Today it is very difficult to imagine a time when Paradigm was not one of the leaders in the market of high-quality acoustic systems. However, in the nineties it was exactly like that. Moreover, most of the company’s products were sold abroad. Perhaps the reason was the instability of the acoustic systems market in Canada, which at that time was divided between a few large manufacturers producing cheap and outwardly unsightly boxes, and a myriad of small specialized companies, many of which consisted of one person installing purchased speaker sets in also purchased ready-made enclosures.
What you can always count on when dealing with Paradigm is progress and the development of new ideas, supported by a dedicated team. All this is aimed at confirming the impeccable reputation of the company. Paradigm Soundplay can immerse you in a world of devastating explosions, gentle whispers and crystal silence, immerse you in the emotional heart of music.
The Paradigm Soundplay soundbar is a completely independent product. The Paradigm Soundplay soundbar can be placed either on the wall or on the table. No special brackets are required in any case – the kit includes a template for easy installation. In case the receiver on the TV is covered during installation of the soundbar, an IR signal repeater is provided. There is also a small remote control. The basic set of keys is also left on the device itself, which is rare for soundbars. In order not to violate the designer’s minimalism, they are hidden on the back (in the wall-mounted version – on the top) wall of the case. The switching ports are hidden in a special niche, and the cables can be effectively hidden from sight in any type of placement. The set of inputs suggests that the Paradigm Soundplay is primarily designed to expand the sound capabilities of the TV. There are two digital S/PDIF ports, an analog stereo input on two RCA connectors, a LAN network port and a subwoofer output (RCA). The acoustic part of the device has three speakers for each of the two channels. From the audio track received via the digital path in Dolby Digital or DTS format, virtual surround sound is formed, without losing information intended for the center and rear channels.
The wireless Bluetooth interface provides convenient communication with both portable and stationary devices. Although the soundbar is perceived as an addition to the TV, this model is prepared to work with musical material no worse than any specialized audio system. The device is capable of playing high-resolution audio with parameters up to 24 bit / 192 kHz. In addition to simulating surround sound, digital sound processing tools include improving the intelligibility of dialogues and expanding the frequency range of compressed audio files. Both seem very useful functions, and various equalizer programs will optimally adjust the sound of the system for a specific task literally by pressing the native button. The wireless Bluetooth channel works here in both directions – you can use Paradigm Soundplay as a wireless speaker for your smartphone or, conversely, broadcast sound from the soundbar to wireless headphones. By the way, this is a convenient addition to the capabilities of the TV for lovers of night sessions.
Features Paradigm Soundplay
Wireless Bluetooth Receiver, Qualcomm APT-X™
Amplifier Anthem® Class D amplifier; 270W Dynamic Peak; 135W RMS
Anthem Room Correction – ARC™, with included calibrated microphone
Wide-range dynamic head
Sensitivity Room / Anechoic 89 dB
DSP-based preamplifier, Dolby® Digital, DTS Digital Surround™
Inputs 2 Optical SPDIF (digital optical), 2 analog stereo RCA
Outputs 1 HDMI with Audio Return Channel, 2 IR, 1 Sub
Weight 5.4 kg
Dimensions WxHxD 10 cm × 110 cm × 17 cm