Yamaja and Paradigm???

[JeffR]

I plan to turn my living room (11.5 by 14.5) into a home-thater for audio and video. I currently have a 57" Hitachi tv and an XBox. I plan to get a universal disc player in the future. For now, I want a receiver and 5.1 speaker system. The one high-end dealer in my area (a long-established, reputable store) recommended the following equipment:

Marantz SR-7500 receiver
Paradign Monitor 7 - fronts
Paradigm CC-370 - center
Paradigm ADP-370 - rears
Paradigm PS-1000 - sub

The system sounds fine but I did not compare it with anything else. The dealer also carries Pioneer Elite receivers and Def Tech speakers.

All thoughts and opinions would be welcome!

Should I go with this system?

What about upgrading to the SR-8500 and/or the PS-1200? Is the sound/feature improvement worth the money?

What about traveling out of area (2-3 hours each way) to consider other brands? Is so, what?

Please help me out!
Thanks,

[TimGRA]

JeffR,

Great choice on equipment. I am very partial to Pioneer w/ Paradigm. Seems to give the spaekers a very nice warm, laid back feel. My previuos set up:
Pioneer VSX 36tx
Monitor 7 (Fronts)
CC-370 (Center)
B&W LM-1 (Surrounds)
PW 2200 (SUB)
I really enjoyed this. Great combinition for music and movies.
The only thing I think I would tell you is, maybe to upgrade if you can is the sub. Spend the extra on the PW 2200. You will not regret it. As I said above, I am more partial to Pioneer recivers over any Marantz.

I recently sold all above mentioned equipment and now have the following:

Rotel 1068 Processor
Parasound 2205 Amp (220w X 5)
Paradigm Studio 60 (front)
Paradigm Studio CC-470 (center)
Paradigm Studio ADP-470 (surround)
Same Sub (Love it!)

As you are putting a package together, DO NOT pay full retial. The dealer should be discounting 10%-15% at least.

Good luck and make sure you spend lots of time listening to YOUR music and not the dealers music and movies.

Happy shopping!

PS. Paradigm is releasing a v4 (version 4) in the Monitor line. You may want to wait for those (v4) or push the dealer for a deeper discount on the v3.