In this review, we will be comparing Premier 720 v2 and 700F, two Passive Floor-standing speakers by Paradigm.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Paradigm Premier 720 v2 and Paradigm 700F first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Paradigm Premier 720 v2 | Paradigm 700F |
|---|
| Brand | Paradigm
Canada · founded 1982 | Paradigm
Canada · founded 1982 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Hard-Dome | 1" |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 5.5" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 6" | 2 x 5.5" Carbon-Infused Polypropylene |
|---|
| Frequency response | 55-23k Hz | 45-25k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 92 dB | 91 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | — | 15-180 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 25.99kg / 57.2lbs | 21.91kg / 48.2lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 39-3/4" x 12-1/2" x 17"
1009.7 x 317.5 x 431.8mm | 40-1/16" x 8-7/16" x 12-7/8"
1018.0 x 215.0 x 328.0mm |
|---|
Premier 720 v2 and 700F 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 720 v2 is a 2-way design whereas the 700F is a 3-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 Premier 720 v2Paradigm 700F
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 Premier 720 v2 |
Paradigm 700F |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 5.5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6-inch
|
2 x 5.5-inch
|
Premier 720 v2 features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 6" Woofer. On the other hand, the 700F features a 1" Tweeter, a 5.5" Midrange and 2 x 5.5" Carbon-Infused Polypropylene Woofer.
Frequency Response
Premier 720 v2 has a frequency range of 55-23k Hz whereas 700F has a frequency range of 45-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 45Hz, the 700F can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Premier 720 v2's min frequency of 55Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing 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 720 v2 and 700F have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Premier 720 v2 sensitivity is rated at 92 dB and the 700F's is at 91 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Paradigm Premier 720 v2 a more sensitive speaker compared to Paradigm 700F, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing 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.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
700F features Posts posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Premier 720 v2 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Paradigm 700F's Posts terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
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 Premier 720 v2's and Paradigm 700F's external dimensions. Paradigm Premier 720 v2 has external dimensions of 1009.7 x 317.5 x 431.8mm () whereas Paradigm 700F has external dimensions of 1018.0 x 215.0 x 328.0mm (40-1/16 x 8-7/16 x 12-7/8inch).
Paradigm 700F is 102.5mm narrower and 103.8mm less deeper than Paradigm Premier 720 v2 but it is also 8.3mm 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 Premier 720 v2 needs about 94% more floor or shelf area. Paradigm Premier 720 v2 is 104mm 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 Premier 720 v2 is approximately 1371.0cm2 / 212.5inch2 and base area of the Paradigm 700F is approximately 705.2cm2 / 109.3inch2. The Premier 720 v2 requires 94% more surface area than the 700F 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 Premier 720 v2 weighs 25.99kg / 57.2lbs and the Paradigm 700F weighs 21.91kg / 48.2lbs. This makes the Premier 720 v2 19% heavier than the 700F.
Here is a comparison of how Premier 720 v2 and 700F's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
What's in the Box of Paradigm 700F?
Here are the items that come with the 700F:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
Grille
4 Rubber feet
4 Spike feet
4 Hex-nuts
2 Binding-post jumpers (pre-installed)
Owner's Manual
Online Registration Card
Unboxing Instructions
 Sensitivity |
92 dB
vs
91 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
6 inches
vs
5.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Height |
1009mm
vs
1018mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
|
Low Frequency Response |
45 Hz
vs
55 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
25k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
705cm2
vs
1371cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Paradigm Premier 720 v2 |
Paradigm Premier 700F |
| Brand |
Paradigm |
Paradigm |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Sensitivity |
92 dB |
91 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
55-23k Hz |
45-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6" |
5.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Carbon-Infused Polypropylene |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Hard-Dome |
n/a |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
6" |
5.5" |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1009.7mm (39.8") |
1018.0mm (40.1") |
| Width |
317.5mm (12.5") |
215.0mm (8.5") |
| Depth |
431.8mm (17") |
328.0mm (12.9") |
| Weight |
25.99kg (57.2lbs) |
21.91kg (48.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
|
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood veneer |
MDF/Lacquer |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Gloss Black |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
Yes |
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 700F digs deeper - 45Hz against 55Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (92dB vs 91dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Size | depends | Paradigm 700F is easier to place; Paradigm Premier 720 v2 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | B | Paradigm 700F: bi-amping. |
A Paradigm Premier 720 v2 B Paradigm 700F
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?
Paradigm 700F has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 55Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. In a large or open-plan room, Paradigm Premier 720 v2 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Paradigm 700F 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.