Klipsch vs Paradigm – Which Brand Is Better?

Klipsch and are two renowned and well respected brands in the audio industry that produces high quality speakers, headphones, soundbars,  and subwoofers.

In this article, we will cover a general overview of both brands, looking specifically at sound quality, durability, price, and so on. Of course, each brand has different devices at different price points, however, we will compare them as closely as we can.

Klipsch products are known for their powerful sound, high sensitivity, and high-quality construction, while Paradigm products are known for their excellent sound quality and wide range of products. If you are looking for maximum volume from the same input signal, Klipsch is a better choice than Paradigm.

Before we continue, you can check out similar comparisons in the series:

• Klipsch Vs Yamaha
• Klipsch Vs Marshall
• Klipsch Vs Kef
• Klipsch Vs Polk

Pros and Cons of Klipsch:

• Pros: Known for producing high-quality speakers and headphones with excellent sound quality and strong bass response. Many of their products are designed to be aesthetically pleasing and can be a good fit for a home theater setup.
• Cons: Some of their products can be expensive, and some users have reported issues with durability.

Pros and Cons of Paradigm:

• Pros: Known for producing high-quality speakers with excellent sound quality and strong bass response. Many of their products are designed to be aesthetically pleasing and can be a good fit for a home theater setup.
• Cons: Some of their products can be expensive, and some users have reported issues with durability.

Quick History

Klipsch Quick History

Klipsch Audio Technologies (also known as Klipsch Speakers or Klipsch Group, Inc.) is an American loudspeaker manufacturing company based in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The company was founded in Hope, Arkansas, in 1946 by Paul W. Klipsch. Klipsch audio also makes loudspeaker drivers and enclosures, as well as complete loudspeakers for high-end, high-fidelity sound systems, public address systems, and personal computers.

It has expanded a lot and has undergone a lot of changes since its establishment. Klipsch audio still manufactures some legacy speakers that have been around since the days when the genius of P.W. Klipsch made his first speakers.

Quick History

Paradigm is a Canadian manufacturer of floorstanding and freestanding loudspeakers, home theater systems, stereos and subwoofers. Paradigm started operations in Toronto, Ontario in 1982. All Paradigm manufacturing was relocated to a new factory in Mississauga, Ontario, in 1999.

Paradigm’s business plan from the onset has always included an intense, ongoing program of study into the nature of sound and human hearing. PARC, the Paradigm Advanced Research Center, was founded in Ottawa in 1993 by two senior NRC experts.

PARC is a cutting-edge facility dedicated to the design and programming of electronics, software (including DSP and CADD), and other advanced audio technologies.

Sound Quality

Klipsch Sound Quality

Klipsch speakers are well-known for the high quality, stunningly precise sound they produce, which can be matched by only a few select brands.

The speakers produce crisp highs, powerful bass, and full, encompassing sound with low distortion. However, many people don’t like the Klipsch sound because it can tend to sound ‘bright’ or harsh.

Klipsch speakers use a horn tweeter (Klipschorn), which is what makes horns and brass instruments sound more realistic.

They are ideal for higher frequencies, which is why Klipsch speakers are often recommended when dealing with high-frequency sounds (like movies and certain music genres). This is also why high-efficiency design is a core Klipsch design principle.

Klipschorn design, patented by the founder, Paul W. Klipsch himself, is a fully horn-loaded three-way speaker, which means that it houses three separate speaker units, each with their own diaphragm and horn in three frequency ranges: high, mid and low.

Separating the frequencies in this way ensures less frequency modulation distortion. The Klipschorn design is still used in many Klipsch speakers, which explains their quality audio and energy efficiency.

Sound Quality

What makes Paradigm loudspeakers appealing? The paradigm’s outstanding sound quality results from a long-running program of fundamental audio research that dates back to the company’s inception.

No other loudspeaker company puts their research to the same rigorous testing and measurement as Paradigm does. This is done at one of the largest and most advanced speaker manufacturing companies in North America.

The Premier 800F from Paradigm has amazing sound quality, with a super clear midrange that improves vocals and enough well-integrated low frequencies to satisfy bass fans – and it doesn’t require a lot of power to drive. It’s about as good as a speaker can get for the money.

Features

Klipsch Features

Klipsch devices are best known for the premium sound they produce, but they also have a host of features to ensure a wholesome experience for users.

