Paradigm Introduces Special Edition Collection

Paradigm Electronics Inc., an international leader in speaker design and manufacturing, announces the Special Edition (SE) Series, a limited and unique addition to the Paradigm^® collection. Combining elements from the affordable audiophile-quality Paradigm line and higher-end Paradigm Reference line, the SE series speakers brings a new generation of affordable elegance to the company’s vast offerings.  The SE series features the SE1, a bookshelf speaker, the SE3, a floorstanding model and the SE Center and SE Subwoofer, all outfitted with stylish real wood veneer cabinets. Paradigm Special Edition (SE) speakers, with soft edges, clean lines, state-of-the-art technology, compact dimensions and real wood veneer cabinets are a stepping stone to the world of high-end audio for budget conscious consumers.

Like the award-winning and ever popular Monitor Series, the SE line will boast Paradigm’s SuperDrive^™ technology, which combines very high efficiency with very high output and ultra-low distortion. This results in top-level performance from the Special Edition line regardless of amplification.  The drivers represent a best of breed hybrid mix that includes high frequency drivers from the Paradigm Monitor Series and mineral-filled polypropylene bass/midrange drivers handed down right from the Paradigm Reference Studio Series.  Both the SE 1 bookshelf and SE 3 floorstanding boast the benefits of an aluminum midrange including remarkable clarity, superb extended bass response and elimination of unwanted resonance and distortion.

Aesthetically speaking, the Paradigm SE series presents a system with clean lines, soft edges and general design characteristics seamlessly integrated into the home décor.  With a reasonable footprint, this collection provides real wood veneer finishes for customers seeking sophisticated appearance at a competitive price.

SPECIFICATIONS

SE 1 Bookshelf

• Two-driver 2-way bookshelf/stand-mounted:
• 5-1/2˝ M-ICP^™ mid/bass, 1˝ H-PTD^™ dome
• Estimated $299 MSRP

SE 3 Floorstanding

• Four-driver 2-1/2-way floorstanding:
• Two 5-1/2˝ carbon-infused polypropylene bass,
• 5-1/2˝ M-ICP^™ mid/bass,1˝ H-PTD^™ dome

• Estimated  $699 MSRP

SE Center

• Four-driver 3-way center channel
• Two 5-1/2˝ carbon-infused polypropylene bass,
• 3-1/2˝ M-ICP^™ midrange, 1˝ H-PTD^™ dome
• Estimated $499 MSRP

SE Subwoofer

• Bass Reflex Single Driver Design
  • 10 Driver with CAP™ Carbon / Aramid Fiber Polypropylene Cone
• 900 watts Dynamic Peak / 300 watts RMS Sustained
• Paradigm’s Proprietary Digital Signal Processing (DSP)  Design
• Comprehensive Range of Input and Control Facilities
• USB Port for use with the critically acclaimed Paradigm Perfect Bass Kit (PBK™) Room Correction System
• Estimated $699 MSRP

The SE Series will be available and shipping at the end of September 2009.  Paradigm’s Perfect Bass Kit (PBK) is available as an upgrade and sold separately.

The SE Series will be showcased in the Paradigm booth (3325) in Hall C at CEDIA EXPO 2009 in Atlanta.  Come by and check them out!

Posted by: Ashley / follow me on Twitter

EngadgetHD.com and Paradigm Electronics Offer “Recession Antidote”

Engadget.com is spreading positivity like peanut butter on a Gala apple. The popular technology blog is doing a series of product give-aways to provide readers with a few drops of good fortune as we all weather an endless torrent of pessimistic economic pontification.

While many will enter and only one lucky reader will win, it’s  also nice to see that world-class, industry-leading audio companies are willing to give back, even when the ecomonic crunch is breaking fillings from Manitoba down to Mozambique.

This contest is only available today, March 23rd, so if you want a chance to win, you’ll have to drop a comment by midnight or before. Here’s the link:

Engadget’s recession antidote: win a Paradigm Cinema 70 CT surround system!

Posted by: Nick

In-wall subwoofers, not just for destroying walls anymore

If you’re not reading the editorial cranked out by Brad Grimes and Dan Daley over at DigitalHomeOnline.com, then you care not for pertinent technology issues confronting homebuilders today. One particular article by Mr. Daley is especially illuminating as it deals with a topic that is near and dear to my PR heart.

