[Asmo]

Hello, I currently own a modest 2 channel setup I bought whlie in college (Paradigm Monitor 5v2 & NAD c320BEE) with the usual upgrades (speaker cables, ics, stands etc), I posted in the starting block and was suggested to post here for more traffic.

I am looking at the Paradigm Studio 40 v3s, but I will audition any speaker in that  price range,, I live in Kitchener Ontario, my local dealer i usually shop at is Natural Sound, they carry a wide range of speakers and amps.  

My budget is approximately $2000 CDN for speakers + amp. I will be selling or trading up my current gear, but still want to keep the total budget around $2000.  Used is ok, as long as I can aquire it within ontario.  

The extras likes wires and stands I will use what I have if possible or sell/upgrade what I have, does not have to be included in the overall price.

I am only interseted in 2-channel audio, my room is approximately 12x20, filling the entire room is not important, as I listen to music usually within 6 feet of the speakers.  

Also, any suggestions for room acoustics are welcomed on the side, I will always down the road be adding to it.

[rosconey]

what about a package deal from klaus at odyssey-
1500 for amp ,pre,cables and speakers.

you might be able to set it up with klaus to bring  the gear  to the montreal show in the spring or buy the demo's

[mcgsxr]

GO find out if Soundstage is still open - it is behind Mr Sub on King street, south of University, but not all the way down to Harmony Lunch - you know where I mean?  I think that McPhail's bicycle store might still be open.

If that place is still around, go in and talk to Marc there - a great guy, sold me my first real system, and took the time to work within my budget.

I used to go to Waterloo, so I am somewhat familiar with the area.

Just a thought!

[JLM]

What kind(s) of music do you listen to?  What sorts of aspects of audiophile playback do you rank highest?

Paradigm is well made with no particular voicing to it compared to many other consumer hifi stuff.  About 8 years ago I shopped speakers and really was impressed with the Paradigm Active 20/40 speakers.  For the price of the reference 100s you could get the same frequency range, done a world better, and not need an amp with the Active 40s.

My Ascend Acoustics CBM-170s kick the butt of the Reference 20s (or comparable B&W or Dynaudio) for half the price.  Axiom and Energy are also well respected.  Add a sub, like the $400 USD Rava and stands.

The JVC or Panasonic digital receivers are not well built, but for under $300 USD offer incredible sound quality with the potential of going HT down the road.

[Asmo]

GO find out if Soundstage is still open - it is behind Mr Sub on King street, south of University, but not all the way down to Harmony Lunch - you know where I mean?  I think that McPhail's bicycle store might still be open.

If that place is still around, go in and talk to Marc there - a great guy, sold me my first real system, and took the time to work within my budget.

I used to go to Waterloo, so I am somewhat familiar with the area.

Just a thought!

Yes, soundstage is still open. I know that area, maybe i'll drop in this week see what they have to say.

I listen to music all over the spectrum, everything except rap & pop really.

Unfortunately they don't make the active studio 20/40s anymore, but I heard they were very good also.

The most important part of music I enjoy I would say is the midranges, and vocals, and then highs, and then bass, I love detailed bass, don't need wall shaking bass, not for music.  I like Paradigms sound because I've always found their midrange very smooth.  I have not heard speakers from ascend acoustic, or dynaudio or audio note.  I have heard B&W, Klipsch, Axiom, Energy, and the usuals you find in stores.  

It seems a lot of ppl feel the Paradigms can be beat at thier price point.

[JLM]

Asmo,

Seems like you're in my ballpark of likes, so let me throw you a curve ball...

For $2000 USD I'm putting a Clari-T amp together with my Bob Brines FTA-2000.  These are both internet cottage vendors that build their own stuff.  The Clari-T is a very compact $500 6 wpc battery powered integrated with a single input based on the current industry darling, the Sonic Impact amp.  Very dynamic, absolute black background, more output than the numbers would suggest.  Vinnie can customize it.  The FTA-2000 is a floorstanding mass loaded transmission line in a heavily braced cabinet with a single Fostex F200A driver.  These are 89 dB/w/m, 8 ohm, 30 - 20,000 Hz in room.  The transmission line design (a tapered tube with driver near the bigger/closed end) flattens out the bass impedance hump that helps make the driver amp friendlier and extends deep bass.  Until a few years ago there was no way to design transmission lines, except by trial and error.

