Devore Nines and Daedalus Athena comparison?

Been following this thread, but hesitated to comment because I have know experience with Daedalus. The Athena, according to a recent online review, retails for 10K. When I bought my Nines several years ago, they were $6500 retail. In the here and now, it would seem that the Orangutan's would be a closer comparison, price wise. Beyond that, perhaps the forthcoming 99's will be closer to 10K.... I thought of the Orangutan's not only for their price, but also the sensitivity/impedance being closer to the specs stated on the Athena. I can't vouch for the point Npdang raises, but I can vouch for the Orangutan in that respect. They are IMO, a very easy load to drive. Hope this helps.

I was interested in the comments regarding the Athena's sound at the Capitol Audiofest. Daedalus speakers are extremely sensitive to phase issues...makes me wonder if that might have accounted for what folks are reporting.

Sounded that way in Newport as well. Hole in lower mids.

I heard the Daedalus Athena in the First Sound room at the 2011 RMAF and thought they were in one of the better sounding systems at the show. They were not in the running for my best of show vote but they were excellent. I am not even into high efficiency speakers.

Bob

I agree with Bob (Rsimms) that the Athena sounded very nice in the First Sound room at last year's RMAF. Clean, detailed and musically interesting. At the time, I thought the system sounded a tad lean but I didn't know whether that could have been due to the source (CDs) or the electronics which I had never heard before (First Sound linestage and AMR hybrid amps). Regardless, however, of what was causing what, the tonal balance in the First Sound room was more natural than what I heard at the Capital Audiofest.