New York Giants sport Paradigm SHIFT earbuds

Look who's wearing Paradigm SHIFT earbuds!  Not just your average Joes, turns out they appeal to NFL players.

 

Above, Amani Toomer, former wide receiver of the New York Giants smiles as he first listens to Paradigm SHIFT E2m earbuds.

 

 Hours later, Toomer is still lost in the music, picking tunes on his iPad.

Travis Beckum, current tight end for the New York Giants, trys out the E2m's on his Blackberry.

Merry Christmas Travis! Enjoy your new buds.

Click here! for more information on Paradigm SHIFT earbuds or to buy online.

Photos courtesy of The Source Home Theater NYC

Holiday Gift Guides Recommend Paradigm SHIFT products

So you've already racked your brain trying to figure out the perfect gift for that techy someone in your life and still you can't find a single thing to get them this holiday season.  That's when the glory of holiday gift guides truly come in use!  Here are a few gift guides that we found particularly helpful and each one includes a recommendation for a SHIFT product! ...

Click here! for Canada HiFi's Holiday Gift Guide

 

 Click here! for Audioholics Christmas Gift Guide

Click here! for AARP's Digital Stocking Stuffers

 Click here! for Digital Trends Home Theater Gift Ideas



Click here! for 10 Cool Audio-Video Christmas Gifts under $500 
from HomeTheaterReview.com
 

For more information on SHIFT products and to buy online visit: www.paradigm.com/shift

"As far as PC speakers go, I couldn't ask for a better outfit" says Secrets of Home Theater on the Paradigm SHIFT A2

A little trip down memory lane...
Nearly two decades ago, when the idea of powered speakers in the high-end audio world was seen, quite simply, as absurd, Brian Florian of Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity was a huge fan of the Paradigm Reference Active 20 and bigger brother Active 40 powered speakers. Not to say he was the only one who loved them, because he certainly wasn't, but unfortunately the iPod hadn't been introduced yet and with Paradigm Reference grade technology, the Actives weren't necessarily inexpensive... yada yada... not enough customers rushed to the closest Paradigm dealer to buy a pair. So in 2001, Paradigm decided to throw in the towel and leave the powered speaker market and like many Paradigm customers and industry persons, Brian was not pleased. In fact, ever since, Brian has been bugging the Paradigm team to bring back the Active line.

Fast track 10 years, the iPod is the main source for music (figures!) and suddenly a whole new generation of customers want nothing other than powered speakers (and other mobile products like earbuds and headphones). Soooo Paradigm eagerly responds to this growing desire with Paradigm SHIFT, a new brand designed for today's mobile music customer... and what's our first product? A fun and budget friendly powered speaker, the Paradigm SHIFT A2 (big shocker right?) ... That's right, we're back in the game and this time, we're not so 'absurd'.

Anyhow, enough with the history lesson, there's a point here... So we announce the Paradigm SHIFT A2 and no surprise, Brian Florian wants a taste and we were more than happy to ship him a pair to play with. We recommend you read Brian's full review but here's a few teasers to get you excited:

Comparing Apples to Oranges
"... when Paradigm announced a new powered speaker earlier this year many, again myself included, hoped it would be the second coming of the Active Studios. It isn't. Wait, don't hit the back button in your browser just yet. They may not be Active Studio/20s, but they don't cost $2000 a pair either. I've been bugging Paradigm nonstop for 10 years to make something like this: a set of small, powered speakers, something I could use at the PC."

The Orange Doesn't Fall Far from the Apple Tree
"In practice the A2s have the sound which Paradigm is known world over for:  for the most part well balanced, neutral, able to articulate complex music through the difficult midrange and exhibit pinpoint accuracy in terms of spatial imaging."

"As the listening level increases though, they morph into something very different, no doubt at the hand of the embedded signal processing. The A2s do their best to maintain a clean output at high levels but rather than let you test the physical limits of the motors, the A2s instead (by design mind you) shed fullness and dynamic range."

Conclusion
"The A2s seem quite resistant to abuse as such and I think that Paradigm has succeeded in their goal: at modest, near field output they sound like a true hifi speaker, but if someone wants to crank them for a patio party to decibel levels which would destroy most ordinary compact powered speakers, they can do that, albeit with compromised fidelity (but at a patio party, who's critically listening anyway?)."

"...the A2 makes for a fantastic "bookshelf" system. They also would make a very decent upgrade to a TV's built in sound and do so without adding another box to the equipment stack (or remote to the side table). And as far as PC speakers go, I couldn't ask for a better outfit." 

Click here! to read the full review.

Click here! for more information on the A2 or to buy online.

Paradigm SHIFT A2... "a total knockout and a tremendous value too", says Digital Trends

Caleb Denison of Digital Trends reviewed the Paradigm SHIFT A2 powered speaker and not only did he give it Digital Trends "Editors' Choice" status, he also said:

"If there’s a better sounding sound solution under $500 out there, we haven’t heard it yet."

There are many other great quotes in Caleb's review, which we mention below, but first check out this video which takes a close look at the Digital Trends out-of-box experience with the Paradigm SHIFT A2 speaker...

