April 2017 review of the Paradigm Persona 9H A home run for Paradigm!


I have been following all the contested threads about the new Paradigm Persona line of speakers and it seems that many people are having difficulties in believing that Paradigm, a company well respected for value loudspeakers could produce a product that can rival the best exotic loudspeakers on the market.

The review came out today in the Absolute Sound April 2017 issue and what my ears have told me is true, is true. 
John Atkinson, compared the Pardigm 9H $35k to the Magico S7MK 2 $58k and found that Personas to be in the same class as these highly thought of prestigious loudspeakers. I think I read on one  of the threads that a Magico owner was saying that wasn't possible!

I am not an expert, on loudspeakers, I do know what sounds real to me, and when I heard these speakers my jaw hit the floor. Stunning realism. I could almost reach out and touch the Beatles, and Miles Davis. Huge sound stage, totally transparent, and smooth, with dynamite bass. 

At this point I am torn between the Legacy Audio Signatures and The Paradigm Persona 3F which shares the same driver technology of the 9H but costs $10k, I am lucky to be working with a dealer that represents both of these awesome lines of loudspeakers. 

It seems to me that many audiophiles need to open their minds and stop being so brand loyal to the point of obsession,  and start looking at the sound, and only the sound. I know for me as a professional photographer, I have gone back and forth between Canon and Nikons, and I love them both but am wedded to neither. Why in the audio world do people have such furvor over what they buy with the belief that their product and only their product is the best? In the camera world it seems much more fluid with people changing camera brands without ever starting a written riot if someone dares to bring up another brand or question their choice. 



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Showing 2 responses by geek101

Pound to pound Paradigm Persona 9H will be similar to Legacy Aeris at 50% of the price. Both are serious about room correction but you also get a DAC and preamp for free, again at little more than 50% of price. Aeris has both a 4" Tweeter with 1" super Tweeter. Good engineering and some custom correction is need to make all the drivers sing at the same time in a given room so good to know both consider room correction seriously (Legacy does correction in more than one dimension, if I understand right). 

But yes price does not matter if you think Persona sounds way better than any other speaker. But at $35K+ there just just so many options. 

I personally liked Sanders system around ~$17k at RMAF 2018 for the price and what I can hear in the room. It just did not pass the WAF factor and also the limited sweet sport worries (frankly I always sit in the sweet spot so I don't care:), don't all speakers have limited sweet spot? anyways?. ). What Sanders said in person stuck in my brain, he said something like this "I don't understand why every one use large mid range drivers, active crossovers and room correction, it is just physics".

So yeah there is no magic or audiophool voodoo!, there are only trade offs and applying good science (called engineering). Bill @ Legacy is cut from the same cloth I think, so are many engineers who strive to build good speakers.

At anything above $10k I (personally me) would have a good return policy in place, just in case if you not fully convinced yet. Just do some extensive A/B testing if you can, like using same/matching electronics and doing simple things like SPL match before playing same tracks etc. And listen to what you like. Room and room correction can play a very big role, just be aware of it.

Just don't listen to anyones opinion(reviews) about Paradigm or other speakers. Listen for yourself and focus on controlled experiment(s) the best you can and make up your mind without bias and be happy with your decision.

Enjoy the music :).
A minor correction quoting Sanders:  "I don't understand why don't every one uses large mid range drivers (large electrostatic panel accomplishes this), active crossovers (I forgot few things he mentioned here :( ) and room correction, it is just physics".

Also want to state that I am long time Paradigm Studio 40v3 user.