What was one way that athens was more democratic than sparta

Spartans were the first ones to present the democratic society (combined with monarchy) more than 150 years before Athens. 
How come?
With two kings,Gerousia,ephoroi and democratic assembly NO one had an absolute power(while mathematically democratic assembly made from all citizens had the most power,even to exile kings), and all (Elders,Ephoroi,Kings,Assembly) controlled and limited the power of each other. 

So the assembly of all male citizens (their representatives) basically ruled Sparta.What is that if not democracy? 

Athenians did no such thing,their "democratic" system was an absolute power of an assembly that was consequently very popular pray for power hungry,and the place in it was won by all kinds of unmoral deceptions,misuse of poor blind and illiterate etc
Being passive or not military effective has nothing to do with democratic society...Contrary to the popular belief Spartan citizens were not repressed...they wished and believed in what they were doing. How undemocratic was Athenian society clearly shows their treatment of women.