Напольная акустика — Paradigm Electronics Monitor SE 3000F

The Monitor SE 3000F is the smallest floorstander in the Monitor SE series from Paradigm of Mississauga, Canada, the lowest-priced range of conventional passive speakers Paradigm offers. The series also includes the 6000F and 8000F towers, the 2000C centre, the Atom bookshelf model and the Surround 1 and Surround 3 effects speakers. At launch the 3000F sold for USD 698 per pair, and it was designed and engineered at Paradigm's headquarters near Toronto.

Key specs that matter

This is a 3-way bass reflex tower with four drivers. A 1 inch X-PAL dome tweeter handles the treble, a 5.5 inch mineral-filled polypropylene cone covers the midrange, and two woofers of the same 5.5 inch size and material take the bass. Second-order electro-acoustic filters divide the signal at 800 Hz and 3.0 kHz. On-axis response is 55 Hz to 21 kHz within 3 dB, and 42 Hz to 17 kHz at 30 degrees off axis, with a DIN low-frequency extension of 44 Hz. Sensitivity is quoted as 91 dB in room and 88 dB anechoic, with an 8 ohm nominal load. The cabinet measures 100.4 cm high, 23 cm wide and 28 cm deep, and each speaker weighs 15.8 kg.

Engineering and use context

Ferro-fluid in the tweeter gap damps and cools the dome, and it sits behind Paradigm's Perforated Phase-Aligning lens, which the company describes as blocking out-of-phase frequencies at the front of the dome. Every cone uses an inverted dust cap and a downroll surround. Splitting the low range between two woofers while a third cone of the same diameter works above the lower crossover lets a narrow cabinet carry three-way operation. A plastic-lined reflex port vents through the back panel. Connection is through five-way binding posts on a single terminal pair. The grille is not magnetic and fits into ten mounting holes on the baffle, which are visible when it is removed. Four floor spikes and four rubber discs are supplied, so the tower can stand on carpet or on hard flooring. Cabinet corners are mitered, finishes are Matte Black or Gloss White, and the parts and labour warranty lasts five years.

Pairing

Paradigm quotes an amplifier range of 15 to 130 W with a maximum input of 100 W, a window that entry-level stereo amps and surround receivers fall into. For a home cinema layout the 2000C centre and the Surround models of the series complete the system.

Alternatives

The Monitor SE 6000F sits one step higher in the Monitor SE range, a 5-driver 3-way design launched at USD 898 per pair.