To summarize Caleb's experience, here's a handful (ok two handfuls) of quotes taken from his review of the Paradigm SHIFT A2...

Out of the box:
"As we pulled the speakers from their boxes we found…well, not a lot actually. That’s the beauty of active speakers. All you really need is a power cord and some connecting cables."

"Our review pair came with the ash black grain finish which was well executed... the veneer had some real texture to it. The speakers do come with magnetic grills-and the grills are attractive enough-but we took them right off. These speakers are way sexier with grills removed."

"We gave the A2 speakers ample break-in time (about 40 hours), but they didn’t need it much. These speakers sounded great straight out of the box."

Performance:
"The first thing that struck us was how detailed and controlled the high frequencies were. Often, with great detail comes great brightness, but Paradigm struck a balance with the tweeter that results in dazzling, detailed treble and superb dispersion without getting too excited."

"...with such remarkable warmth and resolution, we almost felt as if we were listening to a pair of large, floor-standing speakers. The primary difference here was that the A2 produced effortless, pin-point center imaging whether placed within two or ten feet of our listening position."

"Perhaps the A2’s most impressive attribute is their wide dynamic range...Even cranked up, the A2’s were able to pivot effortlessly and quickly between disparate volumes."

"The A2’s bass response is simply outstanding... punchy, taught, balanced, assertive, nimble and musical... Anyone doubting the bass capabilities of a 5.5-inch driver needs to hear the A2’s in action. While the A2’s response isn’t likely to upset the neighbors two doors down, it’s exactly what it ought to be; a perfect foundation for the music played over it."

Conclusion
"Paradigm’s A2 speakers are a total knockout and, at about $500 a pair, a tremendous value, too. Their limited quirks are easily out-shined by their superior build quality, unique connectivity features and fantastic sound. These speakers exhibit a high level of musical refinement that is an absolute feast for the ear. Though marketed toward aspiring DJs and music producers, these speakers will likely find audience with audiophiles everywhere. If there’s a better sounding sound solution under $500 out there, we haven’t heard it yet."

We couldn't have said it better ourselves!

But we do encourage you to click here! to read the entire review. 

For more information on the Paradigm SHIFT A2 or to buy online, click here!

"The A2 offers genuine high fidelity... I recommend it without reservation." - GoodSound! on the Paradigm SHIFT A2

Brooke McClelland of GoodSound! reviewed the Paradigm SHIFT A2 powered speakers and gave them the "GoodSound! Great Buy" stamp of approval as well as an array of compliments. Read on for the highlights...

"I was more excited than I’ve been about a product in a long time. 

Acoustically speaking...

"The more I listened to the A2s, the more I appreciated just how balanced they were from top to bottom. No particular area of the audioband drew attention to itself; rather, the sound was evenhanded throughout. The result was a series of long listening sessions that never left me feeling fatigued."

"As impressive as the bass was, what really stood out was the precision of the A2s’ imaging. Small monitors have a reputation for good imaging, but even for small monitors, the A2s were exceptional in this regard...I could follow the sounds as they crossed the soundstage in a way that I’ve heard from very few other speakers."

"Also noticeable was a depth of soundstage not often heard from speakers in the A2’s price bracket. In a class where many speakers can reproduce little or no depth, the A2s performed exceptionally well."

"The A2’s treble offered impressive levels of detail and insight without ever sounding hard or fatiguing."

Technically speaking...

"From a technical standpoint, the Paradigm Shift A2 offers terrific value by combining all that a great passive bookshelf speaker offers with 50W of amplification, an active digital crossover with DSP, and unmatched flexibility that allows it to be used as a left, right, or mono speaker, as well as powering and housing an Apple Airport Express."

"All this technical innovation would be moot if the A2’s sound weren’t up to par, but this is where the A2 really excels. I can’t think of any similarly priced passive speaker that equals its overall performance. The DSP gives the A2 the deep low end of a bass-reflex design, but with the tightness of a sealed cabinet. The A2 offers genuine high fidelity in the form of a very balanced sound throughout the audioband that never left me feeling tired. Despite its affordable price, it has no significant shortcomings."

"This first offering from Paradigm Shift is true to its name. It does indeed embody a paradigm shift that other manufacturers can only strive to emulate. I recommend it without reservation."

Click here! to read the full A2 review at GoodSound!

Click here! for more information on the A2 and to buy online.

Paradigm SHIFT's A2 named "Favorite New Speaker" in HomeTechTell's Holiday Gift Guide

We are proud to see the A2 powered speaker make HomeTechTell's Holiday Gift Guide but are truly honored that Dennis Burger named the A2 his 'favorite new speaker of the year'!

