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Newbie Question

I am just starting out in the hi-fi realm and would very much appreciate the advice of some more seasoned audiophiles. The system that I am contemplating would be as follows.

Denon AVR 2803
Denon DVD-1200 (question on this below)
Paradigm Mini Monitors for the fronts
Paradigm CC-370 for the center channel
Paradigm Titans for the surrounds (question on this below)
Paradigm PS-1000 for the Sub

Some questions I've been grappling with:
1) Given the current (and anticipated near-term) availability of SACD's, does it make sense to spend an extra $200 to step up to the Denon DVD-2200?

2) Because my couch is right up against the wall, I have been advised to go with a directional speaker like the Titan instead of Paradigm's recommended di-polars for the surround channels. Does this make sense?

3) Do I need a line conditioner for a system at this budget level? (I plan on purchasing an LCD or plasma TV in the near future.)

4) How does a neophyte such as myself make a sensible choice for cable selection? Can it be as simple as pick a good brand and apply the 10% rule?

Any thoughts on the above questions and on the system in general would be MUCH appreciated.

Thanks.
ajwise
ajwise OP
2 posts
 
Thanks for the feedback.

I've subsequently been advised that the rear (surround) speakers should be as powerful as the front b/c new music releases are increasingly employing content on those channels (esp. w/ SACD). This line of reasoning seems a little weak to me--any thoughts??
prpixel
876 posts
 
Rear speakers should be "voiced" like the front's. It's best to use speakers from a single manufacturer so that pans are seamless from one speaker to the next.

Good luck,
audiochica32c6
1 posts
 
SACD is an absolute must--not because of the enhanced audio quality, which is of questionable value--but because it's almost certain to become the next standard. Right now, SACD is the only viable weapon the record companies have against declining margins, rampant bootlegging, and the booming popularity of Internet downloads. Even if buyers can't her the difference, expect the companies to cram SACDs down their throats. There was a great article in Businessweek about this a few months back.

If I were buying a new audio system, I'd be sure to make the SACD the focal point. You should learn from Beta vs. VHS...
chmaestro2bb9
1 posts
 
Newbie,

Trust me, Paradigm is not the way to go.

Paradigm's rise to prominence is a tale of marketing chutzpah, more than anything else. At a time when all the other other manufacturers were advertising heavily in the typical trade magazines, paradigm ingeniously devised a guerrilla marketing campaign, spreading word through underground channels that it was a company for "in-the-know" consumers who wanted high-end fidelity at a lower price point. Gradually, the company developed a positive reputation amongst pseudo-audiophiles, when in reality its products are far inferior to others in the same price category. You'll hear from people that paradigm was founded by a bunch of brilliant Yale grads, that it can offer better pricing because of superior sourcing, etc...as far as I know, none of this is true. if you test out their speakers in-store, you'll hear what i mean.

for the same price as the paradigm, i'd go with harman kardon, or better yet, vendela.
ajwise OP
2 posts
 
chmaestro,

Thanks for your input. I've heard from many other sources that Paradigm is "the real deal" and that they are able to provide a better value than their competitors due to:

1) Lower labor costs in Canada, and
2) Impact of the US Dollar's appreciation against the Canadian Dollar from 1992-2002. Since much of their sales are in USD but costs (at least labor and overhead) are in CAD, they have historically been able to offer a better product for the same USD price than their competitors. Since the USD has depreciated so much in this past year, it will be interesting to see if Paradigm raises their prices.

I'd be curious to hear your thoughts on this.
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