Paradigm Electronics is a rather well-known audio speaker manufacturer for over 30 years. They recently announced the availability of 3 models of the Premium Wireless Series in Singapore, and invited me to a private launch event.
The PW 600 (RRP: S$1199) is a compact speaker driven by Anthem Class-D amplifier, with 2x 1-inch 25mm tweeters and 1x 5-inch 127mm woofer. The PW 800 (RRP: S$1499) is a table speaker with 2x 1-inch 25mm tweeters and 2x 5-inch 127mm woofers. The PW AMP (RRP: S$999) is a compact amplifier capable of powering non-powered speakers up to 200W per channel. There are connectors for L-R speaker terminals, analog RCA, Ethernet, USB for firmware updates.
The PW series are capable of multi-room sync, multi-streams from diferent sources, multi-zone streaming from a single device, left-right speaker pairing for better stereo imaging. They support Network Access Storage (NAS) drives.
The Paradigm PW series is unique compared to other compact speakers in the market:
- DTS Play-Fi. This new technology streams high-resolution music wirelessly up to 24-bit 192kHz over Wi-Fi network to any number of connected speakers that utilise DTS Play-Fi technology once paired with the Play-I app. This is an open platform, so you can use with other non-Paradigm brands.
- Anthem Room Correction (ARC). This technology calibrates the speaker to optimise its audio performance in your listening environment. It is achieved using a microphone provided in the retail package, and requires a Windows-OS computer to conduct the calibration. The end result is listening experience matching the ideal lab standard engineered for the speakers. Other brands may have some form of calibration tool but none as accurate as the ARC technology.
As a result of these technology, Paradigm PW series products work easily with any wireless audio source over Wi-Fi. Android, iOS, Kindle, PC. On any software apps that use DTS Play-Fi drivers. With Wi-Fi, you can control music anywhere around the home network.
From the brief listen at the event held at Fullerton Hotel suite, the audio is powerful, the treble delivers good clear details, the bass is sufficient. The speakers do not exaggerate the lows, so consumers who love the deep impact may not get the satisfaction. However, the PW series speakers come with sub-out, an uncommon feature, to satisfy your deepest needs (pun intended).
At the same event, Anthem Electronics also announced the availability of third generation MRX series of high-end multi-channel audio-visual (AV) receivers. MRX 520 (RRP: S$2550) supports 5.1-channel processing, MRX 720 (RRP: S$4400) supports 7 channels of amplification (7.1, 5.1.2), and MRX 1120 (RRP: S$5500) supports 11 channels of amplification (11.1, 7.1.4). It is possible to stream file formats up to 24-bit 192kHz from online music streaming services like Tidal, Spotify, Rdio, Songza, Pandora, SiriusXM, Rhapsody and more. The 2 higher-end models support DTS Play-Fi, Dolby Atmos, DTS:X decoding.
A small amplifier like this can drive 200W per channel!
Hwee Seng Electronics is the authorised distributor for Paradigm and Anthem products in Singapore.
Hwee Seng Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/hweesengelectronics/
Official Paradigm Wireless website: http://www.paradigm.com/wireless/
Official Anthem MRX website: http://www.anthemav.com/products-current/series=mrx-series-gen3
