Step me up from Paradigm Studio 20 v4 bookshelf, seriously.


I have been around here for a few years. Enjoying the game about once or twice a week. Yes I am hooked. Kind of sort of laid back on forums. Bought and sold a sizeable amount of equipment with one-hundred percent feedback. Probably a mid-fi guy. Best pair of speakers I have owned to me are Paradigms, namely Studio 60 v4 and current Studio 20 v4. Can anyone take me beyond these? Yes, a bit temperamental they are. Have never stepped up to, I guess Hi Fi speakers? Have tried Spendor 8se (too polite?), Paradigm Monitor 7 (not as good as Studio versions), Elac dbr62 (close to Paradigms but not as refined), Totem Rainmaker (maybe too small, not sure been a while back), Monitor Audio Silver 2 (kind of like Paradigms). Hooked on my Paradigm Studio 20 so far. Current system = Mid-Fi integrated (?) Rotel RA-1572, Bluesound Node 2i, Marantz SA-8004, Mhdt Orchid DAC (seriously love it), fair amount of decent cables. Like pop/rock music mainly. Integrated amps I have used: Rotel Rx-1052, Sim 340i DPX, Rotel RA-1572 (current), Musical Fidelity A3.5, NAD C368, Arcam.

Mostly into monitors/bookshelf due to room size, maybe front ported. Thinking of maybe some Spendor A1, Harbeth P3SR (or other models), Reference De Capo, Fritz?, Pro Ac?, B & W? No room treatments in my 14 by 18 room, as is fairly inert acoustically. I am an older retired audiophile (55-70). A bit of tinnitus, so nothing too bright. On Audiogon daily. Looking for some input/ideas. Lateral moves probable?

Any serious input welcome (maybe a bit of non-serious just for fun!). Love this hobby.

Thanks,

Jim


jbmac75
I moved 3 years ago and think I finally got these Paradigm's to talk to me. Temperamental. 
Seriously appreciate all the responses. Still may upgrade and add some acoustic treats. Thanks to all.
Man I almost thought it was my own post. I own the Paradigm Studio 20 v5s used to run them on my Rotel RA-12. Still love them, but now I have migrated to LS50s running on a Mac amp.
I myself am in the same boat, of where to go from here, I can tell you whats on my radar.
LS50 
KEF R3 and R5
Dynaudio Evoke 
Salk Song3 

(Sound sig I like is warmish, not too bright and controlled bottom end)

I liked the RA-1570 when I listened to it. If the amp feels weak you could always use that as a preamp and adding a RB-1582 MKII or something of that sort. I’m Rotel fan so I’m biased. 

Hope this helps! Will be following your thread to see what you end up with. 
I had a RA-1570 couple years ago. Bought the 1572 about year ago and is much better. Also had a RA-12. Even older had Rotel RX-1052 receiver and that is a decent amp for the dollars. Still have one in second system.   
I was going to suggest upgrading the tweeters.  I saw a pair of beryllium tweeters for $500 but you’d want to upgrade crossovers too.  I think it is a smarter investment to sell your studio’s and get some signatures.  I’ve had a bunch of different studio’s, V.4 and V.5 and the sigs are a step up in build, finish and sound.  Its just more of what you love about the studios!