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Snell speakers?

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I'm no expert on Snell, so I will give you my personal humble opinion.

IF they were in mint or near mint condition I would say yes.

As others have pointed out, in other threads, those may have incorrect foam installed. I see a disconnected jumper for the bi-wire. No big deal, but has he been playing them like this? We dont know. To me this is project territory, and I would let them slide. Thats no disrespect to Snell. They made some nice speakers. And these could be nice again.. But I think it will take a lot of work (and money) to get them there.

If you're just starting out I dont think its a great choice. Again My opinion. I would find something ready to play without a bunch of work needed.
 
Wow.. there are a lot of speakers in your area!

https://grandrapids.craigslist.org/search/ele?query=speakers


These Utah.. great price!
https://grandrapids.craigslist.org/ele/d/grand-rapids-large-utah-vintage-speakers/6902894655.html

You like Polk Audio so these would be prefect and cheaper!
https://grandrapids.craigslist.org/ele/d/grandville-polk-rta-8tl-speakers/6885953198.html

Some big Boston's
https://grandrapids.craigslist.org/ele/d/grand-rapids-boston-acoustics-t1000/6886933369.html

Thats 3 good choices just scanning the first page. Be sure to listen first and if anything is off walk. There are too many choices and too many speakers out there to get stuck!!!
 
Old-School said:
Wow.. there are a lot of speakers in your area!

https://grandrapids.craigslist.org/search/ele?query=speakers


These Utah.. great price!
https://grandrapids.craigslist.org/ele/d/grand-rapids-large-utah-vintage-speakers/6902894655.html

You like Polk Audio so these would be prefect and cheaper!
https://grandrapids.craigslist.org/ele/d/grandville-polk-rta-8tl-speakers/6885953198.html

Some big Boston's
https://grandrapids.craigslist.org/ele/d/grand-rapids-boston-acoustics-t1000/6886933369.html

Thats 3 good choices just scanning the first page. Be sure to listen first and if anything is off walk. There are too many choices and too many speakers out there to get stuck!!!
Click to expand...
Which ones would provide the best quality in your opinion? The Boston's have been re-foamed and tweeter replaced. He said he would go $300 on those.
 
Old-School said:
Wow.. there are a lot of speakers in your area!

https://grandrapids.craigslist.org/search/ele?query=speakers


These Utah.. great price!
https://grandrapids.craigslist.org/ele/d/grand-rapids-large-utah-vintage-speakers/6902894655.html

You like Polk Audio so these would be prefect and cheaper!
https://grandrapids.craigslist.org/ele/d/grandville-polk-rta-8tl-speakers/6885953198.html

Some big Boston's
https://grandrapids.craigslist.org/ele/d/grand-rapids-boston-acoustics-t1000/6886933369.html

Thats 3 good choices just scanning the first page. Be sure to listen first and if anything is off walk. There are too many choices and too many speakers out there to get stuck!!!
Click to expand...
Just spoke to the guy with the Polk's and he said they have Peerless tweeters which are supposed to be higher end tweeters? Also mentioned they have Bugle surround so they have no foam to wear out? supposed to be better i guess?
 
Here is what I would do. I would contact the Utah guy and ask him if he has time to do some listening as he has a few different chunks of gear available. Offer to bring a beverage and some tunes you like and maybe he would be willing to open his home to you to discuss speakers. Seems he has a sound room set up and maybe you could listen to a few different ones and get an idea. If he has something you love with your 50 watts per channel get em.

Of the other two the Polks were 325 each new in 90 the T-1000 was 1200 a pair a few years earlier and that means they might be nicer cabinets or better speakers.
 
Old-School said:
I'm no expert on Snell, so I will give you my personal humble opinion.

IF they were in mint or near mint condition I would say yes.

As others have pointed out, in other threads, those may have incorrect foam installed. I see a disconnected jumper for the bi-wire. No big deal, but has he been playing them like this? We dont know. To me this is project territory, and I would let them slide. Thats no disrespect to Snell. They made some nice speakers. And these could be nice again.. But I think it will take a lot of work (and money) to get them there.

