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Thiel CS 2 2 vs Snell C IV

I have the great opportunity to buy just one pair at about the same price for my 2nd listening room. Which one would be more recommended?
The parameters:
1. room size: 24' x 18' listening room with vaulted ceiling
2. music genres: orchestral classic, jazz and some soft rock
3. gear: Conrad Johnson tube amps (PV12 + MV50), alternatively PV10 + Adcom GFA-555

The option of auditioning both in that room is not possible since one pair is not listed locally.

Thanks for your comments/suggestions.

P.S. As an owner of both the Snell A and Model B Minor (main listening room) I like their neutral sound and precision. Having had the Thiel CS3.5, I like the more modern combination of sound + looks.
polyglot
polyglot OP
77 posts
 
Thanks everyone for their input and suggestions.

My favorite are the Snell B Minors (for music, I love my LaScalas for HT) but I guess I cant find an used pair under a grand (wishful thinking).

Ncarv: thanks for your very valuable input since you had them all. Wilson Audio is currently out of my reach so I am likely to end up with your suggestion to buy both, starting with the "grass look greener on the other side" CS 2.2 since that's a local buy and I still have my Snells to confuse my ears...
alpha220
20 posts
 
Snell C IV review here -> http://www.theaudiocritic.com/back_issues/The_Audio_Critic_16_r.pdf

From the review;

"The sound of the Snell Type C/IV is, yes, the best I've ever heard out of a monkey coffin - uncolored, transparent, low in distortion, high in resolution, perfectly balanced, much better on the bottom end than the C/II. The frequency balance-which depends not so much on whether the re­sponse is ±2 dB, or ±2.5 dB, or whatever, but on just where those little zigs and zags occur - is probably the most satis­fying of any speaker known to me."
pure_brew
21 posts
 
I own CIV's and I sold CV's when they were being manufactured along with the A reference,B-Minor,D etc. I've always been a fan. I believe that prior statements about Boston Acoustics being under ownership of Snell when those speakers were manufactured is incorrect. At least not when any of those were first introduced to the market. The lines created under BA were XA, E.5 and the like.
alpha220
20 posts
 
Snell Type A Reference, B, B-Minor, CV, D and several others were designed, manufactured and sold BEFORE the Boston Acoustics aquisition. Some models continued to be sold after the aquisition.

"On June 21, 1996, (Boston Acoustics CEO) Frank Reed announced the completion of a deal to acquire Snell Acoustics, another manufacturer of high-end speaker systems in nearby Haverhill, Massachusetts."

FYI, the date that Boston Acoustics aquired Snell is indicated as June 1995 on the Snell Acoustics history web page, however, several financial-related web sites have it recorded as June 1996, see below.

"PEABODY Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 28, 1996--Frank Reed, chairman of the board, Boston Acoustics Inc. (NASDAQ-BOSA) announced today that it has reached an agreement in principal to acquire all of the outstanding common stock of Snell Manufacturing Corp. from AudioNord of Denmark.

Both Boston Acoustics and Snell Manufacturing Corp. are manufacturers of home entertainment loudspeaker systems. The transaction is subject to the execution of a definitive Purchase Agreement and preliminary terms were not disclosed. The parties expect the transaction to be concluded by the end of May 1996."
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