Athena owners thread. [Text View] - Page 7

azmodien

01-26-07, 07:21 PM

I've just picked up a pair from Amazon as well. I agree with your impression on the speakers on the slight brightness on the high, and a bit loose on low end. Similar to you, I've owned them for about 30 minutes, but they sound pretty good out of the box. I used to own AS-F2.2, and I like the mid and high of the LS-500 better.

How are you liking them so far? After extensive listening, the 2 channel performance really sucks. The treble is clean and clear but there not much more bass than my previous bookshelves. I hooked up my Energy C-3s right next to them and pushed them both within 18 inches of the wall to compare.

Switching back and forth exposed the weaknesses of the Athenas. The treble on the LS-500s is slightly more open and clear but the brightness is somewhat offputting. The vocals aren't harsh at all, but instruments like tamborines and cymbals are too pronounced. I preferred the warmer treble of the Energys even though the detail wasn't as good. The brightness was also present on some movie soundtracks but the mid-bass, detail and soundstage were a big upgrade from my previous speakers. Anyone who is just looking for fronts or a 2.1, they will probably do great.

As far as low bass on the Athenas, there doesn't seem to be any. They only provided a slightly fuller sound than the Energy bookshelves. As they are right now, I can't imagine enjoying music without the sub turned on. I think I may return them and order some Axiom M60s.

sgtreese

01-27-07, 07:49 PM

New here. Didn't know there was an Athena forum.

This is a set I just finished for my bro-in-law. AS-B2's converted to floorstanders. Center untouched so far.

jcavner

01-30-07, 02:14 PM

Had my Athena's for a while now.

AS-F1
AS-C1
AS-B1
AS-P400

and in the market for a set of B1.2s or the like...

I have been VERY happy with the performance of these speakers.

muj

01-30-07, 02:53 PM

I've had a point 5 system for about a year but currently in the process of upgrading the fronts to some B2's if I can ever find a pair on that damn auction site. Its my 1st system, and I love it...but I'm already addicted to upgrading after getting a C1 to replace my C5.

Mathew J

02-04-07, 12:18 AM

Well finally stopped with the mix and match components...recieved my R1.2s in the mail the other day and mounted them today, so as it stands my setup is:

Front Pair = AS B1's
Center = AS C1
Rears = AS R1.2's

My wife saw me hanging them with the grill off and said they were pretty ugly, I was seriously hoping she didn't suggest something smaller...but once the grill went on she thought they were much nicer as they matched the set.

Sound is much better now, last thing I need to get are some higher quality stands than these sanus ones I have...

Tony1970

02-04-07, 12:26 PM

Noob here. I am very close to making a decision on speakers. I am upgrading my Onkyo htib and after reading this forum for hours I have went from HSU vt12 to Polks monitor 50 to the Infinity Primus 360 for mains and 150's for surrounds with a Bic H100 sub and matching center. I bounced ideas around in other threads and before I pull the trigger I thought I'd get your opinion on Athena AS F2.2 compared to the Infinity 360. I will be using it for 90% movie listening. I know viewers in this thread are already Athena owners and will probably be biased towards them but I know you had to go through the pain of making your final decision and some probably considered the Primus line. I was actually led to the Infiinity's from my post in the Polk thread. I will be making my purchase later this week and wanted to make sure I was getting the best bang for my buck. Thanks in advance for your help.

benjosevilla

02-04-07, 09:02 PM

primetimeguy

02-04-07, 09:13 PM

I have a question about the correct crossover settings on both the receiver and the sub. I have:

Onkyo TX-SR502
Front - AS F2.2
Sub - AS -P6000
Center - BIC Venturi DV-62CLRS
Rears - Ceiling mounted NXG NX-820W

The AS-P6000 crossover dial show a low 40 Hz when paired with the AS F2.2. The Onkyo recommends an 80hz crossover for 8 inch front speakers. Do I set the sub to match the cross over of the receiver (80 hz) or do I set it based on recommendation of Athena which is 40 hz?

I find the 40 hz setting a bit too low.

Please assist.

Turn the crossover on the sub to the highest value, which for the most part takes it out of the equation. Then set the crossover in your receiver to your liking, but 80hz is a pretty good start for your setup and recommended by most.

axs

02-04-07, 09:24 PM

I have a question about the correct crossover settings on both the receiver and the sub. I have:

Onkyo TX-SR502
Front - AS F2.2
Sub - AS -P6000
Center - BIC Venturi DV-62CLRS
Rears - Ceiling mounted NXG NX-820W

The AS-P6000 crossover dial show a low 40 Hz when paired with the AS F2.2. The Onkyo recommends an 80hz crossover for 8 inch front speakers. Do I set the sub to match the cross over of the receiver (80 hz) or do I set it based on recommendation of Athena which is 40 hz?

I find the 40 hz setting a bit too low.

Please assist.
Set the crossover to max (120hz) on the sub. This is the highest frequency at which sub will reproduce sound. Crossovers are not brickwall and your speakers will get some contents below crossover frequency (80 hz in this case) and also sub will get some content above crossover frequency. For a better integration of speakers and sub, it is important that they overlap each other.

benjosevilla

02-06-07, 10:36 PM

Thanks for the suggestions. I got an SPL meter and re-calibrated everything using the AVIA DVD (talk about horrible navigation!) and the THX optimizer. Using the recommendation from AVIA, I set my fronts (F2.2)and center from large to small. I set the receiver crossover to 80HZ and the P6000 sub to max. The SPL really helps leveling the speakers way beyond my ears can tell. I did leave my sub about 5 db higher than the rest. At lower frequency, it is hard to tell if the sub was at a higher volume than the rest.

Has anyone tried the Monster optimizer DVD?

CR2500

02-07-07, 08:24 PM

Hi, new to this thread.

Right now I have a Yamaha RX-V659 805 watt 7.1 receiver, and I'm planning to buy:

WS-60 for front and center
AS-R1.2 for surrounds
Either JBL Venue Sub-10 or AS-P4000 for the bass.

would this setup work well? Are the R1.2's worth the extra price over the B1.2's? Budget is limited to ~$800, and currently this costs ~$720

Thanks.

simpleHT

02-07-07, 10:12 PM

CR2500

02-08-07, 05:11 PM

I am not sure if the ws-60 with 4" drivers works well with the R1.2, a pretty full range surround to be matched with other Audition series.
The WS-60 has 3.5" drivers (;)), but goes down to 60 Hz (the R1.2 also goes down to 60Hz). If I set the sub crossover to that frequency, will it work better?

If not, what surrounds would you recommend?

kurt_fire

02-19-07, 05:52 PM

So what's the general concensus here? Are the F2 and F2.2 identical in terms of sound?

eddbree

03-01-07, 08:16 AM

Are there any stores in the Massachusetts area where I can listen to Athena speakers? I've called all Best Buys in the area, they no longer carry them in the stores (website only). I got a pair of AS-B1.2's given to me as a gift and now am planning to build a 5.1 system around them (I love these babys). Would like to hear the difference between keeping the 1.2's as fronts and using R1.2's for the rear, or using B2.2's for the front and using the 1.2's for the rear...also to go with the 8, 10, or 12" sub. Thanks in advance.

achanna

03-01-07, 04:44 PM

I am very new to the audio world and I am thinking of buying 7.1 channel system with this combination
2 -- LS-500B
1 -- LS-C100B
4 -- WS-15B
1 -- AS-P4100
Receiever Pioneer 1016

I definitely want to go for LS-500B, but for other 5, I have the wiring done for 5 speakers, so i want to buy speakers that i can just connect and mount on the wall.

My first preference for wall mount was LS -100B ( instead of WS-15B), but they are too bulky for wall mounting.
My questions to you guys are.

[ 1 ] Is there any way i can mount LS-100B on the wall, if yes where can i buy the wallmounts?

[ 2 ] If i choose to go with WS-15B, are they compataible with other speakers and subwoofer, will they work together?

I am in Toronto area

Thanks
Amar

singzh

03-01-07, 07:46 PM

Hi Amar,

The LS-500B sounds great after breaking in. (I bought 2 pair of LS-500Bs when they were on sale. I am in Toronto, too. I am selling one pair for CAD 550)

Tim

mbird

03-01-07, 08:23 PM

achanna

03-01-07, 08:26 PM

Hi Tim

I am getting a really good deal from the FS for the whole package.

As i mentioned my dilemma is to choose between WS-15, LS-100 for the surround speakers.

I am also considering LS-50 also, if someone please give me there opnioin about them

Tim, i have a friend who was also looking for LS-500, i will ask him if he wants them

Thanks
Amar

mbird

03-01-07, 10:22 PM

Any thoughts Athena owners and fellow AV lovers on how the b1.2 & c1.2 would sound on my setup? :)

achanna

03-05-07, 10:42 AM

Got the whole package yesterday

2 -- LS-500B
1 -- LS-C100B
4 -- LS-100B
1 -- AS-P4100
Receiever Pioneer 1016

I have only hooked up LS-500 only and they sound awsome - will let you know when i have all the 7 speakers up and running

digitaldreamer

03-05-07, 03:58 PM

Hi everyone, thought I'd add to the introductions as well. This is my first system, so please excuse the noob:

1. Onkyo 674 Receiver
2. Athena Point 5s
3. Athena P6000 Sub

Please excuse my noobness but I have 2 questions about the point 5s:

a) I couldn't find in the manual where to set the LFE for the Point 5s, and my P6000 doesn't have point 5s as one of the settings. Is 100Hz the right level?

b) Anyone know where I can find the official stands for Point 5s? I'm not a big fan of the wall mounts and how they look.

Thanks!

Digital dreamer

benjosevilla

03-06-07, 06:00 PM

nlewis

03-11-07, 04:06 PM

hello I Am Buying A Pair Of Ws-100 For Front, Ws-60 For Center And I Have A 8inch Cambridge Subwoofer But cant Decide For My Rear L And R If I Should Get A Pair Of Ws-15 Or A Pair Of As-r1.2???

Hallas

03-25-07, 06:22 AM

I just got an Onkyo SR504 along with a pair of AS-B1.2. The C1.2 is on my to-get list.

I'm pretty sure that I'm clearly missing a subwoofer, as the bass on the B1.2s by themselves is really hollow at the moment. That leads to the first of my two questions...

1: AS-P400 or DIY subwoofer? I can get most of the tools for it and I've done some woodworking in the past. If I build it myself, I'm thinking of maybe an 8"-10" sealed sub in the smallest case I can reasonably get away with. Bear in mind I live in a rather cramped apartment in LA, and the room I'm listening to this in is maybe 150 sq. feet at most.

and 2: I need a pair of rear speakers. Again, given my cramped quarters, size is a major issue. I want them to be much smaller than my front speakers, but the B1 seems to be the smallest in the Audition line. Anyone else have any ideas? I saw the Morel Soundspots on Amazon - they look nice, were well reviewed, and are about what I'm looking for - would they be a good match? Based on the gear I've listed, I'm sure you can figure out my price point.

benjosevilla

03-26-07, 09:29 AM

Hellsya69

03-28-07, 07:52 AM

Koch.bill

03-30-07, 03:51 PM

Hello,

Looking for some sattelites. Which is a better choice the Athena LS-50's or WS-15's??
The LS's have a slightly better Freq response.

Thank you for any help!

eightninesuited

04-05-07, 01:00 PM

http://www.audioadvisor.com/images/ATHLS500B_000-Large.jpg

Are there any pro reviews on the new LS line? I'm interested in making a low cost 5.1 system for my bedroom, and was thinking about getting the LS-500 as fronts. I like the look of the speakers and they didn't sound too bad when I auditioned them at Future Shop. Too bad their switcher wasn't working well so I couldn't really compare them to the other speakers in the room.

How do they compare to the old AS F2 speakers and the Polk RTi8?

Mathew J

04-05-07, 03:33 PM

I finally took the plunge and ordered my new Athena speakers. I picked up a Pair of AS-F1.2 for the fronts and the AS-C1.2 for the center but now I am torn on what to do about the rear surrounds. I have been looking at the athena AS-R1.2 as well as a pair of Bookshelves for the rears. I was just hoping I could get some opinions here as to which way I should go.. (ie.. Bi-pole or direct)

I have done searches on this topic but I figure one more opinion couldnt hurt and since I see alot of people here are running the same speakers up front I figure your opinions would be the most relevant to me. So let me say thanks in advance for any help in parting me from my money. ;)

Also The speakers will all be used mainly for movie watching.

I just got the R1.2 a few months ago for my rears and find them to be very good, then again they are mounted flush on my back wall. Price is higher than a pair of B1's (which is what I use for my FR + FL) but overall I am pleased. I only have 5.1, was going to move my B1's as my rear channels in a 7.1 but decided for me it was overkill.

marlowchris

04-05-07, 03:56 PM

I have been trying to decide on rears as well. Will 1 R1.2 do the job of 2 B1's or do you need 2 R1.2s?

Hellsya69

04-06-07, 09:35 AM

Well after hearing my new Athena setup I was so pleased that I decided I had to pick up new surround speakers to complete the set. I decided on the B1.2 to use as my surrounds since they were less than half the price of the R1.2 and it will leave me another reason to upgrade in the future. I see that there are others debating on which surrounds to get so I will post again with my impressions once they arrive. I am far from any expert but at least youll have the opinion of a regular joe enjoying his new toys... :D

Microseption

04-08-07, 11:55 AM

Hi guys, i am lookiing for a new or used Cherry S3 pair of Athena Speaker. I would appreciate any help with this little problem, thank you very much.. PAT

Pagash

04-08-07, 02:00 PM

Hi guys, i am lookiing for a new or used Cherry S3 pair of Athena Speaker. I would appreciate any help with this little problem, thank you very much.. PAT

I noticed a pair just sold on fleabay. You are a few days too late, maybe you'll get lucky and some more will surface there.

