Snell Type J II Restoration

E

ET16

Super Member
I just picked up a pair of these. I thought that the finish was original, but now I see that the cabinets have been painted black. I'm going to try to strip them, but I don't know whether it's worth it. I may just paint them black again.

I'll need to fix the surrounds on the woofers, and I will upgrade the capacitors in the crossover. Am I missing anything?
 
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I'm pretty sure searching on eBay will bring up the right foams; at least it always does when I'm searching for Snells. Good luck with your rebuild.
 
Whole buncha threads about this, cool tip, you can use Google to search within a particular index. For example, try this in your Google search bar "snell refoam site:www.audiokarma.org"

Here's one useful tidbit I found:

niklasthedol said:
Audio Note manufactures replica models of the ORIGINAL Snell K.

AN-K

Q:"The The AN-K is a bookshelf-sized loudspeaker capable of a bandwidth from 50 Hz to 20 Hz (-6 dB) with an efficiency of around 90 dB/m.

Careful pair matching, first by drive unit selection, secondly by pairing drive units with suitable characteristics to each other, and then finally by individually adjusting each speaker's curve, under dynamic conditions to a master curve.

The AN-K cabinet is made from materials that compliment the workings of the chosen drive units, where we, instead of trying to damp the resonances in the cabinet, place them in frequency bands where they aid and enhance the drive unit's work. This novel and quite difficult method helps to ensure maximum efficiency and dynamic behaviour."
Q end.


This is how the original Snell K was made.

My best suggestion would be to contact AN for inquiry on paired driver prices as spare parts.

In the case you do it the cheap way: http://www.audionote.co.uk/downloads/speaker_foam_replace.pdf

"dolph"
Click to expand...
 
Thanks for the replies. I've refoamed a couple of sets of speakers. My last effort, Ohms, didn't turn out well for some reason. I used a battery to center the voice coil, but I think I may have had it too far extended. I'm a little wary of doing the Snells myself, but may go ahead.

I took a look at the cross over and saw some electrolytics that I could replace with film. I haven't decided whether I want to tackle those now or after the drivers.
 
Johnny_Law said:
Whole buncha threads about this, cool tip, you can use Google to search within a particular index. For example, try this in your Google search bar "snell refoam site:www.audiokarma.org"

Here's one useful tidbit I found:
Click to expand...

This how-to makes me feel better. I was worried about centering the voice coil. They suggest it's easy. Great!
 
Good evening,

I must say, if you have that expensive speakers, best is to at least inform at the manufacturer. If I'm correct they are Vifa bass speakers.

Best regards, Fred
 
Looking inside it seams that solid wood was used for the enclosures, not mdf with veneer. It that right?
 
Good afternoon,

The Vifa M21WN-07 by the way?

Snell-E3-forum.jpg


These surrounds are original very flexible, watch out to take inflexible ones.

Then you make of a very good woofer a bad midrange...

Best regards, Fred
 
Audiofriends said:
Good afternoon,

The Vifa M21WN-07 by the way?

Snell-E3-forum.jpg


These surrounds are original very flexible, watch out to take inflexible ones.

Then you make of a very good woofer a bad midrange...

Best regards, Fred
Click to expand...

Yes, that's it.

I'm thinking of getting one of these kits:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/301575297919?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

http://www.ebay.com/itm/150944321473?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Snell-Type-...148?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item25955d912c

I'm leaning toward Midwest Speaker Repair. I may just send them the drivers.
 
Audiodogs and midwest speaker look like they have the right ones for the model E & J. They all get them from the same wholesale supplier I use.

Why buy from overseas?
 
Don't shim these the dust cover is heavy cardboard integrated with the cone. You will damage the cone if you try to remove the dustcover. This is a pretty easy refoam....clean the woofer edge and just glue on the new foam...should work.


New woofers are about $180 a pop so...refoam.
 
They are not the genuine ones. I may ofcourse not advertise for myself, but the genuine ones are very different than USA models. Bla bla sells, but these aren't the genuine ones.
 
Audiofriends said:
They are not the genuine ones. I may of course not advertise for myself, but the genuine ones are very different than USA models. Bla bla sells, but these aren't the genuine ones.
Click to expand...

Of course :D. However, the best are available from AudioNote in the UK at a steep price. I know, I've bought them.
However, the US distributor now has surrounds that are almost identical and test very well after refoaming. I have proof.
 
I contacted Audio Note, too. It's difficult to know what the best route is here. It's clear that some of the offerings are not optimal.
 
I'm making progress, but I'm struggling a little with my cabinets. They were black, and I've started to strip them. It just isn't going as smoothly as I thought. The old finish doesn't "lift" off.
 
If you wind up having to go with new woofers - you should probably explore the AN J and E and AZ Three woofers are made by SEAS not VIFA - or their HEMP woofers which are significantly better again. And probably significantly more pricey.

There is a guy currently DIYing a Kit AN E and that thread has suggestions on cabinet finishing.

Over on the Steve Hoffman forums page 9 for the speaker kits http://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/ank-audiokits-have-arrived-follow-the-build-here.412340/page-8
 
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