The single driver, by definition, makes for an active speaker setup which is also easier to drive.  The F200A is a jeweled tank of a driver.  Not cheap, but no other drivers or crossover needed.  It is smooth yet detailed with a range into the real bass that is pretty well unique amoung "full" range drivers.  Makes good recordings sound better without leaving poor recordings unlistenable (a big deal to me).  Full/extended range drivers do the all important midrange best, are the ideal source for proper imaging, no issue with sound being generated from multiple different drivers in multiple locations across the face of the speaker.

Transmission lines allow the midrange backwave to exit via the line versus being reflected back out through the driver cone.  The stuffing allows for ruler flat midrange response.  They offer the best best in a reasonably sized cabinet IMO (deep/full/musical/detailed/natural).  I've owned transmission lines for 25 years and love them.

If you're worried about not having enough power, substitute Bob's FT1600 Mk II.  You'll gain 5 dB of efficiency and save $650 USD, but give up some bass and quality of sound.  Or instead of the Clari-T try a Red Wine Audio modded 20 wpc Sharp SD-EX111 for the same price that doesn't use a battery but adds a tuner and remote.  Bob sells his speakers assembled, or in various levels of completed kits for significant savings from the numbers referenced above.  Of course he can provide whatever finish you want, or you can come up with your own with the panelized kits.  BTW Bob believes in very inert cabinets.

http://www.redwineaudio.com/

http://www.geocities.com/rbrines1/

[mcgsxr]

JLM makes some excellent suggestions, and lives in a similar audio neighborhood to mine - I use a delightful Bolder Cables modified Teac Tripath amp (original cost US$99 from J&R online music, though a fellow AC member sleepkyng presently has one for sale in the classifieds here) and built my own single driver speakers using drivers purchased from CSS (a Canadian online presence, physically based in BC).  The mods that Wayne did to the amp blow me away, and combined with the speakers, it makes decent music, for peanuts...

For conventional audio (ie brands most are familiar with) I would recommend dropping in on Soundstage and seeing what Marc is currently carrying, and what he has on consignment.  For your budget, there should be many options available, with several differing styles of sound.

If you are feeling adventurous, you should do a TON of reading here, to see what the various vendors/modders offer, and then start pestering people who own some of it - I did just that, and 12 months later, I own a system that makes me very happy, and is unique too.

If you would like to hear the stuff I am talking about, I am only about 40 minutes away, down the 401 - drop me a PM, and we can arrange a visit, and you can see the gear, and make your own mind up - what I own I like, and many others understand - it is not for everyone, but hey, that is why this is fun too!

The vendors that JLM mentions are highly regarded, and offer great value too - all worth some consideration.

[sch]

I'm not sure if this deal is still on, but IMO is difficult to find a better one these days:
http://forum.av123.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=7087&perpage=20&pagenumber=1
Good luck!!
Santiago

[Audio-Enthusiast]

Well your room is 12x20 assuming that its 8ft high that would be approx. 1920 cuft.  You only need a 80 wpc.  That is beeing conservative for a dead room and pushing low sensitivity speakers of 85 db/m. (Hi-End Audio by Robert Harley)

My  sugestion would be to pick up the best sounding intergraded amplifier you can buy rated at around 80WPC.  Wait a minute...  I was going to sugest the NAD but that's what you want to upgrade    Nothing much out their will sound better for the price.  

For $2000 CDN I'd recommend you keep your NAD and simply upgrade your speakers (your NAD is way beyond you paradigm atoms).  NAD has been known to outperform other components costing many times it price.  Look into speaker make by Totem Acoustic (Montreal) and Paradigm Signature series.  Keep in mind to get some high sensitivity speakers.  

Typically your budget is split down the middle 50% for speakers and 50% for pre & amp.  Remember your NAD is equivelent in performace to a $2000 component, don't feel bad about spending another 2G's on Speakers; The NAD will hold it's own.

For your room size this will not only give more bang for the buck $$$  but should perform very well.

Hope this helps.  Good luck.