as-b1.2/2.2 vs. swans m200 vs. ref .5s for music?

[freelyfallin]

Hey all,
Before anyone says anything, I do realize that the m200s have an integrated amp, but i'd like to compare all of these purely on the basis of SQ. I can get them all for a similar price(the bookshelves with a t-amp.) I've been deciding between the swans and refs for a while, but recently started to consider the athenas.

These will be my first set of bookshelves and will be used with my computer. I listen to mostly alt. rock and folk(mostly acoustic instruments), If you want to get a breakdown of what i listen to, check out my last.fm page, last.fm/user/freelyfallin. I'm not sure how to describe the 'sound' i prefer, though i do love the Senn HD-595's headphones.

These will probably be used without a sub for the forseeable future, though I may end up using a cheap active sub i have laying around(the KHL SL1000).

So which of these options best suits my situation?

Thanks!

[freelyfallin]

I just read than the athenas aren't that great for music, so let's just compare the swans and refs, if that helps.

[jcPanny]

I have some of the Athenas and still use them in the garage. They sound pretty good for the money but wont sound or look as nice as the Ref's.

For a computer speaker, check out the new AudioEngine 3 powered monitors for $200. AH reviewed the larger version with 5" woofers.

If you want to expand to a larger HT system or project the music through the room (vs. near field listening) then the Onix Ref 0.5's or X-ls speakers would be a good option.

[freelyfallin]

If you want to expand to a larger HT system or project the music through the room (vs. near field listening) then the Onix Ref 0.5's or X-ls speakers would be a good option.

Thanks man. For the moment, music is my top priorty(HT down the line? Perhaps.). Having said that, I will be using whatever set-up I get in a near-field situation in a rather small room. Would the refs work well in this capacity, or would powered monitors be the better sounding option?

[Seth=L]

The Onix Ref 0.5 will not mate well with the t-amp, they are not very efficient.

The Athenas would work "ok" with the t-amp. Have you considered the Emotiva BPA-1 as an alternative to the t-amp?

[Seth=L]

I just read than the athenas aren't that great for music, so let's just compare the swans and refs, if that helps.
Sounds more like opinion than fact, I thought they sounded great with music for the money.

[freelyfallin]

The Onix Ref 0.5 will not mate well with the t-amp, they are not very efficient.

The Athenas would work "ok" with the t-amp. Have you considered the Emotiva BPA-1 as an alternative to the t-amp?

Why won't the Refs mate well with the t-amp? The main reason I am considering the t-amp is because it's such a cheap solution and would allow me to have a bookshelf set-up for cheap(I can get the refs for $150($200 shipped) and have a budget of tops $250). This being the case, the BPA-1 is out of my price range. All of this makes me lean to getting powered monitors, I think otherwise I'm going to have to get out of my price range to get the equivalent sound....

Sounds more like opinion than fact, I thought they sounded great with music for the money.

I based that on another thread in which multiple people described them as ok for HT, but not for strictly stereo music.

For the moment, music is my top priorty(HT down the line? Perhaps.). Having said that, I will be using whatever set-up I get in a near-field situation in a rather small room. Would the refs work well in this capacity, or would powered monitors be the better sounding option?

Can anyone answer this question for me? It seems like powered monitors are seeming like the better sounding solution(for me) at this point....

Thanks...

[freelyfallin]

For a computer speaker, check out the new AudioEngine 3 powered monitors for $200. AH reviewed the larger version with 5" woofers.

Are you talking abou the AudioEngine 2's, they retail for $200, I can't find 3's anywhere.

[jcPanny]

Are you talking abou the AudioEngine 2's, they retail for $200, I can't find 3's anywhere.

That is it, they only have a couple speaker models. They larger 5 version got several good reviews and there are a couple reviews on the new smaller 2 model.
http://audioengineusa.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=79

[Seth=L]

That is it, they only have a couple speaker models. They larger 5 version got several good reviews and there are a couple reviews on the new smaller 2 model.
http://audioengineusa.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=79
Those look very nice.

[freelyfallin]

Those look very nice.

Anyone heard them that can talk about them/how they compare to the swans?