dloweman

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
4.75 of 5, 4.00 votes

Price Paid:  $800.00 from Natural Sound, Kitch

Summary:
The speakers I am reviewing are the version 3's. The look of these speakers is very simple yet attractive, they don't draw attention to themselves, which is what most want. As for the sound, I think it is one of the best values available. The imaging is great, and the overall sound is just outstanding. These speakers are for all listening groups and can handle all types of music very well. If you are looking for a step up from a budget system then definately take a look at the monitor line from paradigm.

Strengths:
Imaging, balance, build quality, and overall sound. Midrange is smooth and the highend is crystal clear. Also has quite a bit of bass for those without a sub.

Weaknesses:
Haven't found any, other then not shielded to have to be kept 3-4 feet away from the tv screen.

Similar Products Used:
Klipsch rf35, paradigm titans, jbl E100, B&W603s3

Ian64

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
2.67 of 5, 3.00 votes

Price Paid:  $0.00 from Audio Ark

Summary:
This review is for the Monitor 7 V3s. I first started looking and doing the research about 2 years ago after I had purchased my receiver Denon 1802. I read all kinds of reviews on this site and other online forums. But when it came down to the auditions and the best value the Paradigms won out. I would say the B&W's would have been my second choice but there was a good price difference that did come into play. I think the fact that the Paradigms are made in Canada helped as there no import duties. The other big factor, which helped with the purchase, was the retailer that I have been dealing with for the last few years do have a good reputation in the city and I would recomend anyone to check them out. With all that said it is only the reason I made the choice I made it doesn’t give my impressions of the speakers. After 6 months with these I am still happy with my choice as I have watched numerous movies and listen to many hours of 2-channel audio with the system. Even though I am limited on the quality of 2-channel stereo using the Denon AV receiver. I am still impressed with the 2 channel as at times it sounds as if the centre is on, but that is just good sound stage which I have never had before. I enjoy listening to female singers such as Stevie Nicks. I am also impressed with the amount of low base comes out of these I run may receiver with tone defeat on so as not to use the base and treble controls at all so the music is the way the artist had intended it to be heard. When I bought these I had some concern that with only 6" drivers that it would not get low enough. I am surprised at how low these go I have listen to some Price with sub shut off and I would say that these go low enough for and any 2 channel system, but for home theatre a sub is a must have. I am running these biwired off my receiver which when I first put them on I did notice some gains. So I had my retailer that sold me the speakers build some custom biwire cables, which I do believe, are worth getting.

Strengths:
Good sound stage. Great highs and decent lowend base. Purchase Price. If I do decide to upgrade they have a good resale value. Quality product with quality retailers

Weaknesses:
None to date.

Similar Products Used:
Auditioned B&W, Energy, Jamo, Acoustic Energy, PSB, Dahlquist.

Bernard

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 4.00 votes

Price Paid:  $775.00 from Chase Electronics

Summary:
This review is for the Monitor 7 v3. After having listened to all the major reputable brands I settled on the paradigms for a number of reasons. In Canada the closest competitor in my opinion is PSB. I found the paradigms offered a bit more sparkle and excitment than the rather dry and flat response of the PSB's. (A matter of taste.). The v3 is less bright than the v2 and has a very flat response. The imaging is outstanding with instruments and vocals being placed very accurately between the speakers. The soundstage is also big and slightly higher than the speakers. Bass response is excellent and tight and controlled. The port is front firing which helps if you have to place the speakers against the wall. Ideally you would want them away from the wall but this was not an option as these are part of my bedroom system. Treble is outstanding at this price point and is well defined and not too bright. It is also nice and sweet sounding. The midrange though very good for this price is where you start to see slight weaknesses compared to more expensive units like my B&W 603's. This is nitpicking I know but if there is any weakness this is where it is. The midrange is very smooth and well balancede but lacks a bit of definition and detail compared to more expensive speakers. It tends to smooth over the grain and detail. However at this price you will not find a better speaker, maybe just different and then it's up to your taste and music preferences that will make the difference. You could get better midrange detail but then you would lose something else. At this price everything is a compromise but this one happened to sound the best to me. All in all this speaker is outstanding and can really handle some power and deliver high volume levels. I am using them as a bedroom system connected to NAD320BEE, NAD540 cd player and NAD422 tuner. The NAD amp really goes well with these speakers, lots of power and excellent midrange. Previosly used a Harmon KArdon receiver but it had poor midrange (but good lows and highs). Combined with the Paragigm's the midrange was just lost so I refunded it and got the Nad320BEE and the midrange was back and excellent. I also listened to the Paradigm's on a Denon receiver and this was a very good match as well as Denon usually has good detail and midrange definition which these speakers need a little help with. Match these speakers up with a good system and they will be unbeatable in my opinion.

