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New member Username: WbdPost Number: 1 Registered: Jun-05 | I am thinking about buying some Atoms since I need some new speakers and don't want to spend much. Reactions? Any idea where the best place to buy them online is? Many thanks. |
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Silver Member Username: Edster922Abubala, Ababala The Occupation Post Number: 728 Registered: Mar-05 | eBay usually has them going for around $120 a pair I think. what's your max budget? |
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Barnacle Unregistered guest | The only way you can buy Paradigm online is used. Paradigm does not allow its dealers to sell over the net. |
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New member Username: WbdPost Number: 2 Registered: Jun-05 | Thanks, Barnacle and Edster. My max budget is $200. Is there anything else I should be considering in this range? |
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Silver Member Username: Edster922Abubala, Ababala The Occupation Post Number: 753 Registered: Mar-05 | Look at BestBuy for their closeout deals on Athena speakers, you may be able to get the AS-F1s, AS-B1s or AS-B2s in that price range. Do it fast though, not sure if they have any left still. Also the PSB Image 1Bs might be good: http://www.hipposaudiovideo.com/closeout1.htm |
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Gold Member Username: Paul_ohstbucksPost Number: 1109 Registered: Jan-05 | If your budget is only $200, this is my recommendation. http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=6375308&type=product&productCatego ryId=cat03061&id=1077625430768 You'll even have a few dollars in change. |
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Silver Member Username: Edster922Abubala, Ababala The Occupation Post Number: 754 Registered: Mar-05 | http://www.audioadvisor.com/store/mfglisting.asp?hdnMfg=Athena+Technologies&MFGI D=218 The B1s are $180/pr, the B2s are $250/pr. I'd spend the extra $70 on the B2s personally. |
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New member Username: WbdPost Number: 3 Registered: Jun-05 | Thanks, guys. I like the b2s. Question - can they handle a biggish room (16 x 20 feet)? |
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Gold Member Username: Paul_ohstbucksPost Number: 1186 Registered: Jan-05 | no..... How do you expect such small speakers to adequately fill a room that large with sound?? |
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Gold Member Username: Jan_b_vigneDallas, TX Post Number: 4050 Registered: May-04 | You'll have to excuse Paul. He is the resident chowderhead who thinks you judge a system by how much your neighbors house shakes when you play your video system. He considers music a waste of time. So, unless you are similarly brain dead like Paul, the Atoms will probably do OK in that size room. It obviously depends on your taste in music and your preferred volume level. Use this calculator to find out the potential for the Atoms: http://www.myhometheater.homestead.com/splcalculator.html |
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New member Username: WbdPost Number: 4 Registered: Jun-05 | Many thanks, Jan - in fact I need to keep the house from shaking, since it is a condo. Paul - thank you, too! When i get a separate house and want to annoy my neighbor, I will be back in touch. |
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Bronze Member Username: JimvmLouisiana U.S.A. Post Number: 83 Registered: Apr-05 | Good call WBD; if you want advice on how to annoy folks, consult with Paul. He's the world's foremost authority on annoying people -- particularly music loving people who own speakers that have excellent sound and imaging and are not the size of a refrigerator. |
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Silver Member Username: DonaldekellyWashington, DC Usa Post Number: 116 Registered: Jul-04 | Athena B1.2 on amazon for $105 shipped (They said they did not change anything from the B1 to the B1.2). http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0009WRV1A I just got some and have been listening only about 10 minutes so I won't comment much - but they live up to expectations so far. Not as fine as Axioms or Ascends but pretty darn good and money still in my wallet. |
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Silver Member Username: PetergalbraithRimouski, Quebec Canada Post Number: 794 Registered: Feb-04 | particularly music loving people who own speakers that have excellent sound and imaging and are not the size of a refrigerator. Hey watch it! :-) Mine are the size of a refrigerator! |
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Silver Member Username: ArtkAlbany, Oregon USA Post Number: 789 Registered: Feb-05 | Yes, but I'm sure Jimvm knows that yours are classics, which they really are. |
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Silver Member Username: PetergalbraithRimouski, Quebec Canada Post Number: 801 Registered: Feb-04 | :-) I was recommending them to a friend because he has the perfect room for them (size and good corners), but he wife doesn't like speakers at all and these are really big. I told him he could put them in the corners and put a handle on the front wood panel to disguise them as fancy cabinets! :-) |
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Gold Member Username: Jan_b_vigneDallas, TX Post Number: 4097 Registered: May-04 | Amazing! From Paradigm Atoms to Klipschorns all in one thread. How that happen? Oh, I know; it's Paul's fault. |
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Silver Member Username: PetergalbraithRimouski, Quebec Canada Post Number: 804 Registered: Feb-04 | Sorry! I'll take most of the blame! |
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Gold Member Username: Paul_ohstbucksPost Number: 1250 Registered: Jan-05 | Hey c'mon, I hear the Atoms are great, and sound as 'big' as a pair of bookshelf speakers. The perfect choice for any man who lets his spouse wear the pants and make the HiFi buying decisions. |
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Silver Member Username: Virus5877West Lafayette, Indiana USA Post Number: 136 Registered: Apr-05 | You might also want to take a look at the paradigm mini monitors. they're a little more expensive than the atoms, but well worth it!! |
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Silver Member Username: ArtkAlbany, Oregon USA Post Number: 797 Registered: Feb-05 | I've owned the Atoms twice and they represent quite a value. They get very loud for a speaker of their diminutive size and price. They sound very good as well. The Atoms perhaps more than the average member of the Paradigm lineup really do sound as good or bad as the electronics you use with them. With cheap electronics they sound very anemic and like...well....$200 speakers. But with step up electronics this speaker comes alive and sounds much better than a $200 speaker has a right to. Question is; Who wants Paradigm Atoms with step up mid fi electronics? That is a question only the consumer can answer. |
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Gold Member Username: Paul_ohstbucksPost Number: 1266 Registered: Jan-05 | When you say 'better', do you mean like $220 speakers? HEH.....j/k |
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New member Username: WbdPost Number: 5 Registered: Jun-05 | OK, I got the Paraigms, and they sound very good, even with my old Bose amp. Now I need to get a decent amp and CD player - but I am still cheap. Suggestions? Many thanks. |
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Silver Member Username: ArtkAlbany, Oregon USA Post Number: 989 Registered: Feb-05 | NAD C320BEE amp and C521BEE cd player. Inexpensive and very good. |
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Gold Member Username: Edster922Abubala, Ababala The Occupation Post Number: 1045 Registered: Mar-05 | WBD, Go to Harman Audio on eBay, get the best HK receiver you can afford. Their FL3385 cd player should be pretty good too, I haven't heard it myself but it sure looks good on paper---Burr Brown DACs. This is all refurb but you get the full direct HK original warranty...very rare for refurbs. |
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Gold Member Username: Edster922Abubala, Ababala The Occupation Post Number: 1046 Registered: Mar-05 | of course the NAD gear Art recommends would be even better, but depends on your budget. |