In this review, we will be comparing Premier 600C and Premier 520LCR v2, two Passive Center Channel speakers by Paradigm.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Paradigm 600C and Paradigm Premier 520LCR v2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Paradigm 600C | Paradigm Premier 520LCR v2 |
|---|
| Brand | Paradigm
Canada · founded 1982 | Paradigm
Canada · founded 1982 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" X-PAL dome with PPA (Perforated Phase-Aligning) lens | 1" Hard-Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | 4" | — |
|---|
| Woofer | 4 x 6.5" carbon-infused polypropylene | 2 x 6" |
|---|
| Frequency response | 60-25k Hz | 75-23k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 94 dB | 93 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 15-180 watts | — |
|---|
| Weight | 19.55kg / 43lbs | 14.11kg / 31lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 8-3/16" x 35-11/16" x 13-11/16"
208.0 x 907.0 x 348.0mm | 8-5/16" x 23-7/16" x 12-1/8"
211.1 x 595.3 x 308.0mm |
|---|
Premier 600C and Premier 520LCR v2 are members of Paradigm's Premier series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
Paradigm Premier Series
History
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Premier 600C is a 3-way design whereas the Premier 520LCR v2 is a 2-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
Paradigm 600CParadigm Premier 520LCR v2
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Paradigm 600C |
Paradigm Premier 520LCR v2 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 4-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
4 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 6-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 520LCR v2 features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 6" Woofer.
Frequency Response
Premier 600C has a frequency range of 60-25k Hz whereas Premier 520LCR v2 has a frequency range of 75-23k 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 520LCR v2's min frequency of 75Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel 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 600C and Premier 520LCR v2 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 520LCR v2's is at 93 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Paradigm 600C a more sensitive speaker compared to Paradigm Premier 520LCR v2, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Center Channel Speakers
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.
Paradigm Premier 520LCR v2
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Premier 600C features Binding post type posts and Premier 520LCR v2 has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Paradigm 600C's Binding post terminals
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 600C's and Paradigm Premier 520LCR v2'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 Premier 520LCR v2 has external dimensions of 211.1 x 595.3 x 308.0mm ().
Paradigm Premier 520LCR v2 is 311.7mm narrower and 40mm less deeper than Paradigm 600C but it is also 3.1mm taller.
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 600C needs about 72% more floor or shelf area. Paradigm 600C is 40mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall.
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 Premier 520LCR v2 is approximately 1833.5cm2 / 284.2inch2. The Premier 600C requires 72% more surface area than the Premier 520LCR v2 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 Premier 520LCR v2 weighs 14.11kg / 31lbs. This makes the Premier 600C 39% heavier than the Premier 520LCR v2.
Here is a comparison of how Premier 600C and Premier 520LCR v2's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
Paradigm Premier 520LCR v2
What's in the Box of Paradigm 600C?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Premier 600C:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- 2 Binding-post jumpers (pre-installed)
- 4 Rubber feet
- Owners Manual
- Online Registration Card
- Center Channel Elevation Gauge
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Sensitivity |
94 dB
vs
93 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
6 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Number of Woofers |
4
vs
2
|
More woofers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
60 Hz
vs
75 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
25k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
208mm
vs
211mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1833cm2
vs
3156cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
900USD
vs
1099USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Paradigm Premier 600C |
Paradigm Premier 520LCR v2 |
| Brand |
Paradigm |
Paradigm |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Sensitivity |
94 dB |
93 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
60-25k Hz |
75-23k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
4 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6" |
| Woofer Composition |
carbon-infused polypropylene |
|
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
X-PAL dome with PPA (Perforated Phase-Aligning) lens |
Hard-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
4" |
6" |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
208.0mm (8.2") |
211.1mm (8.3") |
| Width |
907.0mm (35.7") |
595.3mm (23.4") |
| Depth |
348.0mm (13.7") |
308.0mm (12.1") |
| Weight |
19.55kg (43lbs) |
14.11kg (31lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Passive Radiator |
|
| Available Colors |
Gloss White |
Gloss Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
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 | A | Paradigm 600C digs deeper - 60Hz against 75Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (94dB vs 93dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Size | depends | Paradigm Premier 520LCR v2 is easier to place; Paradigm 600C is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Cabinet | depends | Passive Radiator vs Sealed. Sealed is tighter and happier near a wall; ported digs lower but wants space behind it. |
| Price | B | Paradigm Premier 520LCR v2 is cheaper - $900 against $1,099, about 18% less. |
A Paradigm 600C B Paradigm Premier 520LCR v2
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 600C measures better, Paradigm Premier 520LCR v2 costs about about 22% 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 75Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Paradigm Premier 520LCR v2 much easier to justify. In a large or open-plan room, Paradigm 600C has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Paradigm Premier 520LCR v2 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.