Paradigm Premier 220B v2 walnut (pack of 2)
Paradigm Premier 220B v2: two-way bass-reflex bookshelf speaker
The second generation of Paradigm’s Premier series incorporates transducer technologies developed for the Canadian manufacturer’s higher-end ranges. The Premier 220B v2 is the larger of the two bookshelf speakers in this renewed lineup, equipped with a 152 mm aluminum-magnesium alloy woofer-midrange driver and a 25 mm AL-MAC ceramic dome tweeter. The bass-reflex enclosure extends down to 36 Hz according to the DIN 45 500 standard.
The woofer-midrange driver and its motor
The 152 mm woofer-midrange driver uses a high-excursion aluminum-magnesium alloy (AL-MAG) cone. Its surround uses the third generation of Paradigm’s Active Ridge technology (ART Gen3), which allows the cone to achieve large excursions while maintaining linear behavior. The speaker’s vertical mounting system in the enclosure contributes to the rigidity of the motor-diaphragm assembly. The 25 mm diameter voice coil is multilayer and resistant to high temperatures, wound on a ventilated Apical former to dissipate heat during demanding passages. In front of the cone, a perforated phase lens (PPA, for Perforated Phase-Aligning) time-aligns the wave fronts emitted by the different areas of the diaphragm.
The tweeter and controlled directivity
The 25 mm tweeter features an AL-MAC composite dome, a blend of aluminum, magnesium, and ceramic developed by Paradigm. This composition aims for high rigidity at low weight, two useful qualities in the treble range where diaphragm deformations generate audible distortion. The motor is damped and cooled by ferrofluid, which stabilizes its thermal behavior and limits parameter drift at sustained power levels.
In front of the dome, a flattened spheroidal waveguide (OSW, Oblate Spheroid Waveguide) shapes directivity in the horizontal and vertical planes, concentrating treble energy toward the listening area and reducing early reflections on nearby walls. A second PPA lens completes the assembly.
Crossover and frequency response
The crossover between the tweeter and the woofer-midrange driver is set at 1.1 kHz via a second-order electroacoustic filter. This designation means that the effective 12 dB per octave slope results from the combination of the passive electrical filter and the natural response of the drivers, rather than from an electrical filter alone. The chosen crossover frequency, low for a two-way speaker, therefore places a significant load on the tweeter, which justifies its robust design and ferrofluid cooling.
The frequency response is specified at ±3 dB from 58 Hz to 23 kHz on axis, and at ±3 dB from 58 Hz to 20 kHz at 30 degrees off axis. The stability of the off-axis response in the upper midrange and treble is useful in rooms where several listeners are not all positioned on the central axis. Low-frequency extension is measured at 36 Hz according to the DIN standard, that is, the -3 dB point in a typical listening room. For a bookshelf speaker of this size, this extension makes it possible to do without a subwoofer in a moderately sized room, accepting that output below 40 Hz remains limited in level.
Sensitivity and amplification requirements
Sensitivity is specified at 91 dB in-room and 88 dB in anechoic measurement, for 2.83 V at 1 m. These figures place the 220B v2 in a comfortable zone: a modest-power amplifier is enough to reach realistic listening levels. The recommended power range extends from 15 to 130 W, with a maximum input power of 80 W. Impedance is given as 8-ohm compatible, a cautious formulation from the manufacturer indicating that the load remains in a comfortable range for most integrated amplifiers and power amps on the market.
Enclosure, finishes, and accessories
The enclosure is made of medium-density fiberboard (MDF) panels with internal bracing designed to neutralize cabinet resonances. Dimensions are 37.1 cm high, 21.1 cm wide, and 32.8 cm deep, with a weight of 9.1 kg each. Three finishes are offered: Piano Black, Black Walnut, and Walnut, combined with aluminum and stainless steel trim elements. The 220B v2 comes with isolation pads to place between the speaker and its stand in order to limit vibration transmission.
Installation and usage configurations
In stereo, the Premier 220B v2 requires dedicated ear-height stands, placed away from rear walls to avoid excessive bass reinforcement through coupling with the boundaries. Its cabinet volume and 36 Hz extension cover a 20 to 25 m² listening room without systematic use of a subwoofer.
In a home theater system, the 220B v2 can serve as the left and right front channels of a multichannel configuration completed by a Premier 620C v2 center speaker and rear speakers from the same series. The Premier 120B v2, a more compact model in the range equipped with a 140 mm woofer-midrange driver, extends to 39 Hz according to the same standard and offers a coherent complement for surround channels or for smaller rooms where the 220B v2 would be oversized.
