The Studio 100 is one of Paradigm’s top-performing floor-standing speakers and has been improved over the years with its latest iteration at V.5. The modest price point of the Paradigm Studio 100 is strategically been implemented so as to compete with other loudspeakers which cost more than them. To really know how well these floor-standers can compete, we will need to pair them with matching amps that can make the Paradigm Studio 100 sound their best.
By studying and learning more about the Studio 100s sonic characteristics, we can then choose the right amps which we can confidently match with these loudspeakers. Once we have gathered enough data about the Paradigm Studio 100, we will also be planning to share with you a list of the best matching amps to go for.
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Sonic Characteristics and Merits of Paradigm Studio 100
The visual design and components have been changed or upgraded over the past decades, the latest version looks like an absolute beast with a total of 5 drivers with quite a large front-firing bass port. It would be wise to give the Paradigm Studio 100 floor-standing speakers enough breathing space with ample distance away from the rear walls. As mentioned earlier, there are 5 speaker drivers where the 1″ (25mm) G-PAL dome tweeter sits right at the top, followed by a 7″ (178mm) S-PAL mid/bass cone and three 7″ (178mm) mineral-filled polypropylene cones.
With this number of speaker drivers, it is not surprised that the Paradigm Studio 100 can produce a frequency response of 45Hz-22kHz (+/-2dB) which to be honest, we did expect them to dig a little deeper into the bass extension. The speaker sensitivity of 89dB is good though, and along with the nominal impedance of 8 Ohms do indicate that the Paradigm Studio 100 is quite easy to drive. When we look at the wide recommended amplifier power range of 15-350W, this does show a slight indication that the Studio 100 will scale well with power, and probably high-quality amps with more than 100W per channel will suffice.
More Details at Amazon – Paradigm Studio 100 V.5 Floor Standing Speaker Each
The soundstage projected by the Paradigm Studio 100 floor-standers is large and spacious, with a nice depth to it as well. The stage goes beyond the speakers and with the amazing stereo imaging, the speakers simply disappear and are only left with the highly defined musicians performing their hearts out. The wide soundstage is also filled with rich music details and the intricacies of the instruments further hooks you into the sonic performance as our ears are picking up plenty of subtleties. The level of clarity is incredible, the Paradigm Studio 100 speakers are capable of delivering clear-sounding music presentations.
The bass performance of the Paradigm Studio 100 is remarkable as it is punchy and tightly delivered. The low ends are full-bodied as well but we do feel that the bass is slightly lacking in definition and also not deep enough to reach subterranean bass level. Still, it is powerful and adds weight to the overall sound reproduction. The highs are crisp and clear, the midrange is expressive and has a hint of warmth to it. The Studio 100 floor-standers are quite bright-sounding and have a lively music delivery. When cranking up the volume, the treble can be a bit overly bright for some listeners though.
These are pretty refined speakers, it is on the thin and bright side of the spectrum where they can easily deliver smooth and clean sound reproduction. The lack of warmth can be a bummer for listeners who are used to warm-sounding systems. The bass reproduction of the Paradigm Studio 100 is sufficient for most music genres in a stereo setup but if you want to use these floor-standers in a home theater environment, it is wise to integrate an active subwoofer into the mix. We have gotten enough data and now we can start sharing with you the list of the best amps which you can go for and pair with your Paradigm Studio 100 loudspeakers.
Paradigm Studio 100 Specifications
- Speaker Type: 3-Way (Front-Firing Bass Port)
- Drive Units: 1″ (25mm) G-PAL dome tweeter, 7″ (178mm) S-PAL mid/bass cone, 3x 7″ (178mm) mineral-filled polypropylene cones
- Frequency Response (+/-2dB): 45Hz-22kHz
- Recommended Amplifier Power: 15W-350W
- Impedance: 8 Ohms
- Sensitivity: 89dB
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1121mm × 241mm × 432mm | 44.1″ × 9.5″ × 17″
- Weight: 35.4kg (78lbs)
Best Amps to match with Paradigm Studio 100
The Peachtree Audio Nova300 is one of the most powerful integrated amps in its price range, it has a rated power output of 300 Watts per channel into 8 Ohms and goes up to 450 WPC into 4 Ohms. This enables the Nova300 amp to make the Paradigm Studio 100 speakers sing. The ultra-low background noise of the integrated amplifier allows us to fully focus on our favorite tunes without any distractions. The refinement and finesse of the Peachtree Audio Nova300 are amazing too, delivering a fluid music presentation with smooth sound reproduction without adding bright sounding characteristics to the overall music delivery.
