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208 REVIEW The Paradigm Reference Signature S8 Speakers TONE AUDIO NO.54 REVIEW A Compact Canadian Masterpiece By Jeff Dorgay Spoiler Alert: The Paradigm Reference Signature S8s are amazing speakers that don’t cost a small fortune. They offer performance way beyond what you’d expect for $8,998 a pair. Many of us know the Canadian company for its smaller speakers and great hometheater systems, but the Signature S8s have major audiophile cred. Eddie Jobson’s Theme of Secrets paints an enormous sonic landscape in all directions, with low-level detail and spatial cues galore. It’s a fantastic yet obscure audiophile freak-out record that, in a great system, feels like a surround-sound mix from two channels, which is a test that the Ref Sig.S8s pass handily. The beryllium tweeter and line-array-type configuration give the speakers a high degree of coherence, which is a major contributor to their ability to reproduce vocals—male or female—with such lifelike ease. April 2013 209
210 REVIEW The ’80s club classic “Sex (I’m a…)” from Berlin encourages twisting the volume control. The Ref Sig.S8s keep the driving disco beat firmly anchored without losing track of the seductive lead vocals, while also keeping all of the backup vocals sorted, as they pop in from all over the soundscape, mildly suggesting what our lead vocalist might be. The cranky, out-of-phase lead vocals in Sheep on Drugs’ version of “Waiting for the Man” takes a similar turn, with a great mix of vocal layers and spacey electronic effects zooming all over the listening room—further showcasing the fact that these speakers possess extraordinary imaging abilities. Those with more traditional tastes, take notice: The Paradigms perform equally well rendering the delicate shadings of Anne Bisson’s “Dragonfly” or Annie Lenox’s strong lead vocals in “No More I Love You’s.” Tracks like these reveal that the integration of the tweeter and midrange driver directly below it is fantastic. Thanks to their 92-dB sensitivity, the speakers barely budge the power meters of the 200-watt-per-channel D’Agostino Momentum stereo amplifier that I’m currently enjoying. The Momentum really grips the Ref Sig.S8s’ four 7-inch woofers, proving that you won’t likely need to pair these speakers with one of Paradigm’s massive subwoofers. TONE AUDIO NO.54 REVIEW Justin Timberlake’s “Let the Groove Get In” is the only track with which I can actually push the multiple woofers to their boundaries, with the Momentum’s needles moving in earnest to the song’s opening bass riff. Taking further advantage of the powerful low-frequency abilities of the Ref Sig.S8s, I demo some Aphex Twin— and there’s loads of low-end rumble, but everything else is smooth sailing. If you really need to rattle the foundation of your house, or love your movies loud, by all means peruse the Paradigm catalog. However, most of us will be thrilled with the bass response that these speakers deliver. Best of all, the high sensitivity of these speakers allows a wide range of compatible amplification, making them a fantastic anchor for your system. We can continue the tired chicken/egg argument of whether one should prioritize the speakers or source components—but I suggest building around a pair of speakers that you love, because they ultimately require more effort to interface with your environment, visually and audibly. And what’s not to love here? Quality is Key The Ref Sig.S8s may have a relatively small footprint— about 4 feet tall, with a base measuring 8.5 inches by 20.5 inches—but they are massive on quality. (continued) April 2013 211
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