The Paradigm speakers are still been made in their HQ outside Toronto (Canada) and these talented loudspeakers are great for both music and home theater use. With more than 30 years of experience and a number of awards been received over the decades, we can be assured that the Paradigm speakers are some of the very finest in the world. But without an equally remarkable receiver to partner with them, the Paradigm loudspeakers would not be able to perform and sound their best.
In order to find the best receivers to pair with the Paradigm speakers, we will need to learn more about them by finding out their sonic characteristics, strengths, and limitations. Once we have required all the necessary data, we can then start preparing a list of the best receivers which you can go for and match with your Paradigm speakers. Let us start by learning more first.
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Sonic Characteristics and Merits of Paradigm Speakers
Throughout the years, Paradigm has been making really nice looking loudspeakers, from their satellites to floor-standing speakers, from the entry-level series to the higher-end models, all of them have that distinct and stylish aesthetic speaker design in them. Even their budget models look good enough and will fit in nicely in most listening rooms. Matching aesthetically with receivers will be a piece of cake and should not be an issue unless the receiver is a vintage model or has a retro design.
More Details at Amazon – Paradigm Monitor SE 3000F Floorstanding Speaker
The Paradigm speakers have quite a similar frequency response range where most of them are considered good. The high-end series/models will be able to dig deeper into the bass extension and can reach higher into the high frequencies region. Their speaker sensitivities on average are usually at a healthy level and rarely have low speaker sensitivity unless we are talking about the Paradigm satellite and smaller bookshelf speakers. Most of the Paradigm loudspeakers have a nominal impedance of 8 Ohms which is great. On average, the recommended amplifier power is pretty high and we should go for receivers that have high power outputs.
We are always impressed with the midbass performance of most Paradigm speakers especially their floor-standers which have that impact and punch. This also makes them ideal for home theater performance as movies tend to be bass-heavy and an HT system that can deliver a satisfying midbass punch can provide an exhilarating home cinematic experience. The subterranean bass region is equally important but most of the Paradigm loudspeakers are unable to hit deep enough into the bass extension and/or are not able to produce them out prominently. This issue can be easily taken care of by adding an active subwoofer into the mix.
The overall sound reproduction is clean and clear, with a high level of clarity where we can hear the details without the need to strain our ears. The Paradigm speakers can be bright sounding but never reach a level of harshness or to a point you will cringe. The latest iterations and models seem to be slightly less lean and bright sounding though. They have a lively presentation of the audio source and have an energetic sonic performance. There is accuracy as well as nicely defined stereo imaging and separations. Some of the larger Paradigm speaker models can project really spacious soundstage and filling it with rich details.
More Details at Amazon – Paradigm Monitor SE 2000C Center Channel Speaker
We understand that the high-end models are able to deliver very deep bass frequencies with prominence but having a subwoofer will be essential especially in a home theater environment. The active subwoofer is able to help remove a huge load off the AV receiver by taking over the bass reproduction role and this will allow the receiver to have more power being focused onto the remaining passive Paradigm speakers. Typically an AV receiver does not have enough power to drive high-end floor-standing speakers. The overall sonic characteristics of the Paradigm speakers are neutral and leaning towards the bright side but we don’t find them to sound overly bright. They have clean and clear sound reproduction with some of the Paradigm loudspeakers having quite a warm midrange delivery. We have gathered enough information and data, we can now finally start listing out the best receivers which you can go for and match them with your Paradigm speakers.
Best Receivers to match with Paradigm Speakers
If you are looking for a stereo receiver, the Marantz NR1200 will be an amazing choice and the power output of 75 Watts per channel into 8 Ohms is enough to drive most Paradigm speakers. It is recommended to connect to 1 or 2 powered subwoofers especially if you are planning to use the NR1200 for home theater usage. It is a 4K 2 channel AV receiver and supports 4K/60Hz 4:4:4 resolution. The sonic characteristics are also suitable for Paradigm speakers as they are warm and have a smooth delivery. The Marantz sound masters have extensively tuned the Marantz NR1200 so to get the most musical sound quality out of the receiver.
