Why Paradigm is becoming one of my favorite hi-fi brands

by Jim Carey • January 13, 2016 • Hi-resolution audio, Speakers, Wireless streaming

Let’s be honest: we are living in a streaming world. Whether it be Pandora, Spotify, Apple Music, or any of the other countless services, consumers are increasingly reaching for their phones or tablets to fire up their favorite tunes. Considering these preferences, what can one do when looking upstream to begin building (or rebuilding) their home audio system?

Let me tell you why Paradigm is quickly becoming one of my favorite brands in the hi-fi market today. Their latest release, the Premium Wireless Series (PW Series), takes a giant step forward in closing the gap between traditional hi-fi and digital music. The PW Series is Paradigm’s entrance in the fastest growing segment of the home audio industry: wireless streaming and multi-zone distribution.

Sure, there are numerous brands to choose from in these categories. You cannot enter an electronics store without tripping over at least 10 wireless streaming devices. The most recognizable brand Sonos (which we proudly carry in our store), has dominated the space since 2002, when they pioneered network solutions for distributed audio & wireless speakers. Denon, the well-loved legacy brand, has successfully launched their Heos line to compete directly with Sonos. Others are sure to follow.

So what makes Paradigm’s PW Series any different? The answer is simple. Firstly, the PW series utilizes the DTS Play-Fi platform. DTS-Play-Fi is a new open source platform which allows the participating brands to be connected on a single unified platform. This is unlike Sonos or Heos, who have their own proprietary platform, leaving you handcuffed to remain within their ‘ecosystem.’ With the PW Series, you can mix and match products from the growing number of those brands which support the platform. The much loved hi-fi brand McIntosh, for example, recently announced the addition of their Play-Fi enabled RS100 Wireless Speaker. Anthem’s new MRX Surround Sound Receivers also support Play-Fi.

The second reason to love the new PW Series is the inclusion of Anthem’s (sister company to Paradigm) infamous Anthem Room Correction…also known as ‘ARC.’ Room correction equipment typically consists of a microphone and computer software designed to measure frequency response and to make changes to loudness, response, and speaker delay with respect to the desired listening position. While Sonos has recently dipped their toes into room correction by adding it to their latest release of the Play 5II speaker (currently the only speaker in their line to offer this), there are a few points of consideration for beginning audiophiles: algorithms used in room correction systems are not all the same, and a decent microphone is imperative to getting quality results. While Sonos relies on the microphone in your smartphone for their first generation room correction system, Paradigm’s PW Series ships with a free dedicated microphone and the room correction software which they have been perfecting since 2007.

The last benefit of the PW Series puts Paradigm in a class all its own. The PW Series is, at the time of writing, the only product in its category to allow streaming or pass through of hi-resolution music. Neither Sonos nor Denon Heos support playback of any files higher than 16 bit/44.1 khz.

If you want to equip your home with great hi-fi audio, but don’t want to sacrifice the convenience and flexibility of digital streaming, I strongly encourage you to take a look at Paradigm’s new suite.

Paradigm’s Premium Wireless Series is currently available in our store (with the exception of the LINK Pre-Amp, which has not yet been released). Stop by and take it for a spin.