Price Paid:  $400.00 from audio advisor

Summary:
I purchased these speakers around Thanksgiving. When I first started listening to them they were dry and shrill. The highs were too high. The lows were not low enough. These speakers were going to be sold by Christmas.I read Athena's users guide and it stated the speakers need a breakin period of 50- 100 hours of playing time.( Real world was 100 hours!)After the 100 hour period ,they began to transform before my ears. It was amazing. My wife even noticed.These speakers have become warmer over the months . The lows are great for movies and music. The Athena's shine on music. The soundstage is huge. There is a great you are there presence. The midrage is better than my 3 way speakers. Stereo imaging is dead on . I am extremely pleased that I did not sell these great speakers.

Strengths:
powerful lows-great midrange-good highs-great stereo imaging. The more I play them The better they sound.

Weaknesses:
They neeeeeeeeeeeeeeed 100 hour break in period. Don't do critical listening prior to that time.

Similar Products Used:
I have a Pioneer elite 55 txi receiver and Rotel 980 bx Power amp.Sony es cd player and onkyo 3 head cassette deck(Rarely used)

Price Paid:  $209.00 from abes of maine intern

Summary:
well first of all user reviews are somtimes apples and organges it seems, i bought these speakers soley on the numerous almost indisputable good reviews, it seemed like no one had anything bad to say about these, seems like i will be the first. Ok the bass on these speakers sounds very mu bumpy, if you have ever heard some one listen to Rap or hip hop overy loud you will know what " bump" is, it is a very unrefined loose bass , these speakers are pretty powerfull i will give them that and there clarity is pretty good
i imagine they are better for movies than for music , the highs and mids are average but they absolutely get drowned by the bass , i bought them to use with mission m32i's which are an amazing speaker, basically a polar opposite to this speaker, they have a suggested 50-100 hour break in period which won't make them sound much better , but they will handle smoother after that.

Strengths:
power , low MSRP , may work more favorably with different receivers

Weaknesses:
Poor bass performance, sounds overly noisy at high listening levels, so at low volume they are nice, but kinda messy when cranked high

Similar Products Used:
sound kinda like my old ESS