Paradigm Monitor SE 6000F
Product Name: Paradigm Monitor SE 6000F
Product Description: Floor speaker
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Design - 8.9/10
8.9/10
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Movies Performance - 9.2/10
9.2/10
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Music Performance - 9.2/10
9.2/10
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Inputs and Features - 9.5/10
9.5/10
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Price / Quality - 9.5/10
9.5/10
Summary
Total Score
Pros
- Nice dynamic performance
- Good cabinet quality
- Can go pretty low
- Very good value for money
Cons
- No magnetic grilles
- Pre-attached plastic feet feel a bit cheap
- A lot of competition in this price range
- Comes only in two colors
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Finding some good quality floortanding speakers without braking the bank seems to be an aim for many home theater fans that want to build a good quality audio system while keeping their budget at logical levels. We are seeing a lot of floorstanders lately being offered at crazy low prices and while they may not be able to offer exactly the same quality as some more premium models they put a lot of pressure on manufacturers to offer quality at lower prices.
It seems that for many consumers the sweet spot is between $1K and $2K that’s why we see a lot of models appearing in this range as manufacturers are able to offer good performance at very affordable prices making competition very fierce which is only good for the consumer. Today we have the pleasure to test a pair of speakers from Paradigm, the Canadian company that is well established in the home theater speakers segment and known among music and home theater audiophiles for their excellent performing speakers over the years.
The Monitors SE 6000F are sub $1K speakers with each pair currently costing $899 which makes them extremely affordable so what remains to be seen is if at this price the Monitors can offer the kind of performance that Paradigm is so famous of. With the 6000F being at the top of their entry-level series expectations are high so without further delay we start our Paradigm Monitor SE 6000F review to find out what these lovely looking speakers can do.
Design, Inputs and Features
Exterior
The Paradigm Monitor SE 6000F cabinet measures 41.25” x 9” x 14.125” (105cm x 23cm x 36cm) and has a weight of 44lb (19.9kg) while it comes with pre-attached plastic feet which accommodate the screw-type spikes as well as rubber pads. And while the feet provide the necessary stability we would prefer some sort of metal or aluminium type stand to make it look more premium as we have seen many speakers in this range to do that. At least the screw-type spikes give you the necessary freedom to balance the speakers correctly.
Coming in only two colors with matte black and gloss white available the Monitors are some lovely looking speakers with the front face almost completely covered by the grille that is attached to sockets at the front baffle. We would like some magnetic grilles as most likely you will want to use the speakers without them making the sockets visible but we cannot complain much in this price. At the bottom of the grille the Paradigm logo appears prominent while the rest of the design features sharp lines that give them an nice overall look.
At the back of the cabinet we find dual bass ports while an inset at the very bottom provide the necessary wire connectors. In total we like how the speakers look. Their sharp corners and strong lines give them a strong stature while build quality is very good even for their price. We have a small objection about the plastic feet but we can live with that.
Internal Hardware
These are 3-way, bass reflex speakers and removing the full frontal grille we are greeted by a total of five drivers which is a rather impressive sight. These include one 5.5” (140mm) mid-range driver which is accompanied by another three 5.5” (140mm) bass drivers with all of them featuring mineral-filled polypropylene cones, inverted dust caps and downroll surrounds which give them a low-profile look.
As for the tweeter the 6000F is equipped with a 1” (25mm) high frequency driver that uses Paradigm’s X-PAL Pure-Aluminum, ferro-fluid damped and cooled dome that sits behind a perforated phase-aligning (PPA) lens which is serious stuff in this price.
With this five driver setup crossover between mid-range and tweeter drivers is set at 3.0 kHz while between the woofers and the mid-range driver at 800 Hz. The combination of the five drivers setup give the Monitors a frequency range of 53Hz – 21kHz on axis, a rocking 93 dB of sensitivity and 8 ohms of impedance.
Considering the price Paradigm seems to have done a great job with providing the Monitors with the necessary drivers to able to deliver accordingly so it only remains to be seen if they can deliver as good as they look.
Connectivity
As we mentioned above at the bottom end of the back face we find a special inset that house the wire connectors with a pair of five-way binding posts that you can connect either bare wires or special banana plugs. These are gold plated with good quality plastic for tight connections.
Performance
Paradigm suggests to place the speakers a minimum distance of 20 cm from the back wall in order to improve the overall bass performance since bass ports are rear facing. As we usually do with most of our floorstander tests we placed them 30cm away from the wall while we also let them run for a few good hours as all new speakers need a certain break-in period in order to perform better.
Speaker placement is not as crystal clear so you always have to move them a bit around until you get an acoustic result that satisfy you personally. After making all necessary connections to our AV receiver and balance calibrations we were ready to proceed with our tests.
