I've been challenged to name a better speaker within this price range. But the challenge is moot. This isn't about which speakers are "better"; this is about individual user preferences, differing reference points, and system synergy. I currently use Axiom M2ti speakers. I find them more transparent, detailed, and that they also lack the thick, warm, and dark sound of the Atoms that I found annoying. As for the Optimus speakers that I favorably reviewed...that was...some time ago... This idea about "offsetting" my negative review is absurd. There are about 200 favorable reviews already in this thread, how many more are needed? If I don't like how a speaker sounds in my room, I'm not going to rate it highly. If I think poorly of a speaker, I may choose to give it one star. Whether or not someone thinks my 1 star rating is ridiculous is besides the point. _I_ gave it 1 star.

CLARITY,IMAGE SOUNDSTAGE AND SURPRISING BASE.VALUE!!!!

NONE

AFTER LISTENING TO PARADIGM MONITOR 3''S,PSB IMAGE 1B AND IMAGE 2B AS WELL AS KEF Q15''S ,THESE LITTLE BOOKSHELF SPEAKERS DID IT FOR ME.GREAT VALUE AND TERRIFIC SOUND FROM MY BOOKSHELF SETUP BUT SOMEWHAT WEAK SOUNDING COMPARED TO MY SONS PSB IMAGE 2B''S WHEN ON STANDS.WILL NOT REPLACE MY OLD ENERGY 22''S FOR DEDICATED LISTENING BUT WHAT A TREMENDOUS LITTLE SPEAKER FOR MY BOOKSHELF.

Similar Products Used:

REVIEWED KEF,ACOUSTIC ENERGY,PSB,B&W

Price, Build Quality, Looks

NONE - NONE - NONE

I''ve reviewed these already, but I am doing it again to offest Adriel''s horrible assessment of these speakers. I want someone to name a better speaker in this price range. What does "these are made for the mass market" mean? Business 101 - if you don''t sell your product you go out of business. Volume decreases the price. Pretty basic stuff. According to your logic Paradigms should produce a product with the few in mind and still give you a good price - good luck! Enough of the lectures - pound for pound the best bookshelf speaker in this price range - you audition these and you will buy them - period! btw Adriel: What does excess warmth mean?

Similar Products Used:

Jamo, AR, Infinity, Other Paradigm products, BIC

Reasonable transparency at this price. Though these are inexpensive speakers, they benefit from better electronics upstream. They will reveal the weaknesses of your KLH, Aiwa, Radioshack, and your lower grade Sony, Pioneer, and Technics gear. Sorry, garbage in, garbage out. They won''''''''t sweeten or smooth-over the sound, unlike most mass market speakers such as Optimus, Bose, etc etc.

AT THIS PRICE, you really have to be nit picking to find a REAL weakness (meaning a flaw in the design). I''''''''m not saying they''''''''re perfect, but I have yet to hear better midrange and treble clarity and coherence for under $200 and these compete with speakers over $300.

I''''''''m sorry but the guy below did not give a critical review as he said he would. I''''''''m guessing he had bad luck with the Atoms or his associated equipment isn''''''''t up to snuff, but I have found the Atoms to be the opposite of what he claims. The Atoms are all about clarity while sacrificing extension. That''''''''s why they''''''''re small and only use 5.25 inch woofers! I''''''''ve heard the Optimus speakers he likes and they do have some strengths, but to not really explain his testing process then give the Atoms which have received critical acclaim from professional reviewers with professional testing equipment, 1 star is unbelievable. You can''''''''t just throw-out scientific proof (test measurments) and think you have a believeable argument. Obviously I think the speakers are great and I have owned some much more expensive monitors (KEF RDM 2s, Paradigm Studio 20s, Acoustic Energy Aegis 1s, to name a few) and I still find the Atoms a pleasure to listen to despite their "few" shortcomings. As always do some research, give whatever speakers you decide to buy a fair chance to break-in. Try different types of cables etc and if you still don''''''''t like them that''''''''s fine, but if you''''''''re going to write a review that is USEFUL, try to be informative and less ignorant. Afterall, it''''''''s not like someone you don''''''''t know is going to be swayed not to buy something simply because you said not to.

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Other speakers mentioned above. Nad integrated and CD player. Target audio rack. MSB LINK DAC Kimber Kable (revealing wire that really helps to get the best from the Atoms).

