Hi all,

I have done a search on this forum for Paradigm 'Monitor 7 & 9' but came up empty-handed. Lot's of threads about Paradigm 'Studio' series and smaller sets. I've seen some great reviews about them and was shocked at the price - Monitor 7 = $750, Monitor 9 = $900. Not too bad considering I'm currently putting money down on a pair of M60s. All the stats seem to be comparable between all three. Anyone have experience with these?

This is the Axiom forum. I wonder what speakers most here would recommend in comparison to the Paradigms?

Here's an Audioholics comparison among 4 speakers, including the $400 Axiom M22Ti and the $1200 Paradigm Studio 40v2. Extrapolate.

http://www.audioholics.com/productreviews/loudspeakers/faceoff3_a.php

Hmm, thanks for the link. I didn't think of it like that. Now I feel like a dork.

ksimple, buying speakers sight unseen is always something of a leap of faith. Get the M60s, if you don't love them, you can call me a dork.

I'm sure Peter will pop in sometime soon, but I lived with his Monitor 9s for a while, and now live with the M22s, so I'll offer my opinion.

The M22 completely blows away the Monitor 9 in every area except bass response, which is a given considering the difference in size. The M22 has much better imaging, a more cohesive soundstage, more detail, and is more neutral than the Monitor 9. In the short time that both the Monitor 9 and M22 were in the house, the Monitor 9 sounded a bit slow and veiled in comparison.

Now since it's basically general consensus that the M60 shares many of the M22's good traits and on top of that adds good bass response, I don't doubt that the M60 also blows the Monitor 9 out of the water.

Having heard Peter's Monitor 9s and his M22s (although not anywhere near the same listening session), I will say this: The Monitor 9s never made me say, "Wow!" The M22s make me say "WOW!" every time I hear them.

--really looking forward to my M50s...

Speaking of bookshelves, I've kind of let the M3s get pushed around a bit as of late - they were good but not spectacular in the first 3 months or whatever I've owned them. I'm finally nearly finished the basement remodel, they're spaced properly, I spent a few minutes actually adjusting the heading on them (eyeballing from behind aiming them just wide of directly at the listening position) and moving them away from the "chuck them against the wall out of the way while I'm renovating" position they were in. They're brand new speakers now - so the gloves are off, I'll defend them against all comers now.

Bren R.

The M3s, in a good room, accompanied by a good sub and source are absolutely wonderful speakers. Personally, I think the M3s are superb driven by a good single end triode tube amp, unbelievably rich and full sounding. They need some room behind them to breathe.

Definitely an audiophile speaker.