[Hiker]

I found myself in my local Best Buy today and I wondered over to the speaker section. I've heard about some people talking about the Athenas on these boards recently, and I decided to check them out. In the near future I think I might pick up a pair in order to complement my headphone rig. I was originally looking at something along the lines of the Paradigm MiniMonitors, but since these are more than $100 cheaper, I will probably go with them. The only issue is that I do not have an integrated amp. Does anyone have any suggestions regarding integrated amps that I could use with the Athenas? I source is a Rega Planet 2000. My major setback is my budget which MUST be below $500. I want to spend as little as possible. I was thinking possibly the new Cambridge Audio integrated amps, but I am not sure that they would be powerful enough at 65 wpc. I am quite unfamiliar with integrated amps so any help would be appreciated. Currently, im perusing audioreview.com and audiogon for some basic info and good deals. Thanks a lot.

Hiker

 

[bundee1]

The thing with speakers and amp power is sensitivity. Anything above 87db should be easy to drive by any amp over 35w/ch. It wont wake your neighbors but moderate level listening sound very good. Most bookshelves fall between 87db and 91db. The higher the sensitivity the less power you need.

 

[meat01]

According to the specs, there sensitivity is rated at 91, so you should have no problem driving them with a 65 wpc amp. What about an NAD integrated amp?

 

[Hiker]

Quote:

Originally posted by meat01 According to the specs, there sensitivity is rated at 91, so you should have no problem driving them with a 65 wpc amp. What about an NAD integrated amp?

Actually I was looking a NAD integrateds today, the C320BEE in particular. It looks like this one might be the one to get. However, I might be pulling back on the speakers. I really, REALLY hate myself. I told the salesman that I was looking at the Paradigm MiniMonitors and the Athenas and he suggested that I take a listen to Monitor Audio S1s. So I agreed and was totally blown away by the sound. They are a bit smaller than either of the other speakers I was looking at so they would fit better in my dorm room. They also had a good deal more bass than either of the others. The only problem is that they are a good deal more than the other speakers. I will look for a good deal on them, but it looks like the NAD C320BEE will be the integrated for me unless someone suggests something else.

EDIT: Well the decisions get harder and harder. The Monitor Audio S1s that I was looking to get list around $599. I just looked at audioadvisor.com and found these for $499. They were originally $1000, but I guess with the new Veritasi line coming out, these are being discontinued (speculation). I will try and find a pair to audition somewhere around me, but does anyone have any comments on these in the meantime?

 

[Hiker]

The more that I think about it, the more I think I should just get the Athenas. This will be a secondary setup only since most of my listening is on headphones anyway. This will also free up some more money for a new pair of headphones!

 

[Musicfan123]

Good choice

 

[bundee1]

We'll see , we'll see. Its like heroine, once you get a taste you'll spend all your waking hours thinking about it and that methadone you call headphones will never satisfy you.

 

[Musicfan123]

I would love to turn on my speaker/sub combo up to a decent volume late at night, or even late afternoon. But my downstairs neighbor will lynch me before I turned that volume knob passed the 7 o'clock position.

Thus I have no choice but to use headphones ~98% of the time.

 

[Musicfan123]

Talk about turn offs. Girls with no appreciation for good music is the biggest turn off.

 

[Hiker]

Quote:

Originally posted by Musicfan123 Talk about turn offs. Girls with no appreciation for good music is the biggest turn off.

Interesting thread crap there.

I agree completely though!

Quote:

Originally posted by bundee1 We'll see , we'll see. Its like heroine, once you get a taste you'll spend all your waking hours thinking about it and that methadone you call headphones will never satisfy you.

Blasphemy! Especially on this site. I have been satisfied by headphones so far, and at this point my wallet wishes that I keep it that way. Thats why I don't want to entice myself with more auditions of increasingly expensive sets of speakers when I can get the Athena's which I find to be a good value for my purposes. These are just for a secondary setup whereas my headphones are still number one. And as far as I can see will always be number one!!!!

 

[bundee1]

he he he he

 

[jasonwilldermood]

I think you should check out the Paradigm Atoms. They get great reviews and would save you a bundle of cash that you could spend on other junk. I think your wallet is screwed any way you cut it, sorry.

 

[Hiker]

Quote:

Originally posted by jasonwilldermood I think you should check out the Paradigm Atoms. They get great reviews and would save you a bundle of cash that you could spend on other junk. I think your wallet is screwed any way you cut it, sorry.

I auditioned these the other day, and contrary to all the positive reviews about them, I just couldn't like them. I don't really expect any bookshelf speakers to have bass that reaches really deep, but these seemed to be especially lacking in that department. I would rather spend just a little more and get something that covers a bit more of the range. They did have more detail that I thought they would have, but that in itself just isn't enough. I might take one more listen to make sure that I am not making a mistake. Either way, thanks for the suggestion.