To a point, I much agree with the last gentlmen's recommendations!...Either the B&W CDM's or Nautilus's are a better sounding speaker than the Studio 100's!!
I've sold both of these lines and "specific" speakers! I can say that, while the Studio's are Decent enough, they're not superb in my oppinion!...they're clean, pretty tight, but not as refined and clear/transparent as others!...they're a little colored/warm. While I've heard amazing perfomance/sound out of both the Nautilus and CDM B&W's for 2 channel and HT applications when set-up corrrectly, I can say I've only heard just OK sound from the Studio's!!!
However, this is just an oppinion, and I could easily see someone enjoying the heck out of either of these speakers you mentioned!...especially if your just running a Lexicon MC1!...which heavilly favors Digital Surround dubties over audiopihle 2 channel playback!
Either way, however, you'll have to cut any of these speakers off at around 50/60 hz on your MC-1 pre/pro for home theater dubties!...NO FULL RANGE SPEAKER (OR BOOKSHELF FOR THAT MATTER) can handle full range DD/DTS bass information without distorting or sounding week and flabby sounding!!!!(unless they have built in amps driving large woofers!!!)...you need to drive em with hi-pass cuttoff a bit higher and let the subs do the work!!!...DEFINITITLY!
Also, if you want any semblance of hi-end audiophile grade 2 channel playback on the speakers (...WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN PURCHASED FIRST REALLY!), You should use an better quality external 2 channel preamp, or at least a CD player dirrect (volume control needed) into an amp!! That MC1 is only going to sound marginal sonically on 2 channel aplications on it's own!...it really is much better on surround sound digital dubties...
So, anyway, in summing, I've extensive experience with both B&W (CDM's and Nautilus and Matrix) and Paradigm's (Studio 100's and such, set-up with CC450 center and rears), and can say that, for the money, between the B&W line and Paradigms, I think you would definitely definitely be pleased (for most applications) the B&W CDM 9NT's!!! They're very very nice sounding for the money, sound great in either 2 channel or HT applications (when set-up correctly that is), and will save you money over the Nautilus's!!! However, if you want to spend more money, you would surely be pleased with the Nautilus 804's to say the least!...just don't think you need to really. If that is your considering a much less expensive speaker like the Studio 100's in the first place!...but the Studio's just aren't for me.
In the end, it's all good...some are just "gooder" than others!...enjoy
I've sold both of these lines and "specific" speakers! I can say that, while the Studio's are Decent enough, they're not superb in my oppinion!...they're clean, pretty tight, but not as refined and clear/transparent as others!...they're a little colored/warm. While I've heard amazing perfomance/sound out of both the Nautilus and CDM B&W's for 2 channel and HT applications when set-up corrrectly, I can say I've only heard just OK sound from the Studio's!!!
However, this is just an oppinion, and I could easily see someone enjoying the heck out of either of these speakers you mentioned!...especially if your just running a Lexicon MC1!...which heavilly favors Digital Surround dubties over audiopihle 2 channel playback!
Either way, however, you'll have to cut any of these speakers off at around 50/60 hz on your MC-1 pre/pro for home theater dubties!...NO FULL RANGE SPEAKER (OR BOOKSHELF FOR THAT MATTER) can handle full range DD/DTS bass information without distorting or sounding week and flabby sounding!!!!(unless they have built in amps driving large woofers!!!)...you need to drive em with hi-pass cuttoff a bit higher and let the subs do the work!!!...DEFINITITLY!
Also, if you want any semblance of hi-end audiophile grade 2 channel playback on the speakers (...WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN PURCHASED FIRST REALLY!), You should use an better quality external 2 channel preamp, or at least a CD player dirrect (volume control needed) into an amp!! That MC1 is only going to sound marginal sonically on 2 channel aplications on it's own!...it really is much better on surround sound digital dubties...
So, anyway, in summing, I've extensive experience with both B&W (CDM's and Nautilus and Matrix) and Paradigm's (Studio 100's and such, set-up with CC450 center and rears), and can say that, for the money, between the B&W line and Paradigms, I think you would definitely definitely be pleased (for most applications) the B&W CDM 9NT's!!! They're very very nice sounding for the money, sound great in either 2 channel or HT applications (when set-up correctly that is), and will save you money over the Nautilus's!!! However, if you want to spend more money, you would surely be pleased with the Nautilus 804's to say the least!...just don't think you need to really. If that is your considering a much less expensive speaker like the Studio 100's in the first place!...but the Studio's just aren't for me.
In the end, it's all good...some are just "gooder" than others!...enjoy