From amazement to ecstasy! To Each His Own: A Short Guide to Buying 2021.

The title is very evocative of what happens in our heads when we hear excellent speakers for the first time, first of all, we are flabbergasted to hear nuances that we do not usually notice, and then comes the undeniable pleasure of listening to a lot of intriguing sounds that bring dreams!

As stated in my previous blog, the accuracy of the speakers is critical in reproducing the audible nuances that allow us to distinguish, well beyond the notes; the emotion of the musician that is transposed via his particular technique in the playing of his instrument. For 2021, I present you with a small guide to buying speakers available in shops, with respect to the artist's work.

We specialise in Focal and Paradigm products. This guide will focus more on personal experience than on technical data. A quality loudspeaker is certainly an important investment, but given that a loudspeaker can have a useful life approaching twenty years, you might as well buy a good one!

So I'd like to take this opportunity to introduce you to the pioneers who brought their famous speakers into the world.

Let's go!

Focal, a recognised world leader.

Focal is a French brand, international leader in the manufacture of high-fidelity solutions. Its "made in France" know-how has been recognised for over 42 years. (1979)

Jacques Mahul in his laboratory in 1979

Focal founder Jacques Mahul has always been committed to faithfully reproducing music as the artist created it. He has therefore always pushed research into loudspeakers, materials and processes to improve sound reproduction.

Focal is also one of the few loudspeaker brands in the world to manufacture its own loudspeakers: 100% of the product is designed and manufactured entirely in France, no step is taken elsewhere.

In real life, if you visit us in Chambly, you will discover a very wide stereophonic image, i.e. the sound will seem to come from beyond the distance of the speakers themselves. Moreover, the presence of the voices is staggering as you have the impression of having the singer in front of you! A joy for your ears!

Paradigm, an internationally renowned domestic product

Scott Bagby Founder PARADIGM

Having made its debut in 1982, the Toronto-based brand has come a long way since then. Paradigm offers a wide range of products specialising in stereo and home theatre listening.

From the beginning, founders Jerry VanderMarel and Scott Bagby turned to young engineers to design loudspeakers with a scientific approach that focused more on meaningful results than on the appeal of the box. Mostly made in the Toronto area, the company has never abandoned the goal of doing better by controlling the design from start to finish. The price/performance ratio is above average. A very wise purchase for you!

List of model series.

MONITOR SE PARADIGM SERIES

Features: The Monitor se series is recommended for creating a powerful and accurate home theatre system. These speakers can reproduce the full fury of action movies and be delicate enough to allow for quality music listening. The price is great and the 5-year warranty will protect your investment. New in 2021 is a triple 8-inch model for rock fans.

Price range: $359 - $1999

FIRST PARADIGM SERIES

Features: The Premier series is now leading the way in sales thanks to a recently revamped approach. Paradigm has surprised by integrating technologies* originally developed in their reference product line, such as the 'Prestiges' and 'Persona', into a much more affordable product. A.R.T. bass element suspension reduces distortion by 50% and increases capacity by 3%. The PPA tweeter grille directs dispersion and reduces diffraction.  

Price range: $1099 - $2699

CHORA DE FOCAL SERIES

Features : A starting series from the French manufacturer Focal, this new 2019 generation series uses new materials, but also some of the technologies already used in their higher end models. The tweeter uses an aluminium and magnesium alloy just like the more expensive ARIA model. Chora also introduces a brand new SlateFiber membrane with Poron suspension that reduces distortion by a factor of three between 2000 Hz and 3000 Hz, the most sensitive area of the ear. Specific to Focal speakers, the sound exceeds the speaker spacing in dimension, or in other words, you get the impression that the sound on the left and right is outside the observed location of the speakers in situ...

Price range: $1289 - $2789

CHORA "D" SERIES FROM FOCAL

Features: A relatively unique design, the 826D series was created for the Atmos cinema enthusiast: the current benchmark in the cinema world. These columns incorporate ceiling-facing elements to reproduce the 360-degree screen required by the Dolby Atmos standard. So you get the best of both worlds with high-end stereo music listening and Atmos cinema acoustics!

Price range: $3590 per pair (replaces two pairs front and back)

PRESTIGE PARADIGM SERIES

Features: The Prestige range is in the process of being completely replaced by the new Founders and there are few models left in production. 2021 should be the swan song for this series. The sound is clean and free of artefacts, with a very rigid box and an exemplary finish. The highs are reproduced by elements with aluminium propagator and PPA filter to direct the sound without this diffraction stealing sharpness. The midrange and bass are formed from ART suspension drivers, which give superior rigidity and excursion. In simple terms, a good recording reproduced by Prestiges is the illusion of being on location with the musicians!  

 Price range: from $1699 limited quantity.

FOCAL ARIA SERIES

Characteristics: The superior ARIA range by Focal offers a natural, soft sound and a pleasant roundness in the bass. To obtain such a high quality bass, Focal uses Flax, a material made of natural flax amalgamated into an ultra light and non-resonant membrane. The midrange and bass drivers are therefore easy to move and add less coloration due to the absence of resistance to movement. The Flax diaphragm is a sandwich of a flax fibre core woven between two thin sheets of fibreglass. The flax fibre gives a very natural sound without coloration. The highs are propelled by an inverted dome tweeter which ensures the famous spatial amplitude of the brand. The realism of the listening experience is astonishing, the softness surprising. Really good!

 Price range: $2589 - $7789

FOUNDER PARADIGM SERIES

Features: Of all the speakers in our shop, the FOUNDER is the most modern! In fact, they were released in April 2021, so they're brand new. The Founders are the evolution of the good old Prestiges, which almost brings them to the Paradigm Persona reference series!

Efficiency is increased, more is done with less wattage. The angular design is beautiful and blends well with both modern and rustic styles. The power and realism are amazing!

I'll tell you briefly about the technologies, it's all full! For the treble, magnesium, aluminium and ceramic are used to obtain a rigidity only equalled by the more expensive beryllium. A thin perforated grid (PPA) filters the diffusion to avoid the famous diffraction. The midrange element is made of aluminium and magnesium, a far cry from paper cones! For the low frequencies, ultra light but resistant carbon fibre X is used. All the elements forming the whole are insulated from each other as well as the box from its bearing on the ground. Wait until I tell you more about the 120 H* hybrid model, incorporating a 1000 watt bass system calibrated by your computer!

This hybrid principle originates from the Persona 9H sold for $40,000 a pair, don't worry, the Founders are much more affordable!

Price range: $2599 - $10,499

FOCAL KANTA SERIES

Features: Available to order, the KANTAs incorporate both the Flax cone found in the Arias, but also the ultimate tweeters which are made of beryllium. In addition to offering a beautiful roundness in the bass, the beryllium of the Kantas allows an incredible output in the treble. The whole is made to bring softness and warmth to the sound: density and rigidity of the materials of the front and the shell, soft angles and a double vent. The front panel is moulded in a single block of high density polymer, this material offers increased performance: it is 70% denser than MDF, 15% more rigid and offers 25% more damping. Focal's research is geared towards reducing distortion in all registers, which in music is the enemy of emotion.

You'll need a top-notch amplifier, because these speakers say it all! An aesthetically pleasing piece with fabulous sound.

Price range: $8589 - $17,989

PERSONA BY PARADIGM

Features: Here is another product using cutting-edge materials such as beryllium, the PERSONA range offers exceptional products. Beryllium is a rare chemical element (Be) with low mass, high tensile strength and high thermal stability. It is incredibly rigid and light; everything a sound engineer wants in a loudspeaker cone.

In fact, beryllium has been used in the audio industry since the 1970s. But because of its use in only the finest (and most expensive) audio equipment, it has retained a certain "cult" status.

Paradigm's Persona, tandem-paired beryllium drivers reveal the full range of high performance. Persona is the only speaker in its class to use beryllium for both the midrange and tweeter drivers! For the bass, it goes down to as low as 19 Hz for some models. Available to order with your choice of finish and colour.

Price range: $8499 - $39,999 

LIST OF COMPACT MODELS (SHELF/BOOKSHELF)

• Paradigm Atom Monitor se.

  

This model has been presented since the beginning of Paradigm.

Small and affordable, the sound is well balanced with good bass for the size. It can be used as a stand-alone pair or as rear speakers in a home theatre.

Piano white gloss or matt black.

Paradigm Premier 100 - 200

Excellent value for money offering audiophile sound. The 200 model is particularly powerful while "sounding" like a pair of full-size speakers.

Focal Chora 806

Focal's softness in listening and very decorative look. Excellent value for money in the category.

Paradigm Prestige 15B

Available in very limited quantities, this model was our best seller in its class. The sound is simply fabulous for such a small speaker!

Focal ARIA 906

The audiophile speakers with amazing performance. The famous "wide" sound thanks to the inverted dome tweeter and the flax diaphragm for the bass.

Paradigm Founder 40 B.

Our "reference " product in terms of quality/price ratio. They will be a hit for sure because it pushes even further the envelope that made the prestige 15 B it replaces so successful. You must listen to it!

Kanta No 1

Our ultimate reference regardless of price. More expensive, but absolutely sonorous... The entry model in the "Beryllium"family 

LIST OF FULL SIZES (TOWER/TOWER)

Paradigm Monitor se.

Good performance for the price. Perfect for those looking for power and good fidelity. Triple eight (8) inch model available!!!

Paradigm Premier 700 - 800

Very good value in the audiophile category. Rich and accurate sound. Dry and defined sound typical of Paradigm products. Entirely made in Canada.

Focal Aria 926-936-948

Beautiful, luxurious product. The wide sound at its best. Nice roundness in the bass and impeccable treble dispersion. Our favourite model is the 948 with its two 8" drivers which provide full bass without the need for a subwoofer.

Paradigm Founder 80-100 - 120 H

A product of the latest generation(April 2021), the sound is amazingly accurate. We have already made many happy with this series and the verdict is unanimous: these are the best boxes in the category.

The 120H Hybrid features a 1000 watt amplifier to enhance the bass you feel on you! It's not just big, cookie-cutter bass, it's controlled by Paradigm/Anthem's ARC correction software, which has been used for over 10 years in products such as Anthem's adaptive subwoofers and cinema receivers. Absolute fidelity and power!

We believe in them and they are in the showroom.

Focal Kanta NO 2 and 3

Simply the best! Very stylish and with exemplary performance, the secret of beryllium makes all the difference. More expensive, but more than just ear candy.

The last word.

I'd say we've come full circle with our carefully selected offering. Whatever your budget, the speakers proposed above will give you satisfaction for years to come. Let's never forget that in listening, the equipment forms a whole and that we can enhance the performance of one or the other by a good mix. That's why in my next columns, I'll talk about amplifiers, but especially about digital to analog converters, the modern source of high fidelity. Because sometimes, better music files will give more life to a less performing speaker. The work of an honest adviser in the shop will make all the difference. The point to remember is balance in everything.

Next: digital source files, much more than our old MP-3s

Stay tuned!

Christian.