Strengths:
Fantastic imaging and soundstaging.(Play with the positioning it will pay off big time.). Well defined and sweet highs. Tight controlled bass. (Keep away from walls if possible, See manual.). And good balanced midrange and reasonably flat overall response. Nice build quality for price. Bi-Wireable which opened up the sound stage but buy some decent wire if you're going to do so as using lamp wire on my system also slowed down the timing and response a bit and also affected bass control. (My next purchase will be a decent set of wires.).

Weaknesses:
Slight lack of midrange detail and definition compared to more expensive speakers or midrange biased competitors. (but they will compromise on something else.). Generic owners manual for whole line.

Similar Products Used:
B&W 601 s2, B&W 603 S2, Nad 320BEE amp, Nad 540 cd player, Nad 422 tuner, Nad 761 AV receiver, etc.

Audiophyle

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
4.33 of 5, 6.00 votes

Price Paid:  $700.00 from Local Audiophile Sho

Summary:
Have you ever heard of the term "diminishing returns?". Well, essentially these Paradigm Monitor 7's are as good as speaker gets before the increase in price is not worth the investment. In otherwords, they are the best value on the market. There are better speakers out there for sure, but the corresponding increase in price is not anywhere close to worth the difference in sound. You you want to pay double what the 7's will cost you and get less than a 5% improvement, be my guest. I decided to get audiophile sound with the 7's and invest what I would have wasted on more pricey models in better electronics. The Monitor 7's excell as home theater mains and give me goosebumps when listening to 2-channel stereo. You just can't go wrong with these babies. I don't think they have a weakness, and I would rather send my money to Canada (Paradigms are made in Canada), than to Japan or even Britian and day. Happy listening.

Strengths:
Super highs, smooth mids, solid, tight bass.

Weaknesses:
none

Similar Products Used:
many Paradigm products.

newbsterv2

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

Price Paid:  $550.00 from Music N' Motion

Summary:
After 2 years of listening to various speakers extensively I've come to the conclusion that these Monitor 7's(v2) are excellent speakers despite a few of their flaws. People always say that x speaker should do this right and x speaker dhould do that right but at the end of the day the most "balanced" speaker usually ends up staying put. These speakers are very efficient making them play reasonably loud with little power. They also are "quiet" between the notes. I also own a pair of Magnepan MMG's as well as Axiom M3ti's and while those speakers have many good qualities they have a few things that are annoying that really remind you you're listening to speakers. The Maggies have a hazy sound and don't disperse all frequencies evenly making them sound very confined. They are amazing with stringed and acoustic instruments but fall short when it comes to disapperaing from sight. Same with the Axiom's. Their midrange is a little nasal making vocals sound honky and annoying. The Paradigm Monitor 7's are not perfectly flat don't get me wrong. But they are smooth and have good body. The bass isn't the tightest but the speaker never slurs the notes and clumps them together like the MMG's can do. Paradigm just came out with the v3 Monitor 7's and after listening to them today I found them to sound even better for just a little more money. They use a better tweeter amd use a bass only driver that has an acoustic rolloff at 400Hz. this makes the midrange clearer while still being able to use a simple 2 way crossover. The Monitor 7's are very revealing and a "wee bit" crispy on top. Not sibilant or hashy but just that little extra detail of brightness that can be really annoying IF you have components in your system that are overly bright to begin with. As a matter of fact the reason I had all these other speakers in my house is because of the poor equipment I was originally using with them. I've badmouthed the Monitor 7's along the way but I take all that back. For a speaker that costs ~$700.00/pair(for the v3) I honestly can't think of a better speaker for the money unless you're a DIY'er. Have a listen and always remember ENJOY YOURSELF!!!

Strengths:
Smooth frequency response, efficient, wide dispersion, imaging, bass response, groove factor, high frequency air

Weaknesses:
Bass can be a little flabby at higher volumes but the speaker never sounds sloppy or laggy. Can be a bit bright so don't use cheap low-fi sony receivers to drive these. Slightly recessed midband makes these speakers sound just a tad dark.

Similar Products Used:
Magnepan MMG Axiom M3ti Current system...... mains - Paradigm Monitor 7 v2 center - Paradigm CC-370 v2 surrounds - Paradigm ADP 70 sub - paradigm PS-1000(junk) receiver - Integra DTR 5.2 DVD/CD - Pioneer DVC-503