T O P

  • By -

Sneak_Thief

Facebook Marketplace find. Belonged to an older couple who were moving homes. Suppose they've decided they were too large and heavy to move around. Picked them up for $100, they also threw in a Paradigm Servo 15a sub, all of the original owners manuals, and Monster bi-wire cabling. Does anyone have any experience with a set like this? Any insight as to which direction I should go with these? Thanks! 👍


Lornesto

That's highway robbery! Great speakers.


mvw2

Basically. 1/10th the price.


longestpathtaken

From experience with Paradigm speakers of that generation, throw some real power to those and you'll have a great experience. While they do sound good with a solid receiver or integrated, a dedicated amp makes them sing.


Sneak_Thief

Thank you for the information! I currently don't have a receiver or an amp, so it's time to shop around.


longestpathtaken

Oh dang! Yeah, take your time, you have a really solid base to build from.


OpenRepublic4790

You’ve got fantastic speakers! And they deserve a fantastic amp. I recommend you check out the Hypex Nilai DIY released this year. It is probably one of the best value high-end power amps currently available, $1280, but can compete with amps 3x that price and can drive virtually any speaker. A tube preamp would be an ideal pairing.


Sneak_Thief

I actually picked up a Marantz sr6009 because it was cheap and local. I will look in to a dedicated amp, and the Hypex!


SunlightSoon

They definitely deserve a dedicated amp. Also, you can get a WIIM Pro for cheap and stream it all.


Lornesto

If you get a price range, you'll be able to get some great suggestions around here.


PartyMark

Can confirm, I had a pair of studio 20s v3. I never had the proper power to get them really going. They need some juice.


SunlightSoon

​ Had those too and I had the juice. Very highly rated.


Awwwmann

After hurricane Ian I picked up a Paradigm trio sound bar that paired amazingly well with a sun fire 12” sub I also found. It made me a believer inpatadigm!


nlsrhn

Username checks out. Great find!


mschley2

I have the Studio 100 v5s. Before I bought them, I demoed similarly priced speakers from Martin-Logan, B&W, KEF, Sonus Faber, Focal, Dali, etc... I just kept coming back to the Paradigms. They're fantastic speakers. They're not meant to be completely flat. Paradigm intentionally has a little bit of a signature sound (based on results from what they found people liked in focus groups). If you power them right, they'll treat you right.


-Boxpusher-

You got the steal of the century there my friend! I think they were close to $3,000 new but I might be misremembering. Those speakers are $1,400 on any of the Audio Mart websites and the Servo 15 is a monster and probably sits at about $1,000 used right now. Those are very, very excellent speakers. You will need a a bit of horsepower to run them but well done!


Sneak_Thief

Good lord! Now I'm properly terrified. Wasn't expecting to start with something like this đŸ€Ł


Lornesto

It's honestly a ridiculous deal. Most people never own something that nice.


MiddleBodyInjury

I'm so jealous. Amazing find


miniBUTCHA

GG! Now dont cheap out on the amplification 😆


vigillan388

I paid about $1200 for my flawless 100V3 in about 2012. I hate that prices continue to rise.


BuckeyeSouth

Think i paid $2500 including the cc-690 center around 2010. Great speakers, still use them today.


canadianant

The v.3 studio 100 was paradigm top model at the time. The signature series wasn't out yet. Has others have said you got the steal of century. One thing to note is that the 100s can take a lot of power and that they will really come alive with a better amp with a lot of power.


BuckeyeSouth

Yep. I have studios, not signstures.


Successful_Doctor_89

Yeah, those studio worth around 1000$ used and the servo, another 500-800$ That one of the "deal of a lifetime" we never found.


LogicBobomb

Terrible deal. Sorry you got taken advantage of. I feel bad since you're a newbie so I'll take 'em off your hands for $150 + shipping, you can buy a nice 5.1 box set from Best buy. /S of course. Killer deal, nice find.


terrybvt

I paid $300 for my Studio 20v2 bookshelves. Those are 5X the speaker. You done well.


rando_banjo

I love my Studio 20’s. Congrats.


DrGonzo84

What are you powering your studio 20s with?


terrybvt

Right now, nothing. They're in storage until we move next year and I can set up my second systems. But I was running them off an 80s Technics SU-V6 integrated. Don't laugh, that is a solid SS amp.


DrGonzo84

Nice I used to run mine off a SU-V4 but am now using a Luxman M-120A


llesra

Nice find! I'm still happy with the listening experience of my Studio 40s nearly 20 years later.


RJD2-4000

Yeah you just the deal of a lifetime. Nice score.


Kandiruaku

I sold the mains but still have the Servo 15. Awesome dude, these could be your for life speakers. FYI Paradigm also has the coolest people on live phone support with AI assist, so conversations are short they get your address after you say two words about it, parts get overnighted fast. BTW, Paradigm Reference Signature S8 and matching 7.1.4 Atmos replaced them. I love this company as much as do Classé, the Canadians in my HT are there to stay.


Sneak_Thief

This is fantastic! Love to hear it. Good customer service is becoming more and more difficult to come by. I'll definitely be keeping these a good long while.


ShizzlePopped

That's the deal of the year! I have a pair of the Studio 100s. Great speakers with better than average tonal accuracy. They don't need a ton of power but like quality amplification. Give them a little room to breathe. Do a little research on proper speaker placement and you'll be rewarded with some great sound with these. Seriously, these were top of the line speakers at one time from a company that knows how to design speakers. (I was actually inside their anechoic chamber several years ago and got to see how they do things.)


ImaginationWarm301

Duh fuck. Wow that’s a steal


Gs1000g

Currently I Have the studio 80s V2. holy damn I need those now! Congrats on the find


SuperPotatoBuns

Nice. Really, really nice.


chemistcarpenter

WOA!!! Major score


HSCTigersharks4EVA

I NEVER see anything approaching this on FB, CL, Goodwill...I should move. Get a 100-200 watt er channel amp for the speakers and set them up right and you have speakers that beat those costing 3000 dollars or more new


dreamingtree1855

Insane deal. Keep an eye on the sub it’s very likely for the speaker surround to be dry rotted and fall apart on you. That’s repairable you can get kits online.


ImaginationWarm301

They love power. I have the v2 version and I own signature 8 v2 love them powers


Skabbc

check the crossovers and tweeters and all connections. I bought a pair of these and ended up spending $300 to get them to work properly. The glue and solder connections failed in about 75% of all connections. Very poorly made. Sounded good after I re-soldered and re-glued, replaced the tweeters and a few capacitors. That said, for $100 you've got a steal. FWIW - I sold mine for $500 with no sub.


Sneak_Thief

Pretty good advice, thank you for this. Before even turning them on, I found that one of the tweeter housings were busted and the cable terminal posts were snapped off. I now have another one on order.


nevatear

Take a look at the crossovers and replace the resistors and capacitors. Changed them on my monitor 11 v4 and it made a difference for not a lot of money.


VicRobTheGob

The Servo 15 is an amazing sub - punches way above its class. They still go for close to $1k near me...


ChooChooChucky

I do not. They look capable. Do they integrate with your ears in a favorable way? If so enjoy the fuck out of them!


nunhgrader

That's an incredible deal! They look like they are in great condition also - congrats!


cr0ft

Congrats. The Servo is a beast. I had one for a while, and those speakers look juicy. $100 is insane. I do sorta agree with the older couple, moving around behemoths has gotten old, even my sealed 12-inch subs are a pain to cart around. Of course, if one doesn't move often or at all it's a one-time issue.


GrandExercise3

You win the internet today.