Sound Stage, Bass, Imaging

None

These speakers are amazing!!! The depth of the soundstage rivals even speakers at twice the price. Great imaging, and the you are there feel. They leave very little "finger print" and seem to not be there at all, just the music. For the price you can't go wrong. Paradigm has made a great product for those who want high end at a very reasonable price.
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B&K ST 140 Power Amp
B&K Pro 5 Pre Amp
Denon 1530 CD Player
Audio Quest type 6 Speaker Wires
FMS Blue 5 Interconnects
If you want to forget about listening to speakers, and just listen to the music, buy these speakers. If you want over priced boxey sounding speakers with no bass, buy the B&W's!

Similar Products Used:

B&W 302 602, Monitor Audio Bronze 2, Tannoy MX2

Amazing highs, detailed mids, good bass, excellent looks.

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I have tested the Paradigm Mini Monitors for both music listening and home theatre.

I found that the Mini Monitors blew the Bose, Phantoms, and Mission 701 away for music listening. The Mini Monitors reached a higher note and with more accuracy than the competition. The highs and the mids were very clear and detailed in the Minis, with the Missions coming in second place. The Minis also had the best overall sound. They blended together the high, mid, and low frequencies perfectly.

For home theatre, they also came in first place. They provided an excellent sound stage and really came through clear throughout different parts of the movie. Seemed to have a much fuller and accurate sound than the competition did. Were excellent as fronts (though subwoofer would be needed), or rears in a home theatre. Excellent speaker for the $$$, cannot go wrong.

Similar Products Used:

Mission 701, Bose 401, Paradigm Phantom

Good overall sound, Bass(for a bookshelf I've heard a lot worse), nice mids and highs

None at this price range. Well some real wood finishes would be nice, but then again look at the price.

First of all let me say I was looking for a bookshelf speaker that was in my price range of less than $500.00. Which now a days I though I wouldn’t have that much of a selection but man was I wrong. After researching the Internet, listening and auditioning several brands I thought this would take forever. I couldn’t make up my mind. I had heard the Paradigm Mini Monitors before and loved them. I just wanted to hear what else was out there. My Infinity Overture 1’s were going to be hard to replace. I sold them and all my equipment to purchase stuff for the new home. Now that I have a two-year-old I have to think more on a budget. Thus speakers under 500.00 was a must. Just in case accidental hands grab them I can afford to replace them without breaking the bank.

On with the search. Like I said before, price for performance is what I’m looking for. Remember that. Having already listened to the Mini Monitors and missing my Overture 1’s. I listened to the Infinity’s first. The IL10 is a great speaker good bass response and overall a great speaker. I almost bought them but said to my self again to wait and see what else is out there. B&W speakers were very musical and I love the jazz on them. Very tight and smooth especially the DM602. On with the PSB’s . These and the Paradigms fought it out in the end for the price for performance. I loved how the PSB’s looked. They had a great finish in cherry and a well-balanced sound, but they were a little laid back for me. I listen to all types of music and they didn’t do it for me in my heavy metal and rock’n roll area. I could live with them but the Paradigms won me over in the end for Home Theater. I listen to TV and movies the most and music secondly. I do want to say that all the speakers I auditioned I enjoyed in one way or another. I believe that manufactures today are making a lot better speakers than the yesteryears and the differences are pretty subtle. That’s when your taste in music and your ears will have to take over.

The Mini Monitors. I found these at a steal of 160.00 on a buy it now on E-Bay. With shipping and all it was a little under 200.00. I guess the guy didn’t know what he had. They sound great and I enjoy the punchy bass, clear, crisp highs and detailed midrange. Just don’t put them too close to the walls or they will sound a little boomy. I could not have found a better deal. I could sit here and rave a bout the price per performance you can get with these speakers. I say just read on you will hear a lot more of what you heard here in my review. I must say this. Search out the best prices on the web. You can get both the PSB2b and the Mini Monitor for 250.00 new plus shipping. Around $275-$285 including shipping. Check out www.mysimon.com for prices on the infinities. www.worldexchange.com for prices on Infinities and PSB’s. Email me for more info. Be patient and look that’s all I say there are better deals out there.


My system includes:
Pioneer elite vsx24tx ($380 ebay) receiver
Pioneer dvf-727 ($308 ubid) 301 disk dvd cd changer
Mini Monitors ($160 ebay) fronts
CC-150 ($103 ebay) center
Atoms ($125 ebay) surrounds
AR PRO interconnects ($150) www.accessories4less.com
IXOS Speaker cables and termination ($150) www.accessories4less.com

Similar Products Used:

Owned Infinity overture 1's, DCM series 2 KX-6s. Auditioned extensively PSB 2B 1B, Infinty IL10 and Entra 1(?), Polk RT15i, RT35i, and RT55i, B&W DM302, DM601, and DM602

amazing power handling

Too big for rears?

These rears are amazing. I wanted to stay with Paradigm, and went the mini's over the di-poles.
They are a bit larger, but wow, can they handle everything thrown at them. When watching dVD's, the sound out of the rear is huge. Due to them being put a ways behind seating area, the big sound helps out
Listening is basically for dvd's, music, and watching hockey.
Only issue is that they are a bit big, and don't have rear mounting brakets, but hell, they were meant for mains, not rears. Get some decent wall shelves, put these babies up, and get ready for huge sound.

My system:
Television Sony Kp53v85
Reciever Marantz SR7000
DVD Sony S560D
Mains Paradigm Monitor 5 v2
Center Paradigm Cc 370 v2
Rears Paradigm Mini Monitor v2
sub Paradigm ps1000

If in the NW, they guys at Sound City were amazing, decent price, but service beyond expectations. Great guys to deal with.

Similar Products Used:

sony/cerwin vega

Pricing, value, outstanding characteristics at all levels

none at this price

For $200 US, this is the most amazing audio purchase I have ever made. This sweet speaker set delivers amazing highs, and fantastic, deep bass. Product construction is top notch...Paradigm uses the same titanium tweeters and poly cones in the Monitor series as is does in higher end speakers.

I believe one thing that sets paradigm apart is its butyl rubber. I haven't found a speaker in this price range that uses such a good quality butyl, which I believe makes it's sound much more accurate.

Comparing these to Wharfedale's, JBL's, Cerwin Vega, Energy, and Polk Audio, there was no comparison. Superior product construction, superior sound quality, and the best pricing available make these speakers top notch. Compare these to $1000+ speakers, and you can't tell the difference.

BUY THEM!!! For audio and HT.

I use these with a Sony receiver, Sony CD and DVD, and Sony VHS and Sony TV.

Similar Products Used:

Titans, Cerwin Vega, JBL, Energy, Polk Audio, Sony

Imaging, imaging, imaging
Very detailed sound for the price
Rosenut cabinets look great

Somewhat narrow soundstage

Along with nOrh, Paradigms are the best value for the money that I have heard. Mated with my beloved Outlaw 1050 receiver (another phenomenal buy) the Mini Monitors sing. Listening to Beck’s Midnite Vultures is a revelation. It sounds like Beck's voice is coming directly from the center channel speaker (even though it isn’t on!) while at the same time I hear some very detailed, crisp and discreet music coming from both the left and right channels. Over and over I hear a bunch of stuff I never knew was there. Awesome! I keep popping in CDs so I can hear them again for the first time.

Bottom line: if you prefer imaging over soundstage, choose the Paradigms. If you like a really full soundstage, I highly recommend the nOrh 4.0 (www.nOrh.com). Overall, you can't lose with these speakers.

Similar Products Used:

nOrh 4.0, KEF, Polk Audio, Bose (ugh), Yamaha, JBL