Macroblocker

04-10-07, 03:16 PM

TheAuditioner

04-12-07, 12:14 AM

Hey all. I'm a poor teen trying to convince my parents to replace the speakers on our Onkyo 780 htib (though it sounds much better than our ten year old Bose speakers it replaced!). They won't pay for new speakers and I'm going to college this fall so I don't want to really spend that much. I already posted on the "upgraditis for Onkyo" thread, but these Athena speakers interested me and I was wondering if you all could answer a couple questions.

MBird -

I don't know if you have already gone on to make your decision but I have the same Onkyo receiver and the following speakers:

4 AS B1.2's
1 AS C1.2
1 BIC H100 sub

Now... I have 2 AS F2.2's on backorder but i can tell you after auditioning these for about 3 months my findings.

I spent about a month reading through forums and reviews before I went with the Athena speakers. Being my first real surround system (a little gift to myself after landing my first job after college) i wanted to get a good bang for my buck and Athena sounded like they fit the bill.

They are extremely detailed in terms of sound reproduction. Immediately I started hearing details in songs that i thought i knew by heart. I went through my entire library and it was as if i was listening to each CD for the first time. I think this is the mark of a quality system. The only tracks that actually sounded worse were poorly encoded Mp3 songs. The Athena speakers make good songs sound amazing but don't hide flaws at all.

They can play very loud with no distortion on the meager 75 watts per channel that the Onkyo 504 puts out because they are very efficient speakers. The B1.2's will sound a little small for movies, so if you use them for a home theater surround experience you will need a sub. Also you need optical or Digital coax cable if you want DTS or Dolby. If you use the coax, make sure it doesn't touch any other cables or your gonna be in feedback hum hell.

I have nothing but good things to say about the center channel speaker. Dialog is movie theater quality; clear and up front. Very real is the best way i can put it.

I have put more then 100 hours on these speakers so they should be past their breaking in period. They are still however very bright. I have very sensitive hearing and while they are crystal clear on the Onkyo, the sizzling highs of high-hats, brass instruments, cymbals and other sharp instruments can be fatiguing if you are sensitive to that. But this is less of an issue for home theater and games, i've only had this problem so far with music.

So thats my take. They are very good all around and the best by far that I have owned up to this point. If you know the difference between bright and warm speakers and that isnt an issue for you, don't hesitate to try them out.

That is actually my one concern as I await the F2.2's. I am wondering if i should cancel that order and audition some speakers from av123. I'm not saying they are bad. They rock any speaker system I have owned or auditioned (bose, klipsch, infinity and a few others in store demo rooms) and I know the brightness is not a problem for many proud Athena owners. Perhaps I should opt for warmer speakers? Is there anyone that has heard the Athenas side by side with av123 speakers? A similar system wouldn't be that much more expensive as far as i can tell.

TheAuditioner

04-12-07, 12:20 AM

Actually scratch that. I have the Onkyo 504 but i think the receiver that comes in the htib package has a 100 watt/channel rating.

tomshaw

04-13-07, 10:09 PM

I have this same speaker setup with a Denon 3806 - After break in; once these Athenas are tuned in... WOW. For movie surround they are up there with the big dogs (Bostons, Bose etc). Remarkable. For music, I have ordered the F2.2's. The B1.2's and the 3806 don't match up very well (NEED BIGGER for the Denon with music). As for bright - yeah, a bit. Especially with the Denon but, that's the good thing about equalization adjustments. Just my a few of my opinons...

ps - eBay has some great prices on the F2.2's.

benchlegs

04-18-07, 03:24 PM

I just got the R1.2 a few months ago for my rears and find them to be very good, then again they are mounted flush on my back wall. Price is higher than a pair of B1's (which is what I use for my FR + FL) but overall I am pleased. I only have 5.1, was going to move my B1's as my rear channels in a 7.1 but decided for me it was overkill.

Matthew: I am using a Pioneer 1015TX and tend to use it for movies in the THX mode. THX recommends using bipole (in this case R1.2's) as your surrounds and radiating (B1.2s) as the rear surrounds.

Maybe an overkill but I am using F2.2s as my fronts, C1.2 as my center, R1.2's as my surrounds and B1.2s as my rear surrounds (butted together as THX recommends). My sub is a Velodyne VRP 1200. The sound is awesome rattling the house frequently

letsee13

04-26-07, 01:40 PM

Uh oh. I needed a small, low priced, reasonably good subwoofer for my new set up (waiting on the Onkyo sr 605) and read on here about the Athena AS-P300. It wasn't available anywhere but I found one on eBay so I bought it (waiting for it to be delivered). I can't find any info as to whether this is self-powered (not sure what that is, since I am a total newbie on speakers, but I assume that means it doesn't need to be plugged into the wall socket). I'm hoping so, since there is no place to plug it into the Onkyo (strange) and I'd hate to have it plugged in all the time to the wall (and it would require a short distance between the placement of the sub and the wall socket). I have Paradigm 5se speakers in front and Roger Sound Labs speakers on the floor in the rear (it's a pretty small room) and some cheapy small speakers up on the wall in the rear and a Boston Acoustics center channel speaker (not sure the model numbers of all the speakers since I've had them all for a while). I just got a 50" Panasonic HDTV so I was hoping to not spend any more money and still get a pretty good surround experience. Am I doomed?

jvgillow

04-26-07, 01:57 PM

letsee13

04-26-07, 09:28 PM

The AS-P300 is self-powered which means it has its own internal amplifier. That also means you will have to plug the subwoofer into a wall outlet. You should not plug amplifiers or subwoofers into the AC outlet on the back of a receiver anyway (although it appears you do not have one on the back). You can of course use an extension cord if you need the sub to be a significant distance away from the wall.

Interesting. I thought self-powered meant it didn't need power from the wall (figured it was like the other speakers that just work when connected to the receiver) - told you I was clueless on this. So my question would then be where is the best place to put this. My room is oddly shaped because there is the "main room" that is about 13 ft deep and 19 ft wide but in terms of the width it is really an additional 11ft because there is a dining area that has just a step up from the "main room." I don't care about hearing the sub or whatever in the dining area, but that area obviously has an impact on the room acoustics. The main room also has hallway openings to two short hallways so it is not enclosed (hope this makes sense). I have very very little room to put the Athena anywhere but could maybe put it next to the front left speaker (put it closer to the TV) or in the back right corner of my room (which is a corner that has a wall meeting a glass sliding door to the outside).

My speakers are:
Paradigm 5se (in front)
Boston Acoustics HD5v (center)
Roger Sound Labs CG-8a (rear)
Parasound CRs-200 (mini speakers on rear wall)
Athena AS-P300 (subwoofer)

Again, am I doomed? Are these a bad mish-mash of different speakers? If I put the Athena in the back right corner I'll have to get a pretty long cable too I guess.

triage1998

04-26-07, 09:32 PM

letsee13

04-30-07, 04:47 PM

Interesting. I thought self-powered meant it didn't need power from the wall (figured it was like the other speakers that just work when connected to the receiver) - told you I was clueless on this. So my question would then be where is the best place to put this. My room is oddly shaped because there is the "main room" that is about 13 ft deep and 19 ft wide but in terms of the width it is really an additional 11ft because there is a dining area that has just a step up from the "main room." I don't care about hearing the sub or whatever in the dining area, but that area obviously has an impact on the room acoustics. The main room also has hallway openings to two short hallways so it is not enclosed (hope this makes sense). I have very very little room to put the Athena anywhere but could maybe put it next to the front left speaker (put it closer to the TV) or in the back right corner of my room (which is a corner that has a wall meeting a glass sliding door to the outside).

My speakers are:
Paradigm 5se (in front)
Boston Acoustics HD5v (center)
Roger Sound Labs CG-8a (rear)
Parasound CRs-200 (mini speakers on rear wall)
Athena AS-P300 (subwoofer)

Again, am I doomed? Are these a bad mish-mash of different speakers? If I put the Athena in the back right corner I'll have to get a pretty long cable too I guess.

Did I scare everyone away with this one?

primetimeguy

04-30-07, 05:10 PM

Ideally all your speakers are the same, or at least the same brand and line so the are timbre matched. You'll just have to try it all out and see how you like it.

As for subwoofer location, I'd recommend the front of the room near your mains and TV rather than the rear of the room. But again, you can try both and see. Depending on your crossover the front location will be less localized,

maxpower169

05-02-07, 01:44 PM

Currently I'm running:

AS-B2.2's for the left and right main speakers
AS-C1.2 for the center
Cambridge Soundworks Surround I dipole/bipole for surrounds
Pioneer VSX-D814-K Receiver
Panasonic AE700U Projector

I am not satisfied with the older CSW surround speakers as I feel they do not match up well with the Athena fronts. Does anyone know how the R1.2 would compare or if perhaps I could even go with the In-wall IW6 for surrounds?

Is there are huge difference between using a dipole/bipole speaker as opposed to a single speaker/tweeter for the surrounds such as the IW6?

Any insight would be helpful.

Thanks,

-Mike D.

TRINADS

05-13-07, 09:00 AM

I have heard great things about Athena speakers, and I was at my local BB, and had the chance to audition the WS-100's, I know that sound is very subjective to the person listening, but I was actually blown away at how well these things sounded. They were simply impressive. I have also auditioned the AS-F2 and was also "blown away", although the f2's had better low end, I think that the sub would compensate for that. I was pretty set on purchasing the F2's, but now i'm torn, as I REALLY do think that the WS-100's sound great, and they look SO much better. I wasn't even considering these speakers just because of all of the crap that is talked about them, I meant really, are they THAT much inferior to the other Athena speakers? I really didn't think so, but this is just my opinion, I really don't know what to buy now, I should have never listened to them and should have just gone with the F2's... But Damn, the WS series do look nice!!!

afrogt

05-13-07, 03:53 PM

If your store has them both in stock, buy both and then return the one you don't like. An in home test is the best way to be sure. As an owner of AS-F1's, I think the F2 sounds better than the WS-100. But your opinion is the only one that counts.

eightninesuited

05-16-07, 10:33 AM

Does the aluminum dome tweeters need to be broken in or something? I've got a pair of LS500b towers and and I find the detail isn't all there.

ninjitsui1

05-16-07, 04:21 PM

Hey guys,
Trying to finish up my all Athena setup, but I can't seem to find any AS-F1.2's...the only place I saw was Audioadvisor...do you guys know of anywhere else? Or someone willing to sell?

My other thought, if I can't get the F1.2's...I might opt for the F2.2's. Do you think that will drown out my center, AS-C1.2? I've heard alot of people say that the 2.2's were too strong for the Athena center...anyone actually satisfied with the sound? Or a good tweak to make it sound better?

Thanks guys!

Current setup:
Athena:
4x B1.2
1x C1.2
1x PS-4000
2x Vintage fronts

Onkyo 674 receiver
Xbox 360
PS3

marlowchris

05-16-07, 04:33 PM

jvgillow

05-16-07, 05:53 PM

B2.2s were available at www.tsto.com as "special of the week" although it has said that for quite a long time now. I'd call them and see if they have any left.

Also what's wrong with getting AS-F1.2s from audioadvisor? I called them about a month ago and they said they had quite a few left at that time. Maybe gone now?

TDI Driver

05-16-07, 06:07 PM

If you find a good source let us know. I have been looking for a set of B2.2s and can't find them anywhere. I even emailed them and got no response. I like the Athena brand but have almost decided to go with Axiom. At least I can find their stuff and they answer the phone.

Your lack of getting a response is all part of the Klipsch purchase of API last year. I'm a dealer for all three API brands - Athena, Mirage and Energy - and am feeling the "growing pains."

Since the move a few months ago of all things API to Klipsch headquaters, we have had some serious communication issues and service issues. I waited almost two months to get a replacement amp for an Athena AS-P6000 amplifier and was shipped 220V versions twice before finally getting the right one. Now I have an Energy S12.3 sub from our showroom whose amp died suddenly, and while I have received a parts credit, I still have not received an amp. I'm disappointed but I have plenty of other subs to sell. However, when this lack of attention involves a customer, as it did with the P6000, this is not a fun time for anyone.

Sorry for your experience, and I wish you the best of luck in your pursuit. I would sell you a pair of 2.2's if I had them.

ninjitsui1

05-16-07, 07:44 PM

Any thoughts about F1.2 vs F2.2?

I definitely don't want to drown out the center, I'm curious whether I'll be able to tweak it enough to make it sound ok. Anyone?

primetimeguy

05-16-07, 09:15 PM

Any thoughts about F1.2 vs F2.2?

I definitely don't want to drown out the center, I'm curious whether I'll be able to tweak it enough to make it sound ok. Anyone?

I have the F2s, and while the center channel could be better, it is not lost and sounds good.

afrogt

05-16-07, 09:21 PM

afrogt

05-16-07, 09:27 PM

If anybody is looking for the s.5 surrounds, someone is sellng them on ebay for the Buy It Now price of $50 with free shipping.

sabt

05-19-07, 11:00 PM

SteroMAdMAn

05-20-07, 10:32 AM

I have both ws100/60, I love them. They don't sound like crap to me at lower volumes. Not as full as my Paradigm Studio setup, but still very impressive.

