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Paradigm Persona B Loudspeakers Professional Review

I met Jerry Seigel at the RMAF this past October and had a quite lengthy discussion with him on audio reviewing in general. He was very nice in person and not what I expected. I never mentioned this to him, but I always felt he liked everything he auditioned.

Not so for the Paradigm Persona B loudspeakers. I won’t bore you with the specifics of the review as you can read it online, but he summed it up as he couldn’t wait for the audition to be over. The words bright and brittle kept being mentioned in the review and he gave it 2 LP’s out of 10. I have never heard these particular speakers, but I have always felt that Beryllium speakers were too bright for my taste and that is what he seems to say in the review. I am looking forward to what The Audio Doctor has to say about this as he always seems to be pushing their top of the line Persona speakers in these pages.

Has anyone heard the Persona B speakers and what do you think about them? I was actually thinking of a 3rd system in the spare bedroom with some kind of stand mounted speakers. I believe these speakers will be off my review list.
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mofojo
2,289 posts
 
I think a small company with 1 or 2 good designers that have total control over the finished product can be a good thing if they have the expertise, experience and a good ear. I'm sure many of you understand how the bureaucracy of a larger company can get in the way of making good decisions, progress, or the ability to innovate.  Ever heard the phrase too many cooks in the kitchen? Never heard the Ascends.
mzkmxcv
777 posts
 
mofojo
  
I’m pretty sure they go to some audio shows, check them out if you can, the speakers I mentioned (their flagship) are really good. I know Salk and Philharmonic (other well respected ID brands) go to many shows, and I’ve heard many people tell me they were usually one of the best sounding rooms in the entire show.
exfoliate
20 posts
 
Comparing a 2-way bookshelf to a 3-way tower is really apples and and oranges. Harman Audio's research indicates 30% of a speaker's preference bass performance, and a bookshelf isn't going to keep up with a tower there.

A two-way can be used nearfield for instance which a 3-way tower can't at all, as you typically need to be at least three meters away for all the drivers to align their output properly.
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phillyb's avatar
phillyb
401 posts
 
I take any review as a grain of salt. It's not my room, my gear not my own idea of great sound. After seeing a amp that is quite good get a so, so review in Stereopile. ☺ I looked what that reviewer used. The amount of add on tweaks he had in his system there is no way you ever hear how any piece of brand of gear sounds. Some the tweaks i have tried and sold because they did more harm than good, colored the sound in many ways some bloated the bass, killed pace and so forth. In the review he said the amp sounded over warm, not detailed etc. Well take out all the stuff that killing the sound of this amp then listen, like old days of this hobby without all the add ons that become a market to itself and resold over and over. Do a review plugged into a 20 amp
line  that is dicated and then do a real true and honest review. Audio mags are good for one thing the ads, the rest you take as a grain of salt. Your room, your home and your own ears and experience.
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