"They may not be perfect (I still grr every time I have to reach around the back to adjust the volume), but whether connect to my iPhone, my turntable, or straight to my PC, the A2s are definitely my favorite new speaker of the year. Especially for the money. At just $279 apiece, these little active Atoms boast a size(and price)-to-oomph ratio that makes my special places tingle, and rate a “11 on a scale of 1 to ass-kicking.” I seriously haven’t had this much fun listening to music in a long, long time." - Dennis Burger, HomeTechTell

Earlier this month, Dennis reviewed the A2 (or as he so affectionately calls her, Anne) and he fell in love with - almost - every aspect of this beloved new addition to the Paradigm SHIFT family. We encourage you to give his review a read if you are curious and considering to purchase 1, 2, 5, 7 or more A2s - it's a fun but thorough read.

Click here! to read Dennis Burger's review of the A2 at HomeTechTell.

Click here! for more information or to buy the A2 online.

Why choose Paradigm SHIFT earbuds?

With a market flooded with hundreds of earbud brands, why in the world should you choose Paradigm SHIFT series over the rest? You can fuss over the design, colors, tangle resistant cable system, added features like smart phone functionality or additional accessories (all of which we did, don't get us wrong).

But at the end of the day, there is one obvious reason that Paradigm SHIFT stands above them all and that is the simple fact that audio should sound as good as it looks. Seriously, why else are you buying earbuds to begin with? You want to hear what you are playing on whatever device it may be and ultimately, you want it to sound good, real good, right? We hope so...

The SHIFT series derives from Paradigm, a world renowned brand of home theater speakers. Speakers known for their incredible sound at extremely good value. Speakers that were designed, engineered and manufactured in our 220,000+ square foot facility. A facility that houses an engineering and design team, anechoic chamber, machine shop, injection molding machines, wood shop, testing equipment, assembly lines, marketing and advertising teams, technical support and customer service agents ...and more! This place is not for show, it's jam packed. Audio is what we do and we do it well. Want to see for yourself? No problem, click here! to check out a recent Paradigm blog post with photos and commentary from Sound & Vision magazine's tour of our headquarters.

Did you see it? Do you get it now? ...Ok, ok back on track. "So why does all this matter to me?" you may be thinking. And our answer to that is: "because Paradigm SHIFT is no exception!" Through the investment in advanced testing practices (meet Angelina below), the E1, E2m and E3m have been critically tuned to Paradigm's Monitor, Studio and Signature series speakers - three of the most popular and highly-regarded speaker lines within the audio industry, throughout our dealer base and to our customers alike.

Above, appropriately named Angelina, (our head and torso simulator) 

tracks in-ear frequency response curves for Paradigm SHIFT earbuds.

So as your friends talk-up their own earbuds, or you research your options online, or maybe you're perusing the shelves of your nearest audio store, just remember that SHIFT earbuds were carefully researched, designed, crafted and sonically matched to guarantee that your music and movies be accurately recreated (in your own space), the very same way that the producers and directors had hoped they would be.

For more on the SHIFT series or to buy online visit our website: www.paradigm.com/shift

We're live!

The Paradigm SHIFT website is live!  Browse the site, check out the videos and 360 degree product views or place an order right from the site if you'd like... www.paradigm.com/shift

We're Going LIVE! Let the fun begin...

So here we are less than one hour from the launch of the Paradigm SHIFT website. The amount of research, development, creativity, engineering, testing... who are we kidding, the amount of WORK that has gone into the launch of this brand has been absolutely astounding and now it's time to show it off to the world!!  So, let the fun begin... It's time to play! www.paradigm.com/shift

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R&D and the Importance of Focus Groups

It's no secret that the Paradigm SHIFT series will include products in four categories: Powered Speakers, Earbuds, Headphones and Gaming Headsets. But other than powered speakers, all three remaining categories are completely new to our Paradigm engineering and product development teams. We are taking the research and development very seriously to ensure that these products can reproduce the same well-known Paradigm sound that has become part of the Paradigm identity. In doing so, we have invested heavily in testing equipment and the appropriate testing practices that guarantee the audio experience will follow the same reference curve that our customers have come to know and love.

In addition to the practices that ensure superior audio quality, we are also putting a strong focus on market research. History shows that we know how to make good-sounding and well-performing speakers but our customers know where and when they use their personal audio products as well as how they feel about them. We recognize that Paradigm Shift customers have different interests and experiences from our own and we want to hear those customers and provide a solution to what's missing from the equation."Why isn't there a company making x product?" or "why aren't there any brands putting an importance on feature x?"  And what better way to do so then talking to consumers first hand? 

So here we are in the midst of multiple focus groups and we are discovering all sorts of valuable information. We are learning what's important for these products and what isn't. We are getting insight on consumer knowledge, attitudes, behavior - you name it! - all of which will be translated into the product development process.

We've said it before and we can say it (with confidence) again, Paradigm Shift is going to have some seriously bad a$$ products!

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Welcome!

Welcome to the Paradigm Shift official blog! Paradigm Shift is Paradigm's new and exciting division launching this Spring. We can't wait to release some seriously bad a$$ products in four categories: Powered Speakers, Earbuds, Headphones & Gaming Headsets. First up, the A2 (A-squared) powered speaker. Stay tuned, this blog is going to be a good time. 

In the mean time, check out our other social media pages...

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