Macroblocker

05-23-07, 03:25 AM

What's wrong with Audio Advisor? They're authorized. $249/pr is a good price.

Audio Advisor has been great for me, they gave me a great price on a Athena center channel.

pureRX7

05-28-07, 09:58 PM

can anyone tell me the differences between the as-f2.2 vs the ls500 athena speakers? Cant find any comparison or really any reviews on the ls series, thanks

atluskane

05-29-07, 01:22 AM

Hey, i have received one as-f2.1 speaker from my friend since the other speaker died. I've been looking but can only find as-f2.2. Does the color difference between the .1 and .2 obvious or could i get away with it. Also is anyone willing to part with one as-f2.1 speaker?

ninjitsui1

05-29-07, 03:43 PM

Had a quick question about ASF2.2 speaker setup.

Current setup-
Center: ASC1.2 80hz
Sides: ASB1.2 80hz
Rears: ASB1.2 80hz
Fronts: Vintage 80hz

I'm purchasing ASF2.2's for my fronts to finish my Athena set!

What crossover freq. did you guys put your ASF2.2? Curious, as I know they can play as low as 35hz...just wondering if you guys would suggest putting it at 80hz as well, or if you put it lower to utilize the lower response freq.

Thanks guys!

primetimeguy

05-29-07, 05:57 PM

I run my F2s at 80hz. If I could have separate xover for each channel I may put them at 60hz

benchlegs

05-30-07, 11:44 PM

bobpat

05-31-07, 12:26 PM

Two years ago I purchased 4 Athena AS-F1's, 2 AS-B2's, and an AS-C1. We've been doing some remodeling, and the speakers are still in their factory-sealed cartons. Since the remodel our space utilization has changed greatly and I'm questioning whether I really have the space to install and appreciate all of those floorstanders. I also have an unopened Micra 6 system, and I'd like some feedback from Micra 6 owners. I realize that it wouldn't have the impact of the larger system, but would it do a respectable job for now? If I was unhappy with the music performance, I could always keep a pair of F1's or the B2's for the fronts.

afrogt

05-31-07, 12:38 PM

What's your room size now?

Do you have space for any floorstanders? If so, use one pair of the F1 as fronts, C1 for center and B2 for rears.

If the B2's are two large for surround speakers, use the 4 Micras for your surround and surround back speakers. You can wall mount them too.

If you have no room for any of the F1's, use the B2's up front with micras as surrounds.

Hellsya69

06-04-07, 10:19 AM

Quick question...

I have an athena setup of the following:

Fronts : F1.2
Center : C1.2
Surrounds: B1.2
Sub : HSU STF-1

I am looking to step up to a 7.1 system since my new receiver can "Fake" the 2 back channels from 5.1 PCM. My question is would there be a problem with using 2 athena LS-50 speakers for the back surrounds or should I stick with the B1.2. I prefer the LS-50 as they are smaller and would be easier to install in my room but I dont want it to screw up the surround effect. If anybody has any experience with different sized rear and surround speakers can you please let me know your thoughts on it. I am also open to other suggestions. Thanks in advance.

Abner Peacock

06-04-07, 12:22 PM

Last year I bought the MKII Point 5 surround speakers and added an ASP-4000 sub. Got them on sale (clearance?), so I paid very little. So far I've been extremely happy with the sound I get out of them. I only use the system to watch DVDs - no cable TV or anything.

Here's my (low budget) set-up:

Optoma H31 DLP projector
100" Elite basic screen
Onkyo TX-SR503 receiver
Athena MKII Point 5 surround speaker system
Athena ASP-4000 subwoofer
Philips 727 DVD player (remote hacked, region-free)

It's setup at one end finished basement, taking up about 1/3 of the basement. I pretty much only use the stereo for watching DVDs. Occasionally I will pop in a CD, but it's pretty rare.

I'm thinking of adding a rear center channel, possibly an AS-R1.2. It seems like this speaker would be a good match for the speakers I already own, and the price is about right. Am I on the right track? I'm pretty green when it comes to this stuff, so any advice would be much appreciated.

blobula

06-06-07, 10:47 AM

What does 'Factory Refreshed' speakers mean for the Audition AS-F1.1 on AudioAdvisor? Are these used speakers that have been returned? Thanks.

Zawada

06-12-07, 06:37 PM

Does anyone know if anywhere online sells just the satellites? One of my speakers crapped out and i was wanting to buy another satellite to replace it.

Also, if they dont sell individual speakers. Should i buy 2 R1.2s or just 2 B1.2s. They will be going as rear speakers. So i will have the Micra 6 Fronts/Centre/Sub + The other 2 that i decide to buy.

afrogt

06-12-07, 07:16 PM

Zawada,

Did you know the Micras have a 5 year warranty? Why don't you send it in to get fixed? you couldn't have had them over 5 years yet.

ncfoster

06-14-07, 11:39 PM

I am setting my parents up with some Micra 6s, given their size constraints. Can anyone tell me what is and is not included in the packaging? Does it include any speaker wire and/or a subwoofer cable, or must I acquire all of these? I was assuming maybe because it was a speaker "system", it might come with extremely cheap speaker wires, but probably no sub cable. I suppose it is more likely that it comes with nothing, though. Thanks for any help.

Nathan

OC/ingmaddog

06-15-07, 08:25 AM

Hey guys.

I'm looking to buy some speakers (why else would I be posting in here) haha.

My room isn't very large so I've decided to go with a 2.1 setup due to space limitations. I don't have a lot of money to work with, but enough to get me a starting system.

I have about $600-$650 to work with for two speakers, the receiver, and the sub.

My main purchase will be floorstanding speakers and the receiver. If I run out of money, I can always purchase the sub later.

So with that in mind, what do you guys suggest?? :)

Thanks in advance!!

afrogt

06-15-07, 09:12 AM

I don't believe the Micra comes with speaker wire or sub cable. But you can get both of those for under $20. 14ga or 16ga would work.
http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10239&cs_id=1023902&p_id=2748&seq=1&format=2&style=

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10239&cs_id=1023903&p_id=2749&seq=1&format=2&style=

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10236&cs_id=1023602&p_id=2682&seq=1&format=2&style=

What's in the Box
Four satellite speakers, center channel speaker, subwoofer, mounting brackets for satellite and center speakers, user's manual.

Product Description
Power handling: 100 watts rms per channel Powered 225 watt/75 watt rms MOSFET 8" subwoofer -- down-firing, front vented with Athena's SCT technology Four magnetically-shielded satellites and dual center channel woofer Performance injection molded polypropylene woofers with rubber surrounds Includes all wall and ceiling brackets 5 year limited warranty

afrogt

06-15-07, 09:29 AM

dawds

06-20-07, 09:46 PM

I've pretty much decided on Athena speakers for my family room. But not being able to audition them, I'd like to run my choices by you guys first.

I'm leaning towards B1.2's for the front and back, C1.2 for the center, and a separate sub. But when I factor in the price of stands for the front B1's, the F1.2's aren't really that much more expensive (about $80).

So my question is are the F1's worth the $80 premium over the B1's? Would I notice the difference?

For reference my room is 375 sq ft, 3375 cu ft.

Thanks for any advice :)

afrogt

06-20-07, 10:16 PM

So my question is are the F1's worth the $80 premium over the B1's? Would I notice the difference?

Yes you will.

I have F1 floorstanders, C1 center and B1 surrounds. I originally had the B1's up front until I found some F1's on clearance. Big difference in sound between the B1 and F1 tower. Much more bass and fuller sound. If you can swing it, get the F1.2. It also makes a big difference if you ever listen to 2 channel stereo. You'll really appreciate the floorstanders then.

Are you purchasing a sub too?

dawds

06-21-07, 12:04 AM

Yes you will.

I have F1 floorstanders, C1 center and B1 surrounds. I originally had the B1's up front until I found some F1's on clearance. Big difference in sound between the B1 and F1 tower. Much more bass and fuller sound. If you can swing it, get the F1.2. It also makes a big difference if you ever listen to 2 channel stereo. You'll really appreciate the floorstanders then.

Are you purchasing a sub too?
Yes I'll be using the BIC H-100. Would it still be worth the upgrade?

jvgillow

06-21-07, 12:06 AM

Yes. Even worth it if comparing B2 with F1.

dawds

06-21-07, 12:58 AM

Thanks. I'm curious, would it be beneficial to set the crossover frequency lower for the front F1's than the rear B1's (since they have lower bass)? Or is it best to set everything the same (80Hz?)

primetimeguy

06-21-07, 11:29 AM

Thanks. I'm curious, would it be beneficial to set the crossover frequency lower for the front F1's than the rear B1's (since they have lower bass)? Or is it best to set everything the same (80Hz?)

I think you'll here arguements for doing it either way but without doing any in-room freq reponse measurements to see what is really happening, I'd stick with 80hz for all speakers. For what it's worth, I crossover my F2's at 80hz.

letsee13

06-22-07, 03:05 AM

I bought the Athena AS-P300 subwoofer (supposedly barely used) and this is my first subwoofer. My speakers are:

Paradigm 5se (in front)
Boston Acoustics HD5v (center)
Roger Sound Labs CG-8a (rear)
Parasound CRs-200 (mini speakers on rear wall)
Athena AS-P300 (subwoofer)

I just bought the new Onkyo 605 receiver. I thought all was well until today I was watching a preview for Spiderman III on a DVD and suddenly during a loud and heavy bass scene I heard what sounded like whistling from my subwoofer! I know that is not supposed to happen. Any ideas? It sounds like the wind whistling through the forest.

mskeezer

06-25-07, 05:23 PM

I went and ahead and bought some Athenas over at Audio Advisor. I ordered a brand new pair of AS-B1.2's for my fronts, and a refurbished pair of the B1.1's for the rear. I got an email a short while later telling me that they were out of the refurbs and should have more in in 10 days. I gave them a call and spoke to Jim, who said he would give me another new pair of the B1.2's for the price of the refurbs and would have both pairs shipped out tomorrow.

This is my first time dealing with Audio Advisor and I'm very happy with how things turned out.

afrogt

06-25-07, 05:45 PM

So you have 5 Energy C-100's (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=10785284#post10785284) and 4 Athena B1's? Are you doing a speaker shootout? Does the loser end up on Ebay?

mskeezer

06-25-07, 10:58 PM

The Energys went back to the store a week ago. Wasn't impressed with them at all.

letsee13

06-25-07, 11:06 PM

jvgillow

06-25-07, 11:16 PM

letsee13

06-26-07, 12:31 AM

It sounds like you are getting port chuffing. There's nothing you can do to fix that aside from operating the subwoofer at a lower volume level or using some sort of high-pass filter on the sub channel to eliminate the lower frequencies that are causing large amounts of air to move through the port.

Thanks. I'm a total newbie on subs so I don't know what a high pass filter would be...is that something I have to buy and add to it? Is the Athena usually like this? I thought it was such a great sub.

primetimeguy

06-26-07, 07:08 AM

Thanks. I'm a total newbie on subs so I don't know what a high pass filter would be...is that something I have to buy and add to it? Is the Athena usually like this? I thought it was such a great sub.

I have a couple AS-P400's and they chuff at high levels of low freq. It's their design and normal for these low cost subs.

letsee13

06-26-07, 03:42 PM

I have a couple AS-P400's and they chuff at high levels of low freq. It's their design and normal for these low cost subs.

And what did you do about it or did you just live with it? Thanks!

yelloguy

06-26-07, 07:05 PM

I don't know what you guys are talking about. I own the AS-P300 sub alongwith point 5 speakers and I never heard any whisteling sound as reported by letsee13. I am not sure what the chuffing sound (mentioned by primetimeguy) is but I never heard anything out of whack in the last 4 years I have owned it.

May not be the top of the line sub (I have not heard the more expensive subs) but it blends beautifully with the point 5 system. I have run frequency sweeps and did not hear any whisteling or "chuffing."

primetimeguy

06-26-07, 09:18 PM

At about 23hz or so and below and they start chuffing. For music listening no problem, but you get some deep bass from a movie and it is there Watch War of the Worlds with these and you'll see. They just can't perform at high volumes (say -10 to -15 below reference) at low frequencies, especially in my very large room. No way to really fix it other than turning down the volume or upgrading, which I hope to do in the near future. But for what I paid for them I really happy.

mskeezer

06-27-07, 04:24 AM

Got my ASC1.2 in the mail. Great speaker. I'm still waiting on the 2 pairs of ASB1.2's. Originally I was going to power these with my Yamaha RX-V2600 but I found a Carver AV-505 5 channel amp on Ebay for fairly cheap. Anyone have any opinions on the Carver/Athena combo. I used to own the Carver(was stupid and sold it) and loved it.

yelloguy

06-27-07, 04:35 PM

At about 23hz or so and below and they start chuffing.
<snip>
perform at high volumes (say -10 to -15 below reference) at low frequencies,
<snip>

Are you talking about the same sub that I have? I got no sound below 27Hz. And I did my test on reference volume.

afrogt

06-27-07, 04:50 PM

primetimeguy

06-27-07, 09:06 PM

Are you talking about the same sub that I have? I got no sound below 27Hz. And I did my test on reference volume.

