Paradigm SHIFT A2 Earns "Highly Recommended" Stamp of Approval from AVForums.com (Plus a stand-out review!)

AVForums.com reviewed the Paradigm SHIFT A2 powered speakers and liked what they heard... A LOT... Enough to give them the AVForums.com "Highly Recommended" stamp of approval! AND, in fact, they compared the A2 to an iPad...

"The Paradigm Shift A2s struck me as having a certain iPad quality. You think you don't need or want the A2s, until you've spent a while using them. You slowly realize there are so many situations where they can fulfill a role, you start to wonder what life was like before." 

...A new reference for us, but a wonderful one to say the least! Here are some more excerpts from the review...

"A2s have a very clean, very smooth treble, that treads a fine line between delivering enough detail to sound interesting, whilst not sounding dull. Sibilance, which particularly draws the ears attention to treble nasties and therefore treble level, is very well controlled, but not at the expense of squashing the shimmer and shine from cymbals, or the tinkle of bullet casings."

"The midrange is similarly butter smooth, without ever grating even at consistently high volumes."

...Not too shabby on the mids and highs, but what about the lows? Read on...

"Depending upon the level of playback, bass performance is quite remarkable for a speaker of this size. It is very deep and clean and, if positioned sympathetically, as tuneful as any mini monitor you will hear. Of course, the positional caveat applies to all speakers, but the extra depth on offer is only something that can be offered by an active speaker. With the performance envelope of the driver and it’s matching amplifier known, the extra extension can be offered without risk to the mid/bass driver.  At all volumes, it is tight and controlled and tracks changes of notes like a numismatist, the grip and texture a fine demonstration of what true active amplification brings to the party."

 ...Ok awesome, so the A2 proves strong in terms of highs, mids and lows - score! Now let's talk dynamics...

"...the other definitively active quality of the A2s, is their dynamics and rhythmic timing. With the phase vagaries of a passive crossover side-stepped, notes at all frequencies start and stop at the same time. The leading edge of sounds are less time smeared, intensifying the dynamic swing, with the greater control of the driver describing the decay more precisely."

... There is so much more we could share, but we would much prefer that you take the time to click here! and read the AVForums.com review in full.

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

"The Paradigm SHIFT E1 earphone excels in audio quality... remarkable sound for such an inexpensive IEM." - Touchtip

Touchtip reviewed our entry-level in-ear headphones, the Paradigm SHIFT E1, and had much praise to send our way! Here are some quotes straight from the review...

Design Aspects
"An immediate trait that pops right out when looking at the Paradigm SHIFT E1 earphones is the design of the earpieces. The wire also makes the earphones eye attractive. Paradigm has done a splendid job in distinguishing their line of earbuds from other companies."

"The Paradigm SHIFT E1 features ergonomically designed earpieces that allow it to be an easy pair of buds to wear... each eartip is color coded to distinguish between left and right quickly. This is something that no most earphone companies do but they should."

Performance
"For being a $50 earphone the E1 is a killer in terms of audio quality. After a few initial days of buring in and a good few months of testing the Paradigm SHIFT E1 lives up to its price point and even goes beyond it. It's clear and transparent all around and doesn't largely favor one single audio spectrum more."

"The E1 is a relaxing listening experience that doesn't strain the listener with one style more than the other. Bass doesn't have that drowning effect and is nicely impactful. Vocals sound just as clear as other instruments and sound lively. There's also good separation between the instruments and a decent soundstage. It's remarkable sound for such an inexpensive IEM."

Comfort
"Even without wearing the Paradigm SHIFT E1 earphones over the ear they are comfortable. This is coming from a person who always wears IEMs over the ear. The E1 does a good job of staying in place... they seal pleasantly... makes them a good pair to use for an extended period of time."

Click here! to read the full Paradigm SHIFT E1 earphone review.

Click here! for more information on Paradigm SHIFT E1 or to buy online.

Paradigm SHIFT E3m earbuds offer "stealth portability, deep low-end extension, warm sound and wallet friendliness" - EH

Bob Archer of Electronic House tried out our E3m earbuds and not only enjoyed the fact that they blocked out the painful dance/pop remixes at his daughter's dance class but also that they were reasonably priced too.

Here are a couple of  teasers from Archer's review...

"My initial impressions of the headphones were that they were comfortable to wear. I’ll admit that I’m not a fan of ear buds because they never seem like they fit right. That wasn’t the case with the E3ms, however, which come with a choice of three fittings that all proved comfortable"

"Over time the ear buds did tighten up and that ripe upper bass evaporated. This trait lends warmth to its sound reproduction that extends through the midrange. The ear bud’s top end is extended with no hint of rolloff, and the E3Ms image well."

"Another factor I should point out with the E3ms is the ear buds’ ability to block out outside noise, thanks to their snug, yet comfortable, fit. Using my daughter’s Tuesday dance class as a backdrop the E3ms spare me the pain of having to hear the worst music man ever created (dance mixes of pop music should be outlawed). This is something that travelers will want to consider as airplane cabin noise can be highly distracting."

