Note that this is a discontinued product. You may want to visit the brand's page here to browse their newer products.
What reviewers think
Bloggers and YouTubers have tried this product—so we've summarized their strongest opinions below. Links to full reviews follow.
Product Strengths
- 'Soundstage so utterly convincing that it's hard to imagine most other speakers even coming close to this level of performance' (avforums.com)
- 'Amazing build quality' and 'gorgeous design' (avforums.com).
- Persona speakers use Beryllium, a rare chemical element with low mass, high tensile strength and extreme thermal stability (avforums.com, soundandvision.com).
- The Persona SUB delivers 'monstrous amounts of bass' going down to a frightening 12Hz (avforums.com).
- Exceptional sense of transparency and amazing amounts of detail retrieval (avforums.com).
Product Considerations
- The Paradigm Persona Series is beyond the reach of most people (avforums.com).
- The Persona SUB is massive and heavy (avforums.com, soundandvision.com).
- The Persona Series speakers are among the biggest speakers (avforums.com).
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Persona is compared with KEF regarding loudspeaker performance (soundandvision.com).
- Persona's driver mounting technique is compared against Q Acoustics (soundandvision.com).
Takeaway: The Paradigm Persona Series is an exceptional speaker package that offers an uncompromising performance with a staggeringly good sound and amazing build quality. With sufficient space and budget, the Persona series can provide a truly breathtaking audio experience.
What are hifi reviews useful for? (1) Identifying products you should demo in person at a dealer. (2) Learning which products reviewers unanimously praise as the best they've heard (this means they probably are legitimately great). (3) Identifying a product's attributes that satisfy your idiosyncratic needs and tastes. Beyond that, we often discount what reviewers say because they heap praise on most products—and are often apprehensive about publishing strong criticism or comparisons between products. Further, they seldom have more than a few products on-hand, often relying on their memories to compare past products. Always listen for yourself.
All
Persona C
reviews
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An excellent review of a great product
/
Publisher
/
3/1/2022
An excellent review of a great product
Publisher
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3/1/2022
Video Review
Manufacturer details
Features
Specifications
- Design: 6-driver, 3 way center channel bass reflex
- Crossover: 3rd order electro-acoustic at 2.5kHz (tweeter/mid); 3rd order 700Hz
- High Frequency Driver: 1" (25mm) Truextent® Beryllium dome, ferro-fluid damped / cooled
- Frequency Response On-Axis: +/- 2dB from 43Hz - 45kHz
- Frequency Response 30° Off-Axis: +/- 2dB from 43Hz - 20kHz
- Midrange Driver: 4" (100mm) Truextent® Beryllium driver
- Low Frequency Driver: Four 7" (178mm) high-excursion X-PAL™ drivers
- Sensitivity Room/Anechoic: 93 dB / 90 dB
- Low Frequency Extension: 24Hz
- Suitable Amplifier Power Range: 15 - 500 watts
- Maximum Input Power: 250 Watts
- Impedance: Compatible with 8 ohms
- Dimensions (HxWxD): 10.25" × 36" × 16.375" (26.3cm × 91.4cm × 41.5cm)
- Weight: 84 lbs. (38 kg)
Description
6-driver, 3 way center channel bass reflex
Release Timeline
Manufacturer Site
Brand highlights
Taking a step back to look at reviewers' thoughts of the brand's entire lineup—not just this product—what stands out most is the following:
- 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.
Select products
Select product comparisons
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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Avg. Product Price
$5,001-$10,000
Used For Sale
319
Available (Scroll Down)
Brand Popularity
14
of 900+
Badges
Top 50 Brand
Top 250 Brand
Products Listed
90
Founding Year
1982
Our take on 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.
Look inside the brand
Brand Page
Our interview with the brand
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What are your favorite tracks for showcasing the strength of your products?
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From our interview with
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Used
Paradigm
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What if you spend more?
No items found.
What competes at this price?
Perlisten
S7c
7995
/
Released
2021
At the center of it all and always the focus of any studio or home theater is the critical tonal balance provided by the center channel.
Perlisten Audio's speakers feature a unique Directivity Pattern Control array that combines a beryllium tweeter with thin-ply carbon diaphragm midrange drivers to control sound dispersion and enhance imaging precision, and they're the first brand to achieve THX Dominus certification. Their speakers use proprietary thin-ply carbon diaphragm material that's 30% lighter than standard carbon fiber, with their DPC array designed to minimize floor and ceiling reflections while maintaining precise horizontal soundstage.