Below are some common features that Klipsch speakers are known for:

• HDMI-eARC connectivity: Single Cable, Single Remote
• Dolby Atmos Decoding for immersive surround sound, stereo multiple channel systems
• 8K Video Pass-Through
• Dialogue enhancement mode for crystal clear voices
• Bluetooth, NFC, WiFi, HDMI, USB Audio, and Analog/AUX and optical audio input connectivity
• Built-in universal wifi for existing Smart Home ecosystems- featuring Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Spotify Connect
• Klipsch Connect and Klipsch stream are two apps that can be used with your speakers. There are a lot of features included in the apps apart from controlling your Klipsch sound system. They are available for both iOS and Android.
• Efficiency and low power consumption: Due to the company’s use of horn-loaded speakers, they are able to manufacture speakers with high sensitivity (efficiency). It also makes the speakers consume less power compared to similarly performing speakers.

Features

Paradigm has been around for a long time and is often regarded as one of the best value speakers available.

Many speaker companies would “update” a popular lineup every 3 to 4 years, but Paradigm went back to the design board every time to be able to improve their features for the convenience of the users.

Below are some of the best features of paradigm speakers.

• High-quality wireless streaming
• Aesthetic appeal
• Options for wall-mounting
• Low-frequency extension 27Hz (DIN)
• Maximum input power 180 watt
• Sensitivity room/anechoic 92dB/89dB
• The Paradigm subwoofer control app features a Bluetooth connection to make setup and configuration easier.

Build Quality

Klipsch Build Quality

High-efficiency design is a core Klipsch design principle, and this is evident in all their products. Klipsch devices are very popular for the quality and sturdy materials that are used in their construction.

This gives their products excellent performance and remarkable durability.

The materials used in construction, such as wood, cerametallic material or plastic, are carefully selected for their acoustic, aesthetic and durability properties. 

Build Quality

Paradigm claims that all of its speakers are designed and manufactured in Canada. They don’t say “Made in Canada,” though.

This could indicate that many of the components, such as the drivers and crossover components, are made in another country. This is, however, true of most loudspeakers today, and in fact, the majority of the Premier line’s competition is made wholly in China.

However, most Paradigm products have a solid build and are carefully designed for durability. For example, Paradigm speaker enclosures are made of sound-absorbing medium- and high-density hardboard.

Internal standing waves are eliminated by using acoustic dampening material inside the enclosure. Outside, low-diffraction grilles are used to reduce interference. The diaphragm of their speakers is also mostly made of beryllium foil.

Finally, a multi-step, hand-buffed, furniture-grade finish is applied to create a work of audio art that you will be happy to show off in your home.

Ease of Use

Klipsch Ease Of Use

Klipsch devices are very easy to set up and use. With a wide range of ports for easy connectivity, such as the HDMI Arc port, setting up is as easy as plugging in and playing. Remote control support and iOS and Android apps also make it much easier to use your Klipsch devices.

Ease Of Use

Paradigm products come with a manual to help users who are not familiar with the product set up their speakers with ease.

Additionally, Paradigm makes setup and configuration easier because they have high-quality wireless streaming, ports for easy connectivity such as (HDMI, and AUX), remote control support, and the Paradigm subwoofer software application with Bluetooth connectivity, paradigm devices are quite simple to set up and operate.

Users can mix and match speaker combinations of various designs and sizes with Paradigm products, which is very handy for people who have home theaters.

Cost

Klipsch Cost

Because of the materials used in Klipsch speakers, they tend to have premium prices, such as the RP-8000F floorstanding speaker, which costs from $800 to $1000 apiece. But they deliver much more than what you pay for. If you really care about the quality of the sound and the durability of your speaker, it is easy to overlook the cost.

There are also a few Klipsch product lines that do not cost as much (the Klipsch Reference RSB-3 home cinema speaker costs from $150 to $300, while a Klipsch Reference On-Ear headphone costs from $99 to $200), but sometimes this results in lesser than premium sound quality.

Cost

The use of Paradigm beryllium is one of the features that make Paradigm products cost a bunch. Pure Beryllium foil has been precisely developed to be exponentially stiffer and much lighter than other premium diaphragm materials.

Beryllium is the very best diaphragm material. It has superior transient responsiveness, it is practically transparent, and has negligible audible character. It’s also a substance that’s generally only found in considerably more expensive speakers.

