PRODUCT review STUDIO/100 … very, very good … “ approached the awesome … I AM IMPRESSED … ” Reprinted with permission from STUDIO/100 by Dennis O. Wasnich he Reference Series of loudspeaker model. They are “In some reviews I read, T from this Canadian manufacturer offered in a few finish is advertised (see their web site at alternatives of two the reviewer claimed the www.paradigm.com) as “extensively basic types: laminate designed and refined,”“taking a cost- and veneer; the Studio/100’s equaled or no-object approach.” Far be it from me laminates are nice, to dispute their claims, but I cannot though obviously outperformed speakers in think that cost considerations were “artificial,” and the the 5 - 10 kilobuck range. ignored in any speaker Paradigm makes. veneers are utilitarian On the other hand, Paradigm has a well- mostly, looking nice My experiences with these deserved reputation for offering excellent without being the speakers at the price-points they represent. “richest” one could loudspeakers gave me no The Studio/100 v.2 is the top-of-the- imagine. In the case Reference Studio-line model, representing of the veneer finish, reason to doubt this claim.” the best that Paradigm can offer (at least wood panels are at this price point). There are four other actually added to the non-amplified models in the Studio line, sides of the units, the Studio/20, 40, 60, and 80. The “v.2” making them slightly is the second version of the Studio 100 larger and presumably (hence the name), and represents reinforcing the already-rock-solid improvements in nearly every area of the cabinet. The difference isn’t supposed to speaker components and design despite affect the sound, but it’s hard to imagine its close visual similarity to the original that extra stiffening not making the STUDIO/100 cabinet even more non-resonant–a good perfectly clear about mounting the feet, “There is only one way to thing to consider for the extra money. In it appears you have four options: put either type, there are only three “finishes” the pointed end of the spikes into the describe the midrange – available: Light Cherry, “Rosenut,” and bushings and using the locknuts for feet Black Ash. Of the three, the “Rosenut” is (tightening them while holding the spike “Sweet.” … sounds are the most “rich-looking”–my best guess with a screwdriver); or leave the pointy- reproduced very cleanly and from examining the grain is it’s actually end out (as spikes) and using the locknut an oak veneer, stained with Walnut and to hold them at a correct height or leave dynamically … Vocals (male Rosewood varnish/stain, making it a deep the screwdriver-end of the spike protruding or female) come through with burgundy color that looks nice, although for a less “sharp” spike, or turn the locknut I personally would have preferred the oak small-side down for a smaller foot. The lots of detail and emotion … (if so) to remain unstained. problem with the second method is there’s guitars had the right amount no good way to hold the spike since now “ … I am impressed … the screwdriver slot is inside the speaker. of “ring” and presence to Knowing I was going to have to maneuver make them come alive … Those drivers can thump them, I set them up in the first option, when the program source figuring it would be easier to move them Piano solo was – rich, warm if the spikes weren’t digging into the offers thumping material! … carpet. The next step in unpacking is to set and beautiful … Horns – great tautness … the the speaker (still in the box) on its feet clean and bright …” and then pull the box off over the top. Studio/100s seem to suck up When this is done, you finally get to see I gave them a quick audition–they were a watts and deliver more and the speaker in all of its glory. The top, bit “bright and tight” (“lean ’n mean”?) back, front and bottom are a dark gray, right out of the box (I had expected that more sound … showed impact, textured but plain finish while the sides as I have been told by everyone including are in the veneer (or laminate–mine are Paradigm that they need to be broken in weight and speed … full and the rosenut veneer, if that matters to you). for several hours before they sound their warm, solid and convincing The front is mostly covered by the dark sweetest—a fact I confirmed while cloth-covered grill which snaps against auditioning speakers in my dealer’s … exciting to listen to.” the front with several plastic pins. The showroom where they had a “new” unit manual says these speakers are designed and one with reportedly 150-hours of use Speaking of the cabinet, it is heavy! The to sound best with the grills on, so I on it, and there was a whole world of 110-pound weight, while possible