Athena Micras vs. DefTech ProCinema 60

[Coyote]

In short: Anyone here able to give me a real comparison of the two? Forget price, which is better set?

Thanks in advance!

The long version:
I'm relatively new to "real" HT. I'd been haunting this site for a while and when a friend was looking for better speakers on a budget, I gave a blind recommendation for the Athena Micras. After I actually heard them, the bug bit me and I starting looking for something better than my Panny HTiB.

But I couldn't get the Micras. BB seems to have indefinitely backordered them and after expanding my budget a bit (funny how that happens) I listened to quite a few packages. I didn't like any of the Polk and Infinity sets, they were a lot more expensive but not much better sounding than what I'd remembered of the Micras. Then I listened to the DefTech ProCinema 60 and ended up taking them home. It didn't hurt that the numbers on the PC60s looked good too, because I don't entirely trust my ears: Everything sounds good next to the HTiB I had.

Now that I've edumacated myself I find out that DefTech is a bit loose with their specs, especially with the sub. (as in +/-10dB on published frequency response: It goes down to 23Hz? give me a break!) Seeing as how I haven't really had the chance to listen to the Micras again, I get the feeling that when I do, I'm going to feel like a paid too much for the same performance.

At this point I'm going to have to move quick if I intend to try and order the Micras and return the DefTechs. So yeah, is the ProCinema 60 worth the premium over the Micras?

 

[Sheep]

Well, do you like the Deftechs? I mean, how low does the subwoofer go? IF you like them, and I see no reason to get rid of them.

SheepStar

 

[Coyote]

I'm not quite sure about the sub. And that's my big sticking point, because I think the center/sats are at least as good as what I remember of the Micras. Maybe even smoother in the low mids. I really can't find any opinions on this ProCinema system, just the larger ones.

Athena claims -3dB at 30Hz for the Micra sub: it was meaured to be -6dB at 30.
DefTech claims -10dB at 23Hz for the ProSub60. AFAIK, the ProSub 60 is identical to the ProSub 80, just with a smaller amp (still more than the Micra sub). Does that help?

I couldn't hear much with a 30Hz tone, let alone 25Hz, even tho there's a lot of air moving and port noise if I turn it way up. It might be the room causing my bass cut-off. It's 12x14 ( i think) which explains why I have a peak at 40Hz and nothing much below 35Hz or so.

 

[Sheep]

I'm not quite sure about the sub. And that's my big sticking point, because I think the center/sats are at least as good as what I remember of the Micras. Maybe even smoother in the low mids. I really can't find any opinions on this ProCinema system, just the larger ones.

Athena claims -3dB at 30Hz for the Micra sub: it was meaured to be -6dB at 30.
DefTech claims -10dB at 23Hz for the ProSub60. AFAIK, the ProSub 60 is identical to the ProSub 80, just with a smaller amp (still more than the Micra sub). Does that help?

I couldn't hear much with a 30Hz tone, let alone 25Hz, even tho there's a lot of air moving and port noise if I turn it way up. It might be the room causing my bass cut-off. It's 12x14 ( i think) which explains why I have a peak at 40Hz and nothing much below 35Hz or so.

In that size room you should have sufficient room gain in the low end. This is why I don't like deftech: lies.

You can always keep the sats and get a new subwoofer. Probly your best option.

SheepStar

 

[Coyote]

Room Size

Sheep,

You'd think a 12x14 room would allow 30Hz but get this:

I got an SPL meter and did some bass extension tests on my buddy's Micras: My SPL meter told me it was down -6dB at 30Hz from what it can output at 35 or 40. (But my SPL meter also starts to roll off below 35). He's got his in a corner, surrounded by two walls, the entertainment center and the side of the loveseat. 30Hz was loud and clear. One dimension of his listening aea is almost 20'. On a side note, there really is no comparison between the micra's sats and the DefTechs, but then again, that's probably why they are in two different price ranges.

My ProSub60 measures the same -6dB at 30Hz... but I can't hear it! I called DefTech, and they told me that sub should be flat to 35Hz and audible below 30Hz if properly placed. They also suggested room size was a problem. I was told if I had a sub that could do 20Hz, I'd still need 40' in one dimension to hear it. My current placement has a few peaks and dips in the 40-80Hz range, so I think there's a bad null around 30.

DefTech pointed out I could upgrade my entire system to the ProCinema 80 for less than I could purchase the ProSub 80. I went back to Magnolia and compared the ProSub 60 and the ProSub 80 in their listening studio. That room is probably a good 20x30, and sure enough, the ProSub 60 pumped out 30Hz loud and stong all the way across the room! FYI, the bigger Prosub 80 was only slightly deeper but had much worse port chuffing than the 60. Subs aside, the 60 and the 80 sets have totally different sats and centers, and oddly enough, I liked the sound of the 60s more than the 80s: The 60s are brighter and my tastes go that way.

Thanks for your advice!

 

[Sheep]

Have you tried other placements? If its a room mode, thats the easiest way to fix it.

SheepStar

 

[jcPanny]

HT speakers

Are you willing to settle for a good satellite system or do you want to move up to a good bookshelf system? There is only so much that those little 3-4" drivers in the satelites can do.
Depending on the price range of the Def-techs, you might consider the $700 Onix X-LS package with the 8" X-Sub from av123.com.

Keep in mind that you will probably need a receiver to power your new speaker system.

 

[Coyote]

Well, for the price, the ProMonitor 60s actually sound good to my ears. I have a decent set of old but good towers on my 2-channel system, and I think they sound a little too full - I'm one of those weird folks that prefers the sub to fill in the bottom end. Also, the DefTechs have aluminum dome tweeters and the clarity is outstanding: I don't feel like I get the same sparkle from speakers with soft domes (my old towers, micras, x-ls, etc..)

 

[Seth=L]

Sorry for resurrecting this dusty mummy, but Coyote is incorrect about something. If someone is incorrect, especially on the internet, it should be brought to everyone's attention even if it means rehashing NOTHING!

The ProSub60 and ProSub80 used the same amplifier. The ProSub60 has a convex dust cap, indicating that it probably used an entirely different woofer than the ProSub80, which used a concave dust cap. The ProSub80 has a longer cabinet and is front ported, which is probably part of why it has more port noise than the ProSub60 which is rear ported.

This has been a correction on the internet. This correction was brought to you by Posters Who Resurrect Ancient Threads.

 

[njedpx3]

Vote for Def Tech

Def Tech speakers are awesome especially the CLR3000.

Go with Definitve Technology!