Paradigm Reference LCR-450 — Made in Canada, High Gloss Black

Paradigm Reference LCR-450 Loudspeaker — Made in Canada, High Gloss Black, Sealed MTM Design, PAL Pure Aluminium Dome Tweeter

A Canadian-built Paradigm Reference monitor in excellent condition with its original box, in a high gloss black finish we have not seen on this model before.

The High Gloss Finish

Start with the finish, because it is the reason this one stopped us. The Reference line of this era is normally found in black, light cherry or dark rosenut. This one is high gloss black, and in a good many years of handling Paradigm we have not had this model in this finish. It looks considerably more expensive than the model number suggests. The 450 series has been out of production for a long time and does not surface often in any finish.

Centre, Left or Right

The LCR designation is the useful part. Most centre channels are built into a sculpted horizontal cabinet and can only ever be a centre channel. This one is a rectangular box designed to work correctly on its side or standing upright, which means it can anchor the middle of a home theatre now and serve as a left or right channel, or a stand-mounted monitor, later. Very few speakers give you that choice.

Size and Presence

It is a substantial thing either way — 21 inches across and 28 pounds. Lying down under a television it has real presence rather than looking like an afterthought, and standing upright on a stand it reads as a proper monitor.

Reference Engineering

Underneath, it is a proper piece of Reference engineering. The layout is MTM — two mid-bass drivers flanking the tweeter — which keeps the sound centred on the tweeter axis whichever way round the cabinet sits. The tweeter is Paradigm’s PAL pure aluminium dome, the same one fitted to the Reference Studio series. The cones are the yellow mica-loaded polypropylene Paradigm used across that generation, including in the Studio 20’s woofer and the Studio 60’s midrange.

The Sealed Cabinet

The cabinet is a sealed acoustic-suspension design rather than a ported one, which is deliberate for a speaker meant to sit under a television or on a shelf, and it is magnetically shielded. There are two pairs of heavy-duty gold-plated binding posts, with the original jumper bars still in place. Leave them fitted and a single run of cable drives it normally; take them out and it bi-wires or bi-amps. These commonly turn up with the bridges missing, so having them is worth noting.

Amplifier Matching

It is also an easy speaker to drive. Sensitivity is 90 dB into a straightforward 8 ohm load, and Paradigm rated it from 50 to 175 watts — so a modest receiver runs it properly and a serious amplifier will not embarrass it.

Measure Your Shelf First

One honest note, because it decides whether this is right for you. Paradigm designed the 450 to roll off in the region of 70 Hz and to be run as a “small” speaker with the crossover set around 80 Hz, with a subwoofer taking over below that. Used that way it is excellent. Asked to carry deep bass on its own, it was never meant to. If you are building a system rather than filling a gap, plan on a subwoofer and this will reward you.

Condition and Original Box

Condition is excellent, and the original box is included — which makes it safe to ship anywhere and is the packaging a future owner will want. It has been tested here to confirm it performs as originally designed.

A Canadian-built Reference monitor that can be a centre channel today and a main speaker tomorrow, in excellent condition and in a finish we have not seen on it before.

Features

• Made in Canada
• High gloss black — a finish we have not previously seen on this model
• Works horizontally or vertically — centre channel, left, right, or stand-mounted monitor
• Sealed acoustic-suspension MTM cabinet, magnetically shielded
• Two pairs of heavy-duty gold-plated binding posts with original jumper bars — bi-wire and bi-amp capable
• 90 dB sensitivity into 8 ohms, rated 50 to 175 watts
• PAL pure aluminium dome tweeter, as fitted to the Reference Studio series
• Mica-loaded polypropylene mid-bass cones
• Original box included

Paradigm Reference LCR-450 Loudspeaker Specifications

• Model: Reference LCR-450
• Design: Sealed two-way MTM loudspeaker, horizontal or vertical
• High Frequency Driver: 1 in (25 mm) PAL pure aluminium dome
• Low Frequency Drivers: Two 6.5 in mica-loaded polypropylene cones
• Enclosure: Sealed acoustic suspension, magnetically shielded, approximately 22 litres internal
• Frequency Response: 70 Hz to 20 kHz (±2 dB)
• Sensitivity: 90 dB
• Nominal Impedance: 8 ohms
• Power Handling: 50 to 175 watts
• Terminals: Two pairs of heavy-duty gold-plated binding posts with original jumper bars, bi-wire and bi-amp capable
• Low Frequency Rolloff: Approximately 70 Hz — designed for use with a subwoofer, crossover around 80 Hz
• Finish: High gloss black
• Country of Manufacture: Canada
• Accessories: Original box
• Condition: Excellent
• Dimensions: (Width x Height x Depth) 21.0 x 8.06 x 11.5 inches (533 x 205 x 292 mm) lying horizontally; standing upright it measures 8.06 inches wide by 21 inches tall
• Weight: 28 lbs (13 kg)

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