Step me up from Paradigm Studio 20 v4 bookshelf, seriously.


I have been around here for a few years. Enjoying the game about once or twice a week. Yes I am hooked. Kind of sort of laid back on forums. Bought and sold a sizeable amount of equipment with one-hundred percent feedback. Probably a mid-fi guy. Best pair of speakers I have owned to me are Paradigms, namely Studio 60 v4 and current Studio 20 v4. Can anyone take me beyond these? Yes, a bit temperamental they are. Have never stepped up to, I guess Hi Fi speakers? Have tried Spendor 8se (too polite?), Paradigm Monitor 7 (not as good as Studio versions), Elac dbr62 (close to Paradigms but not as refined), Totem Rainmaker (maybe too small, not sure been a while back), Monitor Audio Silver 2 (kind of like Paradigms). Hooked on my Paradigm Studio 20 so far. Current system = Mid-Fi integrated (?) Rotel RA-1572, Bluesound Node 2i, Marantz SA-8004, Mhdt Orchid DAC (seriously love it), fair amount of decent cables. Like pop/rock music mainly. Integrated amps I have used: Rotel Rx-1052, Sim 340i DPX, Rotel RA-1572 (current), Musical Fidelity A3.5, NAD C368, Arcam.

Mostly into monitors/bookshelf due to room size, maybe front ported. Thinking of maybe some Spendor A1, Harbeth P3SR (or other models), Reference De Capo, Fritz?, Pro Ac?, B & W? No room treatments in my 14 by 18 room, as is fairly inert acoustically. I am an older retired audiophile (55-70). A bit of tinnitus, so nothing too bright. On Audiogon daily. Looking for some input/ideas. Lateral moves probable?

Any serious input welcome (maybe a bit of non-serious just for fun!). Love this hobby.

Thanks,

Jim


jbmac75
I was going to suggest upgrading the tweeters.  I saw a pair of beryllium tweeters for $500 but you’d want to upgrade crossovers too.  I think it is a smarter investment to sell your studio’s and get some signatures.  I’ve had a bunch of different studio’s, V.4 and V.5 and the sigs are a step up in build, finish and sound.  Its just more of what you love about the studios!
There's a nice looking pair of S6's currently listed, above your budget, but worth considering, to me. I owned the Studio 10's, which I thought were very good, went to the S6's, love them. Of course, then it was time to upgrade the amp, so there's that.Good luck
Would buy a pair of S2.v3 for the right deal.

S6 are too big for my room. Thanks.
Rotel amps are known to be a bit forward (though I have not heard your model). I drove my Studio Reference 20s V4 with a Vincent 226MK tube hybrid integrated (100wpc) and that pairing sounded wonderful. I am sure the Orchid DAC helps out with what I call a slight hardness from the 20s. 

Room/speaker/amplifier matching is important. What is your room size?
jbmac, I'd keep an eye on eBay for S2's, they pop up somewhat regularly. The J29 stands also show up from time to time, around $250, give or take. They're great.