athena ws60? anybody?

[Tryon]

I am looking at replacing my old "Home theater in a box" setup in the next week or so. I have already replaced the TV with a Sony Plasma, now I am looking at the front stage. I was in best buy last night and took a look at Athenas WS-60 line. Typical 1 left, 1 right and 1 center setup. I will replace the back ones when the next set of "reward points" come in. I really liked how they looked and how they sounded. But me being a newbee at this, don't really know the name brand that well. Anyone out there using this brand or better this line? How has your experance been? Any interferance with the Plasma?

Thanks.
T

 

[supervij]

Tyron, I'm currently using the Athena Audition line (the original series). I have heard a few people say they don't like the sound, but I was impressed from the first note. And seven months after purchase, I still love my Athenas. Athena speakers are generally considered "best bang for the buck" speakers. They're generally high quality, but low in price. Certainly not the highest quality, but that would cost you several times the price of an Athena. Don't know about the interference with the plasma, but on their website, they don't mention magnetic shielding for the WS-60, but they do mention it for other Athena speakers. You may want to e-mail them to make sure it wasn't an oversight.

cheers,
supervij

 

[Tryon]

Thanks for the responce. I don't know why I didn't think about sending an email to the vendor. I will give that a shot.

 

[j_garcia]

You can pick up the first gen Auditions on www.audioadvisor.com for great prices. $200 for a pair of B1s and a C1.

 

[Tryon]

Problem is I am having my house done as a show home for my girlfriend's office. They are doing my floors, den, and remodleing my kitchen, so it has to meet her standard of small, out of the way, and flows with the TV. This is why I am looking at the ws or any other slim line\wall mount speakers.

Basically, I have to have it abide by what she has layed out in her plans.

 

[STRONGBADF1]

athena vs. yamaha

Tryon,
I have listen to both the athena ws and the yamaha ns lines(http://www.yamaha.com/yec/products/speakers/Perform_125.htm) at Bestbuy. The Athenas are more attractive but the Yamahas sound much better. The Yamahas also are less expensive. It's a shame but I think Athena is droping the ball. They have a good reputation and are tarnishing it with the ws lines sound quality. Lightening the audition line has left a bad taste in peoples mouths also.(Wish I could find a reveiw on the AS-F2.2)

The ws speakers might sound better in your room with some tweeking. Like I said they do look better and if the room is a showplace for the business looks would be more important.

Good luck and let us know what you get and how they sound.

p.s. I'm sure there are many other "slim" speakers in that price range others have heard and can help you with.

 

[j_garcia]

For a showcase house, I wouldn't be buying anything from Best Buy.

B&W FPM - www.bwspeakers.com

Mordaunt Short Genies - www.mordauntshort.com

Vienna Acoustics Berg - www.viennaacoustics.com

Paradigm "On wall" Monitor series - www.paradigm.ca

Anthony Gallo - www.roundsound.com

(Wish I could find a reveiw on the AS-F2.2)

Someone on another forum has owned both F2s and F2.2s and said they sounded identical for all intents and purposes.

 

[jcPanny]

Small satellite system Or In-walls

I own the Athena audion series and would recomend them, however, I think that the WS line probably sacrifices performance for astetics.
Audioholics recently gave good reviews to the Orb audio satellite system which is very small and unobtrusive and will match your plasma.
http://www.audioholics.com/productreviews/loudspeakers/OrbAudioMod2p1.php

Also, In-wall speakers from Athena or another manufactuer might be a good solution. The grills can be painted to match your walls and you will hardely notice that they are there.

 

[Tryon]

For a showcase house, I wouldn't be buying anything from Best Buy.

B&W FPM - www.bwspeakers.com

Mordaunt Short Genies - www.mordauntshort.com

Vienna Acoustics Berg - www.viennaacoustics.com

Paradigm "On wall" Monitor series - www.paradigm.ca

Anthony Gallo - www.roundsound.com



Someone on another forum has owned both F2s and F2.2s and said they sounded identical for all intents and purposes.

Yes the ones listed above would be nice, but this part of the project is coming out of my budget. Besides home is a design on just an average home improvement home, not a million dollar new build show home.