Athena owners thread. - Page 2

I don't see why you couldn't keep the C.5, but know that the frequency response of the AS-C1 is better than the C.5, despite what Athena printed in the Point 5 manual. The C1 has a bigger cabinet and 5.25" drivers instead of 4". The C.5 will not match the AS-B1s in regards to appearance because the B1s are not glossy black, and the grill design of the Point 5 series is quite different.

yeah... the point 5s are pretty ugly with the silver/black/grey combo

so if the AS-C1 does produce more bass, what is the issue most people have with it? (would it be any worse than just using an AS-B1 as center?)

Most of the "complaints" come from AS-F2 owners. Those towers can handle more power than the C1 and are ideally matched to a larger center speaker. Some have speculated that Athena should make an AS-C2 center speaker with 6.5" woofers instead of 5.25".

Yeah, the C1 is good for the other Audition speakers, but cant keep up with the AS-F2s.

My system includes
1 Kenwood Sovereign VR-5900
1 HSU STF-2
4 AS-F2s
1 Custom AS-F2 center channel

Downstairs Living Room:

2 x F-1
1 x C-1
2 x B-1
2 x R-1
AS-P6000
Onkyo 602

Upstairs Bed Room:

Micra 6
Panny xr-55

Will freely admit to being an Athena fanboy.

I am seriously considering the AS-B1s L/R and AS-C1 Center. I currently have a JBL sub, JBL N24's for the rears and DCM floor speakers with a 10" woofers. To make things worse, I have an Infinity center channel. I am worried I will miss the bass from the DCM speakers. I know I am preaching to the choir in this forum, but I need some Athena love. Let me know if you think this would be the way to go.

Agreed with all said, and of course just an addition I love my C1.2, I think it handles vocals very well.

and will have a 7.1 system with 6 s.5s, 1 c.5 and a Yamaha yst-sw315 sub all powered by a pioneer vsx-915. My question is whether anyone has hung their s.5s from the ceiling and whether they were hung upside down? Is there any disadvantage to hanging them upside down? Any info would be helpful. Thanks

AS-F2 x 2
AS-C1
AS-B2 x 2 Side Surrounds
AS-B1 x 2 Rear Surrounds
Onkyo 702

I'm quite pleased with my set up, I wish all of this came in under $1000 like many of you in the US, but with F2s at $600 on sale, the total was closer to $1300.

I really like my gear, I would have to come into a *LOT* of money for me to upgrade.

My biggest improvement that I could make would be to get a new room

Front: ASB-1
Center: ASC-1
Rear: ASR-1
Sub: Velodyne VX-10
Receiver: Pioneer VSX-815-S
Display: Samsung HC-4351W

Love it all!

Right now I've got the following:

Onkyo HT-R510 Receiver
Infocus X1 Projector

4 x AS-F1 (front and rear L&R)
2 x AS-C1 (front and rear centers)
1 x AS-P400 Sub

It was a huge upgrade from my Yamaha & KLH bookshelf speakers. Definately worth it. Next up is possibly upgrading the sub. That's quite a bit down the road though.

Room dimensions are 19' x 11.5' - The athenas fill the room with PLENTY of sound. Great sound on good action or suspense movies.

I'd say music is about 40%. Movies 30%. 30% HD and SD TV or videogames.

I currently have this setup:

12X21 In my basement

Yamaha RX-V640 -soon to be upgraded
Center- AS-C1
Main- AS-F2x2
Rear- AS-F1x2
Center Rear- AS-R1
Sub- AS-P400
Samsung HL-R6164W Display

60% movies and 40%music
I love them and they work great!!

3 x AS-B2s > LF, C, RF
2 x AS-R1s > LS, RS
2 x AS-B1s > LB, RB

David 300 12" Sub

Room: 12' x 21'-ish

Receiver: Panasonic SA-XR50 (Unfortunately xover min is 100hz but still sounds very good)

Display Stuff: Benq PB6100 Projector/90" DIY Screen, HTPC/SageTV

I had an AS-C1 but thought it sounded too different (ie. I disliked it severely) from the B1s and B2s and had to get rid of it; IMHO, the B2/B1 is a 'better' speaker then the C1, and the B2 and B1 are pretty close (some prefer the B1, some the B2, yet some prefer the C1 over the bookshelves). YMMV

I'm very happy with them (except the C1), especially for the price I paid. I use them 85% for home theater. I currently have no desire to upgrade them. No regrets.

AS-F2 x2
AS-C1
AS-R1 x2
KLH subwoofer
Room size: 15x15
Yamaha HTR-5790
Uses: 70% games, 30% Movies/music/HD broadcasts

Subwoofer is the only thing that is lacking but I got it for next to nothing and it works very well. My reciever could use more component inputs but that can wait I guess.... Xbox360, PS3, Revolution....

I love this setup. I was going between JBL and Klipsch speakers but I definitely fell in love with the Athenas, especially for the price, nothing comes close.

