PARADIGM Signature S1
Stand mount monitors
Paradigm used aluminum die-cast cabinets with thickness of the walls of 5mm, that are heavily braced. Front and back plates of the cabinets are tightened to each other by long bolts. Drivers are beryllium, cobalt and aluminum. Isn't it unique?
Function and form
All parts (baffle, rear and shell) on these compact cabinets are die-cast aluminum. The die-cast design also functions as an effective heatsink. Internal aluminum sinks make the whole construction more rigid and work as an internal diffusor. The enclosures are further damped by a kind of putty, something that Paradigm calls Permacote Linacoustic.
The cabinets are closed ones, no bassreflex port. The baskets of drivers are part of the die-cast frame (!). Pure beryllium was chosen for the tweeter for its exceptional thermal, physical and mechanical properties. Elevating the dome promoted optimal off-axis dispersion.
Cobalt-Infused Anodized Pure-Aluminum cone of the midrange/bass driver should also bring a superhigh stiffness-to-mass ratio.
The aluminum cabinets are covered by real wood veneers — cherry and piano black are current options.
Bass management
The limitations of low-internal-volume monitors can be heard when pushed to high volume levels. The sound was clean and transparent, the bass was quick and responsive, yet one cannot just expect mass and scale. For the music that needs solid foundations (any music, that is) a good subwoofer will be a must.
Clarity & delicacy
The transparency of the sound is amazing through the Signature S1 - it is like fresh mountain air. Again, do not expect that these miniature speakers can challenge well-designed floorstanders, but they are very capable for their size.
Tonal accuracy
Despite that I was auditioning a full metal design (there is nothing organic in these speakers) I could not detect any trace of metallic coloration. The midrange was natural down to upper bass. Voices were beautiful, yet they were more just hovering voices rather than people. Strings were sweet but they missed bodies and richer tonal pallette. The Paradigm Signature S1 are exceptional in their design but they are unable to defy the laws of physics.
Spatial resolution
The monitors are so small that is should be surprise that they can effectively dissapear from the sound field. Honestly, they dissapear also visually so they may be a premium choice for those interiors that should be filled with music from no apparent source.
Recommended resellers
Hifi Store, Praha, 603 460 675
Manufacturer's website: http://www.paradigm.com
Associated components
- Sources: Mark Levinson No. 390S, Musical Fidelity X-Ray V3
- Amplifiers: Mark Levinson No.320S, Mark Levinson No.336 power amplifiers, Musical Fidelity X-Pre V3 preamplifier, X-P200 power amplifier
- Interconnects and speaker cables: Cardas Crosslink, Cardas Golden Reference
- Loudspeakers: JMlab Focal Micro Utopia Be
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