Small in Size, Not in Sound.
Written: Sep 29 '00 (Updated Sep 29 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Big sound from small speaker, inexpensive, good bass
Cons: rear port makes it somewhat difficult for perfect placement
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| PJCig's Full Review: Paradigm Mini Monitor Main / Stereo Speaker |
The Mini-Monitors from Paradigm have been a top seller if not THE top seller for their company for the last two years. So it comes as some surprise that there have been only three reviews written to this point on these bookshelf speakers. I will add my .02 by stating that if you are in the market for a budget speaker, you should start your search with the mini-monitors.
Let me make one thing clear before I go too far. Though they are categorized as budget and bookshelf, they do not perform as such. They "require" speaker stands, because although they are smallish, and are called "bookshelf" speakers, they are rear-ported which means that hole you sometimes see on a speaker that everybody associates with bass, is in the back. So if you set it inside a bookshelf or too close to the wall you will end up with a slight "boomy sound" that is not quite right.
In spite of this "flaw", the minis will produce some amazing bass for their size. If you are in an apartment, or a smaller room, or cannot afford a sub as of yet, the minis will do just fine. I have mine set up as the front two speakers of my humble home theater and the difference between these and the Bose 201 bookshelf speakers I had is like night and day. My movies are now more alive, sound cleaner if you will, and again, provide me with more bass.
They are often compared to similar models made by PSB, or Energy, among others. I would recommend listening to these models in a comparison test. Paradigm is a Canadian speaker and does not sell in your regular retail stores like Best Buy, or Circuit City. Check their website for vendors near you. There you will most likely be able to hear for yourself. Bring your best CD's, and give them a spin. You will not be disappointed in what you hear.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID: PJCig
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Member: Patrick Marcigliano
Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma
Reviews written: 5
Trusted by: 1 member
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