Good point, I'm talking about the AS-P400 and you have the 300. Interesting you don't have the issue. I haven't checked the dimensions but maybe they just took the same box for the 300 and put a 10" in it and called it the 400 and the box and port size are not optimal for the larger driver.

letsee13

06-29-07, 09:23 PM

primetimeguy

06-29-07, 09:58 PM

I'm not sure if this is an Athena issue, a Harmony 880 remote issue or an Onkyo SR-605 AVR issue, but I just got the Harmony yesterday and set it up so that it works pretty well with my system, but I noticed that when it turns everything off and then back on it is disabling my subwoofer somehow. I never noticed it before. Now when I choose something like "watch tv" it turns everything on but my Athena PS-300 shows the red light (meaning not getting a signal I think). The only way I can figure to fix that is to manually go up and pull out and replug in the coax cable in the back of the sub. Any help/ideas are greatly appreciated!

There's nothing the Harmony can do to your subwoofer, it has no IR receiver to accept remote signals. Could be a setup issue (see your PM) or could be the auto on circuit is not working properly, or could be there is not much bass in the program you happened to be watching.

afrogt

06-30-07, 02:17 AM

On the back of your sub are you using the Sub Input or Direct Input?

What is the subwoofer channel set at on your receiver? What sub volume level?

letsee13

06-30-07, 11:12 AM

On the back of your sub are you using the Sub Input or Direct Input?

What is the subwoofer channel set at on your receiver? What sub volume level?

I'm using Sub Input and the sub volume level is -8 on my Onkyo SR-605. I've found that if I turn the volume way up on my Onkyo then the subwoofer light finally turns green. Is that normal? I don't know if I have the settings on the subwoofer set to the best to work with my Paradigm 5se's in front though. Maybe that has something to do with it?

afrogt

06-30-07, 05:31 PM

primetimeguy

06-30-07, 06:17 PM

letsee13

06-30-07, 08:16 PM

You need to use the direct input, not the sub input. Using the Direct Input you will bypass the crossover and volume control on the sub itself and allow you to only need to adjust settings in the receiver. Set receiver crossover to 80hz and sub volume to -5 as a start and tweak from there.

Thanks, but the manual for the Athena said not to use direct input if you use it for both movies and music becauseit can cause an overlap in the bass response between the sub and the front speakers and usually a "boomy"sound is the response. Also, I don't think my Onkyo SR-605 has a way to set a crossover (and I don't know what that is). I can only set the sub volume on the receiver and then set the two dials on the Athena. Any ideas? Thanks!

letsee13

06-30-07, 08:23 PM

Up the sub volume level to -3 or -2 on the receiver and just turn the the volume down the sub itself. With the channel level set to -8 the signal is probably too weak to wake up the sub.

Probably when you calibrated everything with Audyssey, you had the original subwoofer volume way too high and to compensate the receiver set the sub channel to -8.

Thanks. I'll try that. But what do I set the low pass filter control dial to on the Athena? The manual says to set it to the low level cut off of the front speakers but I don't know what that is. I have Paradigm 5se's as my front speakers.

primetimeguy

06-30-07, 08:28 PM

Thanks, but the manual for the Athena said not to use direct input if you use it for both movies and music. Also, I don't think my Onkyo 605 has a way to set a crossover (and I don't know what that is). I can only set the sub volume on the receiver and then set the two dials on the Athena. Any ideas? Thanks!

Not sure why the manual says that because it really makes no sense. If you use the sub input you now have cascading crossovers (two of them in loop, receiver and sub) and this is not a good thing. And if you happen to set the sub crossover lower than the receiver, any frequencies in between the two crossovers is lost and not heard.

Stick with the direct in so it disables the sub crossover and volume controls. Then adjust the sub level in your receiver.

I'm not an Onkyo guy, so is the 605 the same as the TXSR605?

primetimeguy

06-30-07, 08:32 PM

Thanks. I'll try that. But what do I set the low pass filter control dial to on the Athena? The manual says to set it to the low level cut off of the front speakers but I don't know what that is. I have Paradigm 5se's as my front speakers.

Your speakers are good down to about 60hz, so a crossover in the range of 80-120hz is in the correct range. But if you set it lower than what is in the receiver you are throwing away some of the signal. Use the direct in and forget about using the subwoofer crossover.

letsee13

06-30-07, 08:56 PM

Not sure why the manual says that because it really makes no sense. If you use the sub input you now have cascading crossovers (two of them in loop, receiver and sub) and this is not a good thing. And if you happen to set the sub crossover lower than the receiver, any frequencies in between the two crossovers is lost and not heard.

Stick with the direct in so it disables the sub crossover and volume controls. Then adjust the sub level in your receiver.

I'm not an Onkyo guy, so is the 605 the same as the TXSR605?

Yes, it's the new one that just came out a couple weeks ago. The only sub level I can see in the receiver to set is the volume.

primetimeguy

06-30-07, 09:15 PM

Yes, it's the new one that just came out a couple weeks ago. The only sub level I can see in the receiver to set is the volume.

That is a nice receiver and it definitely has an adjustable crossover (maybe even one for each speaker). Dig through all the speaker settings and do the following:

1) set all speakers to small
2) set subwoofer to yes or on
3) set bass out (may be called something else) to sub only
4) set crossover to 80hz
5) set all speaker distances correctly
6) set all speaker levels to 0, except the sub set to -5db for now

Then use an SPL meter to set speaker levels properly or adjust the the levels as desired.

letsee13

06-30-07, 09:28 PM

Wow. I will have to look through the manual to find all those settings since I never saw those in there before. Plus, I don't have an SPL meter (or know what it is). Anyway, thanks.

It may all be moot since I just did something that suddenly killed my sub. I was having trouble with wind noise coming out of the back of the Athena and just noticed that it was missing a screw and that was where the wind was coming from in the back. It was one of the 4 screws that surround the inputs in the back (not the ones on the outer back, but the inner ones). So...I started to unscrew one of the other three inner screws directly across from that hole and I heard something fall inside the sub when I had only loosened it, and the Athena went dead.

I decided to unscrew the back panel and see what was wrong (even though I've never been inside a speaker or sub before and I'm a total non-techie). I managed to get out the nuts that had been attached to the back of the missing screw and the one I loosened. The screws seem to just hold some metal housing in place. It didn't seem like anything else should have been effected since it was working fine until I simply loosened the one screw and the nut must have fallen off (the other nut obviously had been inside a while). I got the matching screw at the store, screwed in both screws and nuts and put the back on again but still the sub is dead. What happened? I looked at the fuse but it looks fine (not sure what it is supposed to look like though).

Any ideas are MUCH appreciated!

letsee13

07-01-07, 06:47 PM

I thought I figured out the problem but need one answer please.

I went to buy a new fuse for the dead AS-P300 but I could only find a 1.5 amp 250 volt fuse (at Radio Shack). The fuse on the AS-P300 subwoofer is 1.25 amp 250 volt. The salesman claimed it wouldn't matter and should be fine. I tried it and now it powers on (!) and then the new fuse blew out (I had the volume on the amp set at 2 and it wasn't even connected to the receiver). Radio Shack and OSH don't seem to have the 1.25 amp fuse and I'm not sure where else to get one. Is it ok to use1.5 amp as a replacement for a 1.25 amp fuse or is that why it just blew? Any ideas of why this would blow immediately like that with the 1.5 amp??

chernomorez

07-25-07, 01:31 PM

Hellsya69

07-25-07, 01:52 PM

I am looking to spend $250-350 on a pair of Athena towers, either F1.2 or F2.2.
Can you recommend vendors - EBay or elsewhere online where I can get a good price on those?
Also, is the extra $100 really worth getting the F2.2s?

I cant speak to whether the F2.2's are worth the extra money since I have never heard them but I do have the F1.2's and combined with the rest of the athena line in my 6.1 system they sound great.

For a great price look at www.audioadvisor.com.

They have the entire athena line on sale since they are being discontinued.

afrogt

07-25-07, 02:08 PM

The F2.2 will give you more bass with its dual woofers. How big is your room? You can get the F1.2 for roughly $250 pair from Audio Advisor.

F1.2 (no free shipping)
http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=ATASF1%2E2

F2.2 (free shipping I believe)
http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=ATASF2%2E2

If you check on Amazon.com, Upstate Wholesale is selling the F2.2 for $139 plus shipping. It probably comes out the same as Audio Advisors price once you factor in the shipping though.

chernomorez

07-25-07, 04:48 PM

What do you recommend for the surround speakers? I have a pair of B1s, but I'm thinking of going towards R1.2s. What is the real advantage of having R1.2 over B1, other than the ability to hang it on the back wall?

Jakeman02

07-25-07, 06:51 PM

R1.2s have 2 drivers 1 on each side at an angle. They direct the sound it a wider area for more on envolping effect, not good if your seating position is directly in front of the speaker but if it's off to the side a little I would go with them.

Also for music I find them not as good as using a direct bookshelf. If you listen to mostly HT and they are placed properly I'd go with them.

As you stated they aren't rear ported so if you require wall mounting that's a good way to go. Otherwise I'd go with another set of B1 or B1.2s with stands the price should be about the same either way.

chernomorez

07-26-07, 01:40 PM

Has anyone seen good deals on AS-R1.2s lately? The best I've seen so far are $80/each + shipping on AudioAdvisor, and marginally cheaper on EBay.

afrogt

07-26-07, 02:05 PM

Those R1.2 surrounds never get cheap. Cheapest I've ever seen is $80 each.

Audio Advisor had some Sound Dynamics RTS-RS1 surrounds on clearance for $49/pr just a few weeks back. Sound Dynamics is/was a sister company to Athena, Mirage and Energy. I scooped those up right away. They work well with my Athena F1, C1 setup.

Don't know if AA has any more though.

msim

07-28-07, 02:19 PM

Trying to make a decision regarding speakers and receivers and subwoofer.
Help much appreciated!

1. Athena F2.2 (are there smaller speakers that are comparable in quality?)
2. Athena C1.2 (smaller option without quality drop?)
3. Athena B1.2 (smaller option any?)
3. subwoofer: big question. as of this point thinking of SVS PB-NSD. Alternatives? Would SVS-PB12 Plus be equally good? It is smaller and more expensive!
5. receiver - big open question. likely HK AVR 247 or Onkyo TX-SR605. Recommendation any?

afrogt

07-28-07, 02:35 PM

Has anyone seen good deals on AS-R1.2s lately? The best I've seen so far are $80/each + shipping on AudioAdvisor, and marginally cheaper on EBay.

Sent you a PM

curtis104

07-31-07, 10:28 AM

Has anyone seen good deals on AS-R1.2s lately? The best I've seen so far are $80/each + shipping on AudioAdvisor, and marginally cheaper on EBay.

I am looking for a pair of AS-R1 also.

msim

08-11-07, 10:21 AM

hi. i am wondering if there are smaller form factor speakers that can deliver very comparable sound quality as the athena audition appear to deliver. any ideas? i would be open to spending somewhat more but not a whole lot more than the audition series (say 50% more...).

i am thinking that i can pair them with a SVS sub if the speakers i eventually buy are small.

any ideas would be appreciated.

Pagash

08-11-07, 10:40 AM

msim

08-11-07, 01:57 PM

Pagash

08-11-07, 02:41 PM

[QUOTE=Pagash]Both HSU and SVS offer good packages, and both include great subs:
----------

would you say these packages sound close to the athena audition series speaker?

i am especially interested in understanding how audition f2.2 compare with the bookshelf with these packages?

i researched and found that the bookshelf and cenetr channel speakers that come with svs package are about the same size as athena audition. svs speakers are more expensive however. do they sound noticably better as well?

I don't know for sure, but can't imagine that they come close to the F2.2's. There are plenty of reviews of the packages, I don't have links for you sorry. To generalize, the smaller speakers are just not capable of a rich full sound offered by say the F2.2. What size are you wanting? If you can tell us what size, you may get some more specific suggestions.

tacos

08-11-07, 02:42 PM

How do you get free shipping on the F2.2's from audioadvisor? I keep getting almost 70 bucks for them to ship 2 of them to me. I would buy but not going to pay for shipping especially when they advertise free shipping. Thanks

flmiami

08-11-07, 10:11 PM

I think you'll here arguements for doing it either way but without doing any in-room freq reponse measurements to see what is really happening, I'd stick with 80hz for all speakers. For what it's worth, I crossover my F2's at 80hz.
I have mine crossed over also at 80 Hz.
There is a white paper called 5 Easy Steps to Home Theater at the Atlantic Technology web site which is worth reading.

http://www.atlantictechnology.com/default.asp?IsDev=False&NodeId=108

flmiami

08-11-07, 10:16 PM

Your lack of getting a response is all part of the Klipsch purchase of API last year. I'm a dealer for all three API brands - Athena, Mirage and Energy - and am feeling the "growing pains."

Since the move a few months ago of all things API to Klipsch headquaters, we have had some serious communication issues and service issues. I waited almost two months to get a replacement amp for an Athena AS-P6000 amplifier and was shipped 220V versions twice before finally getting the right one. Now I have an Energy S12.3 sub from our showroom whose amp died suddenly, and while I have received a parts credit, I still have not received an amp. I'm disappointed but I have plenty of other subs to sell. However, when this lack of attention involves a customer, as it did with the P6000, this is not a fun time for anyone.

