Snell Type E iii vs Audio Note or Orangutan

I bought my pair of E's from Goodwill for $18! Because of foam rot I replaced the 8" woofers with the same SEAS woofers. I agree that the E is quite an excellent speaker! In fact so good that Peter Quovtrup of Audio Note UK pirated the design - and quadrupled the price of the original ($1200). John Devore's speakers (all two-ways) use SEAS drivers in the same configuration.

I believe that Audio Note bought a license from Snell; they did not pirate the design. 

The surrounds on these types of speakers can be quite easily replaced; there are kits for that as well as videos on how to do it.  A local DC Audio Note dealer sends drivers away to a company that does the work for not that much money, so that is another alternative to buying a new driver.  The problem with buying a new driver is that you are never quite sure that the new model is compatible with the tuning of the older speaker, whereas replacing the surround usually does not change the sound of the driver that much.  I've heard refurbished Audio Note AN-Es and they sound great.

Moved them upstairs in the lounge but needed to be right up against the wall. Boomy as hell. Stuffed a few socks in the ports and wallah tight (ish) bass. Still would love to get my ears on some of the newer designs. Really am surprised at how good these sound. 

One of the big pluses of the Audio Note (no idea on Snell) is they sound great in bad rooms, placed in the corner.

what are the absolute legendary Snell model no.s?  Cheers