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Review 2 of 8
Price Paid:
$640.00
from GNP Audio Summary:
When used alone, this active subwoofer has a small footprint but deep, strong bass (down to 25Hz). It is a competitive product on its own. When used with S2, this subwoofer is amazing. I have never heard a subwoofer integrating so seamlessly with a mini-monitor, even at hi-fi shows. Subwoofers are great for movies, but for music they often sound booming or extraneous. The bass from S2/P2 sounds just right, like a big floor-stander. P2 has a built-in switch (low pass filter) that adjusts its frequency response to match S2. S2 still receives full range signal, while P2 only plays below 50 Hz. There is no additional crossover circuit which would add distortion to mini-monitor, and stereo imaging is not affected by down-firing subwoofer because sound wave below 50 Hz is definitely omni-directional. Some experts suggest two subwoofers are better than one because low frequency sounds from two sources can form more evenly distributed standing wave patterns. Perhaps this explains why two P2s gives off natural bass.
You will not realize how much music you have missed until your stereo can reach the lowest octave. Lots of instruments go down to this region, including piano, organ, large drums, double bass and synthetic instruments. I begin to appreciate church organ more and more: not for its bass, but for its rich tonal varieties in higher frequencies (achieved by adjusting stops). However, without the bass support, organ (and jazz, and orchestral music) can sound top-heavy and dull. Unfortunately, because very few stereo systems reach the lowest octave, TV broadcast and even some recordings contain excessive low bass signals in order to please the general audience. The beauty of S2/P2 is that you can adjust the volume of P2 to make the amount of deep bass suit your ears in your room. For special effects in movies, the quantity of bass dominates whether the room shakes or not, but for music, bass is judged by quality. P2 does not just provide quantity and quality in bass, but also the potential of blending with competent mini-monitors. The accuracy of S2 and room-filling bass from P2 adds up to a full range setup not just on the frequency spectrum but on the music spectrum as well. No other speaker in this price range comes close to its ability of handling a wide variety of music with ease.
System:
Sony DVP-NS900V SACD/DVD Player
Jolida JD301 Tube/MOSFET Integrated Amplifier
Tivoli Model Two Radio
Athena S2/P2 Spearkers Strengths:
Deep, loud bass and small footprint
When docked with S2, the integration is seamless, both geometrically and sonically. The combo does not just look like a floor-stander but also sound like one. The bass not just blends into the music but, compared to passive designs, reaches deeper and remains adjustable in volume. Weaknesses:
Metal extender bars that come with the feet look quite strange. I chose to install the rubber feet only.
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