Sorry for your experience, and I wish you the best of luck in your pursuit. I would sell you a pair of 2.2's if I had them.
Has the situation improved since you posted your message in May?
My AS-P6000 died a couple of weeks ago and I sent it to a repair shop in Florida. They are waiting for the amplifier, which should arrive next week, but after reading your post I wonder if it's going to take longer. Thanks in advance.

atluskane

08-12-07, 04:41 AM

flmiami

08-12-07, 05:47 PM

Does anyone know where to find an as-f2.1 speaker (single)? One of mine crapped out so I'm trying to replace it. Also as a last resort is the outward appearance of the 2.2 and 2.1 similar enough if I ended up having to replace one of the speakers with a f2.2?

The AS-F2.1 looks like this

http://www.athenaspeakers.com/v2/classic.php?ident=AS-F2

The AS-F2.2 looks like this

http://www.athenaspeakers.com/v2/product.php?ident=AS-F2.2

So, as you can see, the color of the woofers is different, but as long as you have the black grills installed, you should be OK.

I have AS-F2.2 for my fronts and AS-F1.1 for my surrounds. With the grills installed, there's no way to tell which one is .1 or .2

afrogt

08-12-07, 06:45 PM

Does anyone know where to find an as-f2.1 speaker (single)? One of mine crapped out so I'm trying to replace it. Also as a last resort is the outward appearance of the 2.2 and 2.1 similar enough if I ended up having to replace one of the speakers with a f2.2?

The F2.1 comes with a 5 year warranty, why don't you get it fixed for free? If you think its the actual speaker and not the crossover, wiring, etc. They can send you out a replacement woofer.

In the rare chance that it is actually out of warranty, you can get a replacement woofer here.

http://bestbuy.partsearch.com/GetModel.aspx?MfgName=Audio+Products+International&BrandName=Athena&ModelNumber=ASF21&page=1

TrebleVsBass

08-12-07, 07:48 PM

Only known component is the Receiver Onkyo TX-SR605 I have just ordered.

60% Movies/TV, 25% Music, 15% Gaming

What would you guys recommend for speakers?

I was considering Polk R50 front, CSR center, R150 rear for around $300-$350.

How do they compare against the praised Athena B1.2 x4 + C1.2 center? (cost around $300 as well)

Would the R50 mains perform better with music?

How do R300s compare to R50s?

I have read very good reviews on the ONiX x-ls. They are more expensive close to $700 shipped (all 5 pieces). are they worth it, or do I have better options for that price range? (paradigm atom monitor v.5s? or wharfedale diamond 8.1s?)

How do the Polk monitors or Rtis compare to those?

Open to subwoofer recommendations as well, I was thinking about getting a eD a2-250 or bic h100 around $300.

I am trying to keep a low budget, but I am open to any suggestions. Thank you.

mskeezer

08-12-07, 08:18 PM

I've owned the R30s and still have a pair of R150s. They're good speakers for the price but the Athenas you mentioned will give you more for your money. I had to downgrade from a KEF iQ setup recently and now have the Athena ASF1s, the C1.2, and 4 B1.2s. They're very fine speakers and for the prices you can find them right now, they're well worth it.

Only known component is the Receiver Onkyo TX-SR605 I have just ordered.

60% Movies/TV, 25% Music, 15% Gaming

What would you guys recommend for speakers?

I was considering Polk R50 front, CSR center, R150 rear for around $300-$350.

How do they compare against the praised Athena B1.2 x4 + C1.2 center? (cost around $300 as well)

Would the R50 mains perform better with music?

How do R300s compare to R50s?

I have read very good reviews on the ONiX x-ls. They are more expensive close to $700 shipped (all 5 pieces). are they worth it, or do I have better options for that price range? (paradigm atom monitor v.5s? or wharfedale diamond 8.1s?)

How do the Polk monitors or Rtis compare to those?

Open to subwoofer recommendations as well, I was thinking about getting a eD a2-250 or bic h100 around $300.

I am trying to keep a low budget, but I am open to any suggestions. Thank you.

mauly

08-14-07, 12:15 PM

Hi! i have a set of

Athena Audition B1.2 Book shelf speaker
Athena - Audition AS-C1.2 Center Channel Speaker

I'm thinking of getting the other pair of B1.2 to complete my surround sound
and also looking at getting the
SVS 20-39 PC+ subwoofer!

will this SUB be too much of an overkill for these bookshelf speakers?

primetimeguy

08-14-07, 12:34 PM

mauly

08-14-07, 12:45 PM

No such thing as too much sub. :) Properly calibrated it will sound great.

Thanks! :D the Wife gave me the go ahead to get my sub! woohoo! :eek: :cool: :p

BAMAVADER

08-15-07, 06:13 PM

I was trying to get opinions on the Athena WS-100/WS-60/WS-15 speakers. Maybe some of you who are owners could help me decide if this series or possibly the Audition series would be a worthy upgrade for a 6.1 Infinity TSS-750 set up. My receiver is the Harman Kardon 240. 70% movies/HDTV...30% music.

thanks...

<><

johnner1999

08-16-07, 11:04 AM

I have an older AS-F2 and matching center from the 1st series...

during a move one of the towers was messed up and thrown out :-(

I have a deal on a single AS-F2.2... it looks the same and same specs from what I can see? does anyone know if it will match close enough for home theatre use?

johnner1999

08-16-07, 11:13 AM

The AS-F2.1 looks like this

http://www.athenaspeakers.com/v2/classic.php?ident=AS-F2

The AS-F2.2 looks like this

http://www.athenaspeakers.com/v2/product.php?ident=AS-F2.2

So, as you can see, the color of the woofers is different, but as long as you have the black grills installed, you should be OK.

I have AS-F2.2 for my fronts and AS-F1.1 for my surrounds. With the grills installed, there's no way to tell which one is .1 or .2

I just posted a like question (sorry)

so they sound the same? as I'll have one older series on the left and the newer on the right?

I have been using some small boston bookshelf speakers (CR67) as my fronts and center -- I assume going back to these BIG AThena's F2's will sound a tad more full? I hope?

flmiami

08-16-07, 12:14 PM

I just posted a like question (sorry)

so they sound the same? as I'll have one older series on the left and the newer on the right?

I have been using some small boston bookshelf speakers (CR67) as my fronts and center -- I assume going back to these BIG AThena's F2's will sound a tad more full? I hope?
I only have two AS-F2.2, not one .1 and another .2, so I don't know what differences if any there may be. An Athena design engineer may tell you.

But... I'd bet you that if there are any differences in their sound, they would not be noticeable for most listeners, if you were to listen to one .1 vs a .2 under equal conditions.

...And also that if there are any differences, in a real-life room with all the room asymetries and echos and other room effects on the total stereo or 5.1 or 7.1 HT listening experience, I for one would not notice them.

johnner1999

08-16-07, 01:14 PM

I only have two AS-F2.2, not one .1 and another .2, so I don't know what differences if any there may be. An Athena design engineer may tell you.

But... I'd bet you that if there are any differences in their sound, they would not be noticeable for most listeners, if you were to listen to one .1 vs a .2 under equal conditions.

...And also that if there are any differences, in a real-life room with all the room asymetries and echos and other room effects on the total stereo or 5.1 or 7.1 HT listening experience, I for one would not notice them.

that is what I though though (hoped) but well its always nice to have a fellow user share his/her thoughts :-)

thanks again

veeco

08-16-07, 05:17 PM

I just ordered a pair of Athena LS-50 's . I plan on making my own speaker mounts, preferably before the speakers arrive. Does anyone know the size of the keyhole mount on the back? What screw size and type should I use?

I'm trying to figure this out so I can get the screws and know how big of holes to drill in the mount pole. Any help appreciated!

tacos

08-25-07, 06:59 AM

flmiami

08-25-07, 02:08 PM

Are the F2.2's too much for an apartment? I'm worried about how much bass they put out. I'm not running a sub because of this. However, I don't plan on living here forever and I already have an all athena setup and I'm afraid if I don't get the 2.2's now. I won't ever get them. I've thought about the 1.2's however, I don't want to regret not getting the 2.2's afterwards. Which do you guys recommend? thanks

I have both the F2.2 and the F1.2 in my condo. Yes they are big speakers, and they are probably more than what's necessary for the room where I have them but when I purchased them I said why not?. They are considered by reviewers in Sound & Vision and Stereophille as excellent speakers in their price range, but you probably knew that already.

So, if you want them, go for it. (Unless there is a wife factor or other that would prevent you from doing it).

They will only put as much bass as you decide them to put when you configure your crossover point and/or when you turn the receiver's knob.

tacos

08-26-07, 10:05 AM

I have both the F2.2 and the F1.2 in my condo. Yes they are big speakers, and they are probably more than what's necessary for the room where I have them but when I purchased them I said why not?. They are considered by reviewers in Sound & Vision and Stereophille as excellent speakers in their price range, but you probably knew that already.

So, if you want them, go for it. (Unless there is a wife factor or other that would prevent you from doing it).

They will only put as much bass as you decide them to put when you configure your crossover point and/or when you turn the receiver's knob.

Hey thanks for the response. Just one question. Do you use the C1.2 center? I'm worried about the F2.2's drowning out the center. Have you or anyone else run into this problem? I'm going to buy either the 2.2's or 1.2's later this week. Just gotta make up my mind.

focker99

08-27-07, 10:26 PM

I have a question on a new home theater setup. I have attached a pretty basic drawing of my setup and I wanted to see if you could let me know if the setup I'm looking at is going to work or if I'm way off. The whole setup will be powered by a HK AVR347

1- Would you recommend AS-B1.2 or AS-R1.2 in my setup ?

Im pretty new at this so if you can recommend anything that would be greatly appreciated .

Thanks

primetimeguy

08-27-07, 10:58 PM

Difference between B1's and R1's is more of a personal preference than anything. I prefer the "direct" sound of B1's as surrounds but many others prefer the "diffuse" R1's.

flmiami

08-27-07, 11:23 PM

Hey thanks for the response. Just one question. Do you use the C1.2 center? I'm worried about the F2.2's drowning out the center. Have you or anyone else run into this problem? I'm going to buy either the 2.2's or 1.2's later this week. Just gotta make up my mind.

I use a C1.1 as a center, and I am satisfied with it, but I am not an expert, so I would not be able to tell you if the F2's (L & R) are drowning the C1. (I hope not).

Following the recommendations of other users in the AVS forum for the Onkyo TX-SR805, I've ran the Audyssey auto-setup process for 3 positions, and after that, I used a Radio Shack SPL meter to adjust the level of all my speakers to 75 dB except the SW which was set at 80 dB, and I'm satisfied with the results.

In any case...you may want to read this review:

http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/speakers/511/athena-audition-series-home-theater-speakers.html

This is what it says on this subject:

Despite its diminutive size, the AS-C1 center speaker was a fairly good partner for the towers. It sounded slightly thinner on male voices and had a marginally brighter balance over the top octaves, but otherwise its tonal character matched the AS-F2s very well. This was true even though its tweeter waveguide is turned 90° relative to those of the AS-F2s.

I’m guessing that the orientation was changed to save space — permitting the dual woofers to be placed closer together — and also in an effort to keep the speaker sounding as neutral as possible for off-center listeners. It worked. The AS-C1’s sound held together over a range of around 20° to either side — plenty to accommodate listeners seated at the ends of a sofa.

The Athena system sounded powerful and detailed with multichannel music. A rotation of my favorite test tracks revealed open, clear sound with clean treble and the same balanced midrange I heard during stereo playback. The small AS-R1 surrounds, and to a lesser degree the AS-C1 center, were a bit bass-shy, but that won’t be a problem if your system’s bass management is operating correctly.

Good luck. Enjoy your HT.

blouielouie

09-07-07, 09:18 AM

flmiami

09-08-07, 08:16 PM

I recently got a pair of F1.2s (which I absolutely love by the way) to go with a pair of B1s I have had for while and was planning on using the B1s as surrounds, but my room configuration isn't going to allow for such big surrounds. I was thinking of using one of the B1s as a center channel and just forgoing surrounds for now. Does this seem like it would be a good fit. HT isn't my primary use, its just that I don't have much use for the B1s at the moment and would hate to just stow them away until I move into a new house.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.
B

For music, your two F1.2 should be good enough. That's what I have in my living room. 2.0 configuration, only for music.

For home theater, even when it's not your primary use, it seems that you plan to go with just 2 fronts and 1 center for now (3.0?) instead of a 5.1 configuration. Right?

Since, the F1's and the B1 are timbre matched, and you already have that B1...Why not? Go for it.

However, if HT ever becomes a higher priority for you, you should think about getting a powered subwoofer, even a small one, and a couple of surrounds for a 5.1 configuration.

blouielouie

09-10-07, 09:53 AM

Hey, thanks for the tips. I messed around with the setup this weekend, and all I can say is wow! I have always really enjoyed my B1s but as soon as I hooked up the F1s, I was blown away. The 3.0 setup is perfect for movies , but the coup de gras is the F1's as a 2.0 for music. The bass is amazingly crisp no matter what I threw at it and the highs never got too bright. For $250, the F1s are a no brainer.

sdh

09-17-07, 06:13 PM

I was pretty close to pulling the trigger on a couple R1.2s at Audio Advisor to replace the B1s I have as my surrounds. The B1s I would move to my bedroom.

