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Paradigm’s new $299 SE 1 Speaker Beats $1,000+ Model in Blind Listening Tests
Paradigm SE 1 ($299 each) will debut at CEDIA Expo 2009
That's the verdict from 50 CE pros (49 dealers + me) who participated in Paradigm's blind listening test during a three-day training session at the company's Toronto, Ont., headquarters last month.
During the test, 40 dealers selected the speaker that turned out to be the Paradigm SE. Six were split; three picked the expensive speaker and one picked the cheap one.
And our group was an outlier. Paradigm has conducted this particular listening test hundreds of times. In all, 492 picked the SE 1, six picked the expensive brand, and two picked the cheapies, according to marketing manager Mark Aling.
The test is all part of Paradigm's effort to prep its new SE line for shipment, some time after CEDIA 2009 (Booth 3325), where it will demonstrate the product for the first time.
Paradigm performs these tests on all of its speakers from the most affordable Monitor series to the top-of-the-line Signature Series.
"We spend just as much energy on our entry-level products," says acoustic manager Paul McLain.
Is the Listening Test Rigged?
Well, of course Paradigm's speakers won the listening test. Paradigm conducted the tests!
Aling responds to this natural skepticism: "These are scientific tests. We use the same process with our own engineers. All of the speakers are level matched. They're all coming out of the same source with the same amplification."
Paradigm moves the three speakers around in its testing to eliminate potential biases in the position of the speakers.
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11 Comments
I confess, I was one of the few who did not pick Paradigm, and I was right on axis with the speaker I picked.
You picked the b&w;..... 
If you picked the Klipsch….I am gonna worry about your qualifications. It sounded awful.
Paradigm’s been doing this for decades. They remain the value/performance leader, defeating speakers many times the price. It’s news if they lose in a blind test like this.
Hey Julie,
I too will assume you picked a B&W;over a Klipsch. I’m with CCD on this one… If you did pick any Klipsch speaker model, (against any speaker brand that I can think of including Bose),in a blind listening test, you’d be better off taking the blame for mistaken identity in the AP article.
As someone who sells both brands, (Paradigm & B&W;), Paradigm without a doubt WILL always well outperform anything else out there in its price class and twice over.
BTW: Which B&W;model was it that you chose over the Paradigm?
Lastly, I’d like to make a suggestion for your next article/dealer poll… Instead of listing the top CE dealers, why not have a poll of brands that dealers hate for any reason. EX: Worst customer/dealer support, most overpriced/over rated, worst build quality, and worst performance quality. In my opinion, this string of posts would be longer than, “Who Owns The Code.”
I’ll start off with Klipsch, McIntosh, Sunfire, Bose, and Vizio for now.
Enough with the VIZIO hate. Their TV’s are very nice for the price.
I will admit their new blu-ray player is totally UGGLLLYYYY!!!!!
Both are junk. Most peoples ears are made out of garbage. I wouldn’t trust most people in any kind of blind testing.
What B&W;model was used for this blind listening test?????
I was sworn to secrecy. Someone else will have to chime in.
C’mon Julie… Give it up and I’ll buy you a new Roomba or whatever the hell it’s called.
Do these B&W;speakers cost $1000+ EACH or BOTH?
I did the listening tests. It was Paradigm vs Klipsch and B&W;. The only people who picked the other brands were sitting on axis with the speaker. The Paradigms smoked all of them from any seating position IMHO.