In this review, we will be comparing Premier 600C and Premier 500C, two Passive Center Channel speakers by Paradigm
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Paradigm 600C and Paradigm 500C first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Paradigm 600C Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" X-PAL dome with PPA (Perforated Phase-Aligning) lens Tweeter
- 4" Midrange
- 4 x 6.5" carbon-infused polypropylene Woofer
- 60-25k Hz Frequency Response
- 94 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:15-180watts
- Weight:19.55kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 208.0" x 35-11/16" x 13-11/16"( 208.0 x 907.0 x 348.0mm )
Paradigm 500C Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" X-PAL dome with PPA (Perforated Phase-Aligning) lens Tweeter
- 4" Midrange
- 2 x 5.5" carbon-infused polypropylene Woofer
- 4" Midrange
- 73-25k Hz Frequency Response
- 92 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:15-120watts
- Weight:11.82kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 189.0" x 20-1/16" x 12-11/16"( 189.0 x 510.0 x 323.0mm )
Premier 600C and Premier 500C 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 600C and Paradigm 500C 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 600C |
Paradigm 500C |
| 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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Paradigm 600C and Paradigm 500C compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both Premier 600C and Premier 500C are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
Paradigm 600C |
Paradigm 500C |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 4-inch |
1 x 4-inch |
|
Woofer
|
4 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 5.5-inch
|
Premier 600C features a 1" aluminum X-PAL dome with PPA (Perforated Phase-Aligning) lens Tweeter , a 4" Midrange and 4 x 6.5" carbon-infused polypropylene Woofer . On the other hand, the Premier 500C features a 1" aluminum X-PAL dome with PPA (Perforated Phase-Aligning) lens Tweeter , a 4" Midrange and 2 x 5.5" carbon-infused polypropylene Woofer .
Frequency Response
Premier 600C has a frequency range of 60-25k Hz whereas Premier 500C has a frequency range of 73-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 60Hz, the Premier 600C can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Premier 500C's min frequency of 73Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
High Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Premier 600C and Premier 500C have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Premier 600C sensitivity is rated at 94 dB and the Premier 500C's is at 92 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Paradigm 600C a more sensitive speaker compared to Paradigm 500C, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Center Channel Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. While using
an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the
max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
Premier 600C can handle a max power of 180 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Premier 500C has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 60 watts less than the Premier 600C.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Premier 600C features Binding post type posts and Premier 500C has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Paradigm 600C's Binding post terminals
Paradigm 500C's Binding post terminals
Physical Specs
Size of a speaker can sometimes become 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 600C's and Paradigm 500C's external dimensions. Paradigm 600C has external dimensions of 208.0 x 907.0 x 348.0mm ( 8-3/16 x 35-11/16 x 13-11/16inch) whereas Paradigm 500C has external dimensions of 189.0 x 510.0 x 323.0mm ( 7-7/16 x 20-1/16 x 12-11/16inch) .
Paradigm 600C is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 397mm wider, 19mm taller and 25mm deeper than Paradigm 500C.
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 600C is approximately 3156.4cm2 / 489.2inch2 and base area of the Paradigm 500C is approximately 1647.3cm2 / 255.3inch2. The Premier 600C requires 92% more surface area than the Premier 500C which gives it a small disadvantage 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 600C weighs 19.55kg / 43lbs and the Paradigm 500C weighs 11.82kg / 26lbs. This makes the Premier 600C 65% heavier than the Premier 500C.
Here is a comparison of how Premier 600C and Premier 500C's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
What's in the Box of Paradigm 600C?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Premier 600C:
Center-channel loudspeakerGrille2 Binding-post jumpers (pre-installed)4 Rubber feetOwners ManualOnline Registration CardCenter Channel Elevation Gauge
What's in the Box of Paradigm 500C?
Here are the items that come with the Premier 500C:
Center-channel loudspeakerGrille2 Binding-post jumpers (pre-installed)4 Rubber feetOwners ManualOnline Registration Card
 Max Input Power |
180 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
94 dB
vs
92 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Number of Woofers |
4
vs
2
|
More woofers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
60 Hz
vs
73 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
189mm
vs
208mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1647cm2
vs
3156cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
850USD
vs
1099USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Paradigm Premier 600C |
Paradigm Premier 500C |
| Brand |
Paradigm |
Paradigm |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
15-180 watts |
15-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
94 dB |
92 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
60-25k Hz |
73-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
4 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
carbon-infused polypropylene |
carbon-infused polypropylene |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
X-PAL dome with PPA (Perforated Phase-Aligning) lens |
X-PAL dome with PPA (Perforated Phase-Aligning) lens |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
4" |
4" |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
208.0mm (8.2") |
189.0mm (7.4") |
| Width |
907.0mm (35.7") |
510.0mm (20.1") |
| Depth |
348.0mm (13.7") |
323.0mm (12.7") |
| Weight |
19.55kg (43lbs) |
11.82kg (26lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Passive Radiator |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Available Colors |
Gloss White |
Gloss White |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |