Onkyo and Paradigm's New Audio Offerings

Onkyo’s Consumer Audio Direction

Anyone who is enthusiastic about audio will be familiar with the names of Onkyo and Paradigm. Both are well reputed for their proficiency in the home theater sound solutions space. At a recent event, both the brands showcased some of the new products that will be available to audiophiles in Singapore.

New Onkyo Headphones and Earphones

Onkyo’s name is generally associated with high-end AV receivers. But keeping modern trends in mind, Onkyo has decided to enter the consumer audio market segment with the introduction of a pair of headphones and a pair of earphones.

The two headphone models are the Onkyo ES-HF300 and the Onkyo ES-FC300. They are almost identical, expect for the fact that the former comes with OFC (oxygen free cables). Both headphones are equipped with 40mm drivers and have an impedance of 32 Ohms.

In terms of design, they have a modern look with the most interesting feature being the 'quarter crescent' hinge that connects the ear-cups to the headband. We didn't find much fault with the fit during our short demo session, but we felt that the headphones sat a bit too loosely on our head.

We also had a chance to try the headphones out for a short while. The audio seemed quite balanced and the mix was rendered well. Heavy rock tracks, such as Cherub Rock by the Smashing Pumpkins, were handled adeptly. The distortion guitars in particular were defined and had good impact. Due to the brevity of the demo session however, we didn't have enough listening time to pass an initial verdict.

Much Like the headphones, the earphones come in two flavors namely the IE-HF300 and the IE-FC300. Once again the difference between the two products is that the former comes with an OFC cable while the latter does not. Otherwise both earphones are fitted with 14.3mm drivers and have 32 Ohm impedance.

The 14.3mm drivers are on the larger side when it comes to earphones and therefore the Onkyo in-ears have large ear-buds. However, the ear-buds were quite easy to get into place and fit quite well during our period of usage.

The sound profile of the earphones, in our opinion, was the exact opposite of the Onkyo headphones. While the ES-HF300’s sound had a semblance of refinement and culture, the ES-FC300 was brash and had an in your face attitude. All in all, we quite enjoyed our test run with the earphones.

Onkyo Sound Bars

Onkyo also showcased two new sound bars in the shape of the Onkyo LS-B50 and the Onkyo LS-T10. Do note that both these models have not been released in the market. But talking with the product representatives on the spot, we were able to get you a sneak peak at what to expect.

The Onkyo LS-B50 is a two piece sound bar and sub-woofer combination. The sound bar itself is fitted with a total of six 6cm mid-range drivers as well as two tweeter which can be found on the ends. Equipped with optical, USB, coaxial and analog ports, users can hook up the sound bar with the TV in various ways according to their convenience. Additionally, you can also connect to the sound bar with your smart devices via Bluetooth.

The sub-woofer for the LS-B50 features a 12cm driver and it can be hooked up wirelessly, providing ease of use and positioning within the home. The sound bar comes with Dolby Digital technology and has three specific modes which are Music (emphasis on trebles), Movies (emphasis on bass) and News (emphasis on vocal clarity).

The LS-T10 on the other hand is a one piece home theater audio solution. Much larger than the LS-B50, the LS-T10 is more of a sound bar stand or sound plate that allows you to place your TV over it. While it has a built-in, down-firing sub-woofer and six mid-range drivers, it's missing dedicated tweeters. Since both products are not yet available locally, the representatives were unable to provide us a price points for these sound bar systems.

Onkyo’s Hi-Fi Mini System

If you haven’t noticed, a theme is developing regarding the new products from Onkyo. The Mini Hi-Fi systems, like the headphones and earphones seen above, come in two models. The CS-N755 is the premium version as it comes with internet radio and internet streaming options. The CS-555 lacks the internet features but comes with a slight reduced price tag.

Both the Mini Hi-Fi systems comes with CD trays and USB ports which can he used to hook up smart devices to the system. In fact, Onkyo representatives were eager to stress on the connectivity options available for both the CS-N755 and the CS-555.

Paradigm’s Audio Offerings

Paradigm is known for the quality of its audio and the special attention to care and detail that they take in producing their audio products. We were given the chance to listen to two configured home theater setups.

Signature Home Theater Audio

Paradigm had setup a premium 9.2-channel system for our listening pleasure and according to them, the overall system price is close to S$45,000. The individual components included two Signature S8 standing speakers at the front right and front left positions. Each S8 comes with six drivers - a 1-inch tweeter, 7-inch mid-range drivers and four 7-inch low frequency drivers.

The center channel is handled by the Signature C3. The C3 is equipped with four drivers which include a 1-inch high frequency driver, 4-inch mid-range drivers and 7-inch low frequency drivers. Rear left and rear right positions were occupied by two Signature ADP1 speakers. Much like the other components, these are also equipped with multiple drivers, five to be exact. The driver configuration for each of the rear speakers include a 1-inch tweeter, two 3.5-inch mid-range drivers and 6-inch low frequency drivers.

As if the low-frequency drivers of the speakers were not enough, the entire setup also has a dedicated sub-woofer. The Signature Sub 1 is a behemoth and features six 8-inch drivers for pumping out the lows. All of these speakers were tied together by the Onkyo TX-929 AV receiver.

We were given the chance to hear the Paradigm Signature tackle All By Myself by Charice and David Foster. Even at loud volumes, the speakers were able to render the trebles with clarity and had no distortion. At the same time the melody was beautifully preserved, with each note being delivered with impact.

Classic Home Theater Audio

If S$45,000 is a bit too pricey for you, Paradigm also showcased a more affordable hone theater solution from their Classic speaker system range. The demo system set up for our listening was stated to cost around S$3,000.

This main effects speakers consisted of two standing Classic Monitor 7 speakers. Each of these, located in the front right and front left positions, comes with a 1-inch tweeter, 5.5-inch mid-range driver and 5.5-inch low frequency driver. The center channel was handled by the Classic Center 1 which boasts a 1-inch tweeter, 3.5-inch mid-range driver and 5.5-inch low frequency drivers.

The sub-woofer for the system was a Classic PDR-80 which sports an 8-inch cone. At the rear left and rear right positions, two Atom Monitor 7 speakers provided surround audio. These come with a 1-inch tweeter and a 5.5-inch driver tasked with handling both mid and low range frequencies.

While the audio was not as nuanced from the Classic Home Theater System as compared to the Signature setup, it still had great impact. We would also like to make mention of the Onkyo TX-NR626 AV receiver that was used as the hub of the Classic sound system. It had Dynamic Volume EQ settings which could change the sound profile of the speakers. It also gave users the option to adjust the profile based on distance with the help of three presets.

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