Big Picture Big Sound

Canadian speaker maker API (Audio Products International) offers brands that are familiar to audiophiles and home theater enthusiasts worldwide. Mirage Acoustics and Energy are well-known for offering outstanding value in high performance loudspeakers. API's entry-level brand athena TECHNOLOGIES is not as well-known, but also offers excellent performance at bargain basement pricing.

Athena's Point 5 Mark II system is a 5-channel system (subwoofer optional) that lists for $500 but is available on special right now on OneCall for $198.88. This is one of our budget picks for home theater, with performance that rivals many systems in the $500-$800 range. You can add Athena's ASP-4000 10-inch, 400-watt subwoofer for only $149.97 for a complete 5.1 channel surround sound speaker system.

Links to purchase:
° Athena Point 5 Mark II System
° Athena ASP-4000 Powered Subwoofer
° S.5 Speaker Stands

The system features four identical S.5 speakers, and a C.5 center channel. The S.5 satellites are also sold separately so you can expand the system to 6.1 or 7.1-channel surround at any point in the future. Mounting brackets are included in the package for wall-mounting the 4 satellite speakers. Optional stands are also available.

The speaker connectors are high quality gold-plated 5-way binding posts, accepting bare wire, pin connectors, or banana plugs. The speakers are covered by Athena's 5-year limited parts and labor warranty.

Manufacturer's Specifications:

S.5 Satellite Speaker:
Components:
° Tweeter: 1" (25mm) Teteron Dome
° Woofer: 4" (10cm) High Performance Injection Molded Polypropylene Cone
° All components are magnetically shielded

Features:
° Dispersion Enhancing Tweeter Faceplate for a wider listening window, and excellent stereo imaging
° Rear Vented Design for extended bass response
° 1/2 Medium Density Fiberboard Construction
° 2 Removable Grills
° 5-Way Gold-Plated Binding Post Connectors
° S.5 is timbre matched to any other athena TECHNOLOGIES® model

Specifications:
° Frequency Response: 60Hz-20KHz +/-3 dB
° Recommended Amplifier Power: 20 ° 100 watts
° Room Efficiency: 89dB
° Cross-Over Point: 2.0kHz
° Impedance: 8 Ohms Compatible

Finish Options:
° High Gloss Black Cabinet with Silver Injection Molded Baffles

Dimensions:
° H: 8-1/2" (21.6 cm)
° W: 5-3/4" (14.6 cm)
° D: 6-1/4" (15.9 cm)

Weight:
° 6 lb (2.7 kg) each

C.5 Center Speaker:
Components:
° Tweeter: 1 (25mm) Teteron Dome
° Woofer: Dual 4 (10cm) High Performance Injection Molded Polypropylene Cone
° All components are magnetically shielded

Features:
° Dispersion Enhancing Tweeter Faceplate for a wider listening window, and excellent stereo imaging
° Rear Vented Design for extended bass response
° 1/2 Medium Density Fiberboard Construction
° 3 Removable Grills
° 5-Way Gold-Plated Binding Post Connectors
° C.5 is timbre matched to any other athena TECHNOLOGIES® model

Specifications:
° Frequency Response:60Hz-20KHz +/-3 dB
° Recommended Amplifier Power: 20 ° 100 watts
° Room Efficiency: 89dB
° Cross-Over Point: 2.0kHz
° Impedance: 8 Ohms Compatible

Finish:
° High Gloss Black Cabinet with Silver Injection Molded Baffles

Dimensions:
° H: 5-5/8" (14.3 cm)
° W: 15" (38.1 cm)
° D: 6-1/4" (15.9 cm)

Sensitivity:
° 91dB

Dimensions:
° 8" H x 21 3/4" W x 5 1/2" D

Weight:
° 9.5 lbs (4.3 kg) each