Technical specifications
General design
- Type: 2-way bookshelf speaker with 2 drivers
- Loading: bass-reflex
- Integrated technologies: AL-MAC, AL-MAG, OSW, PPA
Drivers
- Tweeter
- 25 mm AL-MAC ceramic dome
- Oblate Spheroid Waveguide (OSW)
- Perforated Phase-Aligning lens (PPA)
- Ferrofluid damping and cooling
- Woofer / midrange driver
- 152 mm AL-MAG cone with very high excursion
- Perforated Phase-Aligning lens (PPA)
- Active Ridge Technology Gen3 (ART) with vertical mounting system
- 25 mm high-temperature multilayer voice coil on ventilated Apical former
Crossover
- 2nd-order electro-acoustic crossover
- Tweeter / woofer-midrange crossover frequency: 1.1 kHz
Acoustic performance
- On-axis frequency response: ± 3 dB from 58 Hz to 23 kHz
- 30° off-axis frequency response: ± 3 dB from 58 Hz to 20 kHz
- Bass extension: 36 Hz (DIN)
- In-room sensitivity: 91 dB
- Anechoic sensitivity: 88 dB
Electrical specifications
- Recommended amplifier power: 15 to 130 W
- Maximum input power: 80 W
- Impedance: 8-ohm compatible
Physical characteristics
- Weight per unit: 9.1 kg
- Dimensions (H × W × D): 37.1 × 21.1 × 32.8 cm
- Available finishes: gloss black, black walnut, walnut
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a subwoofer with the Premier 220B v2?
The 36 Hz extension is enough to reproduce almost all musical content without reinforcement. For stereo use in a medium-sized room, a subwoofer is not necessary. In home theater, it remains useful for handling the LFE channel (low-frequency effects below 80 Hz), which carries the explosions, impacts, and infrasonic rumbles of soundtracks. The choice therefore depends less on the 220B v2 than on the content being listened to and the target sound level.
What stands should the 220B v2 be installed on?
Dedicated bookshelf speaker stands, about 60 to 70 cm high, place the tweeter at ear level in a seated position. Column models that can be filled with sand or shot improve stability and decoupling from the floor. The top plate must cover at least the speaker’s 21.1 × 32.8 cm base. The isolation pads supplied with the Premier 220B v2 are placed between the speaker and the stand’s top plate.
What amplifier is suitable for this speaker?
The range recommended by Paradigm extends from 15 to 130 W per channel, covering a wide variety of integrated amplifiers and power amps. With a sensitivity of 91 dB in-room, a well-designed 50 W amplifier can easily reach high listening levels. The 8-ohm compatibility does not impose any particular constraint. The quality of the upstream preamplifier and converter matters more than raw power to take full advantage of the precision of the AL-MAC tweeter.
Can the 220B v2 be placed on a shelf?
The bookshelf format makes this placement possible, with acoustic compromises. The bass-reflex loading uses a port that must retain sufficient breathing space at the rear. A solid, dense shelf free from resonances is preferable to a lightweight piece of furniture. Keeping ten to twenty centimeters behind the speaker limits excessive bass reinforcement from the wall. For precise stereo reproduction with a three-dimensional soundstage, installation on open stands remains more favorable.
What is the difference between the 220B v2 and the 120B v2?
The 220B v2 has a 152 mm woofer-midrange driver versus 140 mm for the 120B v2, and a larger cabinet volume. This results in deeper bass extension (36 Hz versus 39 Hz according to the DIN standard), sensitivity higher by one decibel, and a maximum input power of 80 W versus 70 W. Both models share the same 25 mm AL-MAC tweeter with OSW waveguide and PPA lens. The second-order electroacoustic crossover is very similar (1.1 kHz versus 1.2 kHz).
What do the abbreviations AL-MAC, AL-MAG, OSW, and PPA mean?
AL-MAC refers to an aluminum, magnesium, and ceramic composite used for the tweeter dome. AL-MAG is an aluminum and magnesium alloy used for the woofer-midrange cone. OSW (Oblate Spheroid Waveguide) is a flattened spheroidal waveguide placed in front of the tweeter dome that controls the directivity of the treble output. PPA (Perforated Phase-Aligning) refers to the perforated phase lenses placed in front of the diaphragms to time-align the wave fronts coming from the different areas of the transducer.
- Eco-contribution included in the sale price.
