I was wondering if anyone had experienced some of Paradigms' bookshelf/monitor speakers and had any comparison insights to explain. I have been considering the Paradigm Mini Monitor, Monitor 3, and Monitor 5 speakers. I am wondering if, for the price difference, any of those would be better than the M22ti's. I will be buying in less than 3 weeks and would GREATLY appreciate any unbiased advice. What I want more than anything out of the speaker is clarity, because I will be buying an SVS PB12-Plus/2. Thanks in advance for your time.

-GuyintheTV

M22s hands down, no contest. I used to have Paradigm Monitor 9s. I now have M22s. If clarity and accuracy is what you're after, don't look any further. I have M22s paired with an SVS PB12-ISD and couldn't be happier.

nuff said!

bigjohn

I have to agree, my Titans are part of my basement* sound system, not my home theatre system.


*think 1950s style basement.

I have a pair of Atoms sitting on the bar while I figure out what to do with them. I liked them a lot until I had a chance to do some serious A/B testing with the M2s... Atoms are real nice speakers and probably *are* better standalone speakers than the M2s, but I still think the Axioms are comfortably ahead in terms of accuracy and clarity.

hello all...being a Paradigmite and not an Axiomite I thought I would add my 2 cents. I know, I know...who let me in the door, but everyone IS entitled to their opinion.

When shopping around for a HT system I auditioned both Paradigm Monitor 3s and Axiom M22s (A/B comparision) and preferred the former. My budget required me to go with bookshelf fronts and I found the sound of paradigms was fuller(to me). Yes, the M22 were clearer (but not by much and certainly not hands down) it took quite a bit of flipping (A/B -blind)to come to that uncertain conclusion. Also the game plan is to eventually move into a bigger space and have the Monitor 3s as solely a 2 ch system for music and replace them with either Monitor 7s or 9s for HT. I did not feel that the M22 on their own produced enough bass, they almost definitely require a sub and therefore would not be a suitable choice.

All that said, GuyintheTV: if you are looking solely for clarity than I do recommend the M22s, but unlike the axiomites that have responded to your post, I feel it is a matter of personnal preference and set-up rather than which one is the better speaker.

How DARE you!

Can we bookmark this post to prove that it's OK to not prefer Axioms, but that there's a diplomatic way to say so??

Get the torches... round up the mob... how are you for 6 tonight? No? Ohh, in-laws coming over? Hmm... tomorrow's bad for me. Wednesday I have an hour in the afternoon?

Oh, hell... Canuck76, we'll just let you go this time.

Bren R.

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Oh, hell... Canuck76, we'll just let you go this time.

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But you DAMN WELL better like the MX700 remote!

>>When shopping around for a HT system I auditioned both Paradigm Monitor 3s and Axiom M22s (A/B comparision) and preferred the former. My budget required me to go with bookshelf fronts and I found the sound of paradigms was fuller(to me). Yes, the M22 were clearer (but not by much and certainly not hands down) it took quite a bit of flipping (A/B -blind)to come to that uncertain conclusion.

I have to agree with that. The Monitors do seem to have better bass than the small Axioms... I get the feeling that more of the Monitor lineup was intended for use without a sub than the corresponding Axiom products. I did feel that the Paradigm sound was closer to what I imagine the M3/M40/M50s sound like, rather than the M2/M22/M60/M80 sound.

Regarding "which is better" the rules for comparison need to be very clear or arguments happen very quickly. If you compare similarly positioned products between Axiom and Paradigm you often get a "some prefer one, some prefer the other" situation... but if you compare similarly *priced* models from the two vendors (excepting clearouts and special sales) then the Axioms do seem to give a bit more for the $$.

In our defence, GuyintheTV did stress that he was looking for clarity in an HT application

C'mon now! Don't pick on the previous posters. Just remember that "better" is a completely subjective decision, which keeps it in the realm of "personal preference."

Welcome! We don't mind if anyone prefers other speakers. We have a number of members who own different brands. The only ones we have any problem with are the rude and discourteous. You're first post was just fine.

>>Welcome! We don't mind if anyone prefers other speakers. We have a number of members who own different brands. The only ones we have any problem with are the rude and discourteous. You're first post was just fine.

Amen to that.

I probably shouldn't have picked on the Atoms so much... sorry about that

Well BrentR I appreciate you witholding the mob. Although you did say 'this time'...hmmmm.

Bridgman I have to agree. I had auditioned the M3s several weeks prior to the Monitor 3/M22 comparison and found that the sound of the Monitor 3s did remind me of the M3s.

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Well BrentR I appreciate you witholding the mob. Although you did say 'this time'...hmmmm.

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Actually, it's just Bren R. short for Brenden.

What part of the Great White North?

Bren R.

my apologies Brenden...I knew I should have gone back to look at your post again. I live in sunny Toronto, except it's not so sunny!

Actually, that was the one part of Dennis' setup that I wasn't extremely impressed with. Nice remote, and all, but I don't know that it's for me. Sorry Dennis!

A slight difference for the money increase is not sufficient to alter my choice from Axioms' to Paradigms' and I thank everyone who replied. I have always preffered the Bookshelf with Subwoofer combo over the floorstanding speakers. I listen to mostly Trance/Techno, and the very high pitched sweeping synths always sounded clearer when handled alone, with the sub shaking the walls somewhere in the corner. When cranked up, floorstanders, even high end Magneplanar priced at $1600 a pair would lose the definitive quality treble and sound 'muddled' and 'crowded' by the woofers they sat above. Now I can only speak for the effect trance music at obscene volume levels has on floorstanders, but this being my primary reason (and movies) for buying a new speaker setup, I only need this comparison. Thank you again for your help and I look forward to buying my M22ti's.

-GuyintheTV

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I listen to mostly Trance/Techno(...)Yes I'm a novelist, I've got an obscenely prodigious vocabulary, and yes I flaunt it unabashedly.

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You're a raver and a novelist? How are the tips at Denny's?

Bren R.
p.s. - that is meant completely in jest, hope you see it that way.

From one extreme to the other?

Hahaha, I'm NO raver. I just like electronica, and I don't like Denny's. But I do have a varied bunch of interests for sure.

-GuyintheTV