Devore Nines and Daedalus Athena comparison?

I heard the Daedalus Athena in the First Sound room at the 2011 RMAF and thought they were in one of the better sounding systems at the show. They were not in the running for my best of show vote but they were excellent. I am not even into high efficiency speakers.

Bob

I agree with Bob (Rsimms) that the Athena sounded very nice in the First Sound room at last year's RMAF. Clean, detailed and musically interesting. At the time, I thought the system sounded a tad lean but I didn't know whether that could have been due to the source (CDs) or the electronics which I had never heard before (First Sound linestage and AMR hybrid amps). Regardless, however, of what was causing what, the tonal balance in the First Sound room was more natural than what I heard at the Capital Audiofest.

It could be that the Athena's where not fully broken in. I own the Ulysses and almost gave up on them before I put them thru a formal break-in process. Prior to break in, they sounded anemic, lacked midrange, bass and were very disappointing. IME, a formal break in process (250 hours at high volume) is essential to get these speakers to hit their stride.