to played them that way (after taking a difference!) Still, they didn’t sound too maneuver around your listening room, quick look at the high-tech-looking bad in their “virgin” state. After that quick makes it something that will stay put drivers under them). audition, mostly to make sure they when you get it there! I found that worked, I put them on a diet of Pink “walking” it into position was the best There are four five-way binding posts set Noise for about 20 hours over the next one-man method. Carrying the shipping in the lower portion of the back of the three nights while I slept, doing some boxes with the speakers inside though, units at an angle to offer better access. intermittent auditioning during the days is a two-man chore unless you have a cart. I’ve read complaints by some magazine- when I had the chance. After the first You unpack the speakers by opening reviewers about these binding posts, but night, they had smoothed out quite the bottoms of the cartons, removing found them easy to use, although I’m not noticeably, and continued to improve at the piece of 7-ply plywood and other switching them every five minutes to least through the second night–the third (cardboard) packing materials, including another speaker cable to find a “perfect” was just for ‘insurance” as I pretty much a small “box” attached to a filler. In that match. These posts are “shorted” together considered them “broken in” by then, box are the four “spikes” and “locknuts.” with two very light gauge metal pieces although the bass continued to improve The spikes are a threaded rod about two that appear to be gold-plated. The manual slightly over the next 20+ hours of use. inches long, sharply pointed on one end says they’re intended to be bi-wired, so I and with a screwdriver slot on the other. set them up that way with Monster Cable These thread into four bushings mounted Original speaker leads about 12 feet long. DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS: in the bottoms of the speakers. The The holes in the binding posts are easily locknuts are round, about two inches in large enough for such heavy cable leads The cabinet of the Studio/100 is what diameter and maybe an inch thick with (I didn’t use any kind of termination on Paradigm calls a “Cascade enclosure,” a step on one side, and apparently gold- them, figuring to let the strands of meaning there are multiple braces inside. plated. While the instructions aren’t copper smash down for better contact). Three vertical and three horizontal braces PAGE 2 STUDIO/100 “ … a cabinet that is solid— network. The design is claimed to be stiffened with some fibers, it looks like a phase-coherent, quasi-Butterworth Kevlar®, although I can’t find that stated rapping on them with your design using high-power Ceramic in the manual, so perhaps that’s the resistors, film capacitors in all signal Mica-fibers I’m seeing. I measured the knuckles results in a rather paths, and air-core and steel-core woofers because I couldn’t believe they muted, dull “thunk” that inductors. The crossover boards are were 8.5˝ in diameter–in my book, they separated inside the cabinet to reduce ain’t! I measure 7˝ at the outside edges gives no indication of any interaction, and they are set up for (the “moving part”) of the “surrounds,” anything moving as bi-amping or bi-wiring the speakers, making the area of two of them equivalent which Paradigm recommends. to a single, “real” 10˝ driver. I measured a result of the impact the midrange driver too, after my (and sore knuckles!)” The high-frequency driver, a PAL™ experience with the woofers, and I get (Pure-Aluminum-dome) tweeter is 5.5˝ at the outside of the surrounds. The grid the inside of the cabinet (at least mounted near the top of the cabinet tweeter looks like 1˝ in diameter, so I according to the brochure–I didn’t cut front. Its suspension uses a treated textile didn’t measure it. them open to look!) with large holes cut to ensure uniform, instantaneous power through each section to allow air to move response. The “High-Pressure Die-cast through without restriction. According Aluminum chassis” is said to eliminate ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT: to that brochure, “MDF construction is mechanical flexing and ringing while used throughout, front and rear baffles also providing a heatsink. The frame is I powered the Studio/100s with my use self-locking serpentine joints, and Waveguide™ coupled to promote a wide McIntosh MC-7270 solid-state power internal braces are arranged in a sequential dispersion and flat response while amplifier, which delivers well over 270 interlocking cascade–the first vertical oversized damping chambers smooth watts without clipping.