Paradigm Prestige Series Loudspeakers Preview

Paradigm officially unveiled their new Prestige series of loudspeakers at the CEDIA Expo in Denver, ending a few weeks of hinting about what this new lineup would offer. What we knew thanks to their teaser video was that the Prestige lineup would be designed, engineered, and 100% crafted in Paradigm’s Canadian facility. Of course Paradigm’s commitment to the Prestige series goes deeper than just being “made in Canada.” Even the raw drivers are hand crafted in house to guarantee consistency and top tier performance.

The Prestige Series consists of six new loudspeakers. There are three floorstanding speakers (Prestige 95F, 85F & 75F), two center channels (Prestige 55C & 45C), one surround channel (Prestige 25S), and one bookshelf speaker (Prestige 15B). At this time, pricing is TBD; however, we were able to sweet-talk our friends at Paradigm into giving us rough pricing. The 95F, 85F, and 75F towers should retail for $5,000, $4,000, and $3,000/pair respectively. The 15B bookshelf should run approximately $1,600/pair, and the 25S surrounds will set you back roughly $1,800/pair. The 55C and 45C will cost about $1,700 and $1,300/each respectively.

The Paradigm Prestige 15B. Note the PPA tweeter lens, which functions as a phase plug while protecting the tweeter from damage.

So what does your hard earned cash get you? Details are still limited at this time, but Paradigm did mention that the Prestige speakers will utilize their Perforated Phase-Aligning (PPA) Tweeter Lens, which protects the delicate S-PAL tweeter dome and acts as the phase plug, blocking out-of-phase frequencies for smoother, extended high frequencies and higher output capabilities. In addition, the cabinetry is particularly striking, with standard finish options including walnut, black walnut, and piano black. A premium finish dubbed Midnight Cherry is also available for a $400-$600 up-charge depending on the model.

Prestige Series models are expected to start shipping in November.

Unless otherwise indicated, this is a preview article for the featured product. A formal review may or may not follow in the future.