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REVIEW: GR Research Paradox 1 Speakers

204.60.25.77


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Model: Paradox 1
Category: Speakers
Suggested Retail Price: $450 pair / Kit Form
Description: 2 Way Standmounted
Manufacturer URL: Not Available
Manufacturer URL: Not Available

Review by AdamC on December 16, 2001 at 06:09:56
IP Address: 204.60.25.77
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for the Paradox 1


This is a LONG Review, but I hope all the details help.....
Manufacturer: GR Research
Model: Paradox 1
Type: Two way DIY speaker kit, rear ported
Description: Focal TXD90 tweeter, 6-inch proprietary woofer. Unfinished Oak enclosures. Crossover- AXON capacitors, Alpha-Core inductors.
Options: Blackhole5 enclosure damping material
Cost: $494 delivered to Connecticut via UPS

System description-(Secondary)
SCOTT LK-72 (Tube) Integrated Amp 32 wpc Electro-Harmonix 7591A
SONY ES-303X cd player
JBL L100
Cheap Monster cable I.C.s and speaker wire

System description-(Primary)
Rogue Tempest (Tube) Integrated Amp, JJ Brand KT88 30wpc triode mode
NOHR CD1 player with nos 5751 finals
JBL HP520
REL Strata III sub woofer
DH Labs Q10 speaker wire
DH Labs Air Matrix I.C.
Harmon Kardon Citation 14 Tuner
Osiris 24 inch stands


Opening Statement: I acquired these under the recommendations of AA inmates. The Paradox1 was an enjoyable Quality kit to assemble. I finished my enclosures with plain tung oil as shown on the GR website. These are voiced for tubes and were used (with tubes) in both my primary and secondary systems with very good and satisfying results.

General sound description: These are monitors-clean, crisp, and detailed from high to low, appearing to be neutral not adding any additional color to the music nor any noticeable frequency peaks. Seamless crossover with a great deal of feel for the road with good recordings, doesn't handle poor recordings with kid gloves. The Focal tweeter provides lively accurate reproduction and the GR 130 woofer has very good bass extension for a 6 inch driver. It is not a full range but has great lower end resolution for a monitor, and mates well with the REL Strata III sub woofer.

The Paradox 1 with:
Female / Male voices: Very good with the higher range voices-Soprano and Tenor. Diana Krall and Patricia Barber sound good, but missing the lower extension and depth of their voices. Very listen able, not in any way 'nasal' but still missing something. Higher register voices are better reproduced. Madonna and Nancy Griffith for example.
Percussion: Cymbals, chimes, triangles are outstanding. Kick drums good for a small speaker.
Brass: These are potent with all types of brass, from blazing horns to slide trombone. Strings: Acoustic bass is acceptable, Cello good (for small speaker), violins well defined. Pizzicato sounds like Pizzicato.
Woodwinds: Wailing Saxes, clarinets, oboe are great, but bassoon is a little thin due to speaker size.

CDs that (imo) make the Paradox 1s shine-

- Reference Recordings 'Big Band Basie' Lots of jazz, brass, woodwinds and percussion. Wood blocks come out as "TOC" not "TIC".
- Lorin Maazel Bizet's 'CARMEN' Erato records. Soprano and Tenor vocals, orchestral music. Julia Migenes Johnson and Placido Domingo excel.
- Madonna 'Evita' soundtrack. Madonna and Antonio Banderas sound their 'best' :-)
- Leo Kottke 'Standing in my shoes' Sonic details of fingers sliding on the steel guitar strings and rich harmonics.


Closing Statement: These are very enjoyable keeper speakers. Try a pair with Blackhole5. They offer excellent value- the best $1000 speaker for $450. These will be worth tweaking with different crossover caps, and maybe silver wire.


Product Weakness: Small monitor limitations
Product Strengths: Great sound for the dollar


Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier: Rogue
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): Tempest
Sources (CDP/Turntable): CD- Nohr CD1
Speakers: Paradox1
Cables/Interconnects: Dh Labs
Music Used (Genre/Selections): See Review
Room Size (LxWxH): 20 x 14 x 8
Room Comments/Treatments: Could use lot of room treatment
Time Period/Length of Audition: 1 1/2 months
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): Tripplite Isobar
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner
Your System (if other than home audition): See Review




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Topic - REVIEW: GR Research Paradox 1 Speakers - AdamC 06:09:56 12/16/01 ( 1)