Better sound for modern living – Paradigm Founder Series brings precise control and game-changing dynamics to music and media.
Pulse Cinemas is excited to introduce a whole new range from Canadian audio specialist Paradigm with the Founder Series, a six-model range of premium loudspeakers that bring high-end performance and luxurious style to Hi-Fi and home cinema systems.
Founder is the first completely new speaker line to be introduced since Paradigm founder Scott Bagby reacquired the company two years ago. Though it draws on nearly 40 years of Paradigm innovation and evolution from the award-winning flagship Persona range, it brings a host of new technologies to its driver designs, cabinet construction and even the hardware that holds it all together.
Designed, tested, engineered and manufactured at Paradigm’s state-of-the-art 225,000 square foot facility in Toronto, Canada, the new series includes three floorstanders, the Founder 80F, Founder 100F and the hybrid active/passive Founder 120H with ARC Genesis room correction; along with the Founder 40B standmount, Founder 90C centre and Founder 70LCR which can be installed vertically or horizontally. The Founder Series offers anyone looking for great sound the ultimate in flexibility when it comes to system building.
“The Founder Series is a strong accomplishment for Paradigm. We are combining an iconic design, sound that has astounding clarity along with a delicate and believable realism and a sonic impact that will send shivers down your spine.” Says Scott Bagby, Founder and CEO, “I am immensely proud of our development teams’ devotion to produce a line that clearly exceeds all expectations”
The choice
All models are available in a choice of four artisan-grade finishes – Walnut or Black Walnut fine-quality wood veneer and Midnight Cherry or Piano Black high gloss. Paradigm’s patented technologies are developed completely in-house and along with obsessive attention to detail and exhaustive testing, deliver dynamic, detailed and lifelike performance that out-performs higher-priced products. Commenting on the new range, John Soden, VP of International Sales, says, “Pleasing both the stereo and home theatre enthusiast, the Founder Series should serve as a reminder that exceptional audio performance does matter.”
New technologies
AL-MAC High-Frequency Driver
Paradigm’s newest tweeter design is made lighter and stronger with a special combination of Aluminium, Magnesium and Ceramic materials. It has a natural resistance to uncontrolled resonance that makes it far more accurate and responsive than other designs. It’s paired with a special Oblate Spherical Waveguide (OSW) that maintains sonic focus on the listening area. This makes it perfect for large, open-plan rooms with reflective surfaces like windows and hardwood floors. It doesn’t just sound good on paper, it performs in the real world.
AL-MAG Midrange Driver
Founder’s midrange driver is developed with listener sensitivity in mind. Focusing its performance where our ears are most sensitive, the cone is a 6-inch Aluminium Magnesium alloy driven with a 2-inch multi-layered voice coil and a Perforated Phase Alignment (PPA) lens. The result is unparalleled realism and accuracy.
CARBON-X Unibody Bass Driver
To maintain clarity in the lowest frequencies, Paradigm has created an ultra-stiff, ultra-strong bass driver called CARBON-X in 5.5, 6, 7 and 8-inch sizes. It is made from mineral-infused carbon fiber and moulded as a single piece to maintain control at the highest volumes. Combined with Paradigm’s patented over-moulded Active Ridge Technology (ART) surround and Advanced Shock-Mount Isolation hardware, it is both detailed and powerful.
Dual-Sync Continuous Flux Motor
Both the 90C and 70LCR models use a coaxial driver with an AL-MAC tweeter centrally mounted in an AL-MAG midrange cone profiled to match the sonic characteristics of the OSW designs in the rest of the series. Here, Paradigm’s patent-pending Dual-Sync Continuous Flux Motor solves the issues associated with drivers that have combined magnet structures, resulting in a low-distortion, high-output midrange/tweeter combination.
Cascade Fusion Bracing
In place of the traditional square cabinet geometry, each Founder Series model features a faceted enclosure, constructed from ¾-inch MDF and 1-inch thick top and bottom insets. The bracing is fused directly into the walls of the cabinet, then the cabinet is folded around the frame as a single piece. The angular longitudinal central brace forms a structural core while dividing the walls of the cabinet into non-uniform surfaces. These surfaces are reinforced by additional horizontal cascade braces in optimal locations to further prevent excess energy from escaping through the walls of the cabinet. Unlike the rest of the technologies, the Founder cabinet is meant to be seen and NOT heard.
