Product Previews

Paradigm Monitor SE Home Theater Speaker Preview

Paradigm has just released a new speaker line that contains some trickle-down technology from their award-winning products but are inexpensive enough to attract brand new home theater enthusiasts.

I just received their new Monitor SE 2000C center channel, 3000F floor-standing three-way towers, and Atom two-way surrounds. They all feature a single 1” X-PAL™ dome, ferro-fluid damped & cooled, Perforated Phase-Aligning tweeter lens. The 2000C has two 5.5” mineral filled polypropylene woofers while the 3000C has three (one acting as a mid-range driver); and the Atoms have a single woofer.

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The tweeter lens is of particular interest. It not only protects the delicate dome from damage, it blocks out-of-phase information which helps clean up the sound. Rather than depending on complex room correction to accomplish this, Paradigm addresses the issue with a simple piece of hardware.

Color choices are matte black or high-gloss white vinyl veneers. The Atoms are not designed for wall mounting, but stands are available at an extra cost. What’s really impressive is this system can be put together for just under $1200. That’s plenty of savings for you to add a subwoofer later down the road. Watch for my review coming up here in the next few weeks!

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Jim Milton

Jim Milton has been interested in high fidelity since his college years in the late 70's. It was there that he first became interested in classical music. He has been part of choral music, both in opera and oratorio and is an avid collector of classical music from the Baroque through the Romantic periods. He enjoys an occasional night at Boston Symphony Hall or attending an organ concert at Merrill Auditorium in Portland, ME. Currently he is the director of Nuclear Medicine at the North Shore Medical Center, located just outside of Boston. He also serves as an adjunct professor for Salem State University where he teaches a course in nuclear instrumentation. During his leisure time, he enjoys listening to his music collection and an occasional movie with his wife of 30+ years. Living on the longest stretch of sandy beach north of Boston offers him plenty of opportunities to take a relaxing stroll or soak up some sun. "Remember, acquiring good A/V gear takes lots of time...but doesn't necessarily take lots of money."