Paradigm Atom speakers for bedroom system?

[rsaavedra]

Quote:

Originally posted by rsaavedr Incidentally, another friend of ours brought NHT superzeros, they sounded like cheapo PC little speakers compared to the Atoms and Titans.

I should add I've never heard the NHT SuperOnes or SB-2's, but allegedly they are excellent value speakers. Yet, as far as I know they are more expensive than the Titans or Atoms. The SuperZero's, however, are no match at all for these Paradigms.

 

[soundboy]

rsaavedr,

Sounds like you got a great deal on your Atoms. Here's a Stereophile review on, I believe, the latest version of the Atom. Note that on page 3 on this review, the price was given as $189.00/pair + $20.00/pair for magnetic shielding. One thing about Paradigm speakers is that they forbid internet or mail-order sales. Where I live, Paradigm dealers charges nothing below MSRP for their speakers.

redshifter,

According to a post on the NHT forum, the grey NHTs at the recent CES was to test reactions from dealers. In other words, the grey NHTs are just prototypes. As for the white NHTs, those are very nice looking. One thing you will notice about the NHTs is their exterior finish....the current SB series is finished in high-gloss piano black or white. It looks really nice....NHT said seven coats of lacquer was applied by hand on each speaker. If you are leaning toward wood finishes, the NHTs are not for you though.

BTW, here's a review of the NHT SB2

 

[redshifter]

the nht finish may get scratched in my hands, sadly. thanks for the great reviews. i can't wait to audition these both.

any recs on a good, clean int. amp for these bookshelf speakers? it'll need phono and tape mon(s).

 

[elnero]

Hey redshifter,

Due to space and other considerations I just replaced my Swan's with a pair of Atoms. It was a pretty big downgrade from a $4000 speaker to a $200 speaker but it was minimized by the quality of the Atoms. They really do alot for the money. While obviously not in the same league as the Swans I've been really impressed at how well the Atoms play music.

 

[D-EJ915]

I was wondering, how good is the bass from the Atoms??

 

[rsaavedra]

Quote:

Originally posted by soundboy rsaavedr, review on, I believe, the latest version of the Atom. Note that on page 3 on this review, the price was given as $189.00/pair + $20.00/pair for magnetic shielding. One thing about Paradigm speakers is that they forbid internet or mail-order sales. Where I live, Paradigm dealers charges nothing below MSRP for their speakers.

Soundboy, quite different from where I live. I bought Paradigm Titans v2 for fronts, also brand new, a few months before I got the Atoms. I paid for them $171 (see P.S.). And these numbers I'm telling you include taxes actually. So the Paradigm dealer around here do sell below MSRP for sure, well at least back then.

Quote:

Originally posted by D-EJ915 rsaavedr, I was wondering, how good is the bass from the Atoms??

D-EJ915 check the link Soundboy sent, the Stereophile review for the Atoms, here a few quotes:

"My bass concerns evaporated in my first hour of listening—in fact, its bass performance turned out to be one of the Atom's greatest strengths."

"On rock recordings, the bass definition kicked major butt"

Cheers,
Raul

P.S.: after checking my receipts I edited the numbers in this posting for what I paid for including taxes. For the Atoms it was actually $139.75 (taxes included). After a few years of a purchase my memory of exact costs including taxes needs double checking

 

[Edwood]

I have the NHT Super Zeros. I've demoed the Atoms and Titans.

The Super Zeros are not very efficient. They need towards their maximum limit power rating. Sealed acoustic suspension is never really efficient.

The imaging and midrange is what really sold me on the NHT's. I liked them better than the Atoms. But the Titans kick the Super Zeros' ass. But for their price they better be.

My biggest complaint with the Super Zeros (the old ones) is a soft high end. Rolls off.

Even better, Studio 20's. Heheh. I would barely consider those heavy beasts bookshelf speakers.

-Ed

 

[Howie]

I have listened to the Atoms and like them quite a bit. An excellent value for its price IMO. Like all speakers at that price point it does have its strengths and shortcomings. I think the speakers sound great with small ensembles. Acoustic guitar and amplified instruments sounds great mainly because it has a midbass warmth.

So yes the speakers are colored. Yes it is not the most transparent speaker. The JMLab 706 is a more detailed speaker that you need to be careful with in matching components since it can sound bright. I think if you auditioned the Atoms and like it and it fits your price range then go for it.

 

[rsaavedra]

Originally posted by Edwood
The imaging and midrange is what really sold me on the NHT's. I liked them better than the Atoms. But the Titans kick the Super Zeros' ass. But for their price they better be.

I wonder Edwood if you A/B compared them. Surprised you preferred the superzero's over the Atoms, while you admit you prefer the Titans over the SuperZeros.

Titans and Atoms sound extremely similar. Their crossovers are set differently though, but I'm pretty sure their tweeters are exactly the same. They have same tweeter specs (19-mm (3/4in) CMC™ dome), and I've measured their freq. responses (radio shack spl meter + stereophile test cd2), they are basically identical except in the lowest bass. And listening to them, the Titans can go louder and reach lower, and at louder volumes in general sound more effortless, but here I'm talking real loud, not normal listening levels, the Atoms can be hugely loud too. In general they have basically the same sound signature, they blend with each other extremely well.

My friend the owner of the NHT towers, after our comparison session actually started considering the Titans or Atoms for rear speakers to go with his NHT towers. None of us thought the SuperZeros would be good candidates for that role. Not only they didn't sound (to us) as good as the Paradigms (both Atoms and Titans), but also, and contrary to expectations, they just didn't blend too well or as well with the sound of the towers.

Eventually he got some used pair of Monitor Audios in Ebay for rear speakers, which I think was not the best move. They look nice and sound nice on their own, but don't blend as well with the sound of the NHT towers, imo.

In conclusion, just repeating what I already said but I think the Atoms offer better sound and value than the SuperZero's, just imho and from my experience listening to them.

Cheers,
Raul

 

[Edwood]

It's all about the dynamics and bass. I was building a home theater system. The Titan wins hands down in the power department. The Super Zero simply cannot compete. But in the end it was the size and cost issue which I chose the SUper Zero. Is there better out there, sure thing. Will I upgrade? Not yet. I don't have a house, so what I have is overkill already. Damn, neighbors.

Yay, my 1000th post.

-Ed

 

[rsaavedra]

Quote:

Originally posted by Edwood Yay, my 1000th post.

Man congratulations!!!

 

[Ctn]

For the price you are looking at, go DIY. I have heard the micro, atom and titan. To be honest, they are sound below average and the construction is cheap (think made in taiwan).

The difference between the atom and titan are huge though.

I got a pair of cheap pluto's (made by a small company) which totally walk all over these speakers.

 

[rsaavedra]

Couldn't disagree more with your assessments of Atoms & Titans. I would only partially agree with respect to their minimalistic cost construction, for instance, the grills cannot be removed, which bothers a lot of people, not me. I wouldn't call their construction "cheap" though, and I think they are above the average speaker sound quality you get for their respective prices. Also Titan & Atom differences huge? ???

Cheers,
Raul

 

[soundboy]

Here's a review of the Paradigm Titan V.2 and what it looks like inside.

 

[rsaavedra]

Quote:

Originally posted by soundboy Here's a review of the Paradigm Titan V.2 and what it looks like inside.

Have had that link in my bookmarks for a few years now

Here are some other links:

Another review of the Titan:
http://www.audio-ideas.com/reviews/titan.html

One of the Atoms:
http://www.soundstage.com/revequip/paradigm_atom.htm