Movies
When it comes to testing home theater speakers we usually pick two specific titles that we enjoy very much trying out. The first one is the 4K UHD version of Saving Private Ryan with it’s amazing Dolby Atmos track. We have two key scenes that we usually try with the opening scene with the landing on Omaha beach and the finale with the battle of Ramelle being two of the most iconic world war 2 scenes in cinema.
With the Omaha beach first the Monitors were able to show us from the first moment how much punch they pack as the German artillery in the distance had the necessary weight and feel. Various environmental effects like the water splashes or the marine boat engine sounds had a very natural tone with good dimensionality.
When the boats reach the beach and the doors open the soldiers are greeted by a rain of German machine gun fire that rip them apart and the Monitors were really able to pass this sense of fear and mayhem happening that moment while explosions from the German artillery really made us feel uncomfortable by their roughness and power. And through all this craziness we were pleasantly surprised by the clarity of the dialogue and how distinct it was compared to the rest of the effects. Obviously in a movie oriented audio system a center channel is a must for the best possible outcome but even without one the Monitors held their ground with very respectable results.
Skipping to the last scene with the battle of Ramelle the Monitors continued to give a very stellar performance. Tank fire from the tiger tank felt real with good volume in space while the ominous sound of the German armor approaching the village were reproduced remarkably and with the necessary dynamism. When the main battle begins everything from small arms fire, explosions, debris and tank movements that were accompanied by a miriad of environmental effects were very faithfully reproduced.
For our second movie test we go for something a bit different as we chose the 4K UHD of Jurassic World which comes with a bombastic DTS:X mix that has a very different tone than Saving Private Ryan which had a much more rough mix that was perfect for the tone of the film. Here instead we get a more smooth and balanced soundtrack that although packs the necessary oomph it also has many diverse scenes that can give us a better overall idea of the speaker’s performance.
Here the Monitors were also able to perform very well. The film may not be so much to the face but with dinosaurs wreak havoc on the island the speakers were able reproduce effects like roars and feet rumble with a kind of smoothness and naturalness immersing you even more into the action.
Ambient sounds are very prominent in this film during the jungle scenes with the speakers being able to provide the necessary expansion to the soundstage. Again we will say the same thing. While we had no problem watching a film in a single 2.0 system as the Monitors did the best they could to provide us with the full experience, adding a center channel as well as subwoofer will greatly elevate the kind of quality these speakers can achieve.
We did push the speakers at higher than what we would like levels in order to check their integrity and we didn’t hear any audible distortion. The Monitors were able to pass with flying colors.
Music
Of course from our review couldn’t be missing our music tests so we picked a selection of FLAC music tracks that we streamed through our AV receiver. The Monitors SE 6000F were able to give a very balanced performance without any obvious exaggerations but also we didn’t feel that they were missing anything of great importance. Bass, at least for the tracks we did test, felt full and consistent and while we are sure a subwoofer would improve things the speakers did just fine even without one at least for music that is not extremely demanding on it. When bass goes deep the speakers keep a straight face even if they don’t have the necessary “bass power” mentality.
There was also great dimensionality which made the musical instruments very distinguishable through space while there was very good separation of the two channels. Vocals felt clear with high frequencies binding nicely with the mid-range while the lows provide the necessary weight to the overall performance.
The Monitors can provide a very solid performance across the whole dynamic range without them loosing focus even when things go wild which was definitely a nice characteristic. If you are a music lover and you want a set of speakers that can provide an admirable performance the 6000F should definitely be added to your list.
Final Thoughts
Paradigm proved us that you don’t need to spend a fortune in order to get a pair of good quality floorstanding speakers. Costing close to the $1K per pair mark the Monitors SE 6000F are the kind of speakers that will be able to offer an amazing experience to anyone on a budget but also to those that take their audio standards rather seriously.
The Monitors can be surprisingly loud without loosing focus while keeping a very energetic mid-range and bright highs. When it comes to bass performance we cannot say that they floored us with their performance but they can definitely hold their own. And because of this the speakers can work great either in a 2.0 channels music setup or a full surround system that will include a subwoofer and surround speakers. Obviously using a subwoofer will elevate their performance even more and if you are considering these mostly for movies then one is recommended even if not entirely necessary.
Cabinet quality is very good but the plastic feet show a little cheap. Also in this price range there are many other models available making the competition even more fierce. And while the Monitors performed very well we cannot say they offered anything amazingly different that will distinguish them from the rest of the same class. Does this make them bad? No, not by far. On the contrary we are extremely happy to see speakers with this price performing so good. The Paradigm Monitor SE 6000F is the kind of speakers that can really offer acoustic quality even to those that cannot afford to spend a lot for their movies/music passion. And just for this we definitely recommend them.
