ANOTHER HOME THEATER IN A BOX? NO WAY!
Canada’s Paradigm is one of the largest vertically integrated speaker companies
in North America, with a sprawling factory just outside of Toronto, Ontario that
is able to make virtually every key component of a loudspeaker in-house. While
budget models such as its Cinema CT range are contract-manufactured to its
specification overseas (a common practice), the design and engineering of the
system begins and ends up in the great white North.
The Cinema 110 CT system
is at the top of that range, and despite the affordable price, it’s equipped
with the kind of drivers one would expect to find in more expensive models. The
front speakers feature titanium dome tweeters with neodymium magnets and molded
copolymer cone bass and midrange drivers.
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Paradigm’s Cinema 110 CT system packs a lot in a box for not much money. For
starters, you get three identical front speakers, which help create a seamless
sonic soundfield. The dipole surrounds are also a bonus, as they tend to create
more enveloping surround effects. |
The cabinets are smartly designed
and look good with their soft silver-gray finish and matching mesh grilles
(white and black cabinet and grille choices are also available, as are optional
stands).
The front speakers are essentially identical sonic triplets, with
the left and right models designed for vertical orientation and the center
speaker designed to be horizontally sited under or over the monitor. Given the
choice, I’ll go with three identical front speakers any day, as it tends to
offer the best sonic blend across the front soundstage, and is the preferred
configuration in my own home theater.
I’ve listened to numerous other setups
where the center loudspeaker differs physically and acoustically somewhat from
the main left and right speakers, and I often find that with my eyes closed, I
can aurally pinpoint the center speaker as a distinct source, which is
undesirable in my view. Three matching front speakers, on the other hand, can
provide a sweeping and contiguous front soundstage that is especially desirable
with multichannel music mixes.
