Paradigm Persona Series--New Flagship Models!

[519audionut]

Originally Posted by dixon007

The new Paradigm Persona speakers are excellent, many choices, and they pair well with Mac. Interested in your experiences. I recently moved from the Signature 8Sv3 to the 7Fs and have been delighted with the change.

Beautiful!
I'm thinking of moving from my S6v3s to a pair of either the 3F or 5F.

[dixon007]

Will you be able to give them a try-out listen with the MC452s? Hope so, you will appreciate their quality.
Enjoy and let us know what you decide.

[stark]

I recently auditioned the entire range (bookshelf all the way to 9H) and will be going back for another listen in the new year. I have a complete B&W theater and find myself listening to music more often so I'm setting up a new 2 channel system. I wanted to try a different type of sound compared to what I already have and I'm not fond of the new D3 range from B&W.

My dealer had setup a variety of speakers/components for me to try, paradigm was not on that list. By chance one of the rooms had the bookshelves already setup so at some point I decided to have a listen... I didn't get the hoopla online and found them disappointing. I asked my dealer if it was worth listening to the towers in the range and he said definitely so we tried those and I'm glad I did.

Absolutely stunning all around, all the way from the 3F to the 9H. For me the winners are hands down the 3F and 7F, especially since I would be mating with external subs. The only negatives for me would be that they are a bit on the bright side so long term listening might prove fatiguing but that could be all down to the room and placement. The other negative is a minor cosmetic one and that is that I find the base and feet don't quite match the rest of the look, something feels off to me but that has nothing to do with the sound quality.

Finally, I have to wonder if something was up with the bookshelves because they didn't sound a thing like the rest of the line. I'll go back for another listen and am leaning towards going for the 3F!

[dixon007]

I, too, was quite impressed with the new Paradigm Personna line. Be very, very careful when listening to the 7F, or before you know it . . .

[stark]

I know myself too well and I think I should not demo the 7F at all otherwise it's going to be a very expensive start to the new year. How are you enjoying the MC gear with the Persona?

[dixon007]

Before purchasing, I enjoyed excellent listening sessions with the Persona 5F and 7F and B&W 802 D3 all paired with the MC452 and C2600. Great combinations, but my preference were the 7Fs. The music was more alive and engaging. The soundstage and dynamics were enhanced like lifting a veil off the others. In the home, on my system (built for HT), including Stillpoints (they work), they were a big step up from my previous Paradigm S8 v3s. The bass in the 7Fs are absolutely terrific. Now I’m working on adding some Mac components to greatly enhance their 2-channel potential to greater heights.

[stark]

Thanks for the response. I’m contemplating using McIntosh gear with the speakers so I’m glad to hear it works well. I won’t be able to stretch to something like the Mc452 and Persona’s as I also want a crossover/room correction system (MEN220). I’ll try the 3F with subs and the 7F without subs and see which one does it for me. Alive and engaging is a good way to describe their sound.

[dixon007]

Enjoy your listening session. I put my sub aside when enjoying 2-channel listening of HiRez music with the 7Fs, because it is not needed.

[519audionut]

After spending a couple of hours listening to the 9, 5, and 3 playing through Bryston gear, my preference is the 5F.

I heard the 7Fs about a year ago in the same listening room but had nothing else to compare them to other than a pair if S6 v3s, which they utterly destroyed.

[malba2366]

Why do so few dealers carry these speakers especially when there are so many anthem/paradigm dealers out there...Every thing I read on reviews and the forums is so positive, yet they are so hard to find.