Review: Snell K.5 Monitor

Category: Speakers

This is an update of a review I did more than a year ago and posted elsewhere.

This is a two-way, shielded monitor. Dimensions: 18 x 8-1/2 x 12", 26 lbs. Cross over adheres to an "in-phase" or Linkwitz Reilly design. Bass driver is 6-1/2" (165mm) unit. Tweeter is a 1" (24mm) black-anodized aluminum dome. Product literature indicates that frequency is 48-20,000Hz (±3dB.

This is a very well-designed and made speaker. It is equipped with a heat sink, baffle, as well as a placement switch for selecting different equalization for free space and near-boundary location. The speaker grill consists of a perforated metal cover. The speaker is bi-amping/wiring capable.

I use these speakers exclusively for music. I wasn't too happy with the speakers when I first brought them home. They almost seemed muffled--although that is probably too strong a word. Perhaps restrain in the upper mids is a better description.

After about a month, they sounded better. It took some time and a bit of work finding the right placement. Not difficult but it just takes time. And I happy to say that I am very satisfied with how they sound now, and am especially pleased by the bass. They took awhile to break in--about a month. I have also moved them away from the back walls and corners (I didn't want to use the placement switch).

The best and the worst thing I can say about these speakers is that they are very neutral. Perhaps this is due to the Creek OBH-14 passive premap/DAC I use with it. You can definitely tell the good recordings from the bad ones. They are very unforgiving of bad recordings. I believe the speakers are at their best when played a little loud. At normal listening volume, they may seem a little restrained--I certainly wouldn't characterize them as dynamic. But they have a pretty wide soundstage and you get a pretty good sense of the instrumentation. It is definitely worth an audition if you don't have much room, a pretty powerful amp, and prefer a transparent presentation (as opposed to a realistic one).

In summary, these speakers are what I believe "monitors" should be: they don't embellish. They tell it like it is, for better or worse. They also handle the low, mid-range, and high very well and are engaging at louder volumes. I certainly recommend them at the list price. I would highly recommend them if you can find them at a discount. In either case, if it is possible, take them home for a demo. Also, demo them with good and bad recordings to see how neutral they can be.

Associated gear
Parasound mono amps
Creek pre-amp
Toshiba DVD
AudioQuest Slate speaker wires

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