Paradigm
Amplifiers
Soundbars
Speakers
Subwoofers
Best Known For
Speakers
/
Used Products
319
 Available
Average Price
$501-$1,000
Brand Popularity
14
 of 900+
Products Listed
90
Review Count
171
Founding Year
1982
Headquarters
Canada
Paradigm
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What's unique about the brand

Paradigm is a Canadian hifi speaker brand that designs and builds their products locally, using advanced materials like beryllium in their drivers and their proprietary PPA lens technology for better sound dispersion. Their speakers are favored by audiophiles seeking high-end sound at relatively lower prices, and they integrate Anthem Room Correction technology to optimize performance in modern open-concept homes with challenging acoustics.

What reviewers are saying

We read all the reviews. Here's what reviewers feel most strongly about:

  • Paradigm designs and manufactures their own drivers, including the rare and expensive Beryllium drivers used in their higher-end Persona and Founder series, allowing for precise control over performance characteristics.
  • They utilize Perforated Phase-Aligning (PPA) lenses over tweeters and midrange drivers, a visually distinctive technology they claim smooths and widens dispersion while protecting the drivers.
  • Paradigm is known for integrating Anthem Room Correction (ARC) technology from their sister company, Anthem Electronics, to optimize bass performance and room integration of their subwoofers.
  • They focus on delivering high dynamic range, enabling their speakers to play loudly and cleanly without compression or distortion, even at mass-market price points.

Our favorite reviewer quotes:

  • "Simply put, the speakers' delivery of the beats and bass grabbed my attention and wouldn't let me go. I grabbed my notepad and started throwing adjectives at it like Jackson Pollock slinging paint at a canvas: "bold, dynamic, punchy, tight, effortless, clean, authoritative, powerful but beautifully controlled."" (https://www.soundstageaccess.com/index.php/equipment-reviews/1188-paradigm-monitor-se-8000f-loudspeakers)
  • "It's absolutely in its element depicting detail that other speakers miss. Play any track you think you know well and it's like you're hearing it for the first time." (https://www.hifichoice.com/content/paradigm-persona-b)
  • "The A2's bass response is simply outstanding. Let's see how many adjectives we can throw out here, shall we? How about punchy, taught, balanced, assertive, nimble and musical?" (https://www.digitaltrends.com/home-theater/paradigm-a2-review)
  • "If I were asked to identify the one thing that the Paradigm Founder 40Bs do better than anything else, I'd have my work cut out, because they do so many things so well, but if pressed, I'd have to say that what continually struck me the most when I was listening to them was their ability to seem as if they were not there at all, and that I was instead at the centre of a three-dimensional aural hologram that allowed me to be completely immersed in the music. In the past, I'd have referred to this as a speakers' ability to image and to sound stage – imaging and sound-staging, in other words – but Paradigm's Founder 40Bs elevate both these highly desirable attributes to such high levels that these words just don't seem to do justice to the sonic soundscapes these loudspeakers are able to create in your room." (https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/paradigm-founder-40b)
  • "Right from the get-go, drummer Joe Morello's tapping of his cymbals and skins grabbed me. Details were so well defined -- I could hear what sounded like the actual impact of wooden drumstick on brass, rather than only the resultant shimmer." (https://www.soundstageultra.com/index.php/equipment-menu/764-paradigm-persona-7f-loudspeakers)
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Our interview with the brand

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From Julian's interview with
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Products

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Lineup comparison

We think it's helpful to understand how their products compare. To learn more about each, scroll to the section above to click through to individual product pages.

Monitor SE 8000F

  • Positioning: The entry-level floorstanding speaker in Paradigm's lineup, offering high performance at an affordable price.
  • Description: Features a 5-driver, 3-way bass reflex design that delivers robust bass and clear highs, with dynamic sound and excellent imaging. Compared to higher-end models like the Premier 800F, it offers great value for those with budget constraints, making it ideal for medium-sized rooms where affordability and quality are key.

Premier 800F

  • Positioning: The mid-range floorstanding speaker in Paradigm's lineup, balancing performance and value.
  • Description: Features clear midrange and well-integrated bass, using Active Ridge Technology (ART) for reduced distortion. While it offers superior sound quality compared to the Monitor SE 8000F, it remains more accessible than the Founder 120H.

Founder 120H

  • Positioning: The high-end floorstanding speaker in Paradigm's lineup, designed for audiophiles seeking advanced technology and superior sound.
  • Description: Features a hybrid design with active bass and a built-in amplifier, providing deep, controlled bass and precise sound. Its advanced technologies, such as the AL-MAC high-frequency driver, offer a more refined audio experience than the Premier 800F.

Persona 9H

  • Positioning: The flagship model in Paradigm's lineup, representing the pinnacle of their speaker technology and design.
  • Description: Features Truextent Beryllium drivers for exceptional clarity and Anthem Room Correction for precise audio tuning. It surpasses all other models in the lineup, including the Founder 120H, in terms of technological sophistication and soundstage.
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Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer

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What are two key technological innovations or strong opinions that differ you from other brands?

What's your approach to customer support?

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What other products pair best with yours?

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Julian Shapiro
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