Snell K7 bookshelf speakers

[zieglj01]

Snell K7 bookshelf:
Has any one heard these speakers - I am going to my local
dealer tomorrow to pick up a pair and take home to demo.
They retail for around $1200 - I am willing to pay about $750
for them. I have listened in the store and I am stirred enough
to take them home for a real test. I sense they will be neutral
sounding with lots of detail and a wide soundage.
www.snellacoustics.com

 

[Seth=L]

One day, I'll be able to afford to buy speakers like that on a whim.

One day....

 

[zieglj01]

One day, I'll be able to afford to buy speakers like that on a whim.

One day....

I have never met Mr. Claus, and it is Christmas time. I want
something more than a pair of socks and M&M candy.

 

[Warpdrv]

Huh..... at first I clicked on the link and saw the first in room speaker and thought.... $750 for a pair of speakers that look like this....

Then I realized my mistake and you said K7 not A7....

Those A7's are really kind of kool looking.... I suppose they ought to be for $50K

Come back with some pics and your thoughts if you bring them home... or even if you don't... Nice to have a pic display of a dealer visit with some nice gear... We just don't get enough of that type of thing....

 

[zieglj01]

I know that Snell was serious about their stuff - if you had a problem with
one of their drivers - they would send the replacement driver with a new
crossover, to keep the tolerance tight.

 

[tom67]

One of those smaller companies that lurked in the shadows producing well received speakers for years. Now part of DM Holdings (Denon, Boston Acoustics etal)....I notice that they use treated paper cones which is interesting....still a excellent damping material.......I like to see companies like these survive as independents, but kinda tough these days with the cost of marketing...for years, I confused this company with Thiel....no relation, but another old timer still plugging...looking forward to your comments after audition...

http://www.crutchfield.com/s_684SCS4DC/THIEL-SCS4-Dark-cherry.html?tp=186

 

[zieglj01]

D&M decided to put Snell to rest - because of tougher times, people
have changed their buying habits. I want to see how the NHT Classic
Two holds up against them. D&M wants to push Boston - the little
VS240 speaker gave the Snell a fit in the store demo.

 

[gholt]

Those are probably nice bookshelf speakers. Let us know, once you get them home how they sound.

 

[Seth=L]

D&M decided to put Snell to rest - because of tougher times, people
have changed their buying habits. I want to see how the NHT Classic
Two holds up against them. D&M wants to push Boston - the little
VS240 speaker gave the Snell a fit in the store demo.

D&M no longer owns Snell?

 

[zieglj01]

D&M no longer owns Snell?

They still own Snell - they will stop making the speakers. Boston
owned Snell, and D&M picked them both up when they bought
Boston.

 

[tom67]

NHT an interesting speaker....sealed enclosure like speakers in the 70s.....not very efficient so make sure you have some power if you need to play them loud in a larger room....NHT recently came back from the grave after shutting their doors briefly....check their site for pricing as they sell direct now....

 

[zieglj01]

Thanks to evey one who has responded to this post. The Snell K7
is at home and hooked up to a Marantz SR6003 receiver. In a word
the sound is alive. The words realistic, natural and presence, comes
to mind. They have a wide, deep, rich and dimensional sound stage.
They have plenty of detail, definition and depth. Voices have a good
tonal balance. From an old school point of view - I like to hear rhythm,
harmony and melody in my music.
Eagles - Hotel California
Pink Floyd - Another Brick in the Wall
Gloria Estefan - Rhythm is Gonna Get You
Katherine McPhee - Somewhere
Willy Nelson, Wynton Marsalis and
Norah Jones - Hit the Road Jack
Chris Botti - No Ordinary Love
Queen Latifah - I Put A Spell on You
Jone Osbourne - War
Why Can't We Live Together

The Imaging is spot on with a good central sound stage - some one is
singing at you and not away from you. Instruments that were played,
had good extension and sounded real with good texture. Instruments
that should vibrate, did vibrate. Orchestra's were wide and open and
plenty of detail. Bass is tight and articulate and the ported enclosure
is free from port chuffing. The treble is lively with no hardness or edge.
Compared to the NHT Classic Two, which I own - The k7 has a more
open and lively sound with better detail, definition and depth. Every
thing unfolds more with the K7. The all around resolution sounds much
higher. The Classic Two is a leader in its price range. With the NHT, I
walked in the forrest, and with the Snell I am in the middle of the forrest.
The K7 sounds like a $1200 speaker and I would pay that price - how
ever, I will be a man of my word and only pay $750. I now have to play
some movies.

 

[zieglj01]

For those who may be interested about home theater potential -
with the K7 speaker. They are open, detailed, rich and dynamic.
The expansive, deep and dimensional sound stage continues.
They can, and do play loud with no distortion, compression or
bass thickness. Some movies viewed:
Star Trek (latest one)
Knowing
Fifth Element
Iron Man 2

The speakers will make and are good satellites and surrounds. For
my testing I used them full range - to try to shake them. I did 3.0,
I don't have the center yet, so I went with the Boston VS 240 as
the center. Close as in horse shoes - but no ringer. They are close
enough for my fun testing. The Romulan ship flying and the satellite
ships flying around were realistic. The destruction of Vulcan was a
good one too. With the expansive sound stage, the sound comes at
you. The stress test in Knowing - with both the airplane and subway
crashes was alarming. The speakers are not shy. No woofer burping
and no distortion. the Fifth Element woman escaping from the lab to
the outside world and traffic, was also realistic with the wrap around
sound. Also the strong sound and bass in Iron Man 2, was good with
him flying and I like the Race track scenes, where he faces the enemy.
They will play good in a medium size room - no cheap receivers need to
apply. The Marantz did a good job. I am not saying to go out and try
to find and buy them. If by some chance you get to hear them - then
take time to hear them. Mr. Claus can still bring me some socks and
candy for Christmas.