Signature 505 in Detail
Stunning Cabinets
The Paragon cabinets are finished in a deep charcoal with real wood veneer side panels. The standard finish for the 505s is Santos Palissander (Brazilian Rosewood) or Bubinga (African Rosewood), although these can be made to order with alternative finishes if required.
The 505 cabinets are extremely rigid and inert. They use extensive internal bracing and 25mm thick cabinet walls which are then lead lined to minimise cabinet resonances. The inert cabinets allow the 505s to sound incredibly clean, open and dynamic.
505 Tweeter
The tweeter is very special. This is a ring radiator design, which is extremely quick while still being smooth and refined. Its frequency response goes out to beyond 40,000Hz.
The 505 tweeters are a special 'ring radiator' design which is extremely quick and refined.
505 Mid-Range
Mid-range is catered for by twin 100mm poly-glass drivers. These drivers have extremely low cone mass (4 grams) allowing incredible transient response. They cover the range from 400Hz to 3,400Hz. Mid-range is catered for by twin 100mm poly-glass drivers that have an extremely low cone mass allowing incredible transient response.
The 505 Bass Drivers
Twin 175mm Kevlar bass drivers cover the range 400Hz. The Kevlar cones are extremely rigid for tight control bass response. All drivers used in the 505 represent state of the art technology to help produce the best available performance. These drivers are extremely expensive but we know of no other drivers better suited to this task.
Masterful Crossover Networks
The use of the highest quality components extends beyond the drivers. All crossover inductors are air cored and made from the highest purity Australian copper. All capacitors used in the signal path of the 505s crossover networks are expensive Hovland film and foil capacitors.
The hand built crossover networks are hard wired point to point rather than being mounted on conventional circuit boards. As the 505s are internally wired with the highest quality Cardas Litz cable, it seems pointless to then direct the signal along the tracks of a circuit board.
The crossover networks are housed in their own isolating enclosure built into the back of the 505s. This isolates the crossover components from any internal resonances as well as keeping them well away from any interference caused by the ferrous components of the drivers.
Cardas Binding Posts - the attention to detail is flawless
Even the binding posts are very expensive and state of the art. These are made of copper by Cardas (USA), plated with silver then plated with rhodium. We have tested most available binding posts over the years and found these to be sonically more neutral than any others we have tested.
As such, these binding posts have virtually no influence on the sound. By comparison, the usual gold plated brass binding posts tend to make the sound lean and harsh.
The binding posts featured on the 505s are from Cardas (USA) and are made of copper which is silver then rhodium plated.
Cardas Spikes
The 505s use huge hardened spikes to support their weight and couple them directly to the floor. These spikes pass through massive steel girders, which are bolted into the plinths of the Paragons.
The spikes are located on the outside of the speaker cabinets to give a larger more stable footprint. As such, they are very easy to adjust and set up. The top section also has adjustable spikes so that this can be angled up or down to allow for high or low sitting positions.
Adjustable spike feet for precise and rigid coupling to the floor.