Mini Monitor: BIG Sound
Written: Sep 04 '03 (Updated Sep 11 '03)
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Pros: Beautiful highs and mids; affordable; attractive
Cons: None at this price point.
The Bottom Line: At $300-$400, you'd be hard pressed to find a better 6.5" speaker.
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| brentv's Full Review: Paradigm Mini Monitor Main / Stereo Speaker |
THE COMPANY
The Canadian manufacturer, Paradigm, is quickly becoming my favorite speaker company. They've become famous in the audiophile world by providing excellent performance at extremely affordable prices. Paradigm can do this because they produce at least 90 percent of the material that goes into each one of their speakers (including the drivers, voice coils, crossovers, and cabinets).
SOUND
The Mini Monitor, a stellar performer, doesn't disappoint. I own two pairs of Mini Monitors (a pair of version 2s and 3s). Both sets are excellent, flat speakers. In my experience, they excel across the whole frequency range. That said, however, female voices, acoustic guitars, and metal instruments, like cymbals, really stand out on the Mini's.
The bass response of the Mini is quite good. A subwoofer is necessary for great low-end extension, but you could do without one for casual music listening; if you're using these speakers only at low-to-mid volumes, a subwoofer is probably not necessary.
The Mini, like most of Paradigm's speakers, have a long break-in period. Give the speaker a couple weeks, and the sound will be even better
PLACEMENT
Because of the rear port, it makes placing these speakers more difficult than a closed enclosure. Paradigm recommends, and I agree, to place the speakers at least 8" from the back wall. It is also important to use stands for these speakers. I have heard that lighter stands, like the ones Premier manufacturers (also a Paradigm company), work best.
APPEARANCE & CONSTRUCTION
The Mini Monitor, along with all the bookshelf and floorstanding Monitor speakers, are very attractive. At this price range, it's hard to complain about the looks. The unshielded bookshelf and floorstanding speakers come in a variety of veneers. The rosenut, like the ones pictured on Paradigm's website, are the most appealing to me. Of note, though, is that the exterior enclosure is not real wood. This is done, I believe, to cut costs. Unless people take a very close inspection of the speaker, they will probably be fooled. (I would stay away from the light cherry veneer--I think it looks cheap).
Construction wise, I have never had a problem with any one of the 8 speakers I own from Paradigm. All of the speakers have performed flawlessly. This is the impression I get from fellow Paradigm owners, too.
IS THERE A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE V2 and V3 MODELS?
Short answer: no. There are, however, some things to consider:
(1) V3s are designed to sound best with the grills on or off. The V2 speakers were meant to be played, for best sound, with the grills on.
(2) I've heard, and I don't know for a fact, that there has been a slight cut in the upper frequencies. It's difficult for me to comment on this as I have not performed an A/B test with the two models.
THE PARADIGM SOUND: BORING?
Some comment that Paradigm speakers are "laid back" or have a "boring" sound. In my opinion, Paradigm speakers are quite active. Because they are some of the flattest speakers on the market, they don't emphasize certain parts of the frequency range. Other speaker companies care less about diagnostic tests. They produce speakers that, while less accurate sonically, might be more rewarding for certain types of listeners. I am no audiophile by any means, but once you listen to flat speakers, it will be difficult to listen to any other type of speaker. Paradigm speakers are really accurate. If it's in a sound recording, the Paradigms will pick it up.
So, if you're in the market for a new set of bookshelf speakers, try them out at an authorized dealer and perform an A/B test (if possible). See if the Mini's offer the type of sound you're looking for. I think you'll be happy with the monitors regardless, but I recommend you listen to them before you buy.
CONCLUSION
At $300-$400, you'd be hard pressed to find a better 6.5" speaker. If you're willing to spend more for a bookshelf speaker, take a look at Paradigm Reference's Studio line. You can get a pair of Studio 20's for under $700.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 300
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Epinions.com ID:
brentv
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Location: Flagstaff, AZ, USA
Reviews written: 6
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About Me:
I'm a simple man with a simple plan...of getting us the hell out of here!
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