Short answer: the Paradigm Founder 120H. It ranks #22 of 226 floorstanding speakers by sound quality, rated 4.6/5, at $8,999.98. The Perlisten R5t ranks #33, rated 4.5/5, at $8,790, $209.98 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap.
The case for the Paradigm Founder 120H: Hybrid active/passive floorstander with built-in 1,000-watt RMS DSP amplifier and ARC Genesis room correction for the triple 8-inch bass section. The tradeoff: Requires dedicated AC wall power for each tower to run the internal bass amplifiers.
Why pick the Perlisten R5t: Measures a -3dB extension point of 44.6Hz and a Harman-style -6dB in-room extension (lfx) of 29Hz, deep for a mid-size tower, with a strong 0.82 listening-window smoothness score and a predicted in-room smoothness of 0.63. Watch for: On-axis deviation of 0.277dB and a pronounced -0.28dB per octave downward slope point to a warmer, less forward tonal balance, consistent with Sound & Vision’s review finding it leans analytical rather than warm and wanting more air in larger rooms.
Buy the Paradigm Founder 120H. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $209.98 with the Perlisten R5t does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
Worth knowing: the Paradigm Founder 120H has not been measured yet. Its rating is estimated from related models, with a likely range of 4.4 to 4.8, so treat this verdict as provisional.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Paradigm Founder 120H | Perlisten R5t | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $8,999.98 per pair | $8,790 per pair |
| Ranked | #22 of 226 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers Estimated | #33 of 226 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers |
| Drivers | 1” (25mm) AL-MAC ceramic dome tweeter, 6” (152mm) AL-MAG midrange, 3 x 8” (215mm) CARBON-X woofers with active 1,000W RMS DSP amplifier and ARC Genesis | 3x 26mm silk dome (tweeter + 2 midrange), 2x 165mm (6.5”) HPF woofers |
| Frequency Response | 22Hz - 23kHz (+/- 2dB, manufacturer specified) | 80Hz-20kHz +/-1.5dB |
| Sensitivity | 95dB in-room, 92dB anechoic (manufacturer specified) | 89.0dB @ 2.83V/1m |
| Impedance | 8 ohms compatible | 4 ohms nominal, 3.2 ohms minimum |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 22Hz (manufacturer specified) | 44.6Hz (manufacturer spinorama data) |
| Dimensions | 45.4”H x 13.9”W x 17.4”D (1153 x 354 x 441 mm) | 43.3”H x 9.1”W x 13.8”D (1100 x 230 x 350 mm) |
| Weight | 91.9 lbs (41.7 kg) each | 58.4 lbs (26.5 kg) each |
| Crossover Frequency | 300Hz, 2400Hz | - |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, down-firing port | - |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Enclosure | - | 3-way, switchable bass reflex / acoustic suspension |
| Power Handling | - | 100-250W RMS recommended amplifier power |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 24Hz (bass reflex) / 38Hz (acoustic suspension) |
| Certification | - | THX Dominus, THX Ultra |
| Warranty | - | 5 years, extendable to 6 with product registration |
| Country | - | Designed in the United States (Verona, Wisconsin) |
| Maximum SPL | - | 113.0dB peak (manufacturer specified) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | - | 7.16 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | - | 8.50 |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More top alternatives to Paradigm Founder 120H:
- Paradigm Founder 120H vs Revel F226Be
- Paradigm Founder 120H vs Wharfedale Aura 3
- Revel F226Be vs Perlisten R5t
- Perlisten R5t vs Perlisten R7t
- Perlisten R5t vs Revel F228Be
Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
The Two Speakers In Full
Paradigm Founder 120H: $8,999.98 per pair Estimated Audio Advice eBay
Same family: the Paradigm Founder 40B (bookshelf, rated 4.1/5), the Paradigm Founder 80F (smaller floorstanding, ranked lower, estimated 4.2/5), the Paradigm Founder 100F (smaller floorstanding, ranked lower, estimated 4.4/5), the Paradigm Founder 70LCR (smaller center, estimated 4.1/5) and the Paradigm Founder 90C (larger center, rated 2.5/5). See every Paradigm Prestige and Founder generation.
Pros: Hybrid active/passive floorstander with built-in 1,000-watt RMS DSP amplifier and ARC Genesis room correction for the triple 8-inch bass section. Delivers true subwoofer-tier extension down to 18Hz while correcting room bass modes.
Cons: Requires dedicated AC wall power for each tower to run the internal bass amplifiers. Sizable 92-lb cabinet commands a substantial investment.
Full Paradigm Founder 120H review and specifications →
| Released | Nov 2021 (4 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 22Hz (manufacturer specified) |
| Crossover Frequency | 300Hz, 2400Hz |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 45.4”H x 13.9”W x 17.4”D (1153 x 354 x 441 mm) |
| Drivers | 1” (25mm) AL-MAC ceramic dome tweeter, 6” (152mm) AL-MAG midrange, 3 x 8” (215mm) CARBON-X woofers with active 1,000W RMS DSP amplifier and ARC Genesis |
| Frequency Response | 22Hz - 23kHz (+/- 2dB, manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms compatible |
| Sensitivity | 95dB in-room, 92dB anechoic (manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 91.9 lbs (41.7 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, down-firing port |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Perlisten R5t: $8,790 per pair Audio Advice eBay
Same family: the Perlisten R4b (smaller bookshelf, rated 4.5/5), the Perlisten R5m (larger bookshelf, rated 4.3/5), the Perlisten R7t (larger floorstanding, ranked lower, rated 4.3/5), the Perlisten R5c (smaller center, rated 4.5/5), the Perlisten R7c (larger center, estimated 4.4/5) and the Perlisten R4s (surround, rated 4.4/5).
Pros: Measures a -3dB extension point of 44.6Hz and a Harman-style -6dB in-room extension (lfx) of 29Hz, deep for a mid-size tower, with a strong 0.82 listening-window smoothness score and a predicted in-room smoothness of 0.63. THX Dominus and THX Ultra certified at a fraction of the Perlisten S7t flagship price, and reviewers across Sound & Vision, Audiograde, SoundStage Ultra and HiFiReport all rated it highly for its class, with Audiograde naming it a Best of 2023 pick. Measured bass extension of 24Hz (-10dB).
Cons: On-axis deviation of 0.277dB and a pronounced -0.28dB per octave downward slope point to a warmer, less forward tonal balance, consistent with Sound & Vision’s review finding it leans analytical rather than warm and wanting more air in larger rooms. It’s sold only in Piano Black through specialty AV dealers, with per-unit pricing that varies noticeably by retailer.
Full Perlisten R5t review and specifications →
| Released | Mar 2022 (4 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 24Hz (bass reflex) / 38Hz (acoustic suspension) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 44.6Hz (manufacturer spinorama data) |
| Certification | THX Dominus, THX Ultra |
| Country | Designed in the United States (Verona, Wisconsin) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 43.3”H x 9.1”W x 13.8”D (1100 x 230 x 350 mm) |
| Drivers | 3x 26mm silk dome (tweeter + 2 midrange), 2x 165mm (6.5”) HPF woofers |
| Enclosure | 3-way, switchable bass reflex / acoustic suspension |
| Frequency Response | 80Hz-20kHz +/-1.5dB |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal, 3.2 ohms minimum |
| Maximum SPL | 113.0dB peak (manufacturer specified) |
| Power Handling | 100-250W RMS recommended amplifier power |
| Sensitivity | 89.0dB @ 2.83V/1m |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 7.16 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 8.50 |
| Warranty | 5 years, extendable to 6 with product registration |
| Weight | 58.4 lbs (26.5 kg) each |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons