Athena ASF-2: are these speakers for real???

Great speakers for the money.

Hi!

After talking with my friend about his Athenas, he reminded me that I should have said something about the 2nd set of speakers he purchased. He wanted me to pass on this information to you. Our past listening tests confirmed his findings. Please take his advice when purchasing. Here is what he wrote:

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I have two pairs of Athena ASF-2, both ran about $400. One set is great, a terrific buy that compares with anything I've auditioned up to $1000 or more. They sounded way better at home than in any of the stores. I have them set up on short pile carpet w/o the standoff cones. They are more stable, with a cleaner sound, than with the cones. I expect that weighting or a firmer base would sound even better.

The big plan was to get a matched 2nd set for a dynamite surround system. Didn't quite work out that way. The 2nd set was a disappointment from the first listen, and didn't come up to speed even after weeks of break-in. The 2nd set is fair at best, about on par with other sets in the $300 - $400 range. This huge difference could explain the different user comments.

The cabinets and drivers on the two sets look identical, but the insulation is radically different. My "1" set has thick, mottled dark felt insulation that is stapled over most of the inside, except the corners. The "2" pair has loose, yellow fiberglass insulation hanging on the walls, even covering part of one port. I may try reworking them to match the "1" insulation, or maybe just sell 'em. Right now, my "2"s are big end tables. So, take a look in those ports when you buy, and make sure you get the good ones.
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Also, he purchased the "1"s at the local Best Buy and the "2"s were from an on-line seller who frequently discounts them.

Have fun!

They are NOT the miracle speaker they are cracked up to be.
They were tested in Sound and Vision and found to have a horrible high freq response.
They are just plain hard and fatiguing sounding.
I would avoid them like the plague!
Hint... they are discontinued ??

Hi Ka7Niq!

I went to the Sound and Vision web site and found the article I believe you are referring to here: http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/article.asp?section_id=1&article_id=511&page_number=1

Nowhere does the article imply that the Athenas are "just plain hard and fatiguing sounding". I admit that the Sound and Vision measurements show a rough treble range. Have you listened to the speakers or are you basing your statement on the Sound and Vision measurements?

As stated above, my friend has two sets of the F2. One set does sound hard and fatiguing. When he had them in his system, before they became his "big end tables", he did not enjoy the music and hardly listened. When he put the good set back in the system he enjoyed the music and found that he was listening to music all the time. I have listened to both sets and concur with that one set is very fatiguing and one is not. Anyone purchasing should examine the speakers and make sure they are "the good ones".

Can I listen to even the good set as long as I can my Von Schweikert VR-4jr? No I can not, because the Athenas are fatiguing to me compared to the VR-4jr. But, without naming names, there are plenty of speakers in the same price range as the VR-4jr that I would say the same thing about.

If my budget were limited to less than $500, either by circumstances or choice, I could easily live with the Athenas. And my friend could easily afford a system well in excess of the cost of mine and he is happy with the Athenas.

Have fun!

Thanks for all the input on the above. I finally bought a pair. I'm currently residing in Vancouver now and came across an "open box" pair at Future Shop (sister company to Best Buy) for $299 CAD!! How can I pass up on this excellent deal. My speaker cables alone cost me about that much. Just as a sidenote, my current system has replaced the following: Mirage OM7 speakers, Sonographe SA-250 amp, Sonic Frontiers SFL-1 Signature preamp, EAD T1000/DSP7000mk3 digital front end. On that end, I wasn't really looking for the Cambridge/Athena combo to be anywhere near the performance of my previous set up but after further burn in of the Athenas, I am quite impressed with the sound. For $300 CAD, I don't think I can do any better!!! Full sound with natural mids, above average imaging and soundstagin, and excellent low end. The highs could sound a bit tizzy at times, but hey, for the money I spent, I can't complain. Bravo to Athena!!!!