In this review, we will be comparing Premier 100B and Premier 200B, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Paradigm.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Paradigm 100B and Paradigm 200B first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Paradigm 100B | Paradigm 200B |
|---|
| 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 | 6.5" Carbon-Infused Polypropylene |
|---|
| Frequency response | 68-25k Hz | 55-25k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 15-130 watts | 15-130 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 5.86kg / 12.9lbs | 8.18kg / 18lbs |
|---|
| 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 | 13-7/16" x 7-13/16" x 12-7/8"
342.0 x 199.0 x 328.0mm |
|---|
Premier 100B and Premier 200B are members of Paradigm's Premier series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
Paradigm Premier Series
History
What size room are the Paradigm 100B and Paradigm 200B 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 200B |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
(* 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 Premier 200B are 2-way speakers.
Paradigm 100BParadigm 200B
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 200B |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
Premier 100B features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.5" Carbon-Infused Polypropylene Woofer. On the other hand, the Premier 200B features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Carbon-Infused Polypropylene Woofer.
Frequency Response
Premier 100B has a frequency range of 68-25k Hz whereas Premier 200B has a frequency range of 55-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 55Hz, the Premier 200B 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 Premier 200B have the same Impedance of 8 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 90 dB.
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 and Premier 200B have the same power range of 15-130 watts.
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 Posts type posts and Premier 200B has a Posts type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Premier 100B and Premier 200B 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 200B'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 200B has external dimensions of 342.0 x 199.0 x 328.0mm (13-7/16 x 7-13/16 x 12-7/8inch).
Paradigm 200B is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 27mm wider, 57mm taller and 81mm 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 200B needs about 54% more floor or shelf area. Paradigm 200B is 81mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Paradigm 200B is 57mm 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 200B is approximately 652.7cm2 / 101.2inch2. The Premier 100B requires 35% less surface area than the Premier 200B 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 200B weighs 8.18kg / 18lbs. This makes the Premier 200B 40% heavier than the Premier 100B.
Here is a comparison of how Premier 100B and Premier 200B'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 200B?
Here are the items that come with the Premier 200B:
- Bookshelf loudspeaker
- Grille
- Owner's Manual
- Online Registration Card
 Height |
285mm
vs
342mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
424cm2
vs
652cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
800USD
vs
1000USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
55 Hz
vs
68 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
| General |
Paradigm Premier 100B |
Paradigm Premier 200B |
| Brand |
Paradigm |
Paradigm |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
15-130 watts |
15-130 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
68-25k Hz |
55-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Carbon-Infused Polypropylene |
Carbon-Infused 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") |
342.0mm (13.5") |
| Width |
172.0mm (6.8") |
199.0mm (7.8") |
| Depth |
247.0mm (9.7") |
328.0mm (12.9") |
| Weight |
5.86kg (12.9lbs) |
8.18kg (18lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Lacquer |
MDF/Lacquer |
| Available Colors |
Gloss white,Espresso,Black |
Gloss white,Espresso,Black |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
28-32" |
24-26" |
| 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 |
Siblings in Paradigm's Premier series, so they share a family sound. It comes down to size, output and price.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | Paradigm 200B digs deeper - 55Hz against 68Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (90dB vs 90dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (130W vs 130W). |
| Size | depends | Paradigm 100B is easier to place; Paradigm 200B is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price | A | Paradigm 100B is cheaper - $800 against $1,000, about 20% less. |
A Paradigm 100B B Paradigm 200B
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?
The usual trade-off: Paradigm 200B measures better, Paradigm 100B costs about about 25% more% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 68Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Paradigm 100B much easier to justify. In a large or open-plan room, Paradigm 200B has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Paradigm 100B is the easier speaker to get right.
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.