|   NHT Super Ones or Paradigm Mini Monitors | need your advice
Apr 23, 2001 11:18 PM | | I'm interested in your opinions of both the NHT Super Ones and the Paradigm Mini Monitors. I'm looking into five of these babies for a 5 channel music/HT setup. I'd like you to help confirm my initial impressions. I listen to lots of different kinds of music but mostly rock and jazz (Rush, Santana, Eagles, Diana Krall, Keiko Matsui).
Thanks,
Ken |
| NHT SuperOne | BillB
Apr 24, 2001 4:13 AM | | I might be a bit biased but I've auditioned both speakers. The NHT's are a very neutral speaker. The highs are clear and smooth, the midrange is squeaky clean, the bass is tight and controlled down to about 60Hz. They have a relatively low sensitivity of 86dB so it is important that you have a good power source to drive them. Technically the more watts your amp has the better for these speakers but as many manufacturers overstate their power capabilities it can be tought to judge. I had them hooked up to a "50w" Integrated amp and they sounded better than when hooked up to my "100w" A/V Receiver.
The Paradigm MiniMonitors didn't seemed as refined as the NHT's, though this may be better suited to you do to the varying sound quality of rock recordings these days. They would also do well with jazz, but I'd give the NHT's the edge in that category. Some say the Paradigms can become fatigueing after long listening sessions. As I've only listened for an hour or two at a show room I can't really say I experienced that. They do put out more low-end info than they NHT's though I've heard they can be finicky about positioning.
All in all, both are good speakers. Both would also benefit enormously in HT if a sub was added, taken by themselves would leave you wanting more. The NHT's can be had NEW on Ebay for $240/pair from Dnd or GES. They may become discounted even more when NHT releases thier new Performance Series with metal dome tweeters. At any rate I'd highly recommend listening to both pairs, as well as other brands, if you can. Some others to look into are B&W's 300 and 600 series, KEF Cresta 2, Mission, PSB's Image series, and Edge Audio.
Good Luck!
BillB |
| I concur.... | RuSsMaN
Apr 24, 2001 5:55 AM | | Between those 2 choices, I'd go NHT, no questions. They seem to be the only speaker company that Recoton bought, and hasn't fubared. (yet)
They (nht) will take a little more power to drive, not much, but a little more, but they are very flat, very musical speakers. Big sound in a smaller speaker.
Cheers,
Russ |
| re: NHT Super Ones or Paradigm Mini Monitors | B McGowan
Apr 24, 2001 10:05 AM | | I prefer the NHT's over the Paradigm mainly because of the price difference. The NHT's are available for much less and the sound quality is pretty much the same.
Yawa Audio/Video sells NHT online through www.yawaonline.com and their other web site www.yawaaudio.com
Great dealer & great prices. Hope that helps. |
| Another vote for the SuperOnes | JasonChap
Apr 24, 2001 10:16 AM | | I have NHT SuperOnes in my music/HT setup as well as my audio only system. I prefered them over the Mini-Monitors becouse the Mini-Monitors colored the sound too much for my taste. I am not saying that the Mini-Monitors are bad speakers, but not as good as the SuperOnes. NHT's are very natural sunding, very nutral with almost no coloration. They are very analitical though and will bring out any flaws in your system. The Mini-Monitors are more forgiving in that respect, but they can be picky about placement from what I have heard. If You want to go with Paradigm, you may want to go to the Refrence line and Check out the Studio 20s. The NHT SuperOnes have a soft dome tweeter that is very good. I thought the metal tweeter on the Mini-Monitors was a bit harsh as are many metal tweeters (IMO). The NHTs simply cant be beat for the price. Good Luck!
PS I am running them on a 70 watt per channel HT reciever and a 40 watt per channel integrated amp and have had no trouble driving them at all. In my HT setup, I have them mated with a NHT SubOne that is also very good-best musical sub I could find-much better than Velodyne CT series or Paradigm's PDR line.
Brad Rogers |
| Go Superones, Paradigm 20's, or 40's...forget Minimonitors. | Ed M
Apr 25, 2001 5:31 AM | | My vote is for the NHT Superones, Paradigm Studio 20's and Studio 40's. Why do I vote for all three?...because I own all three. :) Choose among these three depending on your spending level. I think the Superones are far better than the Minimonitors which seemed abit harsh and colored the music. The S1's, 20's, and 40's are all very natural sounding and great for music. And I primarily listen to rock. I am entertaining the thought of selling my almost new Superones if anyone is looking for a set.
Ed
mroze@magpage.com |
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