Paradigm 120h vs Goldenear Reference

I demoed both extensively.  Both are good, but the built in ARC room correction on the Paradigms is absolutely outstanding.  I ended up buying the 120H.

I like the legacy speakers also, I just feel with the build in room eq below 300hz the Paradigms were outstanding.

Sometime, I would like to demo the XD series of the Legacy Signature and Focus with room EQ and see how those sound also.  

The values out there, particularly used on the 120H, is just outstanding.

@dep14 ,

What are you powering the 120s with? I picked up a used pair at a pretty killer price! Had to drive about 8 hours round trip but worth it. Now possibly looking for a new “to me” integrated to pair with them. 

@mofojo 

I've "downgraded" my electronics in recent years. 

I back to running my Marantz AV8801 for everything as a pre-amp, though I run it in "pass through" mode with an outboard DAC.  Using a Parasound A31 amp to drive it and the Founders Center.  It's WAY overkill powerwise.

I think that one of the beauty's of the 120H, if you wanted a simple, 2 channel system they would be awesome with the built in amps for 300HZ down. You really get a feel for how little the amp drives for those split seconds before the sub amps kick in.  

What is cool, if you really wanted to shape that top-end sound, I don't think you need more than 80 watts or so to really drive them.  I'd like to have some fun with a tube intetgrated sometime.  But I really think you could have some fun with integrateds with them.

 I bought a Jolida 1000RC a while back I’m driving them with. The tubes are at the end of their life and just found out one is bad. Not turning it back on till the new tubes arrive. I was thinking a Parasound Hint or maybe a Sugden A21SE for some thing different as a 2nd alternative for comparison. 

@mofojo 

New tubes in the Jolida could make for a lot of fun.  I would love to play around with a tube integrated for 2 channel with the 120H.  Sure, it's almost the "opposite" of running EQ as you are adding a little distortion.  But, I've always found that EQ really works best in the bottom end, and do tend to like a bit of that lushness on the top end.  

With so many companies out there now offering the ability to try components and return them you could play around with a few integrateds.

The 120H is a really good, and fun speaker.  I wish mine were the walnut finish (I have the dark cherry as they were a killer deal used, even with the clear coat on the top not being perfect).  But really a great speaker to have fun with.

I've run mine with bass traps in all 4 corners of the room, and just in the two back corners. EQ'd them each time.  I prefer mine with the traps just in the rear corners.  I like the extra "thump" I get with no traps behind the speakers.  The EQ still keeps it tight.