John Wolff's JBL Paragon

[Tom Brennan]

Our latest video features the Paragon of John Wolff, who makes the Classic Audio speakers. We took a trip up Detroit way to visit some Michigan horn enthusiasts and will feature their systems in the future. We also have a couple of videos coming up on the speakers John makes.

 

[FalseMetal666]

You guys are busy. Loving the channel, thanks for sharing!

 

[Pup]

Great Interview! I have known John since 1981! Great guy. Thanks for sharing. I have been running the Gen 1 Classic Audio T3's since 1999.

bc

 

[Wardsweb]

What are your thoughts on the sound. How does it compare or is it different from how we hear a modern two channel setup?

 

[Tom Brennan]

What are your thoughts on the sound. How does it compare or is it different from how we hear a modern two channel setup?

It sounded good. Excellent clarity and tone, very dynamic, low distortion. Bass had big impact and went deeper than I expected. Not as "floaty" and airy as John's Hartsfields but that could be its placement. The music source was YouTube.

 

[Punker X]

It sounded good. Excellent clarity and tone, very dynamic, low distortion. Bass had big impact and went deeper than I expected. Not as "floaty" and airy as John's Hartsfields but that could be its placement. The music source was YouTube.

Haven't had time to watch the video yet. Did the Paragon and Hartsfields have original drivers? I've heard John's Hartsfields, but seem to recall he had some field coil drivers in them.

 

[Salectric]

Dennis Fraker of Serious Stereo used a modified Paragon as his primary speaker until it was destroyed in a house fire. I find it interesting that two manufacturers of modern speakers used a vintage Paragon at home.

 

[Thermionics]

It sounded good. Excellent clarity and tone, very dynamic, low distortion. Bass had big impact and went deeper than I expected. Not as "floaty" and airy as John's Hartsfields but that could be its placement. The music source was YouTube.

Sadly, the only time I heard a Paragon (at Hawthorne Stereo in PDX - RIP), it was underwhelming. Probably amp / source / space issues.

 

[Tom Brennan]

Haven't had time to watch the video yet. Did the Paragon and Hartsfields have original drivers? I've heard John's Hartsfields, but seem to recall he had some field coil drivers in them.

John's Hartsfields have different drivers than JBL Hartsfields. They have field coil woofers and mid compression drivers made by John and have a tweeter, either a Fostex or TAD--the JBL Hartsfields had no tweeters. John's Paragons have the original JBL drivers with the exception of the tweeters; he replaced the 075 bullet horn tweeters with 077 slot horn tweeters.

We'll have a video on John's Hartsfields out within the month; we have several systems in the can (as they say) awaiting editing and we like to put out 1 a week. Just today we shot a video on an EV Sentry III system down in the Bridgeport neighborhood on the South Side.

 

[Topper]

John's Hartsfields have different drivers than JBL Hartsfields. John's Paragons have the original JBL drivers with the exception of the tweeters; he replaced the 075 bullet horn tweeters with 077 slot horn tweeters.

A bit like grandfather’s ax, isn’t that?

 

[Mr. Widget]

Sadly, the only time I heard a Paragon (at Hawthorne Stereo in PDX - RIP), it was underwhelming. Probably amp / source / space issues.

Yeah, I've heard three different Paragons and never felt they were at their best. Room and setup can make all the difference. The Paragon is a magnificent piece of industrial design regardless of how well it integrates in the average room.

Just today we shot a video on an EV Sentry III system down in the Bridgeport neighborhood on the South Side.

Another system I have long lusted after.

 

[Thermionics]

A bit like grandfather’s ax, isn’t that?

 

[Topper]

View attachment 100274

That too!

 

[JoeThePop]

Well here ya go.

 

[jack the knife]

Well here ya go.
View attachment 117111

Priced about 22k higher than is typical...