However, the site insisted on charging me shipping ($30) for the pair, even with the free shipping banner up top. I called and the rep claimed that because they were on clearance the free shipping doesn't apply. I find that shady because when I bought my B1.1s a couple years ago (also on clearance if I recall) the free shipping applied.

Audio Advisor can't be the only place clearing these speakers out. Does anybody know of any other online stores that are (other than ebay)?

flmiami

09-17-07, 08:37 PM

djfpforever

10-01-07, 06:19 PM

flmiami

10-03-07, 06:58 PM

Are AS-R1.1 units compatible/matched with AS-R1.2 (or any/all of the other various 1.2 units for that matter). I am planning on buying some new F1.2s and figure if I can get a deal here and there, then I will. I just don't want to risk any spotty sourround based on a 1.1 -> 1.2 compatibility!

I am speculating as I have not compared them.

I would expect that there may be some (minor) differences between the construction and/or performance of the R1.1's and the R1.2's if measured in a lab with sophisticated equipment.
(Otherwise, Athena would not have called them R1.2. If there were major differences, I would expect them to be renamed to R2's or something else).

but... I would not expect to notice any significant difference in a real life application (watching a movie) if I were to switch back and forth between a pair of R1.1's and a pair of R1.2's.

And if there were any noticeable differences (doubtful)... Would one be better than the other, or just different?

Plus, we are talking about surrounds, not fronts and centers, and they are still from the same brand and design... I would not be concerned.

outcast_p

10-18-07, 10:26 PM

I know it has been gone over before, but after moving my p6000 sub decided it did not want to work anymore. Has anyone ever found a place to get a replacement amp or figured out what is wrong with the amp? If all it is going to take is soldering some new transistors Im down.

Jakeman02

10-18-07, 10:59 PM

outcast_p

10-19-07, 04:43 PM

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=892988

I guess I mistyped my search. Thank you.

adams12

10-19-07, 07:23 PM

I recently picked up a Yamaha RX-V661 and plan to build a 5.1 setup around it. I currently own a pair of AS-B1's (which I'm quite fond of) and am now looking for a decent centre speaker, possibly the Athena LS-C100.

Even though both are Athena speakers they are from different product lines. With this in mind, will the LS-C100's pair up well with the AS-B1's (i.e. are they well timbre matched)?

Down the road I plan to pick up a pair of tower LS-500's, and then use the B1's as satellites. In such a setup, would the C100's be powerful enough to keep up with the much larger LS-500's?

Thanks in advance for any insight.

chevycrew06

10-21-07, 10:05 PM

So I pulled the trigger on my Athena setup. Let me just say it was a toss up between them and the av123 system. Here's what I ordered

2 Athena - Audition AS-F2.2 Tower Speakers - Demo
Single
Item :1ATASF2.2 S Price : $169.97

Ship Via :FEDEX - GROUND 3-5-DAY DELIVERY In Progress $339.94
1 Athena - Audition AS-C1.2 Center Channel Speaker
Item :ATASC1.2 Price : $99.95

Ship Via :FEDEX - GROUND 3-5-DAY DELIVERY In Progress $99.95
2 Athena - AS-R1.2 Bi-Pole Surround Sound Speaker - Each
Item :ATASR1.2 Price : $79.95

Ship Via :FEDEX - GROUND 3-5-DAY DELIVERY In Progress $159.90
Subtotal: $599.79

I cant wait to hear what it sounds like, I also ordered the 12 Dayton sub and pro hdmi from partsexpress. I already have a 50 panasonic plasma, onkyo 605 and toshiba a30 hd-dvd player... I CANT WAIT!!!

Anyone else have this setup? It was a hard decision but I went with the Athena's over the av123.

Sunkist

10-22-07, 10:30 AM

mauly

10-22-07, 11:09 AM

Does anyone have a pair of B1's or B1.2's that would like to sell to me before I order them :) I love these little speakers! great bang for the buck.

chevycrew06

10-22-07, 12:36 PM

I am stoked, turns out their out of the demo versions. They are giving me brand new AS-F2.2 for the same price, the system should get here by thurs-friday!

jvgillow

10-22-07, 01:02 PM

Cool. Post some photos once you get everything set up.

JonM in MN

10-23-07, 09:54 AM

Hey guys --- I've has my 5.1 setup a long time and really like them ---- AS F2s in front, ans AS C1 center, and AS R1.2s in the rear. I'm moving in to a new house and am going full 7.1 with my AS-R1.2s in the back, mounted on the ceiling.

Is the Macromount accessory the right tool for that job? I can't seem to find it anywhere anymore, and the Athena website isn't any help. Is it even possible to call them and ask?

rasher

10-24-07, 03:32 PM

I have a set of Micra 6 that I'm looking to use in a new custom bookcase. Due to size constraints, I cannot put the speakers beside the TV. The next best place would be on a shelf ABOVE the TV. Would this work?

The center channel is approximately 5" high and is the same height as the front L&Rs if they are turned sideways. Can I do it this way, or does the stereo image on the speakers rely on the sides being vertical?

On the micras, I notice the front baffle panel that the tweeters are set in is a wide oval on the side speakers and a more vertically oriented oval in the center. Significant?

Thanks for any advice.

curtis104

10-24-07, 03:39 PM

So I pulled the trigger on my Athena setup. Let me just say it was a toss up between them and the av123 system. Here's what I ordered

Ship Via :FEDEX - GROUND 3-5-DAY DELIVERY In Progress $99.95
2 Athena - AS-R1.2 Bi-Pole Surround Sound Speaker - Each
Item :ATASR1.2 Price : $79.95

Where did you purchase the Athena - AS-R1.2 Bi-Pole Surround Sound Speaker from? I am looking to purchase a pair.

Thanks

afrogt

10-24-07, 04:52 PM

check audioadvisor.com for all the Athena speakers

chevycrew06

10-24-07, 11:43 PM

tacos

10-25-07, 09:37 AM

audioadvisor.com, they have new for 79$ and demos for 67$, if you go with the demos they may be out and give you new for the same price. That's what they did on my F2.2's, I got them for 167$ each/new. Everything should be here friday...

Hey chevycrew06 let me know how the F2.2 demos are. Like the condition, any scratches, sound etc. Thanks

CHolleman

10-26-07, 03:44 PM

i did a quick search, but couldn't find much. what are the dimensions of the ws60's?

how do you guys like your ws60's? strengths? weaknesses? any pictures?

i was originally looking at the energy take FPS and the paradigm cinema 220's.

how do the athena's compare? this is going into a 15x20x8 room in a townhouse. thanks.

afrogt

10-26-07, 04:30 PM

Hey chevycrew06 let me know how the F2.2 demos are. Like the condition, any scratches, sound etc. Thanks

I don't think you read his reply carefully. He ordered demos but they were out of stock, so they are sending him new speakers instead.

If they're a new, they won't have any dings, scratches, etc.

sharpgill

10-26-07, 06:33 PM

Hello everyone,

does anyone have any insight to how to hook up the sct series speakers

I am having problems with them.

If i hook up the right speaker terminal from the amp to the left sub in on the powered sub the manual says it should control both the s2 and p2.

but i am only getting the sub to work.

if i hook up the top speaker posts then i get no sub.

the manual says all you need is one wire from the amp (hk 230) to the left sub input but it does not work.

please advise

sharpgill

chevycrew06

10-26-07, 10:21 PM

Got my setup today, it sound good let me tell you and I havent even calibrated it... it can only get better. And taco, I got them brand new for the demo price as afrogt said.

Paul H.

10-31-07, 10:55 PM

I need help picking up a new receiver. Right now im using the Onkyo 304S. It came with a HTIB and it works okay. It dosent have a sub preout which I dont like so I have to use speaker wire to connect to my sub (H-100). Im looking into getting the Onkyo 505 with HDMI passthrough and maybe a few more bells and whistles. I have a few questions though.

My TV (Sony 55A20) only has one HDMI so I have a monoprice splitter for my HD box and Sony upconverting DVD player via HDMI. If I get that reciever and plug both into that and run one cable to my TV how do I switch from TV to DVD? I guess I dont understand what the point of having something passthrough is. I know I have to run an additional audio source for the cable and DVD. Does it switch the video, but not the audio? I just want to make an informative purchase/upgrade. Can anyone shed some light or suggestions for me?

Thanks,

Paul

Also setup is Athena WS-100's, WS-60, WS-15's, BIC H-100, and Onkyo 304S.

chevycrew06

10-31-07, 11:39 PM

I'd recommend the onkyo 605, it has everything you need if you only need to hook up 2 sources like direct tv & dvd player via hdmi. It has 2 hdmi inputs so you plug them directly into the receiver and run 1 out to your tv. You simply switch to dvd on the receiver when watching a dvd then back to cbl/sat when watching the tv feed. If you dont like running your cbl/sat thru the receiver you then you need a tv with atleast 2 hdmi inputs. The hdmi will run both audio and video, you dont need a seperate audio out if running hdmi. This is only if you dont want to run stereo sound through your speakers when watching tv, but if you dont mind it or prefer it your ok. But, the 605 also has a feature where you can turn off the speakers through the receiver and use the tv speakers as an alternative while keeping the video feed. So either way your fine.

The onkyo 605 is great since it features 1080 upcovert via receiver hdmi and has True hddvd and DTHD surround capability if you ever want to upgrade to a HD/Bluray player. It also has ipod dock capability and is xm/sirius ready. The other alternative is running components/audio from the receiver or direct box straight to the tv.

You can pick up the onkyo 605 on amazon.com for about $400 bucks new or $350 refurb. By the way, the 605 has a sub preout as well.

llep64

11-02-07, 08:50 PM

did you guys get free shipping with Audioadvisor,? I am trying to oeder f2.2 but thet want to charge me $74 shipping. I tough it was free .

Paul H.

11-03-07, 12:33 AM

primetimeguy

11-03-07, 04:17 PM

Will the 605 take the audio from the HDMI, or will I need to run a seperate audio?

yes, audio and video via HDMI to the 605

CEN7272

11-03-07, 06:10 PM

Anyone know what brand the woofer is or an equivalent?

bitpoh

11-03-07, 08:38 PM

Anyone know what brand the woofer is or an equivalent?
Won't surprise me if it's proprietary to Athena. . .

CEN7272

11-04-07, 12:32 AM

Won't surprise me if it's proprietary to Athena. . .

I have a feeling you're right...I took it out and there are no real markings other than some strings of numbers stamped on. I googled the numbers and didn't come up with anything solid. If we assume that they're proprietary, has anyone had any success swapping out the woofer....any suggestions?

Paul H.

11-04-07, 01:26 AM

yes, audio and video via HDMI to the 605

Thanks for the help. I ended up going with the HK AVR-247.

Jakeman02

11-04-07, 01:19 AM

I have a feeling you're right...I took it out and there are no real markings other than some strings of numbers stamped on. I googled the numbers and didn't come up with anything solid. If we assume that they're proprietary, has anyone had any success swapping out the woofer....any suggestions?

Keep a look out on ebay. I've seen quite a few S.5 singles and pairs there. Probably be able to pick one up for the price or less of a replacement driver anyway.

G1Nger

11-04-07, 07:02 AM

:(

My AS-P6000 began making some strange sounds (warbling/gurgling distortion at low to mid volume levels which is typically where I play mine) last Thursday. I checked all my wires etc and everything looked fine. Did some checking here on the forum and found a few posts regarding problems with their subs as well. I was quite concerned about the trouble folks were having getting them repaired even under warranty which mine still is (just under a month to go). I called Athena's tech support line and was treated very well I must say. They advised me there was an approved repair facility in Toronto near where I live. I called the shop and again was treated very well. I brought the sub there on Friday and couldnt believe how many sick subs were in the "hospital". All makes, brands and sizes were there you name it. The technician explained to me that all subs take a lot of abuse especially during sudden LFE signal bursts as is common in most movies these days. The troubles are not unique to Athena; it's just a common characteristic of subs. He told me I should have mine back in a week (sure hope so). I'll update this post when that happens.

barry v s

11-04-07, 04:06 PM

anyone interested in Athena should check out CompUSA. BOGO is very appealing on ws-60 and AS-P4100 . The WS-100 is labeled as an Energy brand, half-off though.

CHolleman

11-05-07, 02:10 PM

i've searched the thread, but haven't found much info on how people like their WS-60's. Can you get them with black cabinets? i was looking at Energy Take FPS's, but the Athena's have a VERY attractive price.

alindley

11-05-07, 02:19 PM

Well I can say that I thoroughly enjoy my WS-60 that i use a center channel. My front right and left are B&W FPM-4s and you can certainly tell a difference in driver efficiency and tone but for dialog and the $400 + difference in price I could not be happier with the performance. I would recommend these as very excellent flat panel type speakers.

G1Nger

11-05-07, 06:53 PM

I wanted to update my post. I got my sub back from the hospital today. Turns out it was a transistor that gave up the ghost. So far it's working fine. I'm very happy with the service level I received from Athena and their approved facility here in Toronto (All in One Electronics...thanks Rob). Turnaround was less than two business days! I also received my 5 free BD movies today so I'm enjoying Pearl Harbor with my PS3, TH50-PX77U, JVC RXE-100 and my Athena MK series and AS-P6000 all in perfect harmony again.

