1. WOW the boxes are small, but wait… its heavy that is a good sign… it means proper drivers with proper magnets, a solid cabinet of solid built and heavy duty terminals.
2. Open the first box, Ah hah!! New packaging… I like that, much simpler to repack one day when you move. Wow the speaker looks stunning, the size is spot on, the finish is some of the best I have seen apart from Paradigm’s signature series and yes everything looks and feels solid. I like the real wood cherry finish, real wood finish is very rare now a days. Yes this looks very classy… even the detail on the back with speaker’s terminals, class and more class… mmmm… much shallower than the previous studio 60 model. I am a bit worried though, is it going to sound thin?
3. Took one grill off and look at the drivers…nice. Nice solid aluminum mounting plates, yes quality. The new midrange driver, I touch it with the back of my hand… yes it’s an aluminum driver… aaagh no!! A dummy phase plug on the mid driver… WHY? will come back to that in a minute.
4. Hook them up – both grills off (I always do that with testing, the more naked and clear the speakers stand from any surroundings, the least they can hide something) – I am always nervous when testing a new speaker with my favorite testing track Toni Childs’ track “when all is said and done” from her new album “Keep the Faith“ I saw here live in Auckland recently and thus know how her voice sound in real life. The richness and clarity of her unique strong voice is a true test for any midrange and if that is not right in a speaker then no matter how good the rest is, its never going to impress me. This time I decided to play it first because that dummy phase plug worries me! I insert the CD and set the amp to my normal listening level (not too loud because then you will mask the problems of a speaker) I know this track so well on so many speakers of so many price brackets and? a sigh of relief… I sit back and listen… I seldom smile when listening… but I could not help myself… yes Tiens you jump to conclusions too fast, her voice sounds rich and clear, close to my $25K reference speakers just not at the same scale but that is to be expected. Yes I like that, no longer am I thinking about the dummy phase plug I will never see it again!
5. Something else caught my attention, their is an air around her voice and her guitar sounds crystal clear. I hardly noticed this before it must be the aluminum G-Pal tweeter I think, concentrating on that confirmed that that was indeed the case. Now I am hooked, this tweeter extends the top end to unheard of heights and instruments sounded a little more free in air and distinct not the squeezed in and ringing of most other metal dome tweeters from other rival speakers.
6. Ok, I can’t wait to test the bass, that slim line shallow cabinet has got my teeth on each other… sheeesh.. I wonder? Ok I know it’s not ‘run in’ but what the heck I am going to do it, out comes TIESTO’s “Elements of Life” a mixture of electronic dance music with fast tight slam bass and deep rumble bass now and then and with incredible complex fast passages of treble and mids. A true test of speed and attack and bass in all its forms, first track YES! third track YES! I skip to the last two tracks where everything happens in all their glory, YES and YES… I LIKE THESE SPEAKERS A LOT!
I think I got myself a new favorite speaker under $4000! The first time in 10 years that I made that decision in ONE day… gee whizz… I hope I was not dreaming when I will play these incredible speakers tomorrow! SOUND, LOOKS, SIZE and PRICE its all there!
- Tiens
PS: On this last CD I noticed the mid driver can move a lot unusually so… I checked the web of Paradigm for any clues. This is a totally new driver made by them for the new Studio 60 and the new entry level Studio 10 speaker (the smallest speaker ever in the Reference Studio range) At the back of the driver there is a 1.5″ (more than 3cm) voice coil! basically unheard off for a mid driver – so 1cm movement to the front and 1cm movement to the back of that driver is an easy feat! They use this driver to help with the bass as well in a 2 1/2 way design rather than a 3 way, clever… that is why I was so surprised by the amount of bass coming from these slim line Studio 60 speakers. The other two speakers in the studio range, the Studio 20 and Studio 100 use the original 7″ drivers from the previous models (with a real phase plug), just in the new superb rounded cabinets finished in real wood. The size of the cabinets is about the same size as the previous models. The Studio 10 and Studio 60 are completely new models, much smaller, more minimalist style, with a huge WAF!! (Wife acceptance factor) In fact I think it is the most beautifully designed and finished speakers at their price points in the market today and with sound to boot as well… it can only be a winner. See the full details and images of each model in the new studio range below.
PPS: Can’t wait to get our hands on the Studio 10 and 20′s, partner these with a Musical Subwoofer and that will be something special.
Great read! Keep ‘em coming!