Very clear highs price

none

I was lucky enough to have the following speakers in my home for a side by side comparison. I am using a basic Sony CD player with an Adcom GFA-555 power amp and Kenwood C2 pre-amp. Athena Technologies AS-F2 ($400/pr) Klipsch Synergy SF-3 ($850/pr) Energy C-9 ($1300/pr) After 1 month of listening, the Athena was the obvious choice. The Klipsch SF-3's seemed to be shouting at you at louder volumes, way too bright. Highs were not detailed and clear. However, very nice punchy bass. The Energy's were a nice sounding speaker, however, they were lacking clarity in the high's and upper mid-range. I seemed to always be tweaking up the treble control. The Athena's did everything very nice. In my opinion it would be tough to beat the Athena's at any price below $1500, let alone for $400/pr. (Best Buy just reduced the price to $199/each.) The highs very very clear and detailed not exaggerated as on the Klipsch. At $400/pr, this is the best speaker choice out there, bar none!

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Klipsch Magnepan

Very good balanced characteristics, excelent efficiency and soundstage

Nothing realy worth to mention for $600

After three months of researching and listening many different speakers and AV receivers I decided to keep HK AVR325 and Athenas FS2. Athenas may not do anything excelent,but nothing wrong. Almost all speakers, under $1000 a pair, I compared to FS2 did something better than Athena, but not much better, and there was always something with those that wasn't good enough. I think that is very difficult to find pair of speakers, in this price range, that do everything good enough. Except this, FS2 have that unbeliveable skill to disapear in room, and so you don't hear speakers, but music. In the begining I was sceptic about breaking-in period, but they realy sound better every day and I am happy, I spent less than I was ready to.

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JBL Northridge E-80, Boston Acoustics VR960, Phase Technologies V-10, B&W 601 S3

Great bass, near flawless imaging

virtually none

Speaker Reviewed: Athena AS-F2 Receiver: Yamaha HTR-5590 Cables: THX Certified Monster I am an audio salesperson for a major electronics retailer so I have access to a lot of equipment without actually having to pay for the equipment allowing me to give long term well varied tests to the products sold. When you first see the AS-F2s they have strikingly good looks, being simple yet stylish with a silver front baffle and black finish over the rest of the enclosure. They command attention without being obnoxiously distracting. This gives them the appearance a far more expensive speaker. Anyone, however, can make an attractive speaker for not too much money. These speakers have it where it really counts. They deliver rich bass, clear as a bell treble, and fantastic imaging. Even at insane volume these speakers maintain tight, clean response. Easily passing up anything in their price range these speakers are sure to be a hit. To put anything else into words simply doesn't do these speakers justice.

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Klipsch SF-3, Klipsch SF-2, Yamaha NS-777

Realism, performance, ability to bring out the best nuances of any music, value.

None.

The following associated equipment was used: 1. Parasound HCA-1500A Poweramp 2. Parasound PHP-850 Preamp 3. Cambridge Audio D500se CD Player 4. AQ Diamondback interconnects 5. AQ Granite speaker cable (single run) At first look, the AS-F2 impresses with its fine fit and finish. I was also immediately impressed with its openess and depth straight from the box. Treble and midrange are perfectly balanced and prcise in their presentation. No nasal or lispy highs here, just clear, concise and accurate high frequencies. Bass is extended and extremely accurate--no boominess or overly bloomed notes; just tight, deep reaching distortion free bass. With everything this speaker has going for it: accuracy, efficiency, power handling, etc., its hard to believe this much performance can be packed in a $600 package. What ever genre of music you present to these speakers, they reproduce it with the right "atmosphere." Best kept secret in loudspeakers.

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AR9Lsi, Infinity RS, Paradigm, Pinnacle, Polk Audio, etc, etc.

Clarity, Bass, Efficiency, Build quality.

None for this price range.

