Need a warm amp for bright speakers

Oh my goodness, are you confused about what to do yet?

I have been in the hobby for 2 years. In that time, I started with Paradigm Mini Monitors V.6 (loved them!!), went to Studio 10's, 20's,60's,back to 20's (all V.5) then 40's (V.4), so I know that paradigm sound quite well. I ran them with an integrated Onkyo, an Adcom 545mkII, and then a Classe CA-150. I used the Onkyo as a pre amp with the adcom, then a Classe ssp-25 with the adcom, then the Classe ssp-25 with a classe ca-150, then a lightspeed attenuator with the classe ca-150. I also used different cables along the way.

Guess what. All the different set-ups sounded too bright.

I love Paradigms build quality and looks, but sound...not so sure.

The monitor series v5 and v6 are better than v7 imho. V7 is the first version I am aware of that is built in china. Look at the difference in cabinet construction and driver quality between v6 and v7.

Sooooo, how do you fix the problem? Not quite sure. I'd start with taking a kleenex or piece of toilet paper, fold it up into a nice square and layer it over your tweeter. Just tape itaround the face plate carefully, and don't push in your tweeters :-) this is free, easy to do, and you already have the matrrials.

Next, I would try changing the crossovers in just your front right and left main speakers. Call madisound and tell them you want to tame the highs. I think you could ugrade the sound acrss the board AND tame the highs, with cap upgrades on the crossover. You probably looking at $200 this route.

Another option would be to try a tube amp.

Another option, possibly the best and most "for sure" way of fixing the problem would be to sell your speakers (if you have the packing materials and boxes, thats a plus) and go with something more laid back. I had good results with Sinclaire Audio (budget speakers, made in china, but sound good), Kef qx5's, and Vandersteen 2ci speakers. All have good bass, aren't nearly as hot in the highs, and can rock the house, so to speak.

I think if you go chasing cables, amps, pre amps, you are just putting band aids on the real issue, which are your speakers. Change the crossovers in the speakers or sell them and buy different ones...

I'm telling ya'all, Paradigms highs are pretty hot; don't even know if they term "bright" describes them properly, because they are very bright.

I wouldn't try changing five different components in order to fix one component (well, actually I would do this, and did; save yourself the trouble). I changed cables, amps, pre amps, added room acoustics, turned the volume down, clinched my teeth, put kleenex in my ears...well you get the idea.

On a side note, my experiences with Paradigms customer service have been non-existant. They won't even call back or e-mail if you have an issue. Of coure your results may vary on this.

Seriously, sell your speakers now and get something else, OR, change your cables, amp, pre amp, add room treatments, THEN sell your speakers and buy something else, lol.

Good luck my friend!

I do think a tube amp might be smart...

My question is, is it a bad idea for the OP to tone down his rig in order to make a bright speaker sound neutral? What happens if he goes with a more neutral speaker later, and now his other components make a neutral sounding speaker and make it sound super laid back? Honest question in which I don't know the answer, just something I was thinking about in order to helpthe OP...

Perhaps he sells Nad and audioquest, lol.

lets buy cables that have no highs in order to tame an overlybright speaker? Makes no sense to me...

Again, the 6 pairs of paradigms I've owned over the past 2 years have all been hot. Kinda like real housewives of beverly hills; beautiful to look at, not so beautiful to listen too.

To add to my previous post, of course anything I say here is just my humble oppinion and my experiences with different components and speakers in my room to my ears :-)

The paradigm signature series with the berrylium tweeters are a completely different animal and are actually 1 of about 5 different speakers on my wish list.

I found that the monitor series v.6 tweeter to be less bright than the studio series tweeter and I believe a crossover upgrade would do wonders to the studio series, but again, the berrylium tweets in. the signature series sound really nice to me; airy and delicate with great extension.