Paradigm SE series, Owner'S Manual

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Paradigm ® Special Edition speakers are designed to provide exceptional sound
in a wide variety of domestic settings. However, it is important to note that
listening room construction, dimensions and furnishings all play a part in
the quality of sound you will ultimately achieve. Your listening room will
impose its own character on the performance capabilities of any speaker
system. The extra care you take in correctly positioning the speakers will
result in greater listening enjoyment. Keep the following guidelines in mind
when deciding on the best speaker placement:
• Mid and high frequencies are affected by the amount of soft furnishings
in your room—curtains, carpets, sofas, wall coverings, etc. An excess of
such items can result in a somewhat dull sound. The same room without
any soft furnishings can produce an overall bright sound. The typical
quantity of soft furnishings found in most living environments provides the
right acoustic characteristics to allow the speakers to sound balanced;
• Concrete floors and walls tend to aggravate low-frequency standing wave
problems and are less preferred;
• Rooms where height, width and length are similar should be avoided as
they can exhibit significant low-frequency standing wave problems. This
may result in reduced clarity. If no other room is possible, experiment with
speaker placement to minimize acoustic problems.
Even when your subwoofer is perfectly positioned, the room can still have
a dramatic impact on performance. The critically acclaimed
Paradigm
Perfect Bass Kit
™
(PBK) room correction system (sold separately, see
dealer) is a wonderful tool to help you achieve optimal bass in your room.
Additional details on the PBK can be found on page 14.
ROOM ACOUSTICS
SPEAKER PLACEMENT
Paradigm ® Special Edition front speakers are designed to allow flexible
placement while providing a very large window of sound throughout your
listening room. To ensure the best performance possible, we strongly recom-
mend you observe the following placement guidelines:
Accurate Timbre (Fig. 3)
For the most accurate and natural timbre, place front speakers so that their
high-frequency drivers are approximately at ear level.
As mentioned earlier, placing Paradigm ® Special Edition (SE 1) bookshelf
models on Paradigm ® speaker stands (sold separately) or bookshelves raises
their high-frequency drivers to approximately ear level, ensuring the best
performance possible.
Balanced Bass Performance (Figs. 4a, 4b)
Placing front speakers in corners will over-emphasize bass and reduce overall
clarity. Avoid corner placement (Fig. 4a). Position front speakers 8 in (20 cm)
or more from the wall behind the speaker and as much as possible from either
side wall, as shown in Fig. 4b. This will ensure better bass performance and
optimal midrange clarity.
Optimal Imaging (Fig. 5)
Measure the distance from your main listening area to the front speakers
(“X”). For optimal imaging, place speakers from three-quarters of that
distance up to that same distance from each other (3/4 of “X” to “X”). To
further optimize imaging, turn speakers slightly inward so they point
toward the listening position with their axes crossing just behind it.
On-Wall Mounting
(not shown)
Follow the directions for placement given under “Optimal Imaging” above, and
use the mounting instructions provided with your Paradigm
® MB-60 on-wall
mounting brackets (sold separately, see dealer) to safely and securely mount
your speakers on the wall.
REMINDER: Before wall-mounting, read the Caution Note provided on
page 10 of this manual.
FRONT SPEAKERS
The Paradigm ® Special Edition (SE Center) center channel is designed to cover
a large, wide listening area, allowing listeners throughout the room to hear
center-channel information with unprecedented clarity and intelligibility.
Placing your center-channel speaker above the TV will ensure the best
possible clarity and intelligibility. Position the speaker flush with the front
of the TV or speaker shelf to minimize unwanted sound reflections. Make
sure the center-channel speaker is approximately the same distance away
from the primary listening position as your front speakers. (Some A/V receivers
and processors can electronically adjust for differences in distance.)
Surround/rear speakers reproduce the ambience and sound effects critical
to the full dimension of multichannel music and movies. The Special Edition
(S1) bookshelf model is ideal for use as a surround/rear speaker.
Refer to Fig. 7 in the pictorial guide to placement at the front of this manual
for correct positioning of surround/rear speakers.
NOTE: The S1's are direct-radiating speakers, for optimal surround-sound
performance keep them well away from the listening area.
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CENTER-CHANNEL (Fig. 6) SURROUND/REAR SPEAKERS (Fig. 7)