Advanced Shock-Mount Isolation System
To control driver to cabinet and cabinet to floor resonance, Paradigm has developed the Advanced Shock-Mount Isolation system. Special hardware with an elastomer suspension mechanically decouples the driver from the cabinet. Advanced Shock-Mount Feet on floorstanding models isolate the entire cabinet from the floor using the same elastomer to prevent any extraneous vibration from colouring the sound. The feet include hardware for both carpet and hard flooring and are adjustable from above, eliminating any need to move or tip the cabinet.
The Founder line-up – details and pricing on request
Founder 40B
The Founder 40B Standmount Loudspeaker delivers the innovation and performance of the Founder Series in an affordable and compact cabinet that’s less than 20cm wide. A 1-inch AL-MAC Ceramic Dome Tweeter with an OSW Waveguide and PPA Lens renders crystal-clear detail and imaging. A 6-inch Ultra-High-Excursion AL-MAG mid/bass driver with a PPA Lens and Active Ridge Technology (ART) Surround provides the foundation for a broad and deep soundstage. An optional stand is available.
Founder 70LCR
The 70LCR is a highly capable loudspeaker that can be used both horizontally as a compact centre channel or vertically as a main stereo or surround unit. Its three-way sealed cabinet is populated with a 1-inch AL-MAC Ceramic Dome Tweeter with OSW Waveguide and PPA Lens coaxially mounted in a 7-inch AL-MAG midrange driver flanked by two 5.5-inch CARBON-X bass drivers with ART Surrounds.
Founder 90C
The 90C Centre Channel Loudspeaker is a true full-range centre that can play down to 47Hz in-room. Its 1-inch AL-MAC Ceramic Dome Tweeter with OSW Waveguide and PPA Lens is coaxially mounted in a 7-inch AL-MAG midrange driver flanked by two 7-inch CARBON-X bass drivers and two 7-inch passive radiators with Active Ridge Technology (ART) Surrounds to ensure powerful dialogue delivery from its slender cabinet. An optional stand is available.
Founder 80F
The Founder 80F Floorstanding Loudspeaker is the most affordably priced tower model in the line. It features a 1-inch AL-MAC Ceramic Dome Tweeter with OSW waveguide and a PPA™ Lens; a 6-inch Ultra-High-Excursion AL-MAG mid/bass driver with PPA Lens and Active Ridge Technology (ART) Surround; and two 6-inch Ultra-High-Excursion CARBON-X Cones with over-moulded ART Surrounds. Its two-and-a-half way design can reach down to a subterranean 28Hz.
Founder 100F
The Founder 100F Floorstanding Loudspeaker brings even more bass with three 7-inch Ultra-High-Excursion CARBON-X Cones with over-moulded Active Ridge Technology (ART) Surrounds. The midrange driver is a 6-inch AL-MAG Cone with a Resonance Mitigation Coupler, PPA Lens and 2-inch high-temp voice coil. Detailed highs come from a 1-inch AL-MAC Ceramic Dome Tweeter with OSW Waveguide and PPA Lens.
Founder 120H
The Founder Series flagship is the 120H Floorstanding Loudspeaker. The driver complement includes a 1-inch AL-MAC Ceramic Dome Tweeter with OSW Waveguide and patented PPA Lens; a 7-inch midrange AL-MAG Cone with a Resonance Mitigation Coupler, PPA Lens and 2-inch high-temp voice coil; and three 8-inch Ultra-High-Excursion CARBON-X Cones with Active Ridge Technology (ART) Surrounds driven by an integrated 1,000-watt amplifier. Its built-in ARC Genesis Room Correction delivers bass down to 18Hz that sounds precise and controlled in any room.
We are really excited to be part of this next chapter in the Paradigm story in the UK. As the Paradigm brand continues to grow year on year in the UK, not only through their use in a very large number of premium and high-end home cinema and multi-room installations, but more traditional two-channel systems too. We must not forget that historically they are known for building extremely high-performance two-channel products at very competitive price points. The new Founder series is a serious challenger to the traditional homegrown brands in offerings stunning visual appearance and a performance level usually found in far more expensive solutions. Get in touch to find out more.