On average, paradigm products are neither cheap nor expensive, it all depends on what you’re looking for. For example, the Paradigm CI home H-55 inwall speaker is sold for about $200, while the Paradigm CI pro-P5-LCR shallow inwall speaker is sold for about $2200.

Here are some price ranges for the different devices from Paradigm audio:

• Home speakers: $200 – $2000
• Headphones: $50 – $300
• Subwoofers: $100 – $1000

Space Requirements

Klipsch Space Requirements

Klipsch speakers have a wide range of sizes and therefore require different amounts of space for effective operation. For example, there are portable PC speakers that can be easily placed on a desk while there are large cinematic models that require much more space.

Space Requirements

One of the many advantages of using Paradigm audio systems is the product’s construction. Paradigm has been persistent in creating its product in such a way that it does not take up too much space.

In addition, the paradigm’s loudspeaker and subwoofer products are mostly in-wall, on-wall, and free-standing.

Some Paradigm speakers can be rather heavy however, for example, the Paradigm’s Persona 9H weighs in at a massive 190 pounds.

Remote Controls

Klipsch Remote Controls

Klipsch supports some universal remote controllers as well as custom-made Klipsch remotes. This brings additional functionality to your devices.

Klipsch also has apps for both iOS and Android that can be used to control your Klipsch sound system remotely. The apps also allow for the use of voice assistants like Google Assistant, Spotify Connect, and Amazon Alexa, which respond to simple voice commands. Klips stream allows you to stream directly from music platforms such as Spotify and Amazon Music.

Remote Controls

The Paradigm sound remote control features a wireless range of 5-10 meters and still works perfectly fine. This gives users the ability to operate the speakers even when they are not in close range.

Only a few Paradigm speakers, such as the shift series and the Paradigm MilleniaOne CT Speaker, have a remote control.

In addition to the remote control, the Paradigm subwoofer has a control app that is available on both the Apple store for IOS users and the Google Play Store for Android users. The app includes voice assistance, which can respond to a simple voice command that simplifies setup and adjustment.

Connectivity Options

Klipsch Connectivity Options

Klipsch devices have several connectivity options including both wired and wireless choices. These include Bluetooth, NFC, WiFi, HDMI, USB Audio and Analog/AUX, and so on.

This allows you to connect your Klipsch speaker to a lot of different devices such as phones, personal computer, TV or used as part of a system of other speakers. The support for voice assistants also allows quick WiFi connection for several different speakers.

Connectivity Options

Here are the main connectivity options compatible with most paradigm speakers:

• Bluetooth
• Wi-Fi
• RCA
• HDMI

Power Range

Klipsch Power Range

Klipsch speakers consume much less power compared to other speakers of the same performance range. This is largely due to the horn tweeter that is used in their speakers, which reduces the need for a high-powered amplifier to boost the sound produced. 1 Watt RMS produces a 105 decibel at 1-meter sound pressure level (SPL), which is about 14–20 decibels higher than ordinary speakers.

The power range is different for each of the various Klipsch devices, so it is advisable to check the information included in the user manual.

Power Range

Obviously, the power consumption of paradigm devices varies. The power range of an entry-level Paradigm receiver, for example, is around 100 watts.

However, the usual power range is around 400 watts, implying that Paradigm gadgets consume more power than a few other companies’ products.

To get the most out of your focal device, it’s a good idea to read the user manual to figure out what power range it has.

Frequency Response

Klipsch Frequency Response

Klipsch speakers have very pleasing and natural frequency responses. The speakers all have frequency ranges that all lie within the recommended frequencies to produce full and natural sound.

Due to the diversity of devices produced by Klipsch, there is a wide range of frequencies ranging from about 30Hz to 15KHz. The information about the frequency response of a particular device can be obtained from the user manual.

Frequency Response

When it comes to frequency response, the Paradigm monitor 11, for example, has a frequency response of 2dB from 42 Hz to 18 kHz, However, a good frequency response ranges from 20 Hz–20 kHz at 3dB. This indicates that the monitor 11 frequency response isn’t particularly good.

This frequency range is also true for most Paradigm products, but this does not greatly affect sound production.

Conclusion

Klipsch has been in the speaker component manufacturing business for over seventy years and they have the experience to make great sounding speakers as shown in their array of quality devices.

If premium quality sound is what you want, Klipsch speakers are great options to try out. Paradigm produces great speakers that will provide sterling performance in any two-channel (stereo) or high-fidelity system. If you wish to use them in a home theater system, you will also not be disappointed.