In this review, we will be comparing Premier 820 v2 and Premier 720 v2, two Passive Floor-standing speakers by Paradigm.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Paradigm Premier 820 v2 and Paradigm Premier 720 v2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Paradigm Premier 820 v2 | Paradigm Premier 720 v2 |
|---|
| Brand | Paradigm
Canada · founded 1982 | Paradigm
Canada · founded 1982 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Hard-Dome | 1" Hard-Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | 6" | — |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 7" | 2 x 6" |
|---|
| Frequency response | 52-23k Hz | 55-23k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 93 dB | 92 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Weight | 29.48kg / 64.9lbs | 25.99kg / 57.2lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 43-7/16" x 13-1/8" x 18-5/8"
1103.3 x 333.4 x 473.1mm | 39-3/4" x 12-1/2" x 17"
1009.7 x 317.5 x 431.8mm |
|---|
Premier 820 v2 and Premier 720 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 820 v2 is a 3-way design whereas the Premier 720 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 Premier 820 v2Paradigm Premier 720 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 Premier 820 v2 |
Paradigm Premier 720 v2 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 6-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 7-inch
|
2 x 6-inch
|
Premier 820 v2 features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter, a 6" Midrange and 2 x 7" Woofer. On the other hand, the Premier 720 v2 features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 6" Woofer.
Frequency Response
Premier 820 v2 has a frequency range of 52-23k Hz whereas Premier 720 v2 has a frequency range of 55-23k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 52Hz, the Premier 820 v2 can go slightly deeper then 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 820 v2 and Premier 720 v2 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Premier 820 v2 sensitivity is rated at 93 dB and the Premier 720 v2's is at 92 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Paradigm Premier 820 v2 a more sensitive speaker compared to Paradigm Premier 720 v2, 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
Premier 820 v2 features Binding post type posts and Premier 720 v2 has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/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 820 v2's and Paradigm Premier 720 v2's external dimensions. Paradigm Premier 820 v2 has external dimensions of 1103.3 x 333.4 x 473.1mm () whereas Paradigm Premier 720 v2 has external dimensions of 1009.7 x 317.5 x 431.8mm ().
Paradigm Premier 820 v2 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 15.9mm wider, 93.6mm taller and 41.3mm deeper than Paradigm Premier 720 v2.
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 820 v2 needs about 15% more floor or shelf area. Paradigm Premier 820 v2 is 41mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Paradigm Premier 820 v2 is 94mm 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 Premier 820 v2 is approximately 1577.3cm2 / 244.5inch2 and base area of the Paradigm Premier 720 v2 is approximately 1371.0cm2 / 212.5inch2. The Premier 820 v2 requires 15% more surface area than the Premier 720 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 Premier 820 v2 weighs 29.48kg / 64.9lbs and the Paradigm Premier 720 v2 weighs 25.99kg / 57.2lbs. This makes the Premier 820 v2 13% heavier than the Premier 720 v2.
Here is a comparison of how Premier 820 v2 and Premier 720 v2's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Sensitivity |
93 dB
vs
92 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
7 inches
vs
6 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
52 Hz
vs
55 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
1009mm
vs
1103mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1371cm2
vs
1577cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Paradigm Premier 820 v2 |
Paradigm Premier 720 v2 |
| Brand |
Paradigm |
Paradigm |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Sensitivity |
93 dB |
92 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
52-23k Hz |
55-23k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
7" |
6" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
|
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Hard-Dome |
Hard-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
6" |
6" |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1103.3mm (43.4") |
1009.7mm (39.8") |
| Width |
333.4mm (13.1") |
317.5mm (12.5") |
| Depth |
473.1mm (18.6") |
431.8mm (17") |
| Weight |
29.48kg (64.9lbs) |
25.99kg (57.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
|
|
| Finish |
MDF/Wood veneer |
MDF/Wood veneer |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Black |
| 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 Premier 820 v2 digs deeper - 52Hz against 55Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (93dB vs 92dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Size | depends | Paradigm Premier 720 v2 is easier to place; Paradigm Premier 820 v2 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
A Paradigm Premier 820 v2 B Paradigm Premier 720 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?
Paradigm Premier 820 v2 has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does.
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.