vague than direct enclosures, but there are times when you will be very happy with that. Mine are mounted near a bar area, and I find that at low volumes, (like mingling cocktail parties) they really fill the space with clean, low volume sound. I am thrilled with them for movies - Master and Commander was unreal on this system - the cannon shots and breaking wood masts, etc... as are the Pixar movies. Overall, I think I'd choose the same speakers again.
Hope this is helpful. Be advised that Paradigm introduced a new super high end speaker just as I was purchasing my speakers, but I never was able to listen to them prior to my purchase. I have heard them since, and while extremely nice, you'll need to be able to drop some large money on them. I think the major advance is the wonderful wood cabnetry, as the sound is only marginally better. But this is for you to decide. I just think the value proposition of the Studio Reference Series makes them the clear winner in the Paradigm line up.
Good luck with your shopping, and let us know how you proceed.
Pat