I started with the intention of looking for a bookshelf based system for my bedroom and ended up with the AS-F2's instead ! The balance & clarity across all spectrums just did not seem to be there with any of the other speakers in this price range i had listened to, and for $600 it was too good to pass up. Although some of the reviews have recommended using an expensive amp, i have them hooked up to a Pioneer Elite A-35R integrated amp, which goes for under $200, and they seem to be doing just fine. I also have an Audio Source EQ-100 equalizer to boost the lower & higher ends when listening at lower volumes. The end result is pretty awesome. I got the clarity & punch i was looking for when listening to my rock collection and i am sure it would sound great with any other type of music too.

price for what you get quality size amazing full sound great clarity across all ranges VERY little distortion at high volumes

maybe size... any sound problems that I heard are not worth mentioning at this price!

I know that there IS a difference between "audiophile" grade speakers and lower end speakers, But I also think that the sound in the ear of the beholder, (and limited by your pocket book) and the only way to decide on a speaker is to go and listen to it. So I went and auditioned many different speakers, from B&W's to Polks. And even in Best Buys horrible listening area I fell in love with the sound from the F2's, They sounded so much more natural and full than anything I had heard before, In fact the only speaker IMO that was close were the full sized B&W's, which were clearly out of my price range. The low end B&W's were similarly priced but did not have the same full sound as the F2s. Another speaker that sounds close to the F2s are the Yamaha NS-555 which I did not hear until after I had bought the F2's. In the end I could not be happier with my purchase! (plus they match my Toshiba 42h83 HDTV PERFECTLY!) After my brother heard them, he went out and bought a pair of the F1's!

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auditioned many cheap but effective Radio Shack Speakers, some older Cerwin Vegas

Clean, efficient, cheaply priced in comparison to others with same performance

A bit large

I recently replaced my all JBL system with all Athena products. I had N26IIs up front and in the rear, N-CenterII, and a PB12. Replaced all that with AS-C1, AS-F2s, AS-B1s, and kept the PB12. The verdict.......Simply amazing. First of all, for the cost, you can't beat the Athena AS-F2s. Crystal clear up top and smooth to boot. Mid-bass, which was nearly non-existant with the N26s, was more prevalent than I had anticipated, even after carefull review in the store. They were a little overworked without the sub picking up some of the low frequencies, but with the sub they cleaned up nicely. I know this is an AS-F2 review, but the rest of the conponents deserve a quick acknoledgment also. The AS-C1 was powerful and lifelike. A very accurate unit that fell short in no areas in comparison to the JBL. The AS-B1s did very well for the rears. Clean and lively. Very sensitive, which made for surround accents.

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JBL Kenwood Paradigm

Detail and Clarity Full/Balanced sound and tone Good Bass Strong soundstage Excellent value

Maybe not as sophisticated sound as some (much more) expensive speakers. Sound is more straightforward and maybe not as "airy" as some really high $$$ speakers go.

Although this is my first adventure into better audio equipment - I did a lot of research before buying speakers and decided on the athenas. And I am glad that I did. Although I haven't been able to compare them much to other high end speakers in the luxury of my home (i did listen to several at local shops), I do have to say these speakers are very, very good. Clarity is exceptional and the have a good balanced sound, with strong bass, very neutral midrange, and crisp highs - highs are not overdone though. All parts of the frequency spectrum are equally represented. The imaging is great with a very broad and deep soundstage. If anything, the overall sound may be a little forward and less sophisticated compared to more expensive speakers. I do recommend breaking in, although they do sound really good out of the box as well. Best Buy return option is also nice and hassle free. Plus, you can even buy extended warranty for $30 which covers blown speakers and everything. Not bad if you want to "really" test these things out. I have only used these for music so far, so i cannot comment on HT, although the audio that I listened to from The Bourne Identity was very, very enveloping and full, especially since the F2s share some of the bass duties equally with the sub. I highly recommend these speakers especially when considering the price and I am very satisfied with them. They may or may not be able to compete with some higher end speakers as giant killers, but I would believe these are honestly some of the best speakers in their class. My roommate has Paradigm Monitor 7s and same receiver and I would say these sound much better due to their full sound without sacrificing much soundstage, detail and clarity compared to the 7s.