"Further enhancing the E3m’s attractiveness is its price point. I compared the E3ms to headphones that are much more expensive and it held its own."

"I’ve been using the E3m for a few months at work, at home and for other things and over time... If ear buds are your ticket to portable device audio bliss, check out the Paradigm Shift’s E3m. They offer a combination of stealth portability, deep low-end extension, warm sound and wallet friendliness."

Click here! to read the full Paradigm SHIFT E3m review at EH.com

Click here! for Paradigm SHIFT E3m product details or to buy online.

"The E3m is a genuinely musical device that does what it is set out to do... to please almost anyone" - The Audio Beat

Richard Freed of The Audio Beat reviewed the Paradigm SHIFT E3m and concluded that "it has an agreeably musical character that will appeal to more than a few listeners." We were pleased to read all of the details that Richard went into when testing out the E3ms and although we have mentioned some highlights below, we encourage you to read the full review.

"The E3m looks good... understated elegance."

Good looks
"The E3m looks good. Its attractive design seems to be an indication of solidity and seriousness of purpose, and an encouragement of high expectations. There is nothing radical about it, but nothing really ordinary either. It's available in either black or white. The black option, which I received, contrasts with the sleek-looking machined aluminum used for the 'buds and the grip for  the connecting pin to create a further impression of understated elegance."

"The E3m comes with three pairs of tips -- small, medium and large... Although most IEM user guides tell us to go for a tight seal to ensure a rich bass response, I was pleased to see that Paradigm cautions, "Tips should fit snugly but not tightly." Too tight a seal can pump up the bass in such a way that the defining high frequencies are swamped on the low end, robbed of their clarity and definition, and bass becomes an amorphous sonic ooze instead of being an element of the music."

Performance
"The burn-in proceeded impressively. After about 25 hours' use the E3m identified itself as something a good deal more than simply a good performer for the price; by 50 hours the reservation "for the price" more or less faded out of the picture; after 80 or 90 hours, it was simply a fine musical device that will appeal particularly to listeners who favor IEMs and are most comfortable with a rich, sumptuous low end, without sacrificing definition throughout the range."

"Here the cymbals were delicately vivid, and the triangle... emerged from its cushion of orchestral texture with the slender, shimmering ping one hears from a good seat in a concert hall. The chorus too came through with fine naturalness."

"... and the E3m upheld the familiar image of burnished gold, while the upsurge of the orchestra's entire low end... was given exceptional presence and body."

"The E3m handled the beefy good humor of this episode with its kaleidoscopic details just beautifully."

"Its declared objective of rich bass was realized without neglecting the rest of the tonal spectrum, and the nature of one's response to it is likely to be more in the nature of personal taste than an objective judgment of "right and wrong." In other words, beyond the E3m's native accuracy lies the realm of personal taste."

Summing it up
"The bottom line here, though, is that the E3m more or less defines its own terms rather than meeting its established competitors head-on... The E3m is a genuinely musical device that does what it set out to do... to please almost anyone. It is comfortable for long stretches without physical or listening fatigue -- and if cost is a concern, it is clearly a standout at its modest price."
 

Click here! to read the full review by the Audio Beat.

Click here! for more information on the E3m or to buy online.

Paradigm SHIFT April Audio Giveaway with Technology Tell

We have paired up with Technology Tell to offer you - the readers - an April-long audio giveaway. This special month-long giveaway includes four sets of Paradigm SHIFT E2m earbuds. And the best part (other than a chance at free earbuds)? Technology Tell is offering you a variety of opportunities to win. Read on for details on how to enter; it's too easy!

Entry Method #1:
Entry method #1 is the fastest and easiest... Simply click here and fill in the subscription form.

Entry Method #2: 
Up until Thursday, April 12th at 4 PM EST, you can get one extra chance to win by connecting with Technology Tell on Pinterest. Pinterest users must pin original pictures of something related to music, use the hashtag #showbuds AND mention @TechnologyTell. They will monitor these pins and whoever gets the most re-pins for the week wins!

Entry Method #3:
If you are not on Pinterest, have no fear. Next week Technology Tell will offer Twitter users a chance to win a pair of the Paradigm Shift E2m earbuds.

Entry Method #4:
AND, there will be a few special extra chances to win hidden in some of Howard Whitman’s music reviews.

Finally, in the last week, anyone who filled in the official form (Entry Method #1) will have a chance to win one of two pairs of the Paradigm SHIFT earbuds.

So get started! The subscription form and Pinterest portion of the contest are already in the works. Be sure to follow us on Twitter: @ShiftbyParadigm and @TechnologyTell as well as Paradigm SHIFT's Facebook page and Technology Tell's Facebook page... cuz you don’t want to miss any of the week-by-week opportunities!

Remember, the more you participate, the better your chances.

 Good luck!

Click here! for more information on E2m earbuds.