Looks, build quality, price, size

cannot remove front grill

Theese speakers are great. I''m now using them as surrounds and I have the Paradigm Titan''s up front. I''ve finally got my system the way I want it. I''ve noticed a very big difference now that I"ve changed the room around. I can hear everything that you were meant to hear in movies. They are great. Highly reccommended. My system Consists of Technics Sa-DA8 a/v receiver Samsung Dv-611 Dvd player 27" rca tv Paradigm cc-170 (center) Paradigm Titan''s (mains) Paradigm Atom''s (surrounds) Reel Rsw-10 10" powered sub

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Paradigm Titans (also highly reccommended) low end Jvc speakers

Price is no longer a strength since there are better speakers within this $150-$250 price range now.

excess warmth

If you''re looking for a critical review, this is it. Although the Atoms may fit the majority of users nicely, it does not fit my needs and tastes, and therefore I must rate it poorly. I have the Atom v.3, which is the same as the v.2. Paradigm simply chose to give their newest Atoms the "v.3" designation to be consistent with their Performance Series v.3 speakers. The Atoms are overly warm. This clouds the sound, lessens the detail and transparency, and removes the sense of depth. My Optimus Pro-7s, although shorter on bass, have much better imaging than the Atoms. I need a clear and detailed monitor for near field listening, and the Paradigm Atoms are the exact opposite of what I wanted to hear. They sound more suited towards pleasing car audio enthusiasts and the mainstream mass market tastes rather than someone like me, who is willing to sacrifice some bass and lower midrange for clarify, depth, and subtlety.

Similar Products Used:

Optimus Pro-7

Great detail, fantastic treble, smooth midrange and limited but very tight bass

Can be overwhelmed by complex material, i.e. orchestral pieces

We have used four Atoms Version 2 with Paradigm CC170 center channel for over a year. The Atoms produce the sweet natural sound you would expect from very expensive monitors. If you give them good material they will disappear completely and produce huge 3D soundstage especially on jazz, acoustical, string and vocal music. In a home theater application the Atoms perform flawlessly both as fronts and surrounds. We have auditioned the Atoms, Titans and Mini Monitors side by side several times and always liked the open airy sound of the Atoms. For best results they need to be positioned on stands and complimented by a musical sub. They also continue to improve the longer you use them. The Atoms are a great product and their cost makes them one of the best deals in audio.

Similar Products Used:

Titan, Mini Monitor, Energy, Phase Tech, Mirage

Value, value, value.

At this price level, absolutely none.

A tremendous bang for the buck. I was looking to downsize and complete my home theatre setup, and these little gems filled the bill completely. But not everyone lives within driving distance of Canada to take advantage of the currency exchange rate. Great service by Livewire Audio also.

Huge 3D soundstage, Detail, Plays loud

No real bass, so needs sub extreme highs just a tad to rolled off...lacking life above 10khz

Big things come in small packages. And these little boxes have a HUGE sound. They can throw an image far wider than the two tiny speakers are separated. They also have good depth giving these little speakers a kind of wide and deep sound stage that feels life like. They can''t match the Carver ribbon speakers in my main system in this department but then again NO speaker can. I almost love the balance of these guys..almost. They are tilted just a tad on the warm side. This combo of tilted balance and a treble that lacks a little life (way, way up there) can make them sound uninspired and lifeless at times. I keep sensing the need to turn the treble control up a hair on my preamp to correct this and add more sparkle(except that my preamp has no tone controls.) This is their only real problem...just a hair lacking in that sparkle of life that is only created by a neutral balance and a very extended tweeter. OK, OK I''m starting to nit pick and were talking about a $189 speaker here. For the price this speaker really can''t be faulted. It just does so many things right that you really owe it to yourself to hear it. If you haven''t heard any budget speakers in a few years I''ll bet you will be surprized at how great they sound these days, and the Atom''s are right at the top of that list. They have great inner detail too. Just hook these babies up to a good sub (paridigm PDR-10)and enjoy one of the best bargains in todays audio. If you would like a cheapo system that is kind to the ears check out my bedroom system below. This system is under $1,400. Paridigm Atom speakers($189) Parigigm PDR-10 sub & X-20 cross over($370) Antique Sound labs Wav-8 mono block tube amps($198) Space Tech QA-001 tube preamp($300) Rotel CDP($300)

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Axiom 3ti

Very natural sound in a bed room

Not near as much as I would have thought.

I am really happy with the Atom and its beautiful natural sound. I tried to use an old AR-3 (which was the studio sound monitors for CBS in the 50's)for a complete uncolored base, but I couldn't get the 4 ohm speaker to work without shutting down my amp on a loud passage. The sales person at Great Sounds approved of my wiring diagram also. Anyway, after doing A/B listing tests of the AR-3's base and the Atoms base I was happy with just the pair of Atoms for my listing music in the bed room.