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Snell Type E II rehab/retrofit

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Posted on August 15, 2020 at 11:19:55
Chuck
Audiophile

Posts: 817
Joined: August 22, 2000
 I just acquired a beautiful pair of these classic speakers. The woofer foam surrounds are shot, of course. I'm looking for advice as to whether I should get replacement woofers and matched inductors from the shop that took over Snell replacement parts (Atomic Hi Fi) or, instead, spend a lot more and substitute in Audio Note AN/E drivers & crossovers. A lot of reading tells me that simply refoaming the existing woofers would yield unsatisfying results because Snell added some sort of beading to the original foam surrounds and carefully matched an inductor to each woofer. For these reasons simple refoaming can't meet the original specs & sound quality. I'm especially interested in hearing whether AN/E drivers would be likely to work well in these boxes. As I understand it, the AN/E speakers were based on the Snell E design. AN/E drivers appear to be a bit more efficient, at 94db, too, an added benefit because my amp is an SET putting out 8 watts. (OTOH, Snell were famous for conservatively reporting their speakers' efficiency, and Snell 90db efficiency might not be so far off from AN's 94.) Any advice? Thanks!

 

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If you want to restore them to original spec . . ., posted on August 15, 2020 at 11:58:28
Brian H P
Audiophile

Posts: 1291
Location: Oregon
Joined: December 18, 2012
 . . . and Atomic HiFi sells NOS or exact replica parts, seems that would be the way to go. The AN/E drivers could be too far from original Snell spec.

I would still refoam the original woofers -- they should have some resale value.

 

thanks (nt), posted on August 16, 2020 at 05:19:50
Chuck
Audiophile

Posts: 817
Joined: August 22, 2000

 

RE: If you want to restore them to original spec . . ., posted on August 16, 2020 at 08:56:27
Frihed89
Audiophile

Posts: 15703
Location: Copenhagen
Joined: March 21, 2005
 Don't take the claimed sensitivity by AN(UK) too seriously. There are measurements in some reviews. Look at Stereophile first.

 

RE: Snell Type E II rehab/retrofit, posted on August 16, 2020 at 19:27:52
RGA
Reviewer

Posts: 15177
Location: Hong Kong
Joined: August 8, 2001
 AN's measurement is 3dB higher because Audio Note measures from a corner. Corners add significantly to bass and sensitivity specs. The Snells were not designed for a corner - their ports are different. So if you put the AN speaker out free standing - you can take 3dB off their rated specs.

Hi-Fi Choice measured my old AN J/SPe as 89.5dB sensitive (free standing position). Audio Note specs them at 93dB sensitive (corner loaded)with both speakers operating. Corners add up to 6dB sensitivity and a second speaker adds 3dB.

Magazine measurements are taken usually as one speaker in the middle of a room. That is a loss of up to 9dB.

All that is beside the issue - 8 watts will easily drive any Audio Note speaker to very loud ear damaging volume levels regardless of how anyone wants to measure them. Your 8 watt amp should be fine with either Snell or Audio Note.

I would try and just keep your Snell the way it is - so if you can get an acceptable Snell foam replacement I would do that. The AN foam should be fine too but as you say - may be more expensive.

 

thank you--very helpful (nt), posted on August 17, 2020 at 13:13:29
Chuck
Audiophile

Posts: 817
Joined: August 22, 2000

 

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