Home Theater Forum - View Single Post - Paradigm surrounds: Atoms or ADP-170's?

Josh~H · 07-24-2003, 05:32 PM

Forgive me for making a new thread on this topic. I've been discussing my soon-to-be-bought Paradigm 5.1 system in at least two separate threads, and I'm trying to consolidate my thoughts into a more focused thread. This thread.

I'm going to audition Paradigm Atoms, CC-170, ADP-170's, and PDR-10. This setup fits nicely within my budget, and unless I'm dissatisfied with the audition, I'll likely make a purchase in the next 2 days.

It appears that Atoms may be cheaper than the ADP-170 surrounds. I know the ADP-170 features a dipole design in order to create a more diffuse sound for surround duty. With my current lousy rears (old sony satellites), the surround track always seems decidedly localized. I suspect that the dipole design of the ADP-170 would probably serve me better, especially since I'm going to be using this system almost 100% for DVDs movies.

But my Yamaha A/V has 6.1 DTS-ES Discrete/DD-EX...and given that the Atoms are cheaper than the ADP-170's (I think), I might be able to get Atoms all around -- including rear center -- for about the same price as a 5.1 set with ADP-170's. The addition of the rear center Atom could complete the rear stage and mitigate the localization effects of 2 direct speakers for the L/R surround.

Is my logic sound? What advice can you offer? Any been-there-done-that stories?

07-24-2003, 05:32 PM	#1 of 17
Josh~H Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Local Time: 03:26 PM Local Date: 11-23-2008 Posts: 125	Forgive me for making a new thread on this topic. I've been discussing my soon-to-be-bought Paradigm 5.1 system in at least two separate threads, and I'm trying to consolidate my thoughts into a more focused thread. This thread. I'm going to audition Paradigm Atoms, CC-170, ADP-170's, and PDR-10. This setup fits nicely within my budget, and unless I'm dissatisfied with the audition, I'll likely make a purchase in the next 2 days. It appears that Atoms may be cheaper than the ADP-170 surrounds. I know the ADP-170 features a dipole design in order to create a more diffuse sound for surround duty. With my current lousy rears (old sony satellites), the surround track always seems decidedly localized. I suspect that the dipole design of the ADP-170 would probably serve me better, especially since I'm going to be using this system almost 100% for DVDs movies. But my Yamaha A/V has 6.1 DTS-ES Discrete/DD-EX...and given that the Atoms are cheaper than the ADP-170's (I think), I might be able to get Atoms all around -- including rear center -- for about the same price as a 5.1 set with ADP-170's. The addition of the rear center Atom could complete the rear stage and mitigate the localization effects of 2 direct speakers for the L/R surround. Is my logic sound? What advice can you offer? Any been-there-done-that stories?