If you're just starting out I dont think its a great choice. Again My opinion. I would find something ready to play without a bunch of work needed.
Click to expand...

The Snells, if properly sorted will offer better sound quality than anything else I'm seeing near him at a comparable price.

I'd hardly call them a project. Most vintage speakers of that age need refoamed. If the incorrect foams were used, and that has not been confirmed, that was my speculation based on a couple low resolution online images, worst case, you re-refoam them. which is really no more work or no more expensive than buying them pre-refoam. I just recently re-foamed some Snell Type K/II woofers with foams I get from Rick Cobb for $6.50 each + shipping. They were very easy to do, but if the OP isn't comfortable doing the work himself, I'm sure he could find someone to do it for him at a reasonable price.

As far as the bi-wire being disconnected, reconnecting it takes a few seconds and doesn't even require any tools. They are capable of being bi-wired, so maybe that's how the current owner was using them, or maybe he just disconnected the jumpers test the drivers individually and forgot to reconnect one of them them prior to taking the photo. In any case, a disconnected bi-wire jumper does not raise any red flags for me - assuming all drivers are working, which can easily be determined by listening to them.
 
techkiller80 said:
Just spoke to the guy with the Polk's and he said they have Peerless tweeters which are supposed to be higher end tweeters? Also mentioned they have Bugle surround so they have no foam to wear out? supposed to be better i guess?
Click to expand...

That's butyl, as in rubber. Foam surrounds don't really wear out, they simply deteriorate over time, even if they are sitting unused.
 
The only red flag raised by the disconnected jumper is the same as any other CL speaker opportunity, check it out to be sure it is working properly. I didn't see the distress and work needed with the Snells from the eariler post and these should be part of the evaluation.
 
MCM_Fan said:
The Snells, if properly sorted will offer better sound quality than anything else I'm seeing near him at a comparable price.

I'd hardly call them a project. Most vintage speakers of that age need refoamed. If the incorrect foams were used, and that has not been confirmed, that was my speculation based on a couple low resolution online images, worst case, you re-refoam them. which is really no more work or no more expensive than buying them pre-refoam. I just recently re-foamed some Snell Type K/II woofers with foams I get from Rick Cobb for $6.50 each + shipping. They were very easy to do, but if the OP isn't comfortable doing the work himself, I'm sure he could find someone to do it for him at a reasonable price.

As far as the bi-wire being disconnected, reconnecting it takes a few seconds and doesn't even require any tools. They are capable of being bi-wired, so maybe that's how the current owner was using them, or maybe he just disconnected the jumpers test the drivers individually and forgot to reconnect one of them them prior to taking the photo. In any case, a disconnected bi-wire jumper does not raise any red flags for me - assuming all drivers are working, which can easily be determined by listening to them.
Click to expand...
At this moment in my life, i'm building a house, selling my current one and trying to pack all my crap up, my wife is pregnant and I have a 2yr old......LOL so my life is crazy busy. I'd actually prefer the Polk or Boston's just due to the fact that it's less work if they are good sounding speakers. You really make me want these Snell's....but i just dont have any time in my life for a project even a small one while trying to move. Which would you goo with between the Polk's and Boston's?
 
techkiller80 said:
At this moment in my life, i'm building a house, selling my current one and trying to pack all my crap up, my wife is pregnant and I have a 2yr old......LOL so my life is crazy busy. I'd actually prefer the Polk or Boston's just due to the fact that it's less work if they are good sounding speakers. You really make me want these Snell's....but i just dont have any time in my life for a project even a small one while trying to move. Which would you goo with between the Polk's and Boston's?
Click to expand...

I don't know. I haven't heard either.
 
Well before this post gets too crazy with opinions I want to say a BIG Thanks to all of you seriously for all your input and help. If any of you are ever in West Michigan let me know i'd love to have coffee or a bite to eat and talk more about this stuff.
 
I like Snell speakers. A shop near here had a pair of model E that had a bit of paint on them. He wanted $475 for them, in that condition, so that wasn't going to happen.
Good luck with the listening.
 
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