In his March 2009 article titled, In-Wall Subwoofers: The Final Frontier of Built-In Audio, Mr. Daley states:

“Sustained high sound pressure levels (SPL) in the lowest reproducible low-frequency range, between 20 Hz and 40 Hz, has been shown to literally tear the house down, starting with protruding nail heads and ultimately cracking and tearing drywall. And even at non-destructive SPLs, a subwoofer’s connection to a wall could add unwanted resonances (read: distortion) to the low frequencies. So most of us know the subwoofer as that great-sounding, squat intrusion that annoys dogs and interior decorators alike but makes action movies and the Palladium channel things to look forward to. “

That’s some interesting stuff, I mean who needs a wrecking ball when you have an in-wall subwoofer right, ha? But seriously Dan, it’s great to know this but what’s the relevance to a homebuilder? 

“…subwoofers create another impression: a sense of impermanence, of being in the house but not being part of it, which reduces the potential for builders to benefit from making it part of a home theater of whole-house audio system,” states Mr. Daley. “The flexibility to make subwoofers an in-wall or in-ceiling proposition puts that potential back on the table.”

If I was a homebuilder right now, I’d definitely be looking for ways to differentiate and maybe whole-house audio systems are a good start. The problem now is I don’t know of a trustworthy audio manufacturer who can deliver a solution that is easy to install yet still delivers performance I can put my company’s name behind. If only there were some resource…

“Paradigm’s RVC-12SQ uses a vibration-cancelling technique that allows it to be either wall- or ceiling-mounted. Within its enclosure, two 12-inch oval speakers are directly facing each other and firing in phase, which effectively cancels out wall vibrations,” states Daley.  “The speaker assembly is placed in a high-pressure, die-cast chassis to contain vibrations as SPL is increased. An interesting touch is the pleated, molded thermoplastic ring that suspends the speaker cones, allowing smaller speakers to move further and thus attain lower frequency reaches.”

I definitely learned something today, thanks Dan!

Posted by: Nick

Turn up your Hearing Aid…Audio Matters in Home Theater!

Rarely but sometimes it’s best to let others do the pontificating for you. These times are often called Fridays.

According to DigitalTips.com, My Ultimate Guide to Consumer Electronics (allegedly), “The meteoric rise in flat-panel television sales and the increasing affordability of projection television have brought big-screen HDTV to millions of homes. But many of those households are missing out on the other half of the home theater experience. To complete your home theater systems, you need to complement your investment in video with an investment in audio. Why?.”

I like this article because it is not brand specific and it provides a comprehensive yet concise overview of the options available for building your audio system. Clearly one needs to consider the undeniable leader in audio electronics when considering any purchase but a little unbiased education can’t hurt.

Posted by: Nick

Bad PR Gone Good…

It happens sometimes to assiduous Flaks that your carefully sculpted, brilliantly messaged inquiries or pieces of literature fall before the eyes of an unintended recipient resulting in the ubiquitous, “Please remove me from your email list, I do not cover trends in small-dog winter fashion,” or some such reply.
 
Such an occurrence confronted me during my steadfast International Builder Show (IBS) outreach on behalf of the preeminent brand in loudspeakers worldwide (www.paradigm.com). The offended was a senior editor from a major national consumer magazine who also writes a blog and presented me with a valuable fork in the road.
 
HIM: Please remove me from your email list, as I do not cover electronics. Thank you.
 
One option was to disregard a response, remove him from all lists and go on sending emails while watching street fights on Youtube (haha, jk Boss). Or, I could stand up for myself and try to turn the situation into a positive (and blogpost) by taking the time to see where I went wrong.
 
ME: My apologies (obscured), we’ll make sure you’re removed from our list. For your reference, the Vocus media service has this listed under your profile: (obscured) is a senior editor at (obscured) and covers appliances, do-it-yourself, gardening, home furnishings/housewares, electronics, and technology. He has written five books on consumer topics.

With a feeling of slight exoneration I continued my servitude and was pleasantly surprised a few minutes later to receive the following:
 
HIM: It’s wrong! No wonder I get plagued. Thanks for the heads-up. Here’s something more precise: (obscured) is a senior editor at (obscured) and covers appliances, home improvement and outdoor power equipment. He has written no books on consumer topics.
 
Ha, the homefield advantage has shifted. Once seen as the villain, I now held court over the situation and was actually thanked for offering the enlightenment of our media services’ failure (Don’t worry, I still heart you Vocus). One more exchange and I think our lesson should come full circle:
 
ME: If you don’t tell them to change it, maybe next year you’ll have written 10 books and be interested in water sports and nanotechnology.
 
HIM: Alas, I won’t be going after all—but I was registered, so your info isn’t off-base on that count. But I like those additions.
 
A little extra legwork with a positive attitude can mean the difference between being a good PR person and an indolent blob disseminating information to those who don’t need or want it.
 
- Nick