Paradigm

The history of big sound in Canada and beyond
Did you know that Paradigm speakers are still designed, manufactured, and engineered right here at our headquarters near Toronto, Canada? It has been that way since 1982.

That's when founders Jerry VanderMarel and Scott Bagby decided to change the prevailing industry paradigm. They wanted to build high-quality speakers locally. They wanted to base their speaker components on science, not speculation. They wanted to make them affordable at prices everyone could afford.

To do this, Jerry and Scott enlisted the help of smart university sound researchers and the findings of extensive sound research conducted by the National Research Council of Canada.

Their goal was to achieve a level of performance that would remove the speaker itself from the equation. Pure, realistic sound, unfettered by color, unfettered by the ability to turn sound into sound. And to do it at a price that would allow anyone to experience this magic.

Jerry (sales, marketing, advertising) and Scott (design, manufacturing) assembled a team of dedicated audiophiles and engineers (and engineers who were audiophiles), and from these humble beginnings, Paradigm was born.

That year, the Paradigm Models 7 and 9 were introduced at the Toronto Audio Show. Ten dealers signed on to carry the line. (Many of these loyal custom dealers remain proud Paradigm dealers today!)
Distortion, a close cousin of color, is another evil speaker villain.

There are two main types of distortion in loudspeakers: harmonic and mechanical.

Harmonic distortion "colors" sound at additional pitch levels above and below the pure original note. For example, a speaker driver that produces a 40 Hz note may also produce frequencies of 80 Hz, 120 Hz, 160 Hz (and so on), even though these tones are not part of the original sound.

It is very difficult to completely eliminate tonal distortions such as this example. Drivers emit sound throughout their range, with some sound traveling around the intended original sound. To reduce this type of distortion, Paradigm engineers use a special driver material, the stiffer the better, to prevent harmonic distortions from forming on the surface of the driver cone. Other innovations, such as a more durable surround material, carefully engineered motor designs, and vibration-damping chassis designs, also prevent harmonic distortions from being heard.

Non-harmonic or mechanical distortion occurs when there is a noticeable hum or rattle in a real speaker set, or when the signal is not picked up in a way that the driver is able to deliver it clearly, and the sound becomes a shrill mess.

Paradigm overcomes first-class mechanical distortion with bulletproof enclosure design and construction. Using only the strongest materials, with solid internal cross bracing, shock-absorbing material and hand-finished joints, Paradigm speaker enclosures are completely inert.

Stabilizing feet, designed for both hard and carpeted floors, keep the cabinet upright and stable.

You need to avoid second-order non-harmonic distortion. Make sure your speaker impedance matches the output of your amplification equipment and never exceed the amplifier's output power. In other words: if you hear distortion as a hissing noise or clipping signal, reject it!