Athena, Infinity, JBL Too many choices

[troyspitzer]

I've been watching and searching the forums for several months trying to educate myself on all of the various speaker jargon, brands, and features. Let me first say that everyone is an "expert" (or at least self-appointed expert) on the internet, but I keep coming back on the audioholics.com site for the best information. Unfortuneately, any product has reviews with some people loving a product, and others hating it, with potentially no merit to either argument. Part of the argument is based on what you own. I probably wouldn't say how great your Ford is if I drive a Chevy (please nobody make a big deal out of that, its simply a word picture).

I recently refinished our basement, and as part of the remodel we added a Sharp LCD TV. I would like to advance my into the world of HT. My previous set-up was a kenwood receiver and a set of tamon studio montior speakers. Their use has passed.

Now on to my quandry. I've looked at all of the "newbie needs help with first system" posts, and it seems that they always take the same path. They always start with a person hoping to spend $x on a system, then all of the suggestions lead up to $x+2000. I would like to have a set-up that is better than the HTIB, a notch better than the standard Best Buy employee would sell me, yet not a multi-thousand-trade-in-the-wedding-ring system.

My thoughts thus far are pretty set on a Yamaha RX-V657 Receiver, although I haven't bought it yet. I like the XM option, even though it didn't find positive reviews on this site. That level of Yamaha should have every bell and whistle I'll ever need. My real question is in regard to speakers. (Here's where the stray to "get the best Axiom's you can afford" speach comes in). I live in rural South Dakota, so my access to "listen before you buy" isn't a reality. All of my information is based on reviews, I haven't heard anything, but companies like Infinity, Polk, Klipsch, JBL are all known names with a history of fine products. I like the Primus line, then I looked at the JBL northridge line, and now you guys have added Athena's audition 2 line to the mix. Every company is going to have the line the run as their flagship, and the line they run to sell to the average joe becuase of their name, that's just good business.

Is there anything that makes any of those stand out? I'm like any consumer, I'd like the most bang for the buck. Will I be able to tell the difference? I would like to play a dvd with decent sound for less than 2K, and the Yamaha will have eaten up 550 of that. My thought of the day is a full athena set with the ASP4000 sub, ASF2.2 fronts, ASR1 bi-pole surrounds (which onecall has on sale for 80 dollars vs. the ASR1.2's for 125) and ASC1.2 center. You can think of the similar Infinity line or JBL stuff without me listing all of the models.

Thank you for all of your help.

 

[jaxvon]

I think the Yamaha is a fine receiver. I'm in the market for a new one and I WOULD go for, except it only has 2 component video inputs (and I need 3). Aside from that minor feature, it does everything I want (including lip sync).

I would say that you should try to stay away from JBLs. They have a solid history, and when you lay down some serious cash, they make nice speakers. But at your price point, I've never heard anything that impressed me. Their drivers, build quality, and sound always have been sub-par in the Northridge series (IMHO).

As far as other speakers go, it depends on your tastes. Klipsch speakers are quite bright (due to the horn tweeter). Some people love the sound, others don't. The Polks sound pretty darn good for the price, but many of their speakers are power hogs. The Athenas, while I haven't heard them, are frequently seen as a great value, and sometimes "The Poor Man's Paradigm". Infinity also makes nice speakers. I just checked, and there's no one on the official Axiom list for listening to speakers in EITHER Dakota, so that really sucks.

The other brands I think you might want to think about in your price range are:
Yamaha (the NS line)
Rocket (AV123)
Phase Technology
BIC Venturi or Acoustech (I can't go a day without plugging these things)

 

[AVJedi]

I'd go for the Infinity or Athenas. Athena will save you some dough from the Infinity speakers, (points from the significant other) and do everything you need for what your theater room sounds like. They have excellent warranty, and are made way above their price point. I have the Micra 6 system in a bedroom w/a Denon AVR-1705 and it rocks! I'm looking to upgrade my living room system, and am in the same boat. What to buy? but from the build quality and sound from my micra 6, I'm seriously considering Athena's again. If you're thinking the Primus series from Infinity, I know those too are a good option; my brother has a Primus HT, and it's nice . Hope this helps!

 

[NetGeek]

I have the Athena Set you are looking at

And I have been real pleased with them, expecially since I bought them when they were changing the styling and saved a bundle. I am also running them with the Yamaha RXV-1500.

I bought the entire Audition Series so I have been playing around with various configurations using different speakers for the mains/surrounds/rears. After 6 months of playing around with them I now have a lot of holes in my wall.

The configuration I settled with in my living room, for now, is the F-2's as mains, C-1 center channel, and 3 R1's for my surrounds and rear for a 6.1 setup. My living room was very difficult to "tame"; I have many doorways and halls, a kitchen behind it, etc. The Bi-Polar R-1's just seem to give me the best sound "envelopment".

I have been very happy with the Athenas and you can still find them at a discount at audioadvisor.com. By the way I ordered a AS-R1 from oncall for $72 and they sent me a AS-R1.2 by mistake I guess; did not want to go to the trouble of sending it back. It is MUCH lighter than the AS-R1, about half the weight, but I really cannot tell any difference in the sound.

I would also take a look at the Bic's; have heard many good things about them and I am going to pick up a pair for the workshop - I think I have a thing for budget "poor mans" speakers since I got off Bose.

 

[Spiffyfast]

Personally I haven't heard an infinity that really impressed me Primus or Beta. The athenas are a great choice, but you can get a much better sub w/o spending alot more, i.e. SVS or HSU. If it is going to be soley for home theater I would check out some Klipsch Reference speakers, I'm one of those ppl that like the sound of the horn tweeter, great for movies, and if you listen to Rock music nothing else will sound the same. If youre into saving money the Bic lines are great and its amazing how many ppl reccomend them. The Bic Acoustech line is what I'm going to go with b/c I will get the Klipsch sound, some say better, for about half the price, to me its a win win. If you aren't a horn tweeter person the Athenas are a great choice, I'd just choose a different sub.