Just bought some Paradigm Atom mk1

[stephenmarklay]

...off ebay. $86 bucks plus $25 shipping. Not sure if they are worth the money but I really needed something for my garage TV now. I figured the most I will spend is the shipping when I sell them after I finish a DIY set.

I am guessing based on the early reviews they sound better than the PE $25 specials.

Anyone ever hear them?

[rdf]

I'm using a borrowed pair of later models while playing around with some amp builds and they're much better than $86. They image like banshees.

[Rodmunch]

I've owned a pair ever since they came out. Currently I'm using them as computer speakers on my desk. They work well in this application, but I didn't really like them as main speakers (which they were when I was in college). I never thought they imaged well, they always seemed too rolled off at the top and a bit boomy at the bottom. But when I was in college I thought they were the sh*t. They still work great and are in great condition. I've read that the newer ones are a dramatic improvement though.

[rdf]

Originally Posted by Rodmunch

...they always seemed too rolled off at the top and a bit boomy at the bottom....

The V2s in my living room do the same, but out from the back wall with appropriate material they throw way more than $86 bucks worth of space.

[stephenmarklay]

I actually heard some V.3's recently and they were decent. A bit of boom but not to much sizzle to my ears. Have you ever messed around with them for fun - see whats inside?

I am sure it will be the first thing I do

[rdf]

No, they're not mine to dismantle.

[Rodmunch]

I took mine apart once before I really knew much about better quality caps and resistors, etc. There's not much to the crossover, I believe it was maybe just one cap hotglued to one of the drivers? I think I might get out the screwdriver again.

[rdf]

My tact would be to experiment with judicious internal acoustic damping to soften that thump, perhaps followed if I really liked them with internal wall bracing. Paul Barton of PSB once explained the economics of speaker production at this price level and they're miracles of automated production, optimized down to the number of saw cuts and type of tweeter mount. It results in great value but limits upgrade options.

[kevinkr]

I had a pair of the Atoms (mk1) in the Rosewood cabinet, (NICE!!) and I thought they imaged like crazy with a little stereo EL84 PP 7W triode amp I had designed for use with them. The bass was a little lacking, but they were rather nice otherwise. (Lots of detail)

I still regret the fact that I gave them away years ago, but space was limited after my business fell apart in 2000.. They needed a new home...

They seem to do their best in intimate listening situations at rather modest spls where they can seem almost magical at times. I think they are also rather sensitive to the quality of the amplifier connected to them.

[stephenmarklay]

I think it will be a lot of fun. I think I will play with the sorts of things rdf mentions...
Try some real dampening, maybe bracing but not take too much cabinet volume, perhaps some felt around the tweeter also.

I will look at the crossover and "perhaps" augment that too Without being able to measure I may not mess with it.