I replaced my Studio 100 with B&W CM9 with matching center channel and coudn't be happier. Studio speakers are a bit bright for my taste. Some people like it though.
The sound of each speaker is subjective, it's just preference of the listener. Overall, I prefer the Studio 100's because it's a lot better on HT. Actually, my camera didn't pick up the lower frequencies coming out on the Studio 100. They are a lot deeper and tighter than the B&W on the same settings.
Seems like you can't go wrong with either. A lot of the times when you start spending the money and getting speakers of this range, it will sound pretty darn good compared to the average home set up. I personally like Paradigm due to brand loyalty, but I don't think you can go through with either.
I love B&W. But I'm sticking with the Paradigm S 100s since I prefer the bass characteristics for lots of different types of music. If I only listened to Classical or Jazz, I'd go with the B&Ws. But I listen to a lot of "harsh" rock as well. I never liked the way the B&Ws sounded for metal/hard rock.
did you run ARC for both the paradigms and the BW CM9s separately? or did you use the setup for 1 set of speakers for another? in my view the B and W CM9s sounded best out of the 2 running of the anthem. but the 803's should sound better than both of those with the right amp. thanks for putting a recording up of the Anthem MRX 700 I am considering buying this to match with B and W and this really helped!
No, it is really easy. Just make sure to download the latest software first from Anthem website before doing anything. Just browse on AVS forum and there are a lot of info for setting up the ARC.
@vailvon Ya, I know. I was curious because i had B&W 640's and traded them in for paradigm studio 100 V3 (circa 2004) so i can detect the obvious, but i would be curious to hear them side by, as they should be heard!
@vailvon Great test! Unfortunately N804 wont ever beat S100 in bass department, even the previous versions. Not just because the more drivers S100 has, but N804 was very lean in the bass. To me is one of the worst speakers B&W ever produced probably the worst. It doesnt have any balance, too much mid and highs. Just 803Di could match S100. We know It´s too way more expensive, but that´s the price we have to pay to get the best of the two worlds.
I kinda feel like GangTwanger here. It's been years since I heard B&W's in person, but these three videos just confirmed my initial impression. They sound wonderful, but that sound isn't for me. It's just too sterile or polite, dry. They reproduce the frequencies just fine, but they don't engage you with the MUSIC. There's something missing there, the heart and soul of the music. And with the CM9, it seemed like the vocals were coming from an entirely different place than the music. The 804's were better, but still dry and sterile, soul-less. The Paradigms, while maybe not as clean and well defined, do a much better job of drawing you into the musical performance. The B&Ws seem like they're offering up a presentation of sound, while the Paradigms are playing music.
How can you say the Norah Jones song comes better on the BW when there's not even a base for comparison. It is even audible on the tube... Paradigms wipe the floor with the bw's.
This is so true. Both are really good speakers and have their own sound signatures.
exactly what i feel with the paradigm !
I replaced my Studio 100 with B&W CM9 with matching center channel and coudn't be happier. Studio speakers are a bit bright for my taste. Some people like it though.
The sound of each speaker is subjective, it's just preference of the listener. Overall, I prefer the Studio 100's because it's a lot better on HT.
Actually, my camera didn't pick up the lower frequencies coming out on the Studio 100. They are a lot deeper and tighter than the B&W on the same settings.
Seems like you can't go wrong with either. A lot of the times when you start spending the money and getting speakers of this range, it will sound pretty darn good compared to the average home set up. I personally like Paradigm due to brand loyalty, but I don't think you can go through with either.
I love B&W. But I'm sticking with the Paradigm S 100s since I prefer the bass characteristics for lots of different types of music. If I only listened to Classical or Jazz, I'd go with the B&Ws. But I listen to a lot of "harsh" rock as well. I never liked the way the B&Ws sounded for metal/hard rock.
Studio 100s get better when cranked up.
did you run ARC for both the paradigms and the BW CM9s separately? or did you use the setup for 1 set of speakers for another? in my view the B and W CM9s sounded best out of the 2 running of the anthem. but the 803's should sound better than both of those with the right amp. thanks for putting a recording up of the Anthem MRX 700 I am considering buying this to match with B and W and this really helped!
@vailvon Also, looks like your model of B&W is much nicer than what i had, making it a fairer comparison.
No, it is really easy. Just make sure to download the latest software first from Anthem website before doing anything. Just browse on AVS forum and there are a lot of info for setting up the ARC.
@vailvon Ya, I know. I was curious because i had B&W 640's and traded them in for paradigm studio 100 V3 (circa 2004) so i can detect the obvious, but i would be curious to hear them side by, as they should be heard!
is it just me or do the paradigms sound better even on youtube?. which ones do you prefer? and thanks for a great video
@davibrass you should be able to hear the difference. Even on my laptop, I can discern the difference between the 2 speakers.
@vailvon Great test! Unfortunately N804 wont ever beat S100 in bass department, even the previous versions. Not just because the more drivers S100 has, but N804 was very lean in the bass. To me is one of the worst speakers B&W ever produced probably the worst. It doesnt have any balance, too much mid and highs.
Just 803Di could match S100. We know It´s too way more expensive, but that´s the price we have to pay to get the best of the two worlds.
Anthem MRX-700 with B&W is a good match.
I kinda feel like GangTwanger here. It's been years since I heard B&W's in person, but these three videos just confirmed my initial impression. They sound wonderful, but that sound isn't for me. It's just too sterile or polite, dry. They reproduce the frequencies just fine, but they don't engage you with the MUSIC. There's something missing there, the heart and soul of the music. And with the CM9, it seemed like the vocals were coming from an entirely different place than the music. The 804's were better, but still dry and sterile, soul-less.
The Paradigms, while maybe not as clean and well defined, do a much better job of drawing you into the musical performance. The B&Ws seem like they're offering up a presentation of sound, while the Paradigms are playing music.
Did you find it difficult to set up the ARC on the Anthem? Buying the MRX later next week...
yeah I like the b&w slightly better
so witch pair you like more and why?
ummm, we are listening to these through our speakers so how can we compare!
paradigms win! not fair outlaw has more power the anthem is a receiver
How can you say the Norah Jones song comes better on the BW when there's not even a base for comparison. It is even audible on the tube... Paradigms wipe the floor with the bw's.
Hi if anyone is interested in Paradigm Studio 100, please let me know. Thanks