For more reviews you can check our dedicated Floorstanding Speaker reviews list or even look at our Product Reviews Table where you can find the brand and specific product you are looking for.
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*We are a reader-supported website. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. Home Media Entertainment does not accept money for reviews.*
Wow your review and description are well detailed and honest! I bought these for my left and right paired with the 2000 center channel. I must confess, they sound awesome especially when paired with those 2 subs. Though without the subs they sounded a little bright for me, but when I added the subs it was awesomely good.
I am glad you enjoy them Jordan. They are indeed very good for their price.
Hello, I think it is a good recommendation, generally these types of speakers are too expensive, and it is difficult to find one that is at an affordable price and has a good quality.
I think the Paradigms are good, but I don’t like how they look. But it is good to see every detail to see if it is to our liking or not.
Speakers design is very much taste dependent Emmanuel. They can cost up to $10,000 and still don’t like their look. With speakers build and sound quality usually don’t go together with looks.
Another good product review. I haven’t bought any home theater yet but definitely in the market for one. I am still doing my research on what to buy. I want just like this. Quality is good and at the same time not costly. I will check out youtube and check some more reviews and will bookmark your website so when I’m ready to buy I’ll go ahead and book it. Thank you for this! All the best!
You are welcome AJ. If you need any more help with your selections let me know.
Should I buy these it the Polk t600 I found a pair of those on sale at Best Buy for 450 or these guys cost an extra 300
Hello Devon. Unfortunately I haven’t tested the T600 myself so I cannot compare the two.
Nothing brings life to a household like great loudspeakers. The Paradigm Monitor Floor Standing Loudspeakers are so easy on the eyes. I love the design, it looks simple yet speaks a lot of sophistication. I like that it comes with its own plastic feet and rubber pads. This is a safety measure they considered to avoid it toppling over.
The gloss white color is my favorite. It gives the room a feel on clarity, same as the sound it produces. The movies you picked for this test is really interesting. Gives me the full visual features of the movies.
Thank you for such a detailed review and thorough testing.
Hey Carol. Thanks for reading our review. You can check out any of the other reviews we have written also.
Dear Stratos,
We are looking for floor standing speakers for our church. I was doing some research online for the floor standing speakers and I came across your helpful and informative review post.
The detailed walk-through you provided on Monitors SE 6000F is insightful. The images you shared are very helpful.
The Features, Specifications, the pros, and cons are helpful in making our purchase decision. Your review post has given me plenty to think.
I will have to go back to it a few times just to grasp all the valuable information you shared and you definitely have done a great job with this review.
Much Success!
Paul
Thank you Paul. If you need any more help or further details on the speakers let me know.
Thank you for this great review as I am in the market for upgrading my home theater system. These Paradigm Monitor SE 6000F speakers look awesome, but I do agree that the feet look a bit cheap. But that is of no worry to me being that I already have custom speaker stands with rubber edges. I can just remove the feet and it will stand evenly and secured.
Though I also agree with you that a magnetic grille would be better so as not to see the socket holes, seeing how my preferred color is black, they will not be as noticeable. Everything sounds great and I cannot believe that price of $899. Being under $1000 is AMAZING! Does Paradigm offer a surround sound package that I could also use with these speakers? Thank you in advance for your reply.
Hey Robert. For surrounds you can look at the Monitor SE Atoms and for the center channel at the Monitor SE 2000C that both belong to the same Monitor series and fit excellent all together and have the same relatively low price if cost is of great importance to you.
Can you please tell me how these speakers would compare to the SVS Prime Tower? I know they are fairly close in price.
Hello Paul. The SVS Prime Towers are more expensive than the Paradigms at least from what I have seen. Unfortunately I haven’t been able to review them yet so I cannot compare the two. I will try to find them for a hands on review in the near future.
The SVS Prime Tower, as of June 2021, are $499.95 each, exactly the same as the Paradigm SE 6000F. That being said, I bought a pair of 6000F’s in 2019, (after giving serious consideration to the Prime Towers, BTW) and I am very pleased with their overall performance and musical versatility.Tonal balance, accuracy, imaging, and sound stage depth are very good for $1000 per pair speakers. Room placement is important, but not a boundary dependent as other similar floor standing speakers.Paradigm is an well-respected part of the audio community, and in my opinion rank as a stellar audio value.
Hey Greg. Thanks a lot for giving us your input. Much appreciated. Glad you are enjoying them!
Hi Stratos,
Thank you for the great review!
What would you choose if you were deciding between the Paradigm se 6000/3000 and the Monitor Audio Bronze 5? Primarily used for movie/TV watching (80%) little r&b music (20%)?
Thanks,
Jeff
Hello Jeff. Unfortunately while I can tell you about the Paradigms, I didn’t have the chance to try out the Monitor Audio Bronze 5 yet. I am going to make a few reviews on Monitor Audio speakers in the near future but I cannot tell you for sure if the Bronze 5 will be one of them.
But if you want them primarily for movies the Paradigms are indeed a great choice in this price range and I can suggest them to you without any hesitation.
Are thy better then the Polk s60 ore the same I play games movies and music
Hello Thomas. Unfortunately I didn’t have the chance to test the S60 yet so I cannot compare them with the Paradigms.
Hi there. I’m so late to this conversation…but here it goes…
I have a set of Paradigm Monitor 7 v6 for front and a Paradigm CC-390 v6 for centre- I have a Denon AVR-X4400 and I’m running a 5.2.4 atmos with 2 SVS PC-2000 pro subs (I’m very lucky I know). I’m thinking about upgrading my front and centre speakers and I would prefer NOT to overspend!
These newer Monitor speakers (and the matching centre) would be better than my current older monitors? or just about the same? Would a SVS Prime towers (and a matching centre) be better or just about the same? or I will need to spend a lot of money to get really much better speakers? Just wondering…so far my HT has been good. The centre is an older massive speaker from Paradigm but still a good one. I wish I would have purchased the CC-690 but it was out of my budget long ago. Thanks for the awesome review
Hello Erick. Unfortunately I haven’t heard the speakers you have so I cannot compare. Now between the Paradigm Monitors and the SVS Prime Towers I would probably go for the SVS. But as with all my suggestions the best you can do is go audition them yourself because what I like may not apply to you.
What you haven’t mentioned is why you want to change your speakers. Is there something you don’t like in your current setup?
Hi again. Well my HT is a modest one-my TV is a 75″ samsung q90T and I have a 5.24 atmos which sounds nice-i cant play at very high levels but to me it sounds well defined and with the SVS subs it can be punchy even at low levels but not boomy. The CC-390 is a massive center speaker which makes dialogue very clear. My two test 4k discs are Blade Runner 2049 and Pacific Rim. Lots of bass and atmos activity for sure. I’m considering upgrading but I’m sure my HT is a decent one. I like the new monitors in glossy white ( i wonder if paradigm makes a matching center in white too?) but since my subs and my 4 atmos prime elevation are from SVS i was considering completing the set with SVS at the front too! But without listening to the paradigm and the svs speakers I think i could spend a lot of money only to get a minor improvement. I will re-watch Saving Private Ryan and decide after! I may ask my wife to take our baby for a walk so that i can play my system a bit loud!! Thanks for the response.
Hello Erick. If you absolute want to change your speakers and since you have prime elevations for Atmos then I would strongly suggest you to go with SVS in order to keep the timber matching of your audio system. It is always preferable to have the same speaker brand, and even series if possible, for all your channels in order for the sound to match better and have greater uniformity than having different speakers from different brands.
At least this is what I would do. Cheers!
Great review on the Paradigm Monitor Stratos. Keep up the great work!!
Based on this, I have narrowed down my choices to the following:
1. Floor Standers: Paradigm Monitor SE 6000F
Centre: Paradigm Monitor 2000
Rear: Paradigm Monitor Atom
Subwoofer: Paradigm Cinema Sub
Amp: Yamaha RXV6A
2. Q Acoustics 3050i 5.1 Set up
Amp: Yamaha RXV6A
Could you please recommend any one of these?
Both of them are good ones and to be honest it has to do more with what your ears prefer the most. Personally I would go for the Q Acoustics but it could very easy be the other way around for you. If you can test hear them I would strongly recommend you do so because only your ears can tell you which one you prefer. For me the Q Acoustics would be the ones but as I said since they are in the same category it is up to you to choose which sound you like the most.
Thank you Stratos 🙂
Cheers
You are welcome. Let me know if you need any other assistance.
Hi Stratos
I am looking to buy them 2x SE6000 MAINS with1x 2000C Center, 2x H65A IC Rears and 2x H65R Atmos for home theatre for a room size 7m by 5.5 m, could you advise will it fill up the room. Thanks
Hello Ash. There is a lot more to it than just giving some dimensions and expecting to get an answer. The room acoustics, how is the room design, what kind of walls it has, how close you will be sitting to them and how you will place them and in general how high you like to push the volume. In theory most speakers will work in most cases, what matters is how good they will do and unfortunately I have very little information to give you an honest opinion and the best you will get is an estimated guess. If you would like we can have a more direct communication either through emails or messenger in order to give me more info on the matter.
Hi
What’s the email address I can send you the mail.
I have plaster board wall on three sides and glass doors on one side.
The seating will be 4 m from the front speaker with 2 speakers in the ceiling and 2 atmos with 2x SE6000 MAINS free standing on either side of the screen and 1x 2000C Center.
Hello Ash. You can find the email in the ABOUT section. Thanks