Paradigm Personas anyone heard them

Hi Mtrot,

I heard the entire Legacy line for the first time at RMAF. I have to say they offer amazing value for the money. I tend to agree with you assessment of the Focus XD’s. These are truly killer for the money and offer a full range experience. The Aeris is definitely a step up, but with most things in audio, it is diminishing returns. I think it could come down to personal preferences. The Focus will play very loud and give you a more balance sound with ample bass, while the 3F (about the same price) will give you very clear and precise highs and mids at the expense of impactful bass. What I did not like about the focus is they are very large and heavy and the tweeters seem to beam a bit. In the sweat spot, they are wonderful, but outside of it, they roll off significantly. I have not read this in reviews of the Focus or Aeris, and it could be more of a set up issue in the huge room at RMAF. Just my opinion.

The Legacy speakers are fantastically musical and they represent fantastic value for the money. We have the Persona 3F $10,000.00 and the Legacy Focus Signature, $6,800.00  in the same sound room. 

The Persona's have a more extended treble, and a more holographic sense of imaging, the Legacy's have killer deep bass, and are a warmer overall speaker. 

So if you crave unbelievable imagery, speed,and very deep bass out of a compact speaker the Persona's are very hard to beat they have one of the most transparent presentations of any speaker at any price, they also present all this detail yet are very smooth. 

If you prefer a more laid back, speaker with a big although less defined sound stage, a super smooth midrange and treble in a beautiful wooden design then the Legacy speakers are for you. 

The big Focus are just terrific if space isn't an issue and you want even more deep bass and greater spl output then the smaller Signatures.

I will say that since we've become Legacy dealers the Focus Signature is one of my favorite speakers in the shop. 

Thanks for the input Mr. Audiotroy. I am very interested in buying a pair of persona B's given the feedback in this forum. I may have to buy blindly due to the fact that the closest dealer is over 300 miles away from me. How would you stack up the paradigm persona B against the best monitors out there. Like the sonus faber guarneri evolution, Raidho monitors, vivid 1.5, Harbeth 30.1 etc. Do they go as deep in the bass as the sonus guarneri?natural midrange as the harbeth? are they as transparent and "boxless" as the vivids? and are they as musical as the Raidho?

First pair of F3s for sale on Audiogon I believe. If they were within pickup distance I would be tempted. Guy only had them for a week. Must not have been his cup of tea. 

There's a nice pair of Joseph Audio Perspectives for sale at the same price that would be well worth a listen if you happen to be in the Boston area.  Just FYI.