In this review, we will be comparing Premier 100B and Monitor SE Atom, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Paradigm.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Paradigm 100B and Paradigm SE Atom first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Paradigm 100B | Paradigm SE Atom |
|---|
| Brand | Paradigm
Canada · founded 1982 | Paradigm
Canada · founded 1982 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Hard-Dome | 1" Hard-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.5" Carbon-Infused Polypropylene | 5.5" Mineral-filled polypropylene |
|---|
| Frequency response | 68-25k Hz | 61-21k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 15-130 watts | 15-100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 5.86kg / 12.9lbs | 5.45kg / 12lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 11-3/16" x 6-3/4" x 9-11/16"
285.0 x 172.0 x 247.0mm | 12-3/4" x 7-1/8" x 10-7/8"
324.0 x 181.0 x 277.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Paradigm 100B and Paradigm SE Atom speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision
factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size
and max power parameters:
| Listening Environment* |
Paradigm 100B |
Paradigm SE Atom |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Average |
| Small Room |
Average |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Bad |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Premier 100B and Monitor SE Atom are 2-way speakers.
Paradigm 100BParadigm SE Atom
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Paradigm 100B |
Paradigm SE Atom |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.5-inch
|
1 x 5.5-inch
|
Premier 100B features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.5" Carbon-Infused Polypropylene Woofer. On the other hand, the Monitor SE Atom features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.5" Mineral-filled polypropylene Woofer.
Frequency Response
Premier 100B has a frequency range of 68-25k Hz whereas Monitor SE Atom has a frequency range of 61-21k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 61Hz, the Monitor SE Atom can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Premier 100B's min frequency of 68Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Premier 100B and Monitor SE Atom have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Premier 100B sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the Monitor SE Atom's is at 89 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Paradigm 100B a more sensitive speaker compared to Paradigm SE Atom, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Premier 100B can handle a max power of 130 watts RMS, whereas Monitor SE Atom has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 30 watts less than the Premier 100B.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Premier 100B features Post type posts and Monitor SE Atom has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Paradigm SE Atom's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Premier 100B and Monitor SE Atom have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Paradigm 100B's and Paradigm SE Atom's external dimensions. Paradigm 100B has external dimensions of 285.0 x 172.0 x 247.0mm (11-3/16 x 6-3/4 x 9-11/16inch) whereas Paradigm SE Atom has external dimensions of 324.0 x 181.0 x 277.0mm (12-3/4 x 7-1/8 x 10-7/8inch).
Paradigm SE Atom is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 9mm wider, 39mm taller and 30mm deeper than Paradigm 100B.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Paradigm SE Atom needs about 18% more floor or shelf area. Paradigm SE Atom is 30mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Paradigm SE Atom is 39mm taller.
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the Paradigm 100B is approximately 424.8cm2 / 65.8inch2 and base area of the Paradigm SE Atom is approximately 501.4cm2 / 77.7inch2. The Premier 100B requires 15% less surface area than the Monitor SE Atom which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The Paradigm 100B weighs 5.86kg / 12.9lbs and the Paradigm SE Atom weighs 5.45kg / 12lbs. This makes the Premier 100B 8% heavier than the Monitor SE Atom.
Here is a comparison of how Premier 100B and Monitor SE Atom's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Paradigm 100B?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Premier 100B:
- Bookshelf loudspeaker
- Grille
- 4 Rubber feet
- Owner's Manual
- Online Registration Card
What's in the Box of Paradigm SE Atom?
Here are the items that come with the Monitor SE Atom:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 8 Rubber feet
- Owner's Manual
- Online Registration Card
 Max Input Power |
130 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 High Frequency Response |
25k Hz
vs
21k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
285mm
vs
324mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
424cm2
vs
501cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Low Frequency Response |
61 Hz
vs
68 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Price per pair* |
300USD
vs
800USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Paradigm Premier 100B |
Paradigm Monitor SE Atom |
| Brand |
Paradigm |
Paradigm |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
15-130 watts |
15-100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
68-25k Hz |
61-21k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.5" |
5.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Carbon-Infused Polypropylene |
Mineral-filled polypropylene |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Hard-Dome |
Hard-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
285.0mm (11.2") |
324.0mm (12.8") |
| Width |
172.0mm (6.8") |
181.0mm (7.1") |
| Depth |
247.0mm (9.7") |
277.0mm (10.9") |
| Weight |
5.86kg (12.9lbs) |
5.45kg (12lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Lacquer |
MDF/Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Gloss white,Espresso,Black |
Matte Black,Gloss White |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
28-32" |
26-28" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Paradigm 100B costs roughly 2.7x what Paradigm SE Atom does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | Paradigm SE Atom digs deeper - 61Hz against 68Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (90dB vs 89dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | A | Paradigm 100B takes more power (130W vs 100W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Paradigm 100B is easier to place; Paradigm SE Atom is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. Paradigm 100B sits in a wider range (12 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | Paradigm SE Atom is cheaper - $300 against $800, about 63% less; arguably a different class. |
A Paradigm 100B B Paradigm SE Atom
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 68Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate Paradigm 100B the better fit for a mid-size room and a large room, and Paradigm SE Atom for near-field listening and a small room.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.