The Paradigm Studio 60 is the smaller floor-standing speaker of this series and has undergone improvements over the years which the latest iteration will be V.5. They are a talented pair of floor-standing speakers which provide high sound quality at a modest price. If you are looking for a matching amp to partner with your Paradigm Studio 60 loudspeakers then look no further as we will be working on a list of the best amps which you can go for.
We will be sharing with you a list of the best amps to get and pair up with your Paradigm Studio 60 floor-standing speakers. Right after we have learned more about them, as with further understanding and knowledge of their sonic prowess and characteristics, we can then choose the right amplifiers that can match the Paradigm Studio 60.
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Sonic Characteristics and Limitations of Paradigm Studio 60
The Paradigm Studio 60 looks like high-end floor-standing speakers with their elegant and premium aesthetics even though they are modestly priced. This is a pair of floor-standers we won’t mind showing off to our guests and will look great in most modern home interiors. Taking off the stylish speaker grille, you will notice four speaker drivers and a front-firing bass port. The 1″ (25mm) G-PAL dome tweeter is located at the top with the 5.5″ (140mm) S-PAL mid/bass cone driver right below it and followed by two 5.5″ (140mm) mineral-filled polypropylene cones (LF). Even with the bass port located at the front of the speaker cabinet, the Paradigm Studio 60 will still need about 30″ (75cm) distance away from walls. You can probably place them nearer to the rear walls though.
The Paradigm Studio 60 has a frequency response of 45Hz-22kHz (+/-2dB) which is good for a floor-standing speaker of this size. The speaker sensitivity is rated at 89dB (Anechoic) and the impedance is compatible with 8 Ohms. The recommended amplifier power range starts from 15W to 220W, it is quite wide. With these specs alone, we can tell the Paradigm Studio 60 is quite easy to drive but will still need high-powered amps in order for them to sound their absolute best.
Our initial impression of the Paradigm Studio 60 floor-standing speakers is how clean they sound and with such a high level of clarity. The details are clearly audible, not to mention, the stereo separation is defined and distinct. The overall tonality is quite balanced, the highs of the v.5 are not as excitable as its predecessors as it doesn’t sound hard or harsh when driven to high volume levels which is great. The sonic characteristics of the Paradigm Studio 60 speakers are forward-sounding and lively, if you are looking for laid-back music delivery, you might need to change to another pair of speakers.
The bass reproduction is balanced and taut, the midbass has weight and has enough impact which makes the Paradigm Studio 60 ideal as front mains in a home theater setup. The overall bass performance is agile as well and does not overstay its welcome. As for the very deep bass region, you will need to integrate a subwoofer to supplement the bass performance below 40/60Hz. For music performance, the Paradigm Studio 60 is sufficient enough to avoid relying on a subwoofer for most genres of music. The vocals for both male and female singers sounded natural too.
The overall sound reproduction of the Paradigm Studio 60 speakers is neutral with slightly excitable treble and the midrange can be quite warm due to the midbass prowess. The music presentation is clean and clear, not to mention, the stereo imaging is accurate with nice definition. The Studio 60 is a transparent speaker which may sound bright depending on the music or amps been used but will never reach a level of cringe. The latest V.5 does live up to its predecessors’ reputation. We have gathered enough information about the Paradigm Studio 60 and we will start to list the best amps to go for which we can pair with these remarkable floor-standers.
Paradigm Studio 60 Specifications
- Speaker Type: 2.5-Way (Front-Firing Bass Port)
- Drive Units: 1″ (25mm) G-PAL dome tweeter, 5.5″ (140mm) S-PAL mid/bass cone, 2x 5.5″ (140mm) mineral-filled polypropylene cones
- Frequency Response (+/-2dB): 45Hz-22kHz
- Recommended Amplifier Power: 15W-220W
- Impedance: 8 Ohms
- Sensitivity: 89dB
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1019mm × 200mm × 302mm | 40.1″ × 7.9″ × 11.9″
- Weight: 22.7kg (50lbs)
Best Amps to match with Paradigm Studio 60
The Parasound NewClassic 200 Integrated is one of the best amps to pair with your Paradigm Studio 60. With a power output of up to 125W per channel into 8/4 Ohms, the NewClassic 200 Integrated has sufficient power to drive the Studio 60 floor-standers efficiently. This integrated amplifier uses Class D amplification designed by Pascal. It has highly defined stereo imaging and can deliver sophisticated music passage cohesively without sounding muddle which complements the Paradigm Studio 60 speakers. The amplifier’s neutral with a tad of warmth sound quality also makes it suitable to pair with these floor-standers.
