Are Paradigm Subwoofers Good? (Buy Or Avoid?)
We can expect nothing but the best for a company that has been in operation since 1982. Paradigm was founded with the intention of manufacturing subwoofers out of scientific research and not guesswork and speculation.
Today, the company is among the top subwoofer manufacturers with several quality models under production. A good example is the Defiance series which has six new boxes with ARC and wireless control/setup. With this series, you’re given the option of adding a wireless module.
You’ll also encounter the Cinema and prestige series, which offer exceptional value, great performance, and deeper bass. You can employ the Paradigm app to make the setup easy for most models.
With such features, are Paradigm subwoofers worth buying? Keep reading to find out.
Why Buy Paradigm Subwoofers?
With the many subwoofer options available on the market, it becomes difficult to select the best option. For this reason, we recommend selecting a company with a longstanding reputation for developing quality products.
Below are reasons why Paradigm subwoofers are your best option:
A Variety of Options At An Affordable Cost
The fact that a subwoofer is high-quality doesn’t mean it has to be expensive. With Paradigm subwoofers, you’ll get a product for every budget. For instance, you can go for a high-end subwoofer like the Paradigm Defiance V10 subwoofer affordably.
You can choose several series, including signature, persona, prestige, and defiance, among others. We guarantee that you’ll get something that fits within your budget.
High-Tech Designs
High technology is employed in the design and development of Paradigm subwoofers. For instance, all Defiance models, except Defiance V8, are designed with an optional module. This means you can have the subwoofer anywhere in your home without any cabling and without sacrificing performance and speed.
Additionally, Paradigm employs Patented Active Ridge Technology, especially for the Defiance series, to generate deeper bass. This technology “overmolds” durable driver surrounds to generate the farthest throw without distortion.
For your information, the subwoofer will generate a deeper bass if it moves farther freely. In most cases, this results in an output gain of 3dB and a 50% reduction in distortion.
Furthermore, most Paradigm subwoofer models have an enabled subwoofer control app. This app is meant to simplify tuning and setup and is available for both Android and iOS devices. With the app, it’s easy to control phase, deep bass, low-pass filter, and volume.
Quality Appearance
If you’re worried about how your home decor will appear, we confirm that Paradigm subwoofers are designed to combine performance and beauty. Whether you choose to place the subwoofer in a corner or below your television, it’ll blend with your decor collection.
Since most subwoofers are black, we guarantee they’ll blend with almost any color in your interior.
Where Are Paradigm Subwoofers Made?
These subwoofers are designed and made by Paradigm, a company located in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. The company has been in operation since 1982 and since then has invested resources in research and innovation to develop audio products that users can relate to.
The co-founders Scott Bagby and Jerry VanderMarel intended to change the prevailing audio paradigm by developing high-performance loudspeakers. They intended to design the products based on science and not mere speculation. The end result was the development of audio products that every customer could afford.
Today, Paradigm is a key player in developing wireless subwoofers that you can operate from anywhere in your home. The company also focuses on ultra-high performance, luxury design, and cutting-edge technology. Finally, research and innovation gave rise to revolutionary app control, especially for the Defiance subwoofers.
Paradigm Subwoofer Warranty
For your information, all Paradigm-powered subwoofers come with a 3-year warranty. This is more than you’ll ever find in some other reputable brands.
This warranty guarantees Paradigm subwoofers to be free of defects throughout the warranty period. Within the period, any replacements or repairs for the defects will be free.
However, it’ll only be extended to the original owner. Remember, mechanical misuse or thermal abuse won’t be covered under the warranty. Additionally, you’ll only get the warranty if you buy your subwoofer from an authorized Paradigm subwoofer dealer in the United States or Canada.
However, as the Paradigm subwoofer owner, you have the responsibility to:
- To provide your proof of purchase to activate the warranty
- Provide reasonable maintenance and care to the subwoofer
- Provide transportation for your subwoofer to the nearest service facility
Are Paradigm Subwoofers Affordable?
Every customer is looking for top-quality products at an affordable cost. If this is you, we guarantee that Paradigm subwoofers are what you’re looking for.
For their top quality, we consider the price of Paradigm subwoofers to be reasonable. With less than $1000, you can easily purchase a high-performance Paradigm subwoofer.
For instance, the Defiance V12 subwoofer, which is a notable product on the market, is available for as little as $779.99 on Amazon. Remember, the current price might change in the future. You can also purchase the Defiance V10 subwoofer for as little as $649.99.
Even though the price is reasonable for the quality you get, it’s somehow high compared to other related brands. With some brands, you can buy a similar quality for as low as $200.
All in all, Paradigm subwoofers are top-quality products worth buying at any price.
Paradigm Subwoofer Problems
Although Paradigm is a reputable brand, expect the subwoofers to experience some challenges. When this happens, we recommend contacting support for assistance.
Below are problems you might encounter while using a Paradigm subwoofer:
Subwoofer Rattling
If the subwoofer is producing noises, there is a high chance the glue keeping it in shape is loose or the surrounding has deteriorated. To identify this problem, remove the grill and visually inspect the subwoofer.
After finding the problem, call customer support for assistance. If you still have a warranty, you can be lucky to get a replacement.
Subwoofer Humming or Buzzing
If your subwoofer is buzzing or humming while playing, there is a high chance that the driver’s voice coil has burnt. Push on the subwoofer cone straight back to inspect it for scraping. Contact customer support for help if this is the case.
A ground loop also causes humming. You can trace this by disconnecting the subwoofer from the preamp’s back. If humming stops, connect what you disconnected to a different power source.
Subwoofer Popping
There are times you might experience a popping noise from your subwoofer. In this case, check whether the noise is related to a specific sound source.
The problem could be with the amplifier if the noise persists with all sound sources. In this case, replace or repair the amplifier.
Subwoofer Fails To Power On
Sometimes, your Paradigm subwoofer might fail to power on. This might be due to the power setting at the back being incorrect. The problem could also result from a faulty amplifier.
We recommend contacting support if you encounter this challenge.
What Reviewers Say about Paradigm subwoofers?
We checked different online review platforms and found Paradigm subwoofers to be highly rated. For instance, on Amazon, both the Defiance V12 subwoofer and Defiance V10 subwoofer are rated 4.7/5, which is a decent score.
According to reviewers, Paradigm subwoofers are easy to set up and produce quality sound. The bass response is also excellent and you can control everything from an app.
This is one brand that we recommend to all potential customers out there.
Conclusion
Paradigm is a reputable subwoofer manufacturer with about 40 years of experience in the audio industry. Some top series from the brand include Defiance, Cinema, and Prestige. Regardless of the series you buy, expect exceptional value, great performance, and great bass.
What’s more exciting is the Paradigm app that allows easy setup and control. Even though you might encounter some problems while using your Paradigm subwoofer, support is always available to lend help.
We recommend Paradigm subwoofers without second thoughts.