[gonzo]

Hello to all,
   This is my first post and I am intimidated to say the least after spending many days reading all the wealth of knowledge you guys have and your equipment. Please forgive my ignorance of subject matter. I purchased the Athena F2's about five years ago new with the intention of using them in some capacity of a HT or two channel system, unfortunately that did not happen and they sat idle until now. After being on this forum and reading all the speaker info, I decided to remove the drivers and xover and see what was there...not much. My point is I wanted to know if I could make some upgrades to this speaker, I remember they sounded fairly musical to my ears when I first got them. I sent pics of xover and was suggested to upgrade caps and resistors. The caps suggested are huge compared to the originals, also the xover is pcb type with components sodered, and board is attached to binding posts faceplate. Any suggestion what and if I should do this, if I soder those caps on the pcb, I won't be able to get it back into cabinet, could I relocate it and run wire to the posts? I ordered some no rez, should I apply this to all internal cab walls where the cheap 1/4" padding is now or will this reduce the internal volume of the speaker. Like I said please forgive my ignorance. Thank you so much for your time, I look forward to your reply.
Best regards....Jeff

[srb]

Jeff,
 
I had a pair of the Athena B2 bookshelf models of the same vintage, and felt lucky to resell them as new for 40$/pair.  They had slightly irritating treble, boomy bass and a complete lack of any real midrange.
 
The F2s have the same drivers, and I can't imagine that upgraded capacitors, resistors and no-rez will change things appreciably.  If you have removed the drivers, you probably saw that they lack substanial bracing, and the knuckle test sounds quite boxy.
 
To answer your questions, yes you can relocate the crossover somewhere else in the cabinet and run wires to the binding posts.  I also wouldn't worry too much about the slightly decreased interior volume with the thicker no-rez.
 
I don't know the cost of the upgrade caps + resistors (Sonicaps?), and I would have to assume that the existing inductor coils would be quite substandard too.  I am not trying to disparrage your purchase, I just have to question with all else that is wrong with them, whether it would be money well spent.
 
However, if others have actually performed these upgrades on actual F2s, and are very happy with the results, I defer to their opinion.  I just have to wonder if you wouldn't be ahead of the game selling those, and finding a higher-quality used floorstander on Audiogon or elsewhere.
 
Good luck, and if you do proceed, let us know the perceived results.
 
Steve
 
 

[gonzo]

Hi Steve,
 Thanks for your honest response, you kind of reinforced my thoughts exactly, the cabinet is boxy with one flimsy internal brace near the top, thats it. drivers mount to baffle with threaded hex wood screws, no T bolts and no gasket with cheap plastic outer mounting ring. 41" x 9.5" x 15" cabinet with one brace and see through wall padding. I also had the B2 and sold them. The inductors are as you say not deserving of such quality caps and resistors, they are minimal to say the least. I don't think short of replacing cabinets, new drivers, more bracing and redesigned network I could get better SQ, in other words put them back in storage. Steve I know of no others that have performed the caps and res's upgrade, this was just suggested after seeing the xover pics I sent, he told me that was one terrible looking network and that might be a starting point. With no-rez and caps well over $100.00. Money well spent????? You didn't disparrage my purchase, you opened my eyes to what I was really seeing, it just was discouraging after seeing the many high quality speaker builds on this forum and then seeing the build of the F2, ignorant and challenged as I am I could have done better with no plans. Thank you again Steve for your straight forwardness. I just thought I could make something out of nothing.
Regards....Jeff 

[srb]

I don't think short of replacing cabinets, new drivers, more bracing and redesigned network I could get better SQ, in other words put them back in storage.

Jeff, I appreciate your listening to my opinion in the spirit that was intended.
 
I had to chuckle, what you said reminded me of a comedian (actually a "comedic juggler", I can't remember his name) who had an axe as one of the three items he was going to juggle.  He said, "This is George Washington's original axe.  The handle and the head have since been replaced, but essentially it occupies the same space"
 
Steve

[gonzo]

How true how true, I even had a chuckle writing it, I think I'll get three of the GW axe's and juggle them over my speakers, maybe they will occupy the same space. Thanks for turning a frown into a smile. Enjoy your weekend of American Independance.
Jeff

[srb]

Although I haven't seen this "comedic juggler" on TV in 20+ years, I further remember in that juggling routine he had GW's axe, a cleaver ("Beaver the Cleaver") and a running chain saw.
 
His next juggling set was an apple, a bowling ball and an egg.  I remember him saying "This is very hard to do, as they are all different ...COLORS" !  He then artfully juggled them, each time taking a bite out of the apple.  He finished that routine by "accidentally" taking a bite out of the raw egg.
 
I'll have to Google him and find out what happened to him.  He had a great act, and that GW comment always stuck with me.
 
Steve