More Info at Amazon – Parasound NewClassic 200 Integrated Amplifier
The Rotel RA-1572 MKII will be another amazing amp to partner up with the Paradigm Studio 60 loudspeakers, it is a powerful integrated amp with a power output of up to 200W per channel (4 Ohms). The smooth high-frequency reproduction of the RA-1572 MKII is pleasing and clear without adding more brightness. The sonic characteristics of the Rotel amp are neutral with a touch of warmth, it also has a fuller and weightier sound quality that complements the Paradigm Studio 60 speakers and will be excellent for listeners who are in search of a more laid-back music presentation.
For a more exciting music presentation, the Rega Elicit-R is an ideal amp to go for. It is a highly rated integrated amplifier that has garnered plenty of awards and praise ever since its debut, due to its exceptional and energetic sonic performance. The Rega Elicit-R also possesses incredible music timing which confidently paces through the music and brings out the emotion for a captivating listening experience. It has more than enough power to drive your Paradigm Studio 60 floor-standing speakers and should not sound overly bright but it is recommended to have a listen first.
More Info at Amazon – Rega Elicit-R – Integrated Amp
Going for HiFi separates such as a pre/power amp combo can be an excellent choice and we would suggest going with the Parasound NewClassic series as their amplifiers are solid performers and also modestly priced. For the preamp section, you can go with the NewClassic 200 Pre, it is a stereo preamplifier with a Burr-Brown 192kHz/24-bit D/A converter built into it. There are also more features such as Bypass input, Dedicated Subwoofer output (80Hz), etc. For the power amp, you should go with the matching NewClassic 2125 v.2, a THX Ultra2 certified stereo power amplifier with a rated power output of 150 Watts per channel into 8 Ohms (Class AB), so to drive the Paradigm Studio 60 speakers with ease.
More Info at Amazon – Parasound NewClassic 200 Pre Preamp
More Info at Amazon – Parasound 2125v2 Stereo Power Amp
Another brand of Class AB power amplifiers to go for which are modestly priced and do not compromise the sound quality will be Emotiva. You can start with the BasX A2 stereo amplifier which is Emotiva’s entry-level 2 channel power amp. For a higher-end model, you might want to check out Emotiva XPA-2 2 Channel Audiophile power amp. If you prefer high-quality Class D amplifiers then perhaps the Wyred 4 Sound will be the ideal choice for you. One of their most popular mono-block amp, the mAMP, uses the latest generation of ICEpower technology which provides higher sound quality than your average Class D amps.
More Info at Amazon – Emotiva Audio XPA2 Stereo Amp
There are other brands of integrated amplifiers which are worth your time and effort to check out. For amps with warm-sounding characteristics, Marantz will be an exemplary choice and the Marantz PM8006 will be a good start. For neutral-sounding amps, you can take a look at NAD which designs and make one of the best digital amplifiers out on the market. For livelier music presentations, Cambridge Audio amps will be the one to go for and their award-winning CXA81 is a fantastic amp to begin with. The pairing of Cambridge Audio amps with the Paradigm Studio 60 speakers can be a bit too bright-sounding for some listeners.
More Info at Amazon – Marantz PM8006 Integrated Amp with Phono-EQ for Vinyl Playback
More Info at Amazon – Cambridge Audio CXA81 Stereo Amp with Bluetooth and Built-in DAC (Lunar Grey)
To Sum It Up
You should go through the list of amps shown here and see which one of them suits your requirements the most. You can pick more than one amp and arrange an audition to hear them out. If possible, do a side-by-side comparison during the amplifier audition so that you can detect the difference in sound quality a lot easier. Using your favorite song will help a lot as well as you can notice any improvements in terms of the music delivery and presentation when compared to your old sound system.