More Details at Amazon – Peachtree Audio Nova300 with DAC (Piano Black)
The Parasound Halo Hint 6 is one of the best amps to match with your Paradigm Studio 100 floor-standing speakers. It is a muscular amp that has an output of 180W per channel into 8 Ohms (45 amps peak current) and with 40,000uF power capacitance, the Hint 6 is able to drive the Paradigm speakers with ease. The sonic characteristics of the Parasound Halo Hint 6 will help to provide a fuller-sounding music presentation and adds musical warmth for more pleasing sound quality. It is a terrific match with the Paradigm Studio 100 speakers as both of them could produce powerful and large-scale sound reproduction.
More Details at Amazon – Parasound HINT 6 Halo (Silver)
The Marantz PM-KI Ruby is an integrated amp that is masterfully tuned by the Marantz team of sound masters so that to achieve the best possible sound quality which you can get from the PM-KI Ruby. For turntable users, you will be delighted to know that the Marantz PM-KI Ruby comes with a Musical Premium Phono EQ stage. The sweet and warm sound characteristic of the amp is very suitable to ease the bright-sounding character of the Paradigm Studio 100 speakers without compromising the details and accuracy. The power output of 200W per channel into 4 Ohms, makes the Marantz PM-KI Ruby capable of driving the Paradigm Studio 100 efficiently.
More Details at Amazon – Marantz PM-KI Ruby Amp
The Cambridge Audio Azur 851A is another excellent integrated amp to go for and it has quite similar sonic characteristics with the Paradigm Studio 100 floor-standers. The Azur 851A has a polished background which enables it to deliver a clean and clear sound quality, with an exceptional level of transparency. The bass performance of the amplifier is punchy and has weight which complements the Studio 100s well. The lively music presentation of the Cambridge Audio Azur 851A is also engaging to listen to but when paired with the Paradigm Studio 100, the overall sound reproduction can be overly bright for some listeners so do hear them out first.
More Details at Amazon – Cambridge Audio Azur 851A Class XD Amplifier – Silver
When it comes to home theater systems, the Denon AVR-X6700H is one of the best AV receivers to go for and partner with Paradigm Studio 100. It is an AVR that can deliver beautiful and crisp visuals thanks to its advanced video processing capabilities (8K/60Hz and 4K/120Hz pass-through). As an 11.2 channel AV receiver, the Denon AVR-X6700H can decode the latest 3D audio formats such as Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, IMAX Enhanced, and more. The neutral sound quality and full-bodied midrange reproduction of the Denon AVR make it a suitable match with the Paradigm Studio 100. You can also use Audyssey to further optimize the speakers to let them sound their best in your listening room.
More Details at Amazon – Denon AVR-X6700H 8K 11.2 Channel AV Receiver
Usually, an AV receiver would not have enough power to truly drive the Paradigm Studio 100 floor-standing speakers especially if it needs to drive other connected speakers simultaneously. If your AVR has Pre-outs to connect to external power amplifiers then it could solve the power issue without you spending too much. There are loads of high-performance power amps out on the market and one of the popular brands will be Emotiva. It has a wide range of power amps to choose from and all of them are sanely priced. Their entry-level power amplifiers are well-received and affordably priced, you might want to start with Emotiva’s BasX A2 stereo power amplifier.
To Conclude
Adding an active subwoofer into the system will help ease the strain on your AVR by taking over the bass reproduction role and also supplementing the bass performance of the Paradigm Studio 100 speakers as they do lack when it comes to delivering very deep bass frequencies. The amps listed here are definitely worth your time to check them out and do audition the amplifiers first before making a decision on whether if you will be getting it to partner with your Paradigm Studio 100 floor-standing speakers.