Cheers, G

0)+>

11-09-07, 09:19 AM

Hey fellas first time poster,long time lurker....well you guys talked me into it... i pulled the trigger on the athena as f2.2's ,b1's and a ws60 for the center i will be pushing these with a tx sr805 which should be at my home today....i have klipsch sub 12 for lows also...my only problem is....i'm in iraq nd wont get to hear any of this until i get home next month....lol so you know i'm feenin...i'm takin a great chance as i have never heard the athena's before but couldnt find a bad post,article,or reveiw.and allyou guys love em so i said i'm in.....i have heard the klipsch senrgy line at best buy and like the movie theater sound that they have i 'm hoping that the athena's will give me the same and more....i will give my opinion when i get home....thanx guys

cansv

11-09-07, 10:05 AM

Hi guys, I am looking to get a 2 fronts and a center to compliment/replace my Energy Take 5.1 system. Its all about movies and games for me. Which speakers would be better, the F1.2, F2.2, ws-60, or the WS-100. I will be using the Energy speakers as the rears and keeping the sub. Thanks for the help.

afrogt

11-09-07, 11:27 AM

If you're going for sound quality, the F2.2 would be the best, then the F1.1. The WS speakers don't compare to the F series but they'd be an improvement on the Take 5.1 speakers. I guess it depends on how much you're willing to spend and if you don't mind the size of "F" towers.

cansv

11-09-07, 12:58 PM

I just wonder if the bass form the f2.2 would take away the energy sub, making the ws-100 sound better?

type456

11-19-07, 10:45 PM

Greetings, fellow Athena fans. What's happening with Athena? Their website hasn't been updated for quite a while - they don't even list the LS series. Their product is still on the market but not in any B&M stores any more.

I'm in the market for a new set of compact home theater speakers and as I consider Aperion, Klipsch, Mirage & Definitive Technology I recall how good my old Point 5's sounded. Can anyone comment on the LS-50B satellites? They seem like a solid little speaker. For one thing they're made out of wood when most speakers in this size range are plastic or aluminum.

I'm looking at the LS-50B's as fronts/surrounds and the matching LS-C50 center. If you heard 'em let me know. Thanks.

inca

11-20-07, 08:13 AM

Soooo..... Considering that this will be 90% home theater use and 10% music do you think that I will hear a large difference then what I currently have?? I currently have a Point 5 setup with a Cadence CSX-12" subwoofer to help it along. I just purchased a pair of F1.2s from AA to take the place of the front right and left S.5s. Considering that I have a Subwoofer to handle a majority of bass, is it going to sound more rich then my current setup? I know that stereo music will sound way better then what I have now, but I still think that I should be able to tell a difference with the home theater setup. Should I set up my amp to a crossover of 60Hz, letting the athena F1.2 take it all the way down to 60 and then the sub from 60 on down? Again, this is mostly for HT use only.

jvgillow

11-20-07, 08:48 AM

Yeah you should notice a substantial difference inca. I would do 60 or 80Hz crossover.

To type456: From what I can gather, the Athena brand has been in steady decline since the acquisition. I would be hesitant to buy anything simply because quite a few people have had difficulty getting any sort of customer support from them if/when there are problems.

chernomorez

11-21-07, 02:30 PM

Has anyone recently ordered AS-R1.2 refurbished speakers from Audio Advisor? If so, what was the condition of those - were they in good shape or almost brand new.

iCeQuBe

11-26-07, 09:25 PM

I have a set of Athena Micra 6 speakers and I need to buy two replacement satellites. Does anyone know where I can get them? Also I may need a center channel too. Any help would be great I am pulling my hair out trying to find them online. So far nothing anywhere not even FleaBay!

Thanks

Warder45

12-03-07, 04:00 PM

I ordered the Athena Micra 6 system as I don't have room for bookshelf speakers (dorm sized room), however it hasn't shipped yet. Today I noticed I can get the Micra speakers by themselves and add the AS-P4100 10" Subwoofer for around the same price as the original Micra 6 system. While this sub isn't matched to the speakers it's larger and has a lower crossover freq, which should help with the lack of bass from the sats.

Should I cancel the first order and piece this thing together or is better to keep the matched sub?

PS - The other thing reviews mentioned was not superb was the center channel, would it be worth it to order a WS-60 for $100 to replace the Micra center, or will that outclass the 2 front sats making things sound uneven?

iCeQuBe

12-03-07, 05:08 PM

afrogt

12-03-07, 05:27 PM

Where did you find them to buy seperatly? I can't find that at all.

Audio Advisor, pretty much the only place to buy Athena nowadays...

http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=ATMI5PK

kehupie

12-04-07, 02:34 PM

Tulpa

12-04-07, 02:39 PM

Audio Advisor, pretty much the only place to buy Athena nowadays...

http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=ATMI5PK

The shipping is cheaper if you go through Amazon (AA has a storefront there). I just bought a front three setup through them, and saved about $80.

Also, there's another outfit out of NY, Upstate Wholesalers, that carry them (Amazon only store, though.) Shipping is slightly pricer. One other place had the AS-C1.2 center channel available.

kwtoxman

12-04-07, 03:06 PM

Hi.
I fell like I am going in circles reading the forums on receivers. It is quite overwhelming. I would like some advice on which receiver to buy for this set up

F1.2 - fronts
B1.2 - rears
Velodyne 10" sub
48" mitsubishi rear projection
Toshiba A3 HD-DVD player

Current receiver is Sony STR-DE825

I am looking at either the Pioneer Elite 92TXV, Pioneer Elite 82TXS, HK AVR-347, or Denon 3808ci

I primarily use my system 60/40 - Movies/audio

Do you think these receivers are "Too Much" receiver for this setup? What would you recommend? What receiver are you using if you have a similar set up? It is important to note that I want to make a purchase that will last and eventually build on in the 3-5 year time frame. Thanks so much.

There is no such thing as too much receiver. So don't worry about that.

The athena's are neutral speakers and some people can find them bright when paired with neutral components. I have heard the Athena AS gear with a pioneer elite receiver (VSX-74TXi) and the pioneer elite receivers are known as being a little warm. They pair beautifully with the Athena AS speakers. Thus I'd recommend them out of your list. As for which one, decide which options you want. Also, the pioneer elite gear have a 3 year warranty, which is a great bonus, and I know they support their products, as firmware updates do come out if necessary. Unfortunately not all other manufacturers bother with firmware updates.

kw........

kehupie

12-04-07, 07:57 PM

Thanks KW -
You helped me narrow my pick down to 2 receivers - The elite 92TXH or the 82TXS.
I was leaning towards a pioneer after hearing the 92 at a local electronic store. Thank you for the re-assurance.

jasonvr

12-05-07, 12:22 AM

I have recently started upgrading my A/V gear and have realized that I have neglected my audio for far too long. Up until last weekend I was using a Kenwood HTiB that I bought WAY back in '99 :eek:. I am still using the sub and all the speakers, with the exception of the center channel. About a year ago, the Kenwood center went out, and after reading about Athena on AVS Forum, I replaced it with a C-1.1 off of eBay.

Well, last weekend, I replaced the receiver from the HTiB (VR-309) with a much more capable Onkyo TX-SR805 (thank you Circuit City). I figure it's only fair to treat such a great receiver to much better speakers than I have right now. Since I have been quite happy with the Athena center, I think I want to compliment it with other Athena speakers and get the added advantage of timbre matching (by staying in the same series), etc. But this comes with a multitude of questions.

1. I don't think I want to go with floor standing speakers (ala F1 and F2) due to the layout of the room (no good place to put the left front without putting both fronts right next to the Pio plasma). I think I would prefer mounting bookself sized speakers in the corners of the room and angling them some toward the center of the room (do they need to be angled?). Do I lose a lot by using the bookshelf speakers (B1.2's) considering I will have a sub in the system.

2. Can I keep my current sub? Are there any matching problems when it comes to subs? It is a Kenwood (from the HTiB) 8" front firing sub that I've never had any problems with (granted I've never listened to another sub to compare)

3. I am considering R1.2's for my surrounds and my side walls, but if I do that, I am considering taking the current Kenwood surrounds and relegating them to rear surrounds on the back wall to fill out the full 7.1. Do I need to worry at all about the rear surrounds not matching since they are essentially only for ambiance?

Thanks for any advice you Athena gurus can give.

Edit:
I forgot to mention. This is not a dedicated HT. This is my main viewing area (living room) for TV and DVDs (and soon HD-DVDs). The system is used almost exclusively for SDTV, HDTV, and movies. It is extremely rarely used for actual music. It is also occasionally used for gaming on the XBox or Wii.

Jakeman02

12-05-07, 06:27 AM

1. The B1.2s would be fine and you probably wouldn't notice any difference at all with HT using the bookshelves as opposed to the F1.2/F2.2 Floor Standing models. For music the larger cabinets will deliver a little more in the lower frequencies but when matched with a quality sub and properly calibrated this is a non issue. I'm running C1.2/B1.2s up front on one of my system and am VERY happy with them. Imo they are one of if not the best budget speaker going and almost gone. You mentioned mounting them. One thing to consider is the B1.2s are rear ported and will need some distance from the wall in the rear so not to effect the port. I would say a minimal 3 inches, stands are a good option also as they offer more placement option as opposed to a fixed mounting location and you can get them adjustable in height if needed. Angeling them toward the listening position is generally advised when possible. Here's a link to the Dolby's Recommended Speaker Placement.

http://www.dolby.com/consumer/home_entertainment/roomlayout.html

2. Their are no issues with matching speakers to subwoofers as they operate in different frequency ranges. You'll probably find (if not now then asap) that you will want to upgrade your HTIB subwoofer as their are far better choices for not that much money. If you're happy with it for now and budget is an issue then keep it short term. When you're able to get into the $200 price range and up then upgrade.

3. With surrounds matching is still generally recommended, however for HT matching isn't as much of an issue because they get very little information sent to them in comparison to the the fronts, they are there for effect. Now if you listen to music then yes matching becomes much more of an issue and you'll want to match but for HT you can usually get by without matching the surrounds. Also if you listen to music I'd suggest not going with the R1.2s for rears. I've got a pair of R1.2s and they are nice speakers that fire in different directions which is good if placed properly for HT but for music I find it just messes things up plus they have very little if any lower frequency output which you'll notice with music.

All in all I'd suggest going with the 2 pair of B1.2s for the surrounds, you'll solve your matching issue if it is and issue and you'll have better bass response if you listen to multichannel music, plus they are usually cheaper so you can probably get 2 pair or B1.2s for not much more than 1 pair of R1.2s. Plus down the road if you decide to use them for something else like a small 2 channel bedroom setup etc the B1.2s would be perfect, you wouldn't want to use the R1.2s for anything but surround effects.

jasonvr

12-05-07, 10:19 AM

Jakeman02,

Thanks for the very complete and comprehensive response. Now you got me thinking.... Maybe B1s for the fronts and surrounds and some R1s for the rear surrounds. This is probably especially appropriate since I don't have a lot of distance behind me to the back wall where the rear surrounds would be (max 2ft) and the bipole nature of the speakers would create good/diffuse sound. Although, this distance might even indicate no rear surrounds at all which means I stay with a 5.1 system.... One more question. When mounting the speakers, how far up do you mount them? I read one suggestion that said about 6 feet off the floor, another said 2 feet above ear level. It would seem that for the bookshelf speakers you could just mount them with the top up near the ceiling (not quite all the way up).

TitanWarrior

12-05-07, 05:14 PM

hey guys i just got a onkyo 705. ive had the Athena speakers for a while now. anyway i did some frequency testing on the speakers.

i have 2 as f1.2 and the frequency were they star getting muddy is 65Hz. there was about a -2 to -4 db drop from about 66Hz to 64Hz. the lowest audible frequency was 35Hz but that was with the volume on max. another interresting thing i discovered

then i tested the as b1.2 and found the same drop but this time at 75 hz. the lowest audible frequency was the lowest audible frequency was 35 as well

then the as c1.2 this one dropped at 73 Hz. the lowest audible frequency was 35 as well.

another interresting thing i discovered the was the c1.2 and b1.2 went down to 35 but they put sound out all the way down to 25Hz but there was no change in pitch from about 35 and down.

this test was done with a creative audigy sound card on a pc. the program i used is called sound frequency generator which was founf here http://shmelyoff.nm.ru/ thanks to the maker of this program.

i hope this will help any one trying to set any of theres speakers up

Tulpa

12-06-07, 01:16 PM

Anyone use the AS-B1.2 as surrounds? Any way to wall mount them?

The Natural

12-06-07, 04:29 PM

Jakeman02

12-06-07, 05:04 PM

Anyone use the AS-B1.2 as surrounds? Any way to wall mount them?

Yeah I use them as surround but I have them on stands. Probably the best way to wall mount them is build a shelf and attach it to the wall, you could also use some of the wired closet shelving from Lowes or Home Depot for a quick and easy shelf. They need clearance from the wall due to being rear ported so the shelf will have to be deep enough to give them room in the rear and I don't know of any wall mounts that would allow this on that sized speaker-although their very well could be some. The B1.2s are larger than most you see wall mounted. PE has adjustable height stands that will work with the B1.2s if that's an option you can deal with, I think they'll adjust up to around 50" I think. I bought them about a year ago.

Jakeman02

12-06-07, 05:17 PM

Hey guys I have couple of quick questions..