I currently have Athena AS-F1s with an AS-P400 sub and a pair of WS-15s for ambiance in my living room (stereo only.) I also have much more expensive Def Tech speakers in my theater room. If I were starting over I would use Athena in there also, because I love them that much.

Type, did you get your .5's from a guy called phoniex, or something like that? I can't remember the exact name. If so, I almost went for those .5's. He was willing to sell them to me for only $120 shipped, but I decided to pass on them for the Micra's. The Micras were amazing little speakers. I ended up returning them to Best Buy and getting the bigger Auditions. The Athenas are probably the best speakers I've owned, or at least some of the best, especially for the price. I'm still giddy about the fact that I got my setup(F1's, C1's, Micra's) for only $235. I'm without a sub at the moment, but will probably opt for the SVS PB10, or the Outlaw LF1(?).

I'm one of those guys quite unhappy with my AS-C1. It can't keep up with the AS-F2s. Has anyone been satisfied with replacing the C1? I don't have room to use another F2 as a center speaker. Quite satisfied with the F2's for music. The weak point of my HT is the C1.

Would like to hear about experiences of replacing the C1 with another one, though they may not be timber matched.

MY HT: 70% movies, 30% music (Room size 17X15)

HK DPR1005
AS-F2
AS-C1
2x AS-B1
2x AS-R1
SVS PB-10

DT-300 Projector
Sony DVPNS70H Upconverting DVD Player
RokuLabs M500

In the end, I may get an Athena sub. After getting 3 of the Crown XLS202's, I highly doubt the wife is going to let me spend $400(+) on a sub. Not to mention the new display I'm getting. I've never really heard the 400, but the sub that came with the Micra system was one powerful bastard. It's almost rediculous that a sub that small and inexpensive could be so good.

SRoy, while I love the sound of my C1, you're right about it not being able to keep up with the larger mains. When I really push my system, the C1 starts to faulter before my F1's. What I wouldn't mind doing when I get a bigger place is modding an AS-F2 for center speaker use. Tqlla went in this direction with his F2, and the results are hugely impressive:
AS-F2 Center

Not THAT's a center speaker lol. When I have a larger room and front projector, that'll be my new center. I just wish he'd get back to me on how to do it lol.

Do you have room for a B1 or B2? That'd be your best bet over another MTM center.


One of the big advantages of front-projection is you don't have to mess with sideways centers and off-axis issues...you can use the same speaker you do for the mains.

AS-F2 x2
Dayton 12"
Panasonic XA-SR55

I'm very happy with my setup, it's the first "real" sound system I've owned. I just got the Dayton sub yesterday and it really helps fill out music. Will have to try some movies today!

Will add a center and surrounds at some point in the future. I've blown too much money on this new habit as-is.

I've seen some complaints about the C1 center matching with the AS-B@ L/R fronts..are there any other Athena centers that would match better with the B@s?

Get a B2, and place it horizontially. The "Athena" logo can be turned to match your fronts.

I just set mine up temporarily last night to test it out, the room isn't painted or furnished yet. I thought it sounded absolutely incredible both on movies, and the DVD Audio discs I tested (I always thought DVD Audio and SACD were completely unnecessary until I heard them on this setup).

The best part though is that now my dad is jealous because my < $1000 system, that he kept telling me I'd get what I paid for, sounds better than his ~ $1700 Bose system (Yamaha RX-V2300 & Bose AM10 bought a few years ago).

BTW: Has anyone used the brackets that come with the Point 5s to hang the rear surrounds from the ceiling, obviously I'll need to attach the brackets to the joists, but has anyone tried this, or know of a reason it won't work.

Athena B1s Front L/R
Athena Pt 5 Center, Surround L/R, Rear L/R
Mirage Omni S10
Pioneer 1015

Would it make any sense to use 3 AS-B1's across the front?

Everyone loves their B1's but hates the C series speakers....

Not everyone.........I love my B1 fronts with the C1 center. I have never heard F2's with a C1 so cannot comment on that combination, but for me the B1's blend perfectly with the C1.

Athena Point 5 Mk II speakers with P300 Sub
Onkyo TX-SR600

Sounds good to me. But I have not heard too many high end systems. Most of my friends have a Bose or Onkyo HTIB or Yamaha low end gear. My system kicks their collective butts.

The AS-C1 being a poor speaker is a pretty common misconception.

The AS-C1 is a good center channel. It just cant keep up with the AS-F2. Its good for any other audition speakers.

If you can...absolutely.

I don't think the C1 is bad compared to other center channels...I just think that MTM centers are compromised speakers in general. If you have to use one for aesthetics/placement, so be it...that's why they exist, to put on a TV. But a speaker not compromised for size/placement, preferably identical, is better. This is more critical off-axis. If you're always in the middle, it's not as much of an issue...but a center channel exists to anchor dialogue for off-axis listeners/viewers.