More Info at Amazon – Marantz NR1200 AV Receiver | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Heos + Alexa
The Denon AVR-X6700H is one of the very best AV receivers to go for and match with your Paradigm speakers. It is a powerful receiver with a rated power output of 140 Watts into 8 Ohms with 2 channels driven. The Denon AV receiver supports up to 8K and is capable of decoding the latest 3D audio formats, providing you with an unparalleled home cinematic experience with crisp visuals and immersive sound quality. The Denon AVR-X6700H is also a suitable match with the Paradigm speakers as it is neutral with a hint of warmth and has a full-bodied presentation of the audio source.
More Info at Amazon – Denon AVR-X6700H 11.2 Channel AVR
Marantz also has AV receivers that can decode 3D audio formats such as Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, etc., and supports 8K/60Hz and 4K/120Hz video signals. This will be the Marantz SR8015, a powerful 11.2 channel AV receiver with a rated power output of 140 Watts into 8 Ohms with 2 channels driven. It is also expertly tuned by the Marantz sound masters to bring out the musicality of the SR8015. If music performance is more important for you, then Marantz AVRs are the ones for you, and also their warm sonic character helps to slightly ease the brightness of the Paradigm speakers. The bass performance of the Marantz SR8015 is more refined and controlled as well.
More Info at Amazon – Marantz SR8015 11.2 AV Receiver
The Yamaha RX-A6A will be one of the best receivers to go for if you prefer a clean and bright-sounding HT system. The RX-A6A is capable of delivering a detailed presentation of the sources with accuracy and transparency. The very deep bass performance of the Yamaha receiver is impactful and prominent which complements the Paradigm speakers well. The Paradigm speakers in return will provide a weightier midbass reproduction. With this pairing, it might be too bright for some listeners and we suggest hearing them out first before making a decision. For listeners who also want a more faithful presentation of their music and movie sources, the Yamaha receivers will be an ideal choice.
Getting external power amplifiers may be a better choice as this enables your HT system to be able to drive the most demanding Paradigm speakers but you will need to make sure your receiver has the Pre-outs to connect to a power amp. One of the popular brands that audiophiles and HT enthusiasts will go for will be Emotiva. It is a reputable brand with modestly priced high-performance power amplifiers. You can check out the Emotiva XPA-3 3-channel power amplifier which is superb for driving the front mains of your HT system. With 275 Watts per channel into 8 Ohms (all channels driven), the Emotiva XPA-3 can efficiently drive three Paradigm speakers simultaneously.
More Info at Amazon – Emotiva Audio XPA3 3-Channel Amplifier
For subwoofers, you can choose to stick with Paradigm active subs based on matching series. Integrating a subwoofer that is the same brand and series as your speakers will provide you with a more cohesive sonic performance since they will most likely be sharing very similar sound signatures. Or you can go with brands that specialize in making high-quality subwoofers. One such brand will be SVS and it is well-received by audiophiles all over the world. You can start with SVS PB-1000 Pro but if you have a large home theater room, you might want to check out their bigger and more powerful subwoofer models like the SVS PB-3000 which is a 13″ ported subwoofer with up to 2500W of Peak power.
More Info at Amazon – SVS PB-1000 Pro Ported Sub (Black Ash)
More Info at Amazon – SVS PB-3000 (Black Ash)
To Sum It Up
These are some of the best receivers that will match well with most Paradigm speakers due to their competency and sonic characteristics. You can also choose to go for power amplifiers instead, some AVR brands have their own power amp models and you might want to check them out too. No matter which AV receiver or power amp you choose, it is recommended to have a listen first and see if you like their sound quality. Do include the powered subwoofers you are interested in during the audition so to give you a more accurate result.
