I have a pair of the older model Phantoms (large bookshelves) that I picked up new 3 years back for $275. Well, perhaps the single greatest testament that I can make about their quality is the fact that I feel absolutely no compulsion to buy more expensive speakers even now, and I just purchased a powerful NAD 317 integrated amp. I had thought about upgrading, and I stopped by a few dealers and listened to speakers in the $600-700 range, like PSB 600 and 800i's, and they really sounded no better to me. These speakers flat out rock, and for the money, they're absolute jaw-droppers. They do extremely well with virtually every kind of music I've thrown at them over the last few years, from Mozart to Muddy Waters, from Fugazi to Stereolab, and everything in between. They're also great with HT, though I don't really care much about that. I can't say how the floorstanders are, but if you find a cheap used set of the bookshelf models, give them a shot. You'll very likely be impressed. They look pretty nice too (mine are Cherry), though it'd be nice if you could remove the covers. C'est la vie, though, I'll take excellent sound over such trivialites any day!

build quality and performance

can't remove the grilles and the size ( I use them as direct radiating surrounds on stands)

This is the old style with the 8" woofer. I paid $235 for the pair. Used in a Dolby Digital system as rear channel speakers they do a great job. I used them as mains to see what music would be like and I was not impressed. My Eosone 600s sound much fuller with more midrange. The difference could be that the old phantoms are only two ways , and I think the floorstanding Phantoms are three ways

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Infinty

A very clear sounding speaker. Originally I bought these for the front right & left channels of my Home Theater system. However, my system is also capable of playing music CD's in the DVD player and the Phantoms sound just fantastic for all kinds of music, especially vocals. You'd think you were sitting in the middle of the vocal group in the recording studio. Everything is so clear!
They're a bargain! I got new factory "blems" for $150 each from my local dealer.

They are a few inches shorter than they could be since they do stand on they floor.

A terrific buy! Quality speakers at budget prices!

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Rear Left & Right - Paradigm Titans
Front Center - Paradigm CC-170
SubWoofer - Paradigm PS1000
DVD & Receiver - ONKYO DR 90

Pretty good Bass Reproduction, and good treble. There isn't much in the way of midrange, but the woofer and the tweeter blend very well together.

Only two way. and you can't remove the grill. I like to be able to see teh woofers movin' around. The only way I can imagine what they're doing, is if I put my hand near the air port at the back and feel the air rushing out.

I have the two way 8" woofer and tweeter model...The older one. These were the first speakers I bought. I got an incredible deal on them. I got the pair for, like, $225. I think they are great. Right now, I have them placed as my "B" speakers. For my "A" speakers, I have a pair of Paradigm Monitor 9's. I think these two sets pair very well together. The Monitors have a very clean and wide sound, and the Phantoms have a thicker sound, Which makes them good for "B" speakers for me. I have them placed halfway between, my front and surround speakers. When I get enough money, I plan on buying another pair of Monitor 9's and using my Phantoms as my surround speakers paralleled with my SOund Dynamics RTS-800 subwoofer. Over all, I think these are great speakers, especially for the price.

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Pardigm monitor 9
Cerwin-vega 120s

I have owned the Phantoms now for about 3 years and I love them. I use them for music and home theatre. They are a best buy speaker for the price you cannot touch them. I have heard my friends talk about there speakers and how clear they sound and things like that. Then they listen to my Phantoms (which cost about half of what they paid for there Bose & Polk & Infinity and all those so called high end speakers) and they where shocked that these speakers sounded better. Two of my friends sold there speakers and bought the phantoms and have a couple $100 left for music and movies.
I would recomend these speakers to anybody. Just read the reviews that they get from actual audio video magazines. and you will see for your self

FABULOUS sound!!!Crisp treble and surprisingly punchy bass

Hmmmm- other than the non-removable grill?

That's right- I found these for $70 baby!! (It's probably obvious that they are the bookshelf performance series model, not the towers.) I don't think that shop knew what they had! :)
Incredible sound! Took me a while to adjust for the best sound (positioning, tone control, etc) but once I got them right (or more precisely, to my liking) I was amazed. The AR towers I had in my opinion don't even compare. Some would most likely say there is some coloration in the low end of these speakers, but for the price I paid and the sound I am getting all I can say is WOW. I was hesitant at first (probably because of the non-removable grills and spring-loaded terminals, and not being too familiar with Paradigm,) but after reading other reviews on this page I decided to try them. THANKS EVERYONE! BTW, I have these hooked up to a Denon AVR-95 receiver- who knows what they'd sound like off of McIntosh or Theil or Krell or something! 5 stars all around!

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Acoustic Research

I just purchased version 2 of these locally for 300/pair. I was seriously looking into Infinity RS4 and RS5 speakers being that they are on sale at circuit city and Ultimate. I decided to check this local retailer out who used to sell Infinitys and he had me listen to these phantoms. I was impressed and when he told me the price I was sold. It seems strange that the grill does not come off, but they sound excellent. I have an old Yamaha pro logic amp, and haven't tested them out with movies yet, but have listened to a lot of cds and just keep apreciating them more with each cd I play. 5 stars for price/performance combination. You will not be disapointed.

Excellent sound at a truly bargain basement price @ $500 p/r !!! After reading tons of stereo mags and coming to the accepted
conclusion that in order not to be embarassed by my friends
i would have to spend at least $1500 p/r for a so called "decent"
pair , i was stunned to find these "cheap" speakers under the
christmas tree , purchased by my wife .
Dissapointed , i hooked them up as a good husband would and was
very pleasantly surprised ! Spending time with them sold me
and i've grown to love them.
I only wish the front covers would come off , but i guess that
just would mean more bucks .
I would bet they'd do well in a blind test against some pricy stuff.
Try them ! it'l change your mind on how much you really need to spend.

Clear and tight sound...

Grill's don't come off

I picked these up to be my mains in my HT. I am very happy with my purchase after picking them up for $325 locally. I was able to create a Wall of sound easily..I was previously using Rs-4's. They are a great speaker for the money also. However, I was running them with an Energy ctr and couldn't create seamless sound. Took em' back to CC and the Energy back also and applied that money to a full Paradigm HT. Best move I've made!

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Infinity Rs-4, Rs-3, Energy

Covers stay on nice and tight, excellent tops for ashtrays and beer. Clear crisp sound, deadly with classical music!

A little too short.

Despite the good natured responses above, this product is an excellent choice for $275 to $335. Three thumbs up!

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Radio shack V150s, KTell GX-.5s,