"Once both speakers were in the same room, it was no contest, really. The S8 was more detailed, and I could hear things in the music that I hadn't heard with the Vandersteens. Better imaging, and just more musical. But they did all this without being bright or brash or fatiguing (which I am very sensitive to).
The Vandersteen 3As are fine speakers, I thought the S8s were finer for the music I listen to. I'll be placing my order for a Paradigm Signature surround system anchored by the S8s this weekend. Guess I've gone Canadian".
Funny, as I recently had the opposite occur. I've been using Paradigms for 10+ years, so as I went to upgrade my speakers for the first time since 94, I immediately listened to the new Paradigm Sigs. Liked them a ton, beautiful to look at as well. Then, at another dealer listened to the Vandersteen 3A Sigs, and these are what I now own. I'm a 2 channel guy first, and these just sounded more musical to me - never been as emotionally involved to the music while listening as I am with these.
I think both are great choices, the Vandersteen being less $$ and more musical to me though.
The Vandersteen 3As are fine speakers, I thought the S8s were finer for the music I listen to. I'll be placing my order for a Paradigm Signature surround system anchored by the S8s this weekend. Guess I've gone Canadian".
Funny, as I recently had the opposite occur. I've been using Paradigms for 10+ years, so as I went to upgrade my speakers for the first time since 94, I immediately listened to the new Paradigm Sigs. Liked them a ton, beautiful to look at as well. Then, at another dealer listened to the Vandersteen 3A Sigs, and these are what I now own. I'm a 2 channel guy first, and these just sounded more musical to me - never been as emotionally involved to the music while listening as I am with these.
I think both are great choices, the Vandersteen being less $$ and more musical to me though.