Athena speakers are the entry level product of the company Audio Products International (API), manufacturers of Energy and Mirage, but up until the Klipsch Group acquired API, these speakers where and probably still are, in my opinion, some of the finest loudspeakers available. Back in their day Energy’s Connoisseur series and Pro Series would compete with Axiom products head on. I don't believe Energy loudspeakers are considered “budget” products anymore than I would consider Axiom products budget.
And we are all on a budget to some degree.
