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I thought I'd see if there were still quite a few Snell owners around. I'm specifically talking about the A-Q series. The Snells designed after Voecks left have all been disappointing to me. I have a pair of Ds (my 3rd pair of them) and owned the C/V, Q and JIII. The Ds have been the best so far, better than the C/Vs. They disappear very nicely.
In any event, what type do you have, and what electronics have found to be a synergistic match?TIA
Follow Ups:
Neil,Amongst others, I have Snell AIII's driven by ARCSP11mkII/KrellKSA80B with various sources.
The III's are wonderful - but I have yet to get them to really sing.
I too, would love to know what 'best sounding AIII based systems' amps/cable combinations were being used back then (1983-1988), by Snell Acoustics at shows; dealer dem rooms, or by other knowledgeable enthusiasts who can remember back that far!
Best wishes for the New Year.
Frank
Dear Frank,Peter Snell never really got the best sound from the A/III at shows in my view, we should be reminded here that Peter died in September 1984, and really only had a couple of shows available to him to show what they could do.
In the mid to late 1980's we used to demo them in the UK with an Audio Innovations prototype push pull 845 amplifier (it is now a display in the window in my office!) and that really got them going, in my view you do not need high power, but high dynamic capability and in that regard the PP 845 type triode is perfect.
The A/III is still the best 3 way ever designed!
Peter,Many thanks for providing a little more background to the late Peter Snell's type AIII design.
I guess, these days there can not be too many AIII owners out there with original speakers, and now two decades on, any further contemporaneous experience is rare and essential for the enthusiast and helps keep the memory alive.
Regards
Also used to own a pair of AIII's. Also could never quite get the most from them. Not to throw stones or the like. They're actually a very impressive speaker.I powered them, at the time, with one of the earlier Threshold Stasis designs (300W per side). Still, I could never quite get them to disappear. sss and fff always gave them away.
Perhaps it was my room at the time....perhaps the system at the time....perhaps it is the nature of the beast.....either way, I never fully could get them at their best. Still....I have never regretted owning them. They had enough other good points to make up for their mis-steps. At this point in the game, though, I have wondered how gracefully they age.
Hello Simon,How are you getting on with your Soundlabs and do those 'zero' transformers really work? I have been tempted by the website on those transformers...
Regards
The decision to go with the SoundLabs was, for me, probably one of the best audio decisions I've ever made. As for the Zero autoformers, they are indeed everything that everyone claims them to be.Well worth the money for anyone with valves and low-dipping impedance loads. However, I suspect that they will do little for those with SS amps.
As good as this Krell is still won't be able to drive them properly as these speakers have an 85dB sensitivity on 4ohms impedance and hovering at around 2ohms during peak musical demands. Try the higher Krell model like the KSA 150 or better yet the KSA 250.
Millen,I think you must be right, should a good KSA250B show, I'll be sorely tempted. I need to drive two alternative systems, the AIII's and Duetta Sigs, so the 250 is probably the way to go.
I have a Counterpoint SA20 under a dust sheet - but have resisted flicking the switch (since acquiring it over eighteen months ago) for fear of the smell of fried output trannies and subsequent deep-downer that inevitably follows the 'Counterpoint fix' and mandatory return shipping to Elliot with repair bill...
Regards
What are you driving them with? And in what way do they seem deficient?
Neil,I use an ARC SP11mkII preamp + Krell KSA80B power. To my ears the KSA80B has a sweeter, warmer, richer, but, less detailed and more vintage presentation than the KSA250B - which just cries out for Wilsons.
Assessing our own chosen speaker's deficiencies (sp) in a system of one's own doing... can be as painful as... navel gazing: but I guess I have an issue with the overly revealing upper range which is a tough one, for it is IMO, the late Peter Snell's mid/upper range that lifts this speaker to being (and many of his designs especially the type K) truly remarkable, with almost camealion (sp) dr-panel-horn like qualities.
Surprisingly it works reasonably well with my cd source which is vinyl-like, but highlights (with halogen intensity) every click and pop on my TT.
I suspect the AIII probably need taming with some Transparent speaker cable or similar. This is a fifth speaker system in my music room, so I have to draw the line somewhere... NURSE?
Regards
Frank
You know I would really love to hear more of these older Snell models - I have obviously only heard the Audio Note variants of them but there was obviously a damn good reason Peter Q bought the rights when he could have went fro way nicer looking speakers.One of the bg things i was first attracted to was the vocal band where voices are always hear - a lot of other speakers I have owned and auditioned against the K either put a big wet flannel over them making them sound muffled or nasal or had that SSSSSSSSHHHHHH to the hilt.
I've read a lot of people compare them to horn/panel like combinations - Since I own a horn speaker and I liked much about panels I think it's pretty easy to see that I agree with the comparison.
I did hear the B-Minor but I didn't care for that one - those side firing suubwoofers I dunno.
RGA,I've yet to hear the Snell Type B's - here in the UK, I would be lucky indeed, never seen any up for sale yet.
I last heard the original Snell K set up in A/B comparison with Quad 57's - both speakers being driven by a Leak stereo 20 and sourced by a Micromega Trio three box cd player. The Snell was surprisingly similar with regard to coherance, openess, speed and presence, albeit brighter and more (dr) dynamic - I actually preferred the K to the 57's and I was/am a (stacked) 57 owner.
I've heard the original type C at three or four sessions (hi-fi show and private system) they seem the most natural of all (and less demanding than the A's) and instantly recogniseable as a Snell design.
Finally, I have owned the Snell E II's and heard the originals & III's - again instantly recogniseable Snell signature...
Regards
The bass of the B Minor was stupendous, but didn't seem to keep up...
How similar is the AIII to the Previous Type A's. Audio Note uses one of those earier Type A's as their master reference speaker I'm pretty sure - so you may want to ask on the AN kits forum. Or not.
RGA,The A mark III was I believe, the final iteration designed by the late by Peter Snell, being physically larger and employing a 12" bass driver as compared to a 10" bass unit in earlier models.
For more details:
http://www.snellacoustics.com/table.html
Thanks for your referral, I will give the AN forum some lurking time.
Kind regards
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