Paradigm Reference Studio 80 Floorstanding Speakers Reviews

Price Paid:  $1500.00 from Audio Store in Rockf

Summary:
This is an update to previous review after 3 years of ownership. Current system: Jolida CD with Svetlana 12AX7 tubes Rotel 995 pre-amp Odyssey Audio amp w/cap upgrade Studio 80's IC's - Chris Venhaus design - 28 gauge silver over teflon core with Eichmann Bullet Plugs. It's been 3 years - how do I feel about the speakers? * Day 1 - Sounded like crap - Brassy and annoying * Day 1.5 ( added after the fact ) - Added 3/4" x 1.5" x 14.25" steel bars to bottom of speakers -- bolted to original holes -- drilled and tapped holes for leveling screws at end of bars and used the original brass "washers" as lock nuts ... HUGE improvement in the definition of lower bass vs midrange * Day x - Rotel 995 pre-amp plus a few months to break them in ... Better but still anoying - very fatiging to listen to * Day xx - Added Odyssey Audio Amp plus 100 hrs of continuous runtime ... yo ... much better - base is tighter, midrange is better defined - highs are STILL brassy ( cd source - my turntable died a few years ago ) * Day xxx - Added home grown IC's using Chris's design from www.audioasylum.com ... yo ... Everything is MUCH clearer ... high's are STILL anoying but heh, at least they are clearer ... * Day xxxx - Added AudioQuest spades to my Monster Audio 10 gauge speaker wire - Vise grips to make the connection ... Ok, if I had the money I'd buy 8TC wire but I'm trying to do this on a budget ( ever-expanding I might add ) ... Seriously, though the new spades were a big improvement ... * Day xxxxx - Added the Jolida CD player with the Svetlana 12AX7 tube upgrade ... NOW NOW NOW we are cooking ... this is what I've been missing ... Warm, rich, sound - NOT fatiging - +++ Those brassy anoying highs that I thought were the speakers ------ GONE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Bottom line ... These speakers get better every time I improve the feed into them. Translation ... Garbage IN, Garbage OUT ... Before you buy these speakers think seriously about what's upstream and what you are willing to spend. These are VERY revealing speakers !!!!!!!!!!

Strengths:
Great dynamic range. Great sound for the price point.

Weaknesses:
Truthfully, the only weakness I've found is the "Stance" of these speakers. It's just too narrow vs deep and with the built in leveling screws there is NO way you are going to square up these speakers and postively lock to the floor. The steel bars I mentioned above are easy to make and are worth the effort. If you want more info on the "stands" send me an email - studio80stands@aol.com - I'll check it every so often ... ( no charge )

Price Paid:  $1600.00 from Audio One

Summary:
Best bang, or boom, for the buck. Why spend twice as much, sure the Germans and Brits make awsome audio Equipment, cars too, but these North American made speakers are awsome. Throw in Pearl Harbour with a couple Anthem Amps and you don't even need a sub! Fit and finish, the feel, the look and my god the sound. The Value.

Strengths:
Value! Simple, listen, compare, buy!

Weaknesses:
My friend has the same ones, blew a tweeter just like a guy on here did. Wonder wonder wonder...awsome service though.

Similar Products Used:
My first speakers were a pair of Worfdales, 'about 15 years ago. Still got them, hooked up in the garage. When thee guy with the Civic across the street gives my Puff Daddy, he gets Skinny Puppy!

Price Paid:  $1000.00 from "mikrotronik:-Chorzó

Summary:
Paradigm Studio 80 sounds great-very clear vocals, solid bass, very good dynamic sound. In my opinion they need powerful amplifier to be properly driven-min. 100 watts.Very good in home theater system as main speakers.

Strengths:
dynamic, power, sweet vocals, crystal clear well controlled sound, can play loud and clean

Weaknesses:
careful with tweeters! Yeasterday I demaged one of them, so I have to replace it quickly! Tommorow I will go to my dealrer and ask for help!

Similar Products Used:
B&W, Infinity Alpha, Paradigm Monitor 9

Price Paid:  $1130.00

Summary:
I listened to many speakers before I decided to go with paradigm. B&W, HK, JBL. The 40s just sounded great. The B&W's I listened to, at the same price range, just couldn't match the mid that these put out. Its amazing just how much detail I was missing from music before I was listening through these.

To answer another reviewer's question. V2's have a grill all the way down the front.

Similar Products Used:
Paradigm Studio 40s, JBL 312S

Price Paid:  $1000.00 from Asia Sound, singapore

Summary:
Just want to correct my review below - the model I purchased is the Version 2 and the price paid is US$1000 for a brand new pair ( not $900) as stated earlier. All my other comments remain except that the sound is getting better and better.