Athena F2.2, C1.2, R1.2

[markw]

And no one ever claimed that Athena speakers are audiophile quality. But they do sound pretty good, and are so much less expensive than other speakers in the same audio quality range, no? At least, that's what all the reviews have said. So I'm always to see a lack of love for Athena speakers on forums (fora?) such as AH.

cheers,
supervij

Well, seeing HT people throwing the "Audiophile" label around always cracks me up. HT is the antithesis of "Audiophile" quality listening. Boom and tizz is all it really takes, and the louder the better.

 

[Joe Schmoe]

I still have a pair of Athena F1s (in storage at my parent's house.) They sound quite good for the price.

 

[billy p]

Well it appears he loves his Def Tech speakers. Basically from his recent remarks he feels Axiom or Athena don't stack up. One of our local hi-fi shops carry hi end equipment, but cater to the common man and all their commercial/ads push Bose and Def tech like crazy.

 

[Joe Schmoe]

all their commercial/ads push Bose and Def tech like crazy.

Marketing is the only thing that those brands have in common. Def Tech makes great sounding speakers. Bose speakers totally suck.

 

[billy p]

Exactly, marketing is everything. However, I am not crapping all over the other brands. I don't ask a question regarding speakers, then make tongue n cheek comments about them. IMO he's basically trolling.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Exactly, marketing is everything. However, I am not crapping all over the other brands. I don't ask a question regarding speakers, then make tongue n cheek comments about them. IMO he's basically trolling.

No, I'm not trolling. I've never heard of Athena speakers. Never listened to them. Never known anyone who owns them. So when I saw them in Audio Advisor catelog, I just wondered about them since the price was so good. Based on the first few remarks on this thread, and reading one review (I think Stereophile?), it seems to me like most people think Athena speakers are pretty good VALUE, but the build quality may be not as great. I never said Athena & Axiom or any other speakers are terrible. Some people prefer different speakers. If you ask 100 people, you will get 100 different answers regarding speaker preference.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

...neither are the others discussed here, either. And that includes your pictures.

Face it, you want an HT system, not an "audiophile" quality system. Big difference.

Check out my main system if you want an "audiophile" system.

What? You must be joking.
To consider NAD+Rotel+ Magnepan1.6 ($750 ea) as "audiophile" and Acurus+ DefTech BP7000SCs ($2,500 ea) as "NOT Audiophile" is a total joke.

 

[billy p]

Okay, so the term "crap" was a little off base, but so was this remark!

I would compare the Axiom M80 towers ($665 ea) to the DefTech BP8Bs ($300 ea). I would consider the DT BP10Bs ($450 ea) & BP7006 ($425 ea) better than the Axiom M80.

Furthermore, I'll bet the ranch you haven't heard the Axiom either? Don't take this to personal but "GO TIGERS".

 

[jcPanny]

Athena Audition Series

I have had good results with some Athena AS B1.1 bookshelf speakers and center channel. They are better than most of the speakers you will find in Big Box stores and are a good option in the $100-150/pair price range. They don't have the same build quality as the Onix X-series or other more expensive options, but you get what you pay for.

I am still rocking out with a pair of the these in the garage as part of my distributed audio system.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Okay, so the term "crap" was a little off base, but so was this remark!

I would compare the Axiom M80 towers ($665 ea) to the DefTech BP8Bs ($300 ea). I would consider the DT BP10Bs ($450 ea) & BP7006 ($425 ea) better than the Axiom M80.

Furthermore, I'll bet the ranch you haven't heard the Axiom either? Don't take this to personal but "GO TIGERS".

No hard feelings.
Well, okay, sorry if I offended anyone regarding that statement. It's just personal opinion. I have never heard of Axiom speakers either. My opinion is only based on what some friends have said. I don't think they have any Axiom speakers in Sooner land.

Well, Missouri should have won the last time they played OU too, but stranger things have happend this year! I am cheering for OU, but I won't be upset if Tigers win. If they do beat OU as expected, I will definitely cheer for Tigers to win the National Championship!

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Okay, so based on what everyone has said, if you could choose between the Definitive Technology BP10Bs for $400, the BP8Bs for $300, or the Athena LS500 for $350, which would you buy? Honestly. I'm really curious. Everyone thinks different. I may be way off.

 

[Seth=L]

So, you haven't heard. They say their changes didn't affect the sound quality and were only to make them more cost efficient to manufacture. Who to believe?

There were no 1.1's

Sorry it was the AS-B1 speakers, they where heavier (heavy makes me happy).

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Sorry it was the AS-B1 speakers, they where heavier (heavy makes me happy).

Heavy makes me happy too. I wish my speakers weigh 500 lbs each.

 

[Seth=L]

Heavy makes me happy too. I wish my speakers weigh 500 lbs each.

That is one reason I am so interested in the B&W Nautilus 802s. They are about 170 pounds a piece and are about as "audiophile" as I would ever care to get. They are considered a high value speaker given the ruler flat responce they have.

 

[Seth=L]

Someone said something about "audiophile" system. What "audiophiles" view as being a high end system is typically seperates. Most "audiophiles" have a certain discontempt for receivers and prefer pre/pro and amplifier combos. "Audiophiles on a budget for a stereo rig often view integrated amplifiers to be superior to receivers for fidelity (this is often true given that the integrated amplifier offers some amplifier flexibility). If you throw an iPod dock into the mix it automatically is no longer an "audiophile" setup.

From my perspective AcuDefTechGuy, the system in your signature is high-end and if it is set-up correctly (acoustics) I would consider it to be an "audiophile" rig. My dad used to have an "audiophile" rig, but then he ruined it by putting stuff in front of it and moving the listening seat just making it a really high end stereo rig that I would not define as being "audiophile".

 

[markw]

The difference is I own 'em. You're just dreaming, fanboy.

What? You must be joking.
To consider NAD+Rotel+ Magnepan1.6 ($750 ea) as "audiophile" and Acurus+ DefTech BP7000SCs ($2,500 ea) as "NOT Audiophile" is a total joke.

So, you're going on dollar value, are you? Obviously, you've never listened to well-powered Maggies.

Learn to use your ears, not your eyes. Maybe you'll learn something. That's what real "audiophiles" do.

 

[markw]

(heavy makes me happy).

You'd just love my first wife.

 

[Joe Schmoe]

Okay, so based on what everyone has said, if you could choose between the Definitive Technology BP10Bs for $400, the BP8Bs for $300, or the Athena LS500 for $350, which would you buy? Honestly. I'm really curious. Everyone thinks different. I may be way off.

For HT I bought BP10s (front) and BP8s (surround.) If I had it to do again, I would probably have BP8s in front also.
I enjoy the BP8s for stereo music, but lately I find myself preferrring my KRK ST6 monitors over everything else I have tried (even with their limited bass.)

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

So, you're going on dollar value, are you? Obviously, you've never listened to well-powered Maggies.

Learn to use your ears, not your eyes. Maybe you'll learn something. That's what real "audiophiles" do.

One of my friends own the Magnepan1.6s. I would never tell him this because I don't want to hurt his feelings, but they sound like total crap. The MG1.6 are for poor people who can't afford the MG20.1s, which is more comparable to the BP7000SCs.

And actually I value my eyes as much as I value my ears, unlike ignorant people who are deafened by their "golden" ears for wires, plugs, and such.

 

[Seth=L]

You'd just love my first wife.

Oh I get it, a funny.