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Our Summary
Product Strengths
- The S7c center channel speaker is a standout performer and a tonal match to the mains and surrounds, creating a seamless blend across the main channels
- Movie dialogue was crystal clear from every seat with the S7c, and levels required no additional tweaking post-calibration
- Innovative in design and heavy duty in build quality
Product Considerations
- The price of the S7c and the system as a whole, may be intimidating for some
- The review sample had a lustrous high-gloss black with chromed silver binding posts and terminal plate
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- The Perlisten S7t speakers seem to be able to bend the room to their will to an even higher degree than the Revel F328Be speakers that were reviewed earlier
Takeaway: The S7c is a top-tier center channel speaker that delivers exceptional clarity and seamless integration with other speakers, making it a great choice for a high-end home theater system. It's a high-performing product, making movies and music sound their best.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Perlisten Audio's speakers feature a unique Directivity Pattern Control array that combines a beryllium tweeter with thin-ply carbon diaphragm midrange drivers to control sound dispersion and enhance imaging precision, and they're the first brand to achieve THX Dominus certification. Their speakers use proprietary thin-ply carbon diaphragm material that's 30% lighter than standard carbon fiber, with their DPC array designed to minimize floor and ceiling reflections while maintaining precise horizontal soundstage.
Product Page
Product Page
Perlisten
S5c
5995
/
Released
2022
With the success of the S7c, the request for the S5c center for slightly smaller rooms and screens became too numerous to ignore. A world class center similar to the S7c with nearly the same SPL, sensitivity, and low frequency output. The S5c is sealed for the best integration into any room, and the same exquisite DPC array, for THX certified Dominus surround, or Ultra LCR home theater applications.
Perlisten Audio's speakers feature a unique Directivity Pattern Control array that combines a beryllium tweeter with thin-ply carbon diaphragm midrange drivers to control sound dispersion and enhance imaging precision, and they're the first brand to achieve THX Dominus certification. Their speakers use proprietary thin-ply carbon diaphragm material that's 30% lighter than standard carbon fiber, with their DPC array designed to minimize floor and ceiling reflections while maintaining precise horizontal soundstage.
Expand Details
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Compact center channel designed to match the S7Ts without taking up too much space
- Properly designed to be a center channel, providing great off-axis performance
- When integrated as part of a system with S7Ts, it provides a cohesive sound, sounding very similar to the mains
Product Considerations
- Review mentions having to seal the bass drivers in the subwoofers and redo setup
- Review mentions it sounds best with 'really good musical subwoofers', which may mean it sounds less good without subwoofers
Takeaway: The S5C is a well-engineered center channel option that can be paired with other speakers to create an immersive sound experience. It offers great off-axis performance and a cohesive sound.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Perlisten Audio's speakers feature a unique Directivity Pattern Control array that combines a beryllium tweeter with thin-ply carbon diaphragm midrange drivers to control sound dispersion and enhance imaging precision, and they're the first brand to achieve THX Dominus certification. Their speakers use proprietary thin-ply carbon diaphragm material that's 30% lighter than standard carbon fiber, with their DPC array designed to minimize floor and ceiling reflections while maintaining precise horizontal soundstage.
Product Page
Product Page
Monitor
Platinum C250 3G
5900
/
Released
2022
The Platinum C250 3G centre channel boasts an MPD III transducer, a 2,5" RDT III mid-range driver and two 6" RDT III bass drivers. It's designed to be the perfect partner with any combination of Platinum loudspeakers to create the last word in home theatre sound.
Monitor Audio is an independently owned hifi brand that has earned multiple Editors Choice awards for their Silver Series speakers, which feature proprietary driver designs. Their speakers are distinguished by unique technologies like the MPD tweeter and C-CAM drivers, which provide exceptional clarity while resisting distortion and listener fatigue.
Expand Details
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- New features and performance for the brand's high-end home theater speakers
- The slim profile allows for easy integration into any room, distinguishing them from bulkier alternatives
- Cabinets are crafted using multiple laminated layers of MDF with a 36mm front baffle and feature dual binding posts, plus high-quality jumpers for better performance
- The series features an updated top-tier midrange and woofer with Rigid Diaphragm Technology III for improved audio performance
- Build quality is first-rate with no expense spared in using today's technology
Product Considerations
- The speakers sometimes seemed like they were holding back from being their best—lacking a live and emotional connection
Takeaway: The Platinum 3G speakers from Monitor Audio are an achievement in engineering and aesthetic design and are built for easy integration into any home. They presented very good technical performance and compatibility with different amplifier types.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Monitor Audio is an independently owned hifi brand that has earned multiple Editors Choice awards for their Silver Series speakers, which feature proprietary driver designs. Their speakers are distinguished by unique technologies like the MPD tweeter and C-CAM drivers, which provide exceptional clarity while resisting distortion and listener fatigue.
Product Page
Product Page
Bowers & Wilkins
HTM81 D4
9500
/
Released
2021
The center-channel speaker is arguably the most important in home theater – and the HTM81 D4 has an enviable array of advanced technologies to reinforce that point, including Solid Body tweeter-on-top, a decoupled Continuum™ Cone midrange drive unit and twin 200mm (8-in) Aerofoil™ bass cones.
Bowers & Wilkins pioneered the use of Kevlar fibers in speaker cones and developed the Matrix cabinet design, which significantly reduces cabinet resonance and sound coloration. Their Nautilus speaker, introduced in 1993, features the distinctive Nautilus tube tweeter design that minimizes sound resonance, while their dedicated Steyning Research facility has produced breakthroughs like the Continuum cone for improved audio transparency.
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Our Summary
Product Strengths
- The HTM81 D4 is designed specifically as a center speaker to partner with the 801, sharing the same tweeter and midrange assembly
- A very serious center speaker, with a frequency response of +/- 3dB at 28Hz
Product Considerations
- A large speaker, it takes up considerable space
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- The HTM81 D4 is a physical center speaker, preferred by Bowers & Wilkins over in-wall designs for optimal performance when paired with the 801
Takeaway: The HTM81 is a serious center speaker that ensures tonal consistency across the front channels, making movies and music sound great. This center channel is worth considering for the best possible home theater experience.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Bowers & Wilkins pioneered the use of Kevlar fibers in speaker cones and developed the Matrix cabinet design, which significantly reduces cabinet resonance and sound coloration. Their Nautilus speaker, introduced in 1993, features the distinctive Nautilus tube tweeter design that minimizes sound resonance, while their dedicated Steyning Research facility has produced breakthroughs like the Continuum cone for improved audio transparency.
Product Page
Product Page
Meridian
Special Edition DSP5200HC
10000
/
Released
A perfect partner for the freestanding Special Edition DSP5200, the Special Edition DSP5200HC provides full-range playback in a horizontal centre-channel package. The DSP5200SE HC is designed for mounting under a large-screen TV, behind an acoustically-transparent projection screen and is ideal for partnering with other Meridian free-standing or in-wall loudspeakers.
Meridian Audio pioneered digital surround-sound processing and Digital Signal Processing (DSP) in speakers, and developed the Meridian Lossless Packing technology that became the standard for DVD-Audio and Blu-ray formats. The brand's unique technologies include Enhanced Bass Alignment for time-aligned frequencies, SpeakerLink for simplified digital connections using Ethernet-style cables, and MQA for high-resolution audio streaming.
Expand Details
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Confident, solid, and real presentation
- Beefy-solid sound with very good imaging and focus, and with much better layering front to back than anticipated
- Tweeters have a near-perfect combination of articulation and musical purpose, and are absolutely never bright or in your face
- Arguably, the strongest point is their solid and unwavering presentation regardless of volume level
- Has a live-performance-like quality
Product Considerations
- Overall resolution is good, but not spectacular, and perhaps less than one should reasonably expect at this price
- Tonal balance, compared to Apogee speakers, is definitely on the dark side
- Exact same toe in is needed, otherwise focus will tend to either side
- Bass was initially thumb–but was resolved by placement
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Compared to Apogee: DSP 5200's have a lower stage, also, tonal balance is darker
- Compared to Kharma: Kharma's are more open-sounding–but can be ear-piercing, while the DSP 5200's are never aggressive or harsh
Takeaway: The DSP 5200 SE speakers deliver a confident and solid sound, that does not lack power, and performs well at all volume levels. They are great at filling the room with sound and creating a thrilling listening experience.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Meridian Audio pioneered digital surround-sound processing and Digital Signal Processing (DSP) in speakers, and developed the Meridian Lossless Packing technology that became the standard for DVD-Audio and Blu-ray formats. The brand's unique technologies include Enhanced Bass Alignment for time-aligned frequencies, SpeakerLink for simplified digital connections using Ethernet-style cables, and MQA for high-resolution audio streaming.
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