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Decent sony bookshelf system (if there is such a thing!) Listened extensively to Paradigm Monitor 7s Currently using Denon AVR-2802, Panasonic CR-75 DVD Carosel, and Monster XPHP speaker wire. Also

51 lbs each Spikes are provided Cabinet is very deep Does not need much power to drive First time a regular store is carrying high end audio speakers Every City has a Best Buy - you can walk in and exchange them Fits in the backseat of a mid size sedan when you buy them Sound Staging is awesome Speakers vanishes when you play them Highs Mids Lows all great Extremely $$$ cheap Class D Stereophile Recommended Speakers

Not very wife friendly 50 Hours Break in period

I have Polk RM6600 Satellite speakers. I wanted a good floor standing speaker for listening to stereo musicnts. I read the review of AS-F2 in stereophile a year back and was inspired. I read at audioasylum that that these speakers are going to be sold thru Best Buy from April/May and those audiophiles where very happy that now the general public will be able to hear some great speakers at the local stores. I went in and listened to them and I was floored. After a week went and talked to the supervisor and asked him to match some quotes I had. He did and I bought them. My wife helped me carry them from the car into the house. Connected them to my B Speaker outs of my Integra DTR 6.0 rcvr with Radio Shack - UL Recognized Hookup Wire 18AWG. This is again another Stereophile recommended component ($5 per 60 feet). Then I put on some CDs with good dynamics Classical Concerts and Norah Jones and let them run for 50 hours to break the speakers in. And for the past one week, I have been putting on the regular CDs. The speakers SOUND so AWESOME. I hear new instruments and sounds from the same CD's that I have owned for 3 years. The sound staging is so great. I turn of the lights and I cannot pinpoint the source of the music. Sometimes I feel that the lead vocals are coming out from the center channel even though the center channel is always turned off. My Integra DTR 6.0 is rated 85 W per channel at 8 ohms. The volume goes from 0 to 65. These speakers are very easy to drive. At night I turn the volume knob upto 16. In day time around 32. AT 32 they sound loud. I cannot imagine how loud they will sound at 50. Highs, Mids and Lows are all reproduced very well. These speakers has put in a fresh breadth onto my 150 or so CD's. The sound is very clean. I am so glad that I bought these speakers. I highly recommend people to buy these speakers (who is constrained by budget crunch and cannot go for the cheapest Class A which is the Triangle Celius which retails for $2000 a pair) With taxes incl. I paid $541 for them.

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Polk Audio

Very clear highs Good, accurate bass Excellent price/performance ratio Excellent reviews from Everyone

None that I could point out

After spending countless hours of reading reviews on speakers within my modest budget, I narrowed it down to the Klipsch SF-2 or the Wherfedale Diamond 8.4. On my way to a home-entertainment specialty store, I stopped by Best Buy to take a quick look ang get directions to their competitor. To my surprise they now carry Klipsch and Athena! Well I spent some time listening to all that they had hooked up and was very impressed with the Klipsch and Athena. I did a direct comparisson between the two and I found the Athena AS-F2 to have a better sound. The Athena's did not have as much bass as the klipsch, however the Athena's seamed to have a more accurate bass reproduction. The highs and mids were clearly superior in the Athenas. Quite honestly though, I could could not fully appreciate these speakers until they were hooked up in my own living room. They sound fantastic on the Onkyo TX-SR600 (not the greatest, but my modest budget has to cut in somewhere). The first music I listened to was Yanni. I heard instruments and sounds I had never heard before. This is the way music was meant to be listened to. The bass is NOT lacking at all. Now I am not an audiophile, but I am very pleased with these speakers.