Snell Type E/III

[UltraFast69]

I started my build with the intent to create a system around my Snell Type E/III speakers and when I dug these out 5 years ago, I realized I had to have them re-coned. I paid about $1200 for the pair around ‘92 from a local stereo shop when I lived in Austin Texas after the military and ran them with a Carver system then an Adcom system.

While waiting for the Snell speakers to be re-coned I went off in another direction and built a McIntosh / Focal system then a full system change ending up to where I am at today.

The Snells are serving duty in my gym on a 25 year old Denon Integrated and curious on how these would sound in my main system. So today I hooked these up to the 2 Channel system and even made a set of jumpers (see photo) to see what they could do. I knew it would not even be a contest, but what the heck.

My Wilson’s are about 40X the cost of the Snells, and the speaker cables are at least 15X, and all other parts of the system are about 250X. I realize it’s not about price as there are many items that punch way above their weight.

The Snells at first made the music sound like it was coming from an empty can, it was horrible. I did allow some patience and they did settle a bit in a short amount of time. After I ran a few test tracks they did sound better, the mid range had some shine, but there was no low end to speak of, and the upper range sounded hot, and not sure if it was the rear tweeter. In all fairness I did not spend any real time placing them or playing with the rear tweeter setting.

Takeaway: While they sounded better after warming up, they just didn’t have it, and perhaps better left in the past.

Speakers are vital, and IMO make the system.












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[Edward]

Vintage. I have a pair of Snell Type Bs that i ran with NAD and Adcom 565s (the powerful monoblocks). A lot of sound but couldn't fill my larger room now. Sometimes i wonder what they would sound like if i hooked them up again....

[UltraFast69]

Vintage. I have a pair of Snell Type Bs that i ran with NAD and Adcom 565s (the powerful monoblocks). A lot of sound but couldn't fill my larger room now. Sometimes i wonder what they would sound like if i hooked them up again....

If you still have them, it’s a flash of nostalgia along with being appreciative on what you have today.


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[Ritmo]

This thread brings good memories. I was a fan of Snell in the 1980s. Actually, I thought the model E was terrific at the time.

[Jack]

Agree, I ran Snell Type A/II's for many years bi-amped using the Snell active crossover.

[Spock]

I think some things are good in a certain context and time. Not only the technology has evolving but also our level of demand.
A good exercise to put things in the right perspective.


I liked.