I recently bought my first sound system:
Yamaha RX-V1800
Athena Micra 6 Speakers/sub

I have been enjoying great 5.1 surround sound with my blu-ray and HDVD movies but recently with alot of the big sound action movies that are coming out (Diehard, Transformers) my sub has been blasting air out the front. Enough that anyone sitting on the right side of my couch gets a cool breeze on them during the movie lol. Since this is my first system and I never grew up with one I don't know if this is normal or do I need to upgrade my sub? I know my speakers are more of a budget line compared to many of the one's I read about here but would they even benefit from an upgraded sub?

Thanks for reading, any help would be greatly appreciated =)

That's air coming out the front port and it'll do that during loud action scenes. If the sub isn't front ported then you have something to really worry about. You might be running it a little hot also if you haven't level matched it against your other speakers but if you're not hearing anything abnormal during those scenes, distortion or other noises that shouldn't be there you're ok.

About upgrading your sub. It's a great sub for its size and what it is, matched with the micra system. if it fits your needs and your happy with it then great, if not their are larger more expensive models out there that will be better for you. If you've got anything but a small room I'd suggest upgrading speakers and sub, the micra system is great for small rooms or a bedroom type system but in larger rooms those small drivers and satellites will be stressed.

Tulpa

12-06-07, 06:30 PM

Yeah I use them as surround but I have them on stands. Probably the best way to wall mount them is build a shelf and attach it to the wall, you could also use some of the wired closet shelving from Lowes or Home Depot for a quick and easy shelf. They need clearance from the wall due to being rear ported so the shelf will have to be deep enough to give them room in the rear and I don't know of any wall mounts that would allow this on that sized speaker-although their very well could be some. The B1.2s are larger than most you see wall mounted. PE has adjustable height stands that will work with the B1.2s if that's an option you can deal with, I think they'll adjust up to around 50" I think. I bought them about a year ago.

Well, my current mounts hold the Onkyo speakers a few inches from the wall, but I'm not sure if the B1.2s will work there or not. I've also seen some mounts that would work, but they're pricey. Maybe I should just spring for four R1.2s. :(

TZOH

12-06-07, 08:03 PM

Jakeman02

12-06-07, 08:24 PM

I'm looking for a 5.1 system for my family room, which is 22 X18. I'm trying to keep the speakers to $700 or less. The Polk 6880 5.1 system can be purchased for $500 on sale. It seems to get good reveiws. Does anyone know how the Polks compare to the Athena b1.2/c1.2 combo?

Size wise they don't compare, The B1.2/C1.2 has a 5.5" drivers in a larger cabinet. The 6880 system has 3.5" drivers in a small satellite sized cabinet. Larger drivers and cabinet size means they don't have to work as hard to move the same amount of air. If it's anything but a small room this will be a major advantage for the athenas.

Sound characteristics are more subjective to the listener. Athena is known for having a more forward sound and detailed in the higher frequencies, some would even say bright, the Polks should have more of a laid back warmer sound although I haven't heard that specific system.

Price should be about the same as you listed with 2 pair of B1.2s, C1.2 center at their current closeout price matched with either the Bic H-100 or AV123 x-sub which both are much better subs than the one included in the polk system.

The Natural

12-06-07, 08:37 PM

That's air coming out the front port and it'll do that during loud action scenes. If the sub isn't front ported then you have something to really worry about. You might be running it a little hot also if you haven't level matched it against your other speakers but if you're not hearing anything abnormal during those scenes, distortion or other noises that shouldn't be there you're ok.

About upgrading your sub. It's a great sub for its size and what it is, matched with the micra system. if it fits your needs and your happy with it then great, if not their are larger more expensive models out there that will be better for you. If you've got anything but a small room I'd suggest upgrading speakers and sub, the micra system is great for small rooms or a bedroom type system but in larger rooms those small drivers and satellites will be stressed.

Yeah it's a small living room in an apartment, I will be moving into a larger place sometime next year but I was thinking of starting my upgrade now with a new sub. Since I'm completely new to sound systems I was just curious as to the amount of improvement a sub upgrade alone would be. All my components are LOUD enough but it's the sound quality that I worry about. It sounds good to me but I'm not a great judge since I don't have anything to compare it to besides the movie theater. I have been reading up on sub's, are there lower sounds that my current sub just can't produce?

TZOH

12-06-07, 09:12 PM

Thank you for the response Jakeman02. For my price range do you think the Athena B1.2/c1.2 and AV123x-sun is the best system for my needs. I need relatively small speakers to satisfy the boss. are there other options I should consider?

ROcHE

12-10-07, 08:24 AM

How does the LS-50 line compare to the Point5 system?

There is a pretty good deal going in Canada for a kit with LS-50 speakers and a AS P4100 sub.

I was wondering if this sound any better than the Point5 + ASP300 (I think) sub I own.

Tulpa

12-11-07, 02:33 PM

I'm trying to decide on whether to go with two pairs of AS-B1.2s or two pairs of LS-50s to replace my surrounds. I have a 7.1 setup, with wall mounted Onkyos currently. I know the B1s aren't really made to be wall mounted. Any input on the LS-50s?

(I'd consider some R1.2s but they're a little above what I want to spend.)

Tulpa

12-19-07, 03:53 PM

Hmm, after further thought, I'm thinking either LS-50s or WS-15s for surrounds. Anyone audition or use both?

Billy p

12-21-07, 03:34 PM

I never liked the WS speakers line. The LS-50 or 100'S IMO sound different than the audition line. Audio advisor is currently selling as-b1.2's for <$100.00 and the as-r1.2 <$80.00

As a matter of fact I am in the midst of trying to sell my b1's, b2's and c1. However, I am hoping to find some local interest via PM:).

Regards and holiday wishes to all:)

PS: As for the sound of the LS they don't appear to be as lively. Imaging on the audition was IMO better.

chernomorez

12-24-07, 11:04 AM

Holiday Greetings to all!!
Here's my question:
I want to go to 7.1 setup from existing 5.1. I currently have the following system:
Onkyo SR605, 2 F2.2s, C1, 2 B1s, BIC-H100 sub.
I also have an EXTRA F2.2 still in the box.

I have two options for 7.1:
1) get another F2.2 to have 4 F2.2s and wall mount the 2 B1s as rear surrounds (roughly another $200)
2) sell the F2.2 and get a pair of AS-R1s or AS-R1.2s (I will probably break even w/ few extra bucks)

The room size is about 23x18. 100% movies, 0% music.

All comments and suggestions are welcomed.

Thank you.

jbmasti05

12-25-07, 05:20 PM

I have Athena Audition Series 5 speaker set (One AS-C1.1 + Four AS-B1.1) in very good condition. I have used it for 3 years and it works great. Willing to sell the whole set for $200. I live in Franklin, MA. PM me if you are interested.
(I apologize if this is not the right lace to post it)

Thanks,
JB.

dj330xi

01-27-08, 12:41 AM

jasonvr

01-27-08, 03:02 AM

Hi All,

I have the Athena Micra 5.1 speakers. Really enjoy them but would like to buy two front speakers and move the two front satellites to the back to make 7.1. Now that there's limited availability, can anyone make recommendations about which two front speakers to get to complement the system? LS-50's available at audio advisor? Unfortunately I don't see any Auditions available for sale anywhere.
Thanks for any input.
eBay seems to be the only place that still has Audition series speakers up for sale. There are several places that have "Buy it Now" options for B1.2's, but the price is not very good (at least as compared to what Audio Advisor had). I've been trying to get my hands on a set of B1s or B2s to round out a 5.1 system (already have a C1 and a set of B1.2s), but I keep getting outbid at the last moment!

djfrugal

01-27-08, 05:03 PM

My p4000 died, seems like it is getting no power. Is there a fuse in this sub? Any other suggestions you have on how to fix it? I called the local "Athena repair shop" and they want $50 to look at it, and I bet it would be 100 to fix if its the amp. I bought for $170 so I am either buying a new sub (Not Athena) or if someone may have an idea on how I could fix that would be great.

Thanks for any help,

Paul

Sunkist

01-28-08, 08:43 AM

My P6000 went out too right before warranty was up but I would have had to ship it to Cali which I did not feel like paying for. There is a fuse inside which you can check (take off the back panel), unfortunately mine is not the fuse since it turns on but does not do anything, just sits in standby mode.

mattldm

01-29-08, 03:52 PM

I just purchased a pair of Athena WS-60 from Audioadvisor! I read several great reviews about them!

jcavner

01-29-08, 04:11 PM

I just purchased a pair of Athena WS-60 from Audioadvisor! I read several great reviews about them!

Awesome! My RS1.2's are sitting on my porch right now. I've heard the WS-60's and they are very nice. My whole media room is Athena Audition Series and I am very happy with their performance.

dj330xi

02-08-08, 08:31 PM

I've seen some people above looking for two more Micra satellites to make a 7.1 system from the 5.1 system. I'm looking for the same - two more Micra satellites. Would anyone be interested in purchasing the 5-point Micra system (no subwoofer) now available for $150 and splitting it with me?
Let me know. I'm in the Washington D.C. area, but if you don't live near here I'm sure we can work something out.
-DJ330xi

brandonnash

02-08-08, 08:52 PM

If anyone is thinking of buying some random as in not a complete set, Compusa is closing as I'm sure you've heard and the one here in nashville has some Athena stuff going for cheaper than retail. Not much cheaper, but it was cheap enough that if I didn't already have a complete set and had some money to spare I would've bought some stuff.

Tulpa

02-08-08, 09:03 PM

SlackerX

02-09-08, 05:05 AM

AfRoMaN787

02-09-08, 12:34 PM

Has anyone actually auditioned the LS-50 or LS-100 speakers? I'm very interested in getting any comments or comparisons as fronts or satellites and in stereo, 2.1 or 5/7.1 theater applications.

Comments on their center channel counterparts would be welcome as well. Thanks.

I actually just bought 2 pairs of the ls 50s and one lsc 50. When I get them I will post my impressions. I currently have the MKII speakers from athena.

mattldm

02-11-08, 08:32 AM

Awesome! My RS1.2's are sitting on my porch right now. I've heard the WS-60's and they are very nice. My whole media room is Athena Audition Series and I am very happy with their performance.

I setup my WS-60's last night in my music system.
Hooked up to my NAD C350 amp and 520 CD player the WS-60's sounded great! Not much bass even with the passive radiators, but in an HT system with a sub they should be great.
Smooth trebble but with a forward mid range. bright sounding, but not harsh. I compared them directly with my PSB Alpha A/V's. The PSB's are more "laid back" and mellow sounding than the WS-60's which works for music, however I think the Athena's brighter presentation will work grreat in HT. Now I just have to wait for my Onkyo TX-SR605 to arrive so I can set it up!

If you can still find the WS-60's they are a great bargain. Well made and they sound great. :D

mayhem13

02-11-08, 05:12 PM

purchased a complete ws setup a few months back. ws-100's up front w-60 center and surrounds. Powered with a sony 3200es receiver. The best point i can make for this setup is imaging which in my opinion is amazing. At 12 ft listening distance on both HT and music i can never locate the speakers. The only drawback is low end. i think i'll need a mid-bass unit in between the athena's and my sub or i'll wind up with a hole around 120hz. Anyone else share this observation?

KittyChan1

02-12-08, 11:03 AM

Hi!

I first heard about Athena speakers when I stumbled across this thread (thank you~! :) ) searching for information on speaker brands in general, and based on what my room and other factors could accommodate, picked up the Micra speaker set from Audioadvisor a couple months ago.

I'm pretty happy with my speakers so far, but realized I had more shelf space than I originally anticipated :) So I'm thinking about picking up a pair of WS-60 to substitute as my front speakers instead (no room for a 7.1 setup...though my friend is thinking about possibly using those Micra satellites as rears in combination with his WS-100 fronts) - would that work? Would the sound from the WS-60 complement the rest of my Micra setup? Or should I just keep my Micra set as-is? And should I also consider replacing the center channel, thus only keeping a pair of Micra satellites as rears?

Your thoughts would be much appreciated!! :) Thank you!!

lockmart

02-12-08, 03:03 PM

How do people like the LS500? I'm considering those and the LS100 and center C100 for $500 on audioadvisor right now. Has anyone handled a return with that website? They have a 30 day return policy but not sure if it applies to clearance items (my guess would be no).

It's either this or two Rti-8's, two Rti-4,s and a Csi3 for $720 from Polk.

SlackerX

02-14-08, 06:50 AM

I actually just bought 2 pairs of the ls 50s and one lsc 50. When I get them I will post my impressions. I currently have the MKII speakers from athena.

Thanks, I'll be waiting anxiously for your evaluation!

MagPro4

02-14-08, 11:40 AM

Is athena owned by the Mirage and Klipsch corporation?

Tulpa

02-14-08, 12:31 PM

Athena was owned by API, who also own Mirage and Energy. API was bought by Klipsch, who have decided to end the Athena line.

UMDMatt

02-19-08, 03:46 PM

I just got an email from Audio Advisor for a clearance sale. They talk about Klipsch dropping the brand and how they (AA) got what they're calling an amazing deal to pass on.

Anyway, it's mostly LS and WS series. I think they've sold out of most Audition Series models, but I did see some AS-R1.2s still for sale.

I grabbed a pair of the Audition Series' in-ceiling speakers (IC6) from Audio Advisor. I used to use Point 5s for HT and always liked the sound, so I figured I couldn't really go wrong with the AS-IC6s in my kitchen--especially for only $85 (out the door).

Now of course I get the joy of fishing speaker wire through the house :cool: