FS: Athena AS-F2

steveinaz

1 pair of Athena AS-F2 speakers in excellent/flawless condition, though I DO NOT have the original boxes. This will have to be an ARIZONA sale only as shipping will be too costly. NOTE: I don't need to sell these right away, so if you're interested, and will be coming thru Arizona for whatever reason at a later date, email me and we'll work something out. This arrangement will only apply if you agree to buy them. I will go as far as Tucson to deliver.

Building a new home that won't accomodate a floor-stander with my current entertainment center, so I'm going with some bookshelf monitors.

Info: http://www.athenaspeakers.com/modelASF2.htm

Retail: $600 pr
My price: $300 pr

E-Mail me for a pic, but as stated above they are in flawless condition.

Frequency Response: 35 Hz - 20 kHz +/- 3 dB
Power handling: 250 watts per channel
Sensitivity: 93 dB (great candidate for tube amps)
Impedence: 8 ohms
Dimensions: 41.5" tall, 9.5" wide, 15.5" deep
Weight: 51 lbs. each

gmorris

Steve,

Sorry to hear that you are getting rid of the Athena's. I know how you love those speakers.

One question, if you are building a house, why not build it so you have room for you system?

steveinaz

I won't exactly be getting rid of Athena's; I'm looking very hard at the AS-B2, Polk Rti6 or the Axiom M22Ti. So I may select the Athena again.

This house will have a much larger (deeper) family room, but a smaller wall (due to a corner fireplace) than I have currently; another 14" and could probably pull it off. The problem isn't so much the space as it is the fact that the way the couches have to be placed will be blocking drivers on a tower. I need a monitor that I can get up on stands and above the couch. Kind of hard to explain.

gmorris

Originally posted by ATCVenom
Dude, expand your speaker list a bit! You have invested quite a bit into your components, dont limit yourself to CC and Best Buy!! Take advantage of what you got now..

Can you even get Athena & Axiom at CC or BB?

I-SIG

Steve's speaks are indeed in superb condition. Steve is super cool. No worries dealing with him.

I think most any Polkie would find the sound of the Athenas quite pleasing. They are a bit brighter than than my SL2000's in my SDA 1C's, FWIW. They dig surprisingly deep with some good power, too.

Wes

steveinaz

I've looked at the super "high-end" brands, and they just don't impress me much. Way too inefficient and low power handling to boot. I've got a BIG room that will need an efficient/high power rating to fill. Tall order for a bookshelf. But, strangely enough, I'm also looking for a bookshelf WITH rolled-off bass, as I want the improved midrange/treble and have an SVS to take care of the lows. I don't like the "artificial" bass built into some bookshelves to appease consumers with better bass specs. The 3 models listed all fill these requirements, and it sure doesn't hurt my feelings that the most expensive one is only $400 shipped (M22Ti), and has rave reviews.

Sean: if you are aware of some others that might fit the bill, hook me up brother--I'm still researching! All recommedations are welcomed and appreciated.

tryrrthg

Don't mean to hijack but you asked for suggestions to good bookshelf speakers... here are a few to check out:

JM Lab Chorus 706
Used pair of Dynaudio Audience 52 or 42
ACI Emerald

Also might want to check out the offerings from PSB, Mission, Warfdale, etc.

steveinaz

Thanks! The Emerald is looking real good.

cfrizz

Keep the speakers, they look cool. You're in AZ what do you need with a fire place?:D

tryrrthg

Originally posted by steveinaz
Thanks! The Emerald is looking real good.

Good choice! Although I've never heard them (I'd love to) I've read nothing but good things about ACI speakers.

gmorris

Don't forget to check out B&W....

I've heard the Von Schweikerts VR-1's, and they are truely awesome. The local dealer in my area will let you steal them from him for $750. (brand new, full warranty, all that crap, for $750)

tryrrthg

"Most" high end bookshelves are hard to drive, but not terribly bad. My Dyns are notoriously power hungry. I run them with a 100 watt amp (8ohm rating) and they can go plenty loud. Don't be worried about power, especially with your new SVS in the mix, you won't have to turn it up as loud with that beast.

ATC give some great suggestions, I forgot about Spendor and Totem, both good choices.

The Dynaudio 52SE would be a GREAT way to go if you could find a pair used. They are relatively new, so they may be hard to find. A new pair will run you around $1400. They have the new tweeter from the Contour line and have the same mid-bass driver as my 1.3mkII. They are by far the best value that Dynaudio has out right now. The non SE version of the 52 is hard to beat also, it can be had for $500 to $600 used, the regular 52 has gotten nothing but great reviews.

tryrrthg

Oh, I forgot about ProAc also, Not sure of their current models but the 1SC and Tablette are great used models...

steveinaz

Sean,
Believe me the NHT and Ascend were both on my short list, I've ruled out the NHT, but the Ascend still has my interest peaked. The Ascend has about the smoothest 50-20kHz waveform I've ever seen out of any speaker, at any price, which accounts for all the reviews gleeming about its "smoothness"---but its cheesey looks are bugging me a little. The NHT is far too inefficient (86dB), and I've auditioned NHT's before as wasn't overly impressed. I would definitely choose the Athena AS-B2 over the NHT in a hot second.

Most of the brands you've listed I've looked into, but you have named some new ones--I'll check'm out

Thanks all for the tips, I'll do some serious surfin tonight and take a look at some of these I'm not familiar with.

F1nut

Steve,

I'll also recommend the NHT SB3's. Yes, they are a bit inefficient, but they do sound very impressive. I'm running them off a 100 wpc Sony ES receiver in my shop and they play plenty loud. I'm not sure what other NHT products you have demoed, but SB3's are not like their other speakers.

F1

gmorris

Don't think anyone mentioned Paradigm yet. I've heard Paradigm speakers a couple times, at a couple different dealers, with a number of different electronics. The one constant for me has always been the very detailed sound, very clean and crisp.

One of my favorite setups I've heard to date was the new Studio 60's with Anthem TLP-1 Pre/Amp & PVA-2 amp. This combo sounded wonderful.

I've never heard any of their monitors, but I'm sure they are just as clear & detailed.

steveinaz

I'm a big fan of paradigm as well, Studio 40 is a little more than I want to pay and the Monitor 5 is bettered by other speakers on my short list.

gmorris

How about the new Studio 20 v.3? About $800. 7" midbass driver, 1" metal dome tweeter. Should be pretty nice.

Here is a new review: http://www.soundstage.com/revequip/paradigm_studio20_v3.htm

steveinaz

shameless bump, hey I gotta get these things sold...

Early B.

Just curious Steve -- how do these compare in sound with the Rti70's?

steveinaz

Bud, I don't know--I haven't auditioned the Rti70's. You might PM "I-SIG" he has been to my house and heard the Athena's first hand. They sound very similar to Paradigm "monitor" series speakers, but with a little more controlled and deeper reaching bass--don't know if that helps...

Here's I-SIG's quote:
"I think most any Polkie would find the sound of the Athenas quite pleasing. They are a bit brighter than than my SL2000's in my SDA 1C's, FWIW. They dig surprisingly deep with some good power, too."

Wes

VR3

JM Lab Chorus....

Give them a listen......

and Russ recomended these to me.....

http://audioadvisor.com/store/productdetail.asp?sku=EPOELS3&product_name=ELS3%20Mini%20Monitor%20Speakers%20-%20Pair

and here is another one......

http://www.axiomaudio.com/m80ti.html

steveinaz

Still available...

gmorris

I must have missed it because this th'd is getting up there in age, but how much are you selling them for?

Just curious, not interested in purchasing.

steveinaz

$300/pr