Floorstanding loudspeakers — Paradigm Electronics Founder 80F

The Founder 80F is the most affordably priced tower in the Founder Series from Paradigm, a six-model line the Canadian company introduced in March 2021 for hi-fi and home cinema systems. The range also holds the 100F floorstander, the hybrid 120H with a built-in bass amplifier, the 40B standmount, the 90C centre and the 70LCR. At launch the 80F cost USD 1,899.99 per speaker. All six models come out of Paradigm's own 20,900 m2 plant in Mississauga, where they are also designed and tested.

Key specs that matter

This is a 4-driver, 2.5-way ported design. A 1 inch AL-MAC ceramic dome tweeter sits in an Oblate Spherical Waveguide behind a PPA lens, a 6 inch AL-MAG cone covers the midrange, and two 6 inch CARBON-X unibody woofers with ART surrounds handle the bass. Second-order filters cross over at 1.8 kHz and 500 Hz. On-axis response is 50 Hz to 23 kHz within 2 dB, and 50 Hz to 20 kHz at 30 degrees off axis, and the DIN extension figure is 28 Hz. Sensitivity reads 93 dB in room and 90 dB anechoic, with an impedance rated as compatible with 8 ohm. Each cabinet stands 97.1 cm tall, 29.8 cm wide and 35.6 cm deep, and weighs 23.6 kg.

Engineering and use context

The tweeter dome combines aluminium, magnesium and ceramic for a stiff, light diaphragm, and the waveguide geometry concentrates its output toward the listening area while reducing energy aimed at side walls. The perforated metal lens in front of the dome and midrange is there to bring all frequencies to the listener in time. The single-piece carbon fibre woofer cones keep moving mass low. Inside, Cascade-Fusion bracing stiffens the faceted enclosure and breaks up standing waves, and an elastomer Shock-Mount suspension isolates each driver from cabinet vibration. Paradigm's vertical driver mounting gives the woofers more usable cone area than their nominal size suggests. The same decoupling idea continues at floor level, where Shock-Mount feet with two-stage suspension come with hardware for both carpet and hard floors and can be levelled from above. Finishes are Piano Black, Black Walnut, Midnight Cherry and Walnut, plus the Forty-One Collection colours Ruby Frostbite, Frozen Charcoal and Azure Ice.

Pairing

Paradigm specifies amplifiers from 15 to 220 W and a maximum input of 180 W, so modest integrated amplifiers and AV receivers both fall inside the range. For a surround system the 90C centre or 70LCR from the same series can take the front channels.

Alternatives

The Founder 100F is a bigger floorstander from this line, launched at USD 2,599.99 per speaker.