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Paradigm Reference Signature S8 / C5 / ADP / Servo Home Theater Speaker System

Author: Roger Kanno - www.hometheatersound.com | Source: signature.paradigm.com

A unique Signature | page - 1 2 3 4

I recently had a Paradigm Reference Studio home-theater speaker system ($4950) in my listening room, and although it sounded quite good, it was easily outperformed by the Reference Signature array -- hardly surprising, considering the $8450 difference in price. The Signatures had all of the same characteristics as the Studios -- amazing timbral accuracy, wide dynamics, smooth frequency response, etc. -- but everything was taken to the next level and beyond.

For instance, the bass from the Seismic 12 subwoofer ($1700) that I’d used with the Studio system was astoundingly deep and powerful, but had a slight overhang and a touch of boominess that are not unusual for a sub of even this high a caliber. However, with the Signature Servo, it was difficult to discern any fault with the bass, which seemed louder, deeper, more articulate, and devoid of any noticeable distortion. The Signature Servo was even better than the massive Snell ICS Sub24 ($2600), which, like the Seismic 12, couldn’t match the Servo’s seemingly limitless capabilities and absolute control.

The Snell THX Ultra2 system ($8900) and the Energy Veritas system ($5400), both of which I’ve recently reviewed, presented images very well, but neither could match the Signatures in this regard. With the Signature system, the sounds that accompany the holographic video images that Tom Cruise manipulates in chapter 7 of Minority Report seemed to track the images exactly as they moved across my monitor’s screen. Only my longtime reference, the Infinity Compositions P-FRs ($3500/pair, discontinued), were able to image as accurately as the Signatures -- but in nearly every other area of performance, the S8s surpassed even these.

Although the Signature ADP surround lacks the user-selectable settings found on the Veritas V2.0Ri or Snell SR30THX, the pair of them had no trouble integrating with the rest of the Signature system in my room, and their fidelity was second to none. Coming from the ADPs, the vocals on the Boyz II Men DTS CD were even more involving, with a clear, sparkling quality that perfectly matched the pristine sound of the S8s and C5.

Conclusion

Paradigm’s Reference Signature S8, C5, ADP, and Servo redefine high-end multichannel sound at a reasonable price. $13,400 is a lot of money no matter how you look at it, but many manufacturers will charge you that much or more for just a pair of reference stereo speakers. For that price, Paradigm provides two state-of-the-art main speakers as well as a center-channel, surrounds, and subwoofer that are equally remarkable. If you’re thinking of spending this much on a multichannel speaker system, you should consider the Paradigm Signatures; if you were thinking of spending less but can stretch your budget to accommodate the Signatures, you might find that you can afford to own better speakers than you ever imagined possible.

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