Anyone has heard the Paradigm S8 and can comment ?

I had the exact oppisite xperience. Heard them with some Mac tube gear. No detail, poor imaging and very muddy. The room was not the greatest but, even considering that, they were bad. Much better out there for the same price.

So many different experiences. I own the S4s and find the highs to be very clean and not bright at all. Also oustanding imaging. Originally was driving them with an Anthem amp but recently moved up to a Pass X250.5.

The S8's are a fine speaker at their price point. They benefit greatly being driven by a high current amp. Listening to them with anything less will present you with a much thinner, less cohesive soundstage and a resulting tilt toward the top end.

Its all about image. Nobody buys the signature line because everyone thinks of paradigm as entry to hi end. Truth is there signature line destroys most speakers at double the price.

Everyone thinks of paradigm as entry to hi fi because they are. Paradigms are good speakers but they don't destroy anything even at their price point, and certainly not anything at higher prices. Onix Strata Mini (2,000) is IMO better than any Paradigm Studio speakers and as good as Paradigm Signature S6 or S8. Again, IMO B&W 803D is way better for music than Signature S8 v2 and B&W can be bought used for around $5,000. It is all a matter of taste, but I disagree that Paradigms are unarguably better than anything within their price range. There are cheaper speakers that may sound better and there are tons of better speakers at a slightly higher price point.