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Entered CNET Catalog: 11/21/2001
SKU: CINEMA90
Manufacturer: Paradigm Group
Manufacturer description
Paradigm Electronics has released a new line of compact speakers designed for home theater and audio called the Cinema Line. These magnetically shielded speakers can be placed next to a television, computer, or a home theatre system without causing harm to the surrounding components. An outstanding, budget audiophile speaker sized to fit almost anywhere! While it's true that there are tiny speakers aided by compact subwoofers, that can be virtually hidden in most any living space, when it comes to great audiophile sound these systems have simply not delivered... until now! Pure Magic! That's the only way to describe Paradigm Cinema. With advanced technology built on Paradigm's long tradition of award-winning high-end designs, Cinema systems provide exceptional audiophile sound from palm-sized speakers that fit any living space with ease.Product summary
The good: Tiny, easy to hide speakers; surprisingly big sound.
The bad: Midrange is a little flat.
The bottom line: This system offers impressive sound from a set a very small speakers (and one full-sized sub).
CNET editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 12/14/2001
A smart-looking set
The four identical speakers for the front left and right and surround channels are about the same size as the main speakers in the Cinema 90 system and are comparable in size to midsized external PC speakers (7 by 4-1/4 by 5-1/2 inches). We liked the sleek yet elegantly simple D-shaped design of the main speakers, which are available in black, white, and silver. Between the 60mm bracket holes on the rear and the mere 3.3-pound weight, you can easily and unobtrusively wall-mount these speakers. The center channel is styled like the other four speakers but is longer, measuring 4-1/2 by 12 by 5-5/8 inches. All the speakers are magnetically shielded, so you can place them near your TV without worry, and they have gold-plated binding posts that accept bare wire, spades, and banana plugs.
Although the main speakers in the Cinema 90 system are tiny, we can't say the same for the 10-inch PDR-10 subwoofer. Measuring 14-1/4 by 13-1/2 by 16 inches and weighing a hefty 33 pounds, this is definitely full-sized. Like many subwoofers on the market, the 300-watt amp built into the jet-black box senses when an audio signal comes through and turns itself on and off automatically to save electricity.
When we fired up the Cinema 90 speakers to begin our listening tests, the first thing we noticed was their efficiency. We didn't need to turn the volume knob up very far in order to make these speakers play loudly. If you have a modestly powered home-theater receiver (60 to 80 watts per channel into 8 ohms), this speaker system is a good match.
What about sound quality?
Whether we were listening to a Beethoven symphony or Arnold Schwarzenegger demolishing the research lab in Terminator 2, we felt completely enveloped by the sound, as if we were right in the middle of the action (or the concert hall). The 10-inch sub not only reproduces the rumble in action movies such as Saving Private Ryan, it adds real richness to music. The whole system works well together, with the sub able to clearly define bass notes and low-frequency effects without obscuring the higher-frequency sounds from the satellites. Music in general sounded especially clear and alive.
The Cinema 90s also have excellent audio imaging across all five channels, making it easy to hear exactly where each sound comes from. This means that in the Fantasia 2000 segment where Mickey Mouse opens the door to Daisy Duck's dressing room, you will clearly hear her scream coming from behind you on the right side of the room. We did, however, notice a bit of flatness in the midrange tones and a slightly harsh, almost metallic undertone when we really cranked up the sound. But in fairness to Paradigm, that was at volume levels much louder than we would normally listen to music or movies. At normal room listening levels, we were quite satisfied with the sound of this package.
Though it's not exactly cheap at its $995 list price, we like the Cinema 90 system for its compact size and clear, full sound. If you're putting together a medium-sized home theater and want some discrete-looking, high-quality speakers, this set is definitely one that you should consider. If your room is smaller, you might also take a look at the Cinema 70 system, which comes with an 8-inch sub and slightly smaller speakers.
User opinions
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9/10
small size large sound!
Pros: cheap, LOUD, clear, small, dont sound small, did i mention LOUD
Cons: um not too much to wine over these speakers, highs get a little bright at very loud levels, needs a sub duh!
For just under a grand Canadian I got the whole 5.1 system.... I have an old digital receiver from like 4 years ago and my speakers still sound amazing...do yourself a favor and just listen to a properly set up paradigm cinema system and u will probably end up buying them over anything else in and around its price...no matter what u like whether it be DOLBY DIGITAL & DTS movie soundtracks or DVD-audio 5.1 multi channel or just plain old 2 channel music these paradigms sound great...they even have good imaging for a speaker this small and cheap......heck anything from paradigm is pretty much guaranteed to outperform anything in its price range?the only thing I have herd that I would maybe ?consider? buying over a cinema series 5.1 system would be the mirage nanosat?s?but all they maybe beet the paradigms in was creating a bit better sound field?the actual sound wasn?t any better and the bass from there little sub was non existent compared to a PDR-10?and the mirage?s were like 200 bucks more? anyways as u can tell I am fairly pleased with my paradigms
User Rating: 9/10
Small Speaker Deliver Big Sound
Pros: Sound quality surpasses competitors.
Cons: Still not as good as full size speakers.
These speakers sound great. The bass and highs come across very well. The midrange is solid but not exceptional. The subwoofer does extremely well against the competition but does not get down to 20 Hz. This can be fixed by purchasing the speakers individually with a larger subwoofer. In Dolby Digital 5.1, these fully encompass the listener, providing great movie experiences. The speakers have keyholes for mounting or can use brackets.
If you are looking for small unobtrusive speakers these are an excellent choice. When you consider sound quality vs price, they provide a good value. I highly recommend them.
User Rating: 9/10
Paradigm raises the bar.
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8/10
Quality sound for modest price.
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10/10
7 out of 10? Should be 10 out of 10!
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User Rating: 8/10
Sound bigger than they are
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User Rating: 10/10
perfect for my apartment
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