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Upgrade for Paradigm Prestige 75F?

I've had a pair of Paradigm Prestige 75Fs for about 3 years now and I really like them.  Great detail, soundstage, bass and they look fantastic too.  However, I've always been irritated by the high midrange.  It seems a little harsh and nasal to me.  I listen to A LOT of jazz and I really notice it in saxophones.  There is a lack of body and warmth to the sound of the instrument no matter who is playing it.  It gets a little fatiguing especially at higher volumes

I'm wondering if folks have a recommendation of a speaker that retains the characteristics that I enjoy in the Paradigms but improve upon that upper midrange?  I wouldn't mind recommendations in a higher price-point as I don't mind buying pre-owned

My other equipment is a Peachtree Nova 300
Rega P3 with all groove tracer upgrades and an Apheta cart
Cambridge Audio CXC transport

thanks
adam8179

Showing 2 responses by m-db

m-db's avatar
m-db
1,027 posts
 
Similar to b_limo I've owned Studio 100s versions 1 then 2s when I was auditioning, at home, their then recently released Signature 8s when I purchased a different brand that I've used ever since. Only then did I realize I had been listening to a speaker and not the music.

Converting your analog signal through digital signal processing or subjecting your digital signal to yet another digital conversion might be a Band-Aid but not a solution.

Listen for more of a point source that's difficult to differentiate the tweeter, midrange, or the woofer. Much less of a speaker, more musically cohesive. Good luck with your search.   
m-db's avatar
m-db
1,027 posts
 
Adam, to be honest the speakers I settled on were much more expensive even at their used price. Funny you mentioned it though. When I listened to them at shows or in stores, to me they sounded sleepy or as you say "blended."

When I owned the Studio 100s I was auditioning the S3s at home over a weekend when this offer popped up. Being able to compare all three at home was way more insightful than auditioning in the store. I found that Paradigm has a house sound that I spent time and money trying to overcome. Within the first few minutes even my family could easily hear the difference as well as that house sound.

The Paradigm's were more dynamic with more highs, mids, and lows which is what sold me in the first place. The reason these new speakers seemed sleepy was because I couldn't hear that stark differentiation of those highs, mids, and lows. They were simply making music. During my time with all three of the Paradigm's I'd listen to an album or two and become board. What the other speakers revealed was not boredom but a fatigue from being able to clearly differentiate the drivers from the listening position. I have to put my ear very close to the other speakers drivers just to hear they're working. In all, a difficult lesson finally learned.  

Years later I briefly heard an all Audio Research system driving Paradigm Persona 9Fs at a store. Clearly the best Paradigm's so far, meh.

   
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