[DirtClodimus]

Hi all,


I'm new to this board, but have heard of several people getting help here.


I am looking upgrade from my Klipsch Quintets to something with a little more Ooomph. However, I want to keep it as cheap as possible. Currently, I have the Quintets like I mentioned along with a Klipsch KSW-12 sub.


If I kept the sub, how do people think it would sound with Athena AS-B2s for all 5 points, or possibly the B2s for the 4 corners and a C1 for the center channel? This would be in a small to medium sized room.


The system would mostly be used for movies and video games... hardly ever for music. I can get a pair of B2s for $165 off of ebay from a reputable seller... that makes $330 for the 4 points and then either another B2 for the center or a C1... it'd be a decently cheap set up, but would it sound good?


Also, I plan to upgrade my receiver from my Pioneer VSX-D710s. Any decent receivers around $300 that would sound good with the B2 setup? Would the Pannasonic XR50 be enough to drive them?

 

[Mort]

You'll have a pretty good sounding system....better than you probably think. I'd go with the C1 center in the setup. I recently bought a set of B1's for my grandaughter and paired them with my old Klipsch SW10 and it's a great combination.


Mort

 

[DirtClodimus]

That's good to hear I am hoping to do this soon... I just wanted to get a little feedback first on what people thought.

 

[Version]

I think the Athenas are great entry-level speakers. Some people don't like the C1 all that much and prefer to use a B2 as their center. Personally I prefer my C1 up front.

 

[DirtClodimus]

Would I be ok to go with the B1s instead of I have the subwoofer, or do they sound considerably worse than the B2s? I would listen to them for myself, but the only place near here that has Athenas is Best Buy and they only carry B1s... to add to it all, they aren't even hooked up for people to listen

 

[Mort]

I purchased the B1's at BB but also listened to the B2's there at the same time. The B2's have a lot more bass extension but since I had planned on pairing them with a sub anyway, I didn't feel the need for that aspect of the speaker. These little speakers really benefit from a "break in" period...they sound much better after 30-40 hours than they did initially...not that they sounded bad out of the box, they just sound better later. I listened to price comparable speakers from Polk, Infinity etc, and I thought these were easily the best sounding speakers in their price/size range.


Mort

 

[DirtClodimus]

Hmmm, maybe I'll just go with the B1s then since I have the sub to go with them. That'd make my wife happier... she hates all this stuff

 

[Mort]

You'll have plenty of power to drive these with your old receiver. In the same price range as the XR50 is the Pioneer d814k that has a bit more power plus MCACC setup software. These are pretty efficient speakers so gobs of power (though always nice to have for headroom) isn't really necessary. I've got these running from a 14 year old 100wpc Denon AVR and, with the sub, in a 10x12 foot room you can blow the walls off at medium volume. My granddaughter is gonna love it.....if her report card looks good (that was the deal)


Mort

 

[DirtClodimus]

Great! I think that I'll go to BB again and try to get someone to hook up some of the B1s so I can listen to them. I might upgrade my receiver anyway since I'd like PL2 for some of the video game systems. The Panasonic XR50 is tempting for the price.


Thanks for all your input Mort, I'll let you know what I end up doing!


EDIT: How do I go about breaking in the speakers? Should I just let some music run through them at half volume for 40 hours or so? Should I hold off on trying out some movies through them until they "break in?"

 

[Mort]

Just a wide range of music or movies at moderate volumes. Heck, I don't know if it'd hurt anything by just cranking them up out of the box....I just followed the directions that came with them just in case.....seems to have worked too


Good hunting