Clear, accurate sound, great with surround sound movies. Excellent value for the money.

Not the greatest if you mostly listen to music, but very acceptable.

Before Xmas 2002 got a Paradigm System 7 V3 (2x Monitor 7v3, 1x CC370, 2x ADP370)with a PS1200 Subwoofer. This is for my evolving renovated basement home theater and used with a Yamaha RXV800 5 Channel A/V receiver. I use this with a Toshiba 50H81 rear projection HDTV set. Still need a rug and another leather couch, but a step at a time. Even with my current accoustics the monitor 7s are extremely clear and accurate. Voices, instruments and movies come through without noticable distortion. Imaging ok, but could be better. For the price, can't complain. The CC370 is excellent with movies and 5 channel music. Voices and midrange are extremely clear. It is large and powerful. The ADP370s dipoles are great for movie surround sound, although I was forced to position them very close to the ceiling to maintain symmetry. For 'surround' music they provide good ambience, but little soundstage, but that was the intention. The PS-1200 sub is very solid on movies and can shake the house 'accurately', at modest levels. Jurasic Park, Matrix, Lord of the Rings (FOTR) sound awsome. When the Balrog gets in your face, stomps and growls, you WILL feel it. Taken together this timber matched set produces great surround sound. For the money (about $3k CDN), great value from these speakers and will sound even better when I add the rug!

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ESS Tempest L5's.

Clarity, Accuracy, Looks

Bass if you are into boomy music

I was slowly getting around to upgrading my 1970’s 2channel pawn shop stereo (don't laugh, my heart and energy was into a multi amp, 10 speaker car stereo that was forever evolving and could pound the back window out of the car if I wasn’t careful!) when I heard a set of Mirage speakers and was blown away from what I WAS use to listening to IN THE HOUSE (not the car heh heh). I went in to audition a set for myself and accidentally had the Monitor 7.3's playing instead. Well, after many auditions of various brands, I was ready to purchase a set of Cerwin Vega's as after all I was a “bass head” but I couldn't justify the CVs or at least live with that decision because the Monitors were just so clear and accurate. I have not regretted the decision yet. I find myself renting old DVD’s like Top Gun and Terminator 2 just to hear what I have been missing. I must have watched (actually listened to) Saving Private Ryan and Lord of the Rings at least 10 times since I brought them home and I hear something new every time as these baby’s break in. The big test was to listen to any older work by Pink Floyd. Roger Waters has a lot of background filler going on, especially in the Final Cut. I can hear things in that CD that I was not able to hear with a decent set of Aiwa head phones. Now I must admit the bass is rather weak to what I’M USE TO but the clarity of the sound is fantastic. On that, if you listen to club music like the wife does you will probably be disappointed like she is with them as these speakers do not fill in with deep throbbing base, however I plan on finishing my system with a PW2200 and that should take care of the low end. So to sum up, if you are into Home Theater or Jazzy/Blues or even non-bassy type Rock/Alternative music you will not regret these speakers. If you are into Club music you will not want to keep them.

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JBL, Audio Research

Overall performance for the money is outstanding!

Need a warm amplifier or may be slightly bright for some listeners

I have had these speakers for over a year now and they seem to get better with age. I bought the monitor 7.3, CC-370 and minimonitors for a home theater setup. I already had a newer JBL PBS 12 subwoofer. However I listen to music on just the two mains and the 7.3 perform very well and are only limited by the Sony 935 Amplifier which tends to make these a little brighter then a Marantz or Denon. For movies this setup works very well and the center channel projects the voices in a clear understandable manner. Sound effects are great but not when you can not understand the dialoge. I would recommend these speakers to anyone who enjoys listening to music or movies but does not want to sell the farm for good quality. As for the bass output noted by other reviewers I suspect it may be how the frequency is adjusted or the amplifier itself because my Sony is not good at reproducing bass and the v7's sound good in the stero mode. I know the problem with the Sony exsists because it replaced my ten year old pioneer amp which failed before I bought the Paradigms and I noticed a substantial loss of bass on my American Acoustics (MTX) four ways. Thats why I purchased the JBL subwoofer. Overall I think these were one of the best buys in speakers I have made in years. Now to do something about the amplifier.

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Ammerican Acoustics, AR, JBL, Pioneer

Mid's and High's Timbre matching with APD-170v.3 and CC-170v.3 for those of us that are on a budget. Looks. Price.

