Athena AS-B1.2 Audition Series 2-Way Bookshelf Speakers, Black Ash (Pair)

Amazon Customer Reviews

(5 out of 5)

Incredible value - awesome musicality.

The Athena AS-B1.2 offers unparalleled value for the money. In my low-cost kitchen system paired with a Sonic Impact Super-T amp ($140) and an iPod they do a great job presenting music. The midrange is right: vocals have amazing presence and fidelity. There's wonderful startle factor and finesse. Imaging is very good too. Vocalists sound like they're in the room and I frequently stop what I'm doing (the system is in my kitchen - so I'm usually cooking) to listen - a very good sign. Part of the magic is their excellent sensitivity. 90db/watt sensitivity allows the low-powered Super-T to shine. This combination is really magical - but these easy-to-drive speakers will sound good with any decent amp.

There are plenty of drawbacks - as you would expect at this price point: Mid-bass is enhanced by a huge rear facing port. This helps these little speakers have some nice bass heft - but at the expense of some midbass bloat. There is no low (below 55hz) bass to speak of - but no surprise there. Large scale orchestral works and massive hard rock pieces feel a little small. These little speakers don't look too fancy - they are made of cheap feeling MDF and sound hollow and thumpy when rapped with a knuckle. Despite this - there are no resonances in evidence. It's clear that the right compromises were made; the tweeter is very good, and is assisted by a slight horn loading. It's sins are mainly those of omission. Given the level of musical enjoyment these things pump out for the money any negative comments are just minor quibbles. These things perform way way beyond their league. I really really enjoy mine.

(5 out of 5)

money is no object here...................

....that's because you don't have to spend alot to get amazing sound! Right now I have these hooked up to my Carver integrated amp (100wpc) and running them with a pair of Polk Audio Tower speakers and 200 watt Creative Soundworks sub. Lately I have been running them by themselves (no sub, no Polks) and the sound is quite good. The clarity, sound stage, imaging is all good. The obvious is the low end is NOT going to be what you would get once a sub is in the loop, but what low end that is there is is good. Mid's are clean and the highs are crystal clear! Listen to PACO DE LUCIA, AL DI MEOLA AND JOHN MCLAUGHLIN'S CD (all acoustic guitars) and you will be amazed!
How a company can get this much out of such an inexpensive and smallish speaker should amaze me, but sometimes, I wondered why more companies weren't producing this type of speaker in this price range. It obviously can be done............I paid all of $99 for my pair.
Buy a pair and give them a listen, you WON'T BE SORRY!!!
Tom
[...].