Paradigm Atoms?

New member

Username: Wbd

Post Number: 1
Registered: Jun-05

Posted on Tuesday, June 07, 2005 - 06:22 pm:

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.

Silver Member

Username: Edster922

Abubala, Ababala
The Occupation

Post Number: 728
Registered: Mar-05

Posted on Tuesday, June 07, 2005 - 07:56 pm:

eBay usually has them going for around $120 a pair I think.

what's your max budget?

Barnacle

Unregistered guest

Posted on Tuesday, June 07, 2005 - 11:04 pm:

The only way you can buy Paradigm online is used. Paradigm does not allow its dealers to sell over the net.

New member

Username: Wbd

Post Number: 2
Registered: Jun-05

Posted on Wednesday, June 08, 2005 - 12:23 pm:

Thanks, Barnacle and Edster. My max budget is $200. Is there anything else I should be considering in this range?

Silver Member

Username: Edster922

Abubala, Ababala
The Occupation

Post Number: 753
Registered: Mar-05

Posted on Wednesday, June 08, 2005 - 12:41 pm:

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

Gold Member

Username: Paul_ohstbucks

Post Number: 1109
Registered: Jan-05

Posted on Wednesday, June 08, 2005 - 12:47 pm:

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.

Silver Member

Username: Edster922

Abubala, Ababala
The Occupation

Post Number: 754
Registered: Mar-05

Posted on Wednesday, June 08, 2005 - 12:52 pm:

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.

New member

Username: Wbd

Post Number: 3
Registered: Jun-05

Posted on Monday, June 13, 2005 - 05:21 pm:

Thanks, guys. I like the b2s. Question - can they handle a biggish room (16 x 20 feet)?

Gold Member

Username: Paul_ohstbucks

Post Number: 1186
Registered: Jan-05

Posted on Monday, June 13, 2005 - 06:15 pm:

no.....

How do you expect such small speakers to adequately fill a room that large with sound??

Jan Vigne

Gold Member

Username: Jan_b_vigne

Dallas, TX

Post Number: 4050
Registered: May-04

Posted on Tuesday, June 14, 2005 - 09:17 am:

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

New member

Username: Wbd

Post Number: 4
Registered: Jun-05

Posted on Tuesday, June 14, 2005 - 09:21 am:

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.

Jimvm

Bronze Member

Username: Jimvm

Louisiana
U.S.A.

Post Number: 83
Registered: Apr-05

Posted on Tuesday, June 14, 2005 - 11:20 am:

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.

Don Kelly

Silver Member

Username: Donaldekelly

Washington, DC
Usa

Post Number: 116
Registered: Jul-04

Posted on Thursday, June 16, 2005 - 11:06 pm:

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/qid=1118896191/sr=8-2/r ef=sr_8_xs_ap_i2_xgl23/102-2408694-7528921?v=glance&s=electronics&n=507846

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.

Peter Galbraith

Silver Member

Username: Petergalbraith

Rimouski, Quebec
Canada

Post Number: 794
Registered: Feb-04

Posted on Friday, June 17, 2005 - 09:35 am:

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!

Art Kyle

Silver Member

Username: Artk

Albany, Oregon
USA

Post Number: 789
Registered: Feb-05

Posted on Friday, June 17, 2005 - 09:47 am:

Yes, but I'm sure Jimvm knows that yours are classics, which they really are.

Peter Galbraith

Silver Member

Username: Petergalbraith

Rimouski, Quebec
Canada

Post Number: 801
Registered: Feb-04

Posted on Friday, June 17, 2005 - 10:54 am:

:-)

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! :-)

Jan Vigne

Gold Member

Username: Jan_b_vigne

Dallas, TX

Post Number: 4097
Registered: May-04

Posted on Friday, June 17, 2005 - 11:33 am:

Amazing! From Paradigm Atoms to Klipschorns all in one thread. How that happen? Oh, I know; it's Paul's fault.

Peter Galbraith

Silver Member

Username: Petergalbraith

Rimouski, Quebec
Canada

Post Number: 804
Registered: Feb-04

Posted on Friday, June 17, 2005 - 11:54 am:

Sorry! I'll take most of the blame!

Gold Member

Username: Paul_ohstbucks

Post Number: 1250
Registered: Jan-05

Posted on Friday, June 17, 2005 - 04:32 pm:

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.

Cyrus

Silver Member

Username: Virus5877

West Lafayette, Indiana
USA

Post Number: 136
Registered: Apr-05

Posted on Friday, June 17, 2005 - 04:34 pm:

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!!

Art Kyle

Silver Member

Username: Artk

Albany, Oregon
USA

Post Number: 797
Registered: Feb-05

Posted on Friday, June 17, 2005 - 05:41 pm:

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.

Gold Member

Username: Paul_ohstbucks

Post Number: 1266
Registered: Jan-05

Posted on Saturday, June 18, 2005 - 02:49 am:

When you say 'better', do you mean like $220 speakers?

HEH.....j/k

New member

Username: Wbd

Post Number: 5
Registered: Jun-05

Posted on Wednesday, June 29, 2005 - 07:10 am:

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.

Art Kyle

Silver Member

Username: Artk

Albany, Oregon
USA

Post Number: 989
Registered: Feb-05

Posted on Wednesday, June 29, 2005 - 08:11 am:

NAD C320BEE amp and C521BEE cd player. Inexpensive and very good.

Gold Member

Username: Edster922

Abubala, Ababala
The Occupation

Post Number: 1045
Registered: Mar-05

Posted on Wednesday, June 29, 2005 - 10:02 am:

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.