Bass could be stronger - but a good sub takes care of that.

I started my home theater system in October with the following: Fronts: Paradigm Monitor 3 v.3 Center: Paradigm CC-170 v.3 Surrounds: Paradigm ADP-70 v.3 Not liking the looks of the bookshelf speakers on stands and having a missing frequency with the ADP-70's, I've upgraded to the following: Fronts: Paradigm Monitor 7 v.3 Center: SAME (CC-170) Surrounds: ADP-170 v.3 The monitor 7's have siginificantly more bass than the monitor 3's. They have excellent mid's and high's - bass could still be a little stronger - but that is why they make the Monitor 9's. Excellent size and timbre match quite well to the ADP-170v.3 surrounds and the CC-170v.3 even though the Paradigm site suggests the larger 370 series center and surrounds. In general - you won't be dissapointed! Excelent choice for the price - will blow away all other speakers in the range.

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Paradigm Monitor 3v.3 AR 9

Just about everything: dynamics, soundstaging, smooth treble, excellent bass for size, absolutely incredible value.

bass may be a littel weak for some tastes(if this is so, simply buy a sub or a higher end monitor series)

wow, what amazing speakers. i'll try to keep this review brief so you'll read it jsut to hear how amazing these speakers really are. i demoed these along with psbs, polks, jbls, and other lesser brands. the aradigms came out on top in every category. for the price, these will easily outperform speakers costing far more. None of the psb image line cane even compare to the dynamics of the paradigms. The paradigms are jsut as accurate as the psbs, but sound more lively and full. The bass response from the 6 and 1/2 inches is astounding. A sub will be necesarry for msot pople for movies, but its my experience that for music these speakers need very littel, unless you are a bass freak. i'm driving them with a marantz sr4200 which is an excellent match, as both the receiver and speakers produce a very warm sound that compliments eahc other very well. It should be noted that this review is for the new v3's , which have many subtle improvments over the v2, which are actually quite noticebale. the bass driver is now an all black driver and new surround amterial was used on both cones. the tweeter has also bene redisgnewd for better dispersion, making for excellent imaging. the vertical imaging on these towers is amazing, the soundstage is quite impressive, especially for speakers at this price. the horizontal sound staging is not as impressive as the vertical, but still good none the less. these will add new life to all your old cds. (price is in canadian dollars)

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many models demoed, psb image 5ts used until i "upgraded" to the cheaoer paradigms

imaging! clarity, voice matched, dispersion, looks, build quality, output, sonic accuracy like what they said!

none

I have the complete 5 speaker package paradigm system 7 composed og monitor7, cc-370 and ADP-370. I got these the 3 fronts very cheap then I got to decide to get the ADP 370 and cost me the same price as my fronts. If you'll add up the whole thing I still got to save around 20% including freight if I bought it here in my country the Philippines. I have a velodyne ct-120 ang all gauge 12 ixos gamma geometry cables and vandenhul coaxial all with gold terminals. Its being powere by a denon 1802, can you believe that. It sounds so great already with just that kind of amplifier. I have the opt the change it to a 2802 or 3802 if I didn't like the way it sounds or if it lacks power as per agreement with the merchant in sight and sounds. This thing went on sale for $400. I still have the money to spare to go to the 3802 but I couldn't even go past 00db on the volume. Once in a while I crank it up to +10 but it wouldn't be nice to hear anymore and appreciate. Clarity is there and loudness, imaging is also great but with -5db is so loud already especially in DTS. Pearl harbor is like being attacked. So if you have a weak heart I don't recommend this system. My kid gets afraid everytime the I play a DVD and intro of dd is up. I believe paradigm is one heck of a system to go with the price, if you know where to find them. By the way, production year of my Version 3 is 2002 and I have the rosenut finish already like the paradigm website. I really wonder how will it sound on a 3802? Well I guess whenI decide to go to 7.1 then I'll purchase the 38's but as of now since most dvd are all dd standard and few dts. I will just settle for this thing. I play this on my 65wv600 Sony TV. This is one hell of a setup. I spent more than half a million on this thing and still hasn't been completed yet. I still have to buy the dcdi by faroudja progressive scan dvd player and an xbox progressive player. When can the upgrading stop says one of the write-ups I read. Make sure you get a paradigm! I think in the Phillipines right now I am the only one who has that system 7 version 3 and even the dealers doesn't over here doesn't have it yet. Does anybody have a suggestion for an excellent dvd player. I am thinking of the 301 disc progressive sony but then its not a faroudja chip. I am currently using a middle class philips that was once in my room. Enjoy readers e-mail me if you have question on my setup. My fronts are biwired and didn't notice the difference, sound better single wired, I hear all the tingles maybe because thesound is thinner and biwired _______? But still its connected biwired.

well defined highs, good low end extension, no muddiness in the bass. VERY efficient. nice design and extremely wallet/wife friendly. ($575 CDN!)

a little muddy in the midrange cheapish veneer.

in a word -- spectacular! my system: cambridge audio A500 (amp) cambridge audio D500se (cd) virtual dynamics Power3 power cables monster M1.4 biwire speaker cables monster M950i .5 meter interconnect after auditioning several makes and models i came to realize that i was going to get the absolute best value for my dollar with the paradigms. i agree with many of the strengths and weaknesses mentioned in other reviews. amplifier and source choice can be very revealing on these babys. i found the biggest improvement was made after upgrading my speaker cables and bi-wiring the speakers. amazing clarity and exceptional low end extension. VERY easy to drive -- i.e. high current amp not required. the best part? they're Canadian! :)

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paradigm mini-monitor paradigm 3se mini

Price/performance ratio Good soundstaging Neutrality

Lacks absolute detail Bass performance could be better

I owned the Monitor 7.2 for about 8 months and then upgraded to the Studio 40.2. Let me tell you this, for under $500USD you will have a hard time finding a better speaker. The 7 is not without its faults though! The sound is good but it is not true. The bass is solid, but it could be a little faster and tighter. There is some detail that the speaker fails to present; do a side-by-side with the Studio 40 and you will understand. The 40 lets you hear the harmonics of piano notes and fingers strumming the acoustic bass notes, the 7 will only give you a hint. The 7 does present a very good soundstage and are quite transparent for the price. Other than the nit-picky shortcomings mentioned above, the Monitor 7 delivers a great deal of performance given the price point. Others speakers I have heard at this price (PSB Image, Mirage FRX) can do certain things better, but overall, the Monitor 7 is superior, IMHO. 5 stars for value given what you get for what you'll pay. 5 Overall because the Monitor 7 can sell for a few hundred dollars more.

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Paradigm Studio 40

Superb Treble and Good Lows. Looks.

None!

These speakers are amazing. I was looking to buy a set of towers that will not require upgrading for atleast 5 - 7 years. I checked Paradigm monitor 5,7 and Axiom M50 and M60. The axioms are good speaker, but the Paradigm 7s had the best sound reproduction of the lot. For About 630 a pair, these are simply the best speakers you can buy in this class. Another reason to go with speaker is its look. They look awesome.

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JBL N38, Axiom M60

Clarity and detail. Soaring highs and tight, punchy bass. Good looking too.

Yeah, right!

I recently bought the Monitor 7 v2 as an upgrade from a nice little pair of JBL bookshelf speakers. The store I bought from had them listed for $650 but after heming and hawing for about an hour, while putting them through their paces, the salesman said he'd give me any color I wanted for $550! I chose the rosenut finish. That was one hell of a deal! The first thing I noticed was how clean and crisp the high frequencies are. Their is so much detail in the music that I never heard before, like the actual sound of a high hat being played, or fingers gently plucking metal guitar strings. The highs never get irritating or fatiguing however, they always stay clean and amazingly clear. These speakers are very detailed and very revealing so keep that in mind when playing music that was poorly produced/recorded. I like the mid range tone of these speakers a lot. I listen to classic rock and on most recordings guitars sound big and aggressive but never overly so. The mid range is very good, it never overpowers any of the other frequencies. The bass these speakers put out is excellent! No bass hump, never boomy, and not at all overpowering. Again, these speakers are very revealing and highly accurate. Bass is always reproduced tightly and with fantastic pitch definition. I do plan on buying a sub however, maybe a PDR-12 just to add some deep, rich, hard hitting bass, and to take that responsibility away from the Monitor's. Again, an exceptional speaker for music from classic rock to blues to classical. Accurate, detailed, revealing, clear, just a real fine product!

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Cerwin-Vega, JBL