2. speakers
  3. 132665-105974

Paradigm 3f, KEF reference 3, Monitor Audio PL300II

I've been auditioning speakers in the $15,000 range and am almost ready to decide.  My short list right now is the KEF Reference 3 and the Monitor Audio PL300II.  I'm planning to hear the Paradigm Persona 3f this weekend.  I've also heard speakers from B and W, Wilson, Wilson Benesch and Proac but none made the final cut.  I really expected to be blown away by the Proacs and, while they were very good, I prefer the KEF and Monitor Audio. Unless the Paradigm is even better, it will be a tough call. They both seem to have great imaging and soundstage, reasonable bass and pretty life like presentations.  We all know how hard it is to compare and contrast speakers, especially when there's a large time gap between listening sessions. The Monitor Audio dealer has offered to bring them to my house, set them up and let me live with them for a week at no cost. Sounds like a great offer but I don't want to accept if I'm leaning more towards the KEFs.  Any helpful advice would be appreciated.  
puli

Showing 7 responses by urbie19

urbie19
110 posts
 
well I'd like you to tell me what's better than the monitor audio pl300 II or 500 ll cuz I haven't heard anything at 4 times the price. In fact I know someone that has the 500s and he put them up against the Wilson audio Alexx which cost 105,000 and the magical Q5 which cost $85,000 and he said that the 500s beat them both handly in every area.
urbie19
110 posts
 
I hope you're ready to have your ears bleed with the paradigm that beryllium Tweeter is so bright compared to the MPD Twitter of monitor audio it's not even funny and same with that beryllium mid-range the voice sound so hard compared to monitor audio it sound so humid and warm I listen to the 7s and they were terrible compared to the Platinum 200 which I bought.
urbie19
110 posts
 
well if the monitor audio dealer is willing to let you use them with your own system for a week I would take him up on that offer because at least you'll know what the speaker sounds like with your equipment so go ahead and do it you got nothing to lose and I guarantee you you will love them they're amazing sounding speakers.
urbie19
110 posts
 
I agree the monitor audio platinum's are great for long listening sessions and the reason for that is is because they're not harsh bright and in your face and they make everything sound natural like it is in real life which isn't harsh grating or bright.
urbie19
110 posts
 
I also agree with you ricred,but I can only make my opinion from what I hear at the time in the room it was in. The paradigm sound very bright forward and hard sounding.I like a speaker that has a wide deep soundstage very layered sound so you can hear the air between the instruments and very natural sounding which I don't think the paradigm is.
urbie19
110 posts
 
paradigm persona is definitely not going to be better than monitor audio Platinum unless you like a bright very forward sound and don't want to listen for very long cuz up brightness will definitely fatigue your ears. The platinum's are very neutral and natural-sounding like instrument sound in real life. The personas are just not very good speakers especially for how much they're charging the platinum's are less and they're much better performing in every area.
urbie19
110 posts
 
Audio Troy you're such a liar saying that the monitor Platinum weren't as open as the paradigm that's a joke. Paradigm has tried to move into the high-end and haven't done it very successfully.Their speakers are bright and  forward sounding that beryllium Tweeter and midrange is a work in progress they will never be in the same league as monitor audio Platinum. Their driver technology is way behind monitor audio.
More to discover