Bookshelf Speaker Reviews

Subwoofer: ICS Sub300
Connections: Stereo speaker and line-level inputs
Enclosure Type: Vented
Woofer (size in inches, type): 10, cone
Power Rating (watts): 300
Crossover Bypass: Yes
Available Finishes: Cherry, Black
Dimensions (H x W x D, inches): 17 x 15.25 x 16.25
Weight (pounds): 57
Price: $1,200

These listings are based on the manufacturer's stated specs; the HT Labs box below indicates the gear's performance on our test bench.

Speaker LCR7 K7
Type: Two-way, LCR monitor Two-way, monitor
Tweeter (size in inches, type): 1, silk dome 1, textile dome
Woofer (size in inches, type): 5.25, treated paper (2) 5.25, treated paper
Nominal Impedance (ohms): 4 8
Recommended Amp Power (watts): 50–300 15–150
Available Finishes: Cherry, Black Cherry, Black
Dimensions (H x W x D, inches): 19 x 7 x 8.75 12 x 7 x 10.5
Weight (pounds): 19 16
Price: $1,000/each $1,250/pair

Ratings: Snell Acoustics LCR7 Speaker System

Build Quality: 94
• Handcrafted in the United States
• Sumptuous real-wood veneers and beautifully machined aluminum end caps

Value: 95
• Many American-made speakers go for a lot more money
• Only a moderate surcharge for custom finishes

Features: 92
• Each speaker's frequency response is tweaked by hand to match original reference prototype
• Exceptional power handling

Performance: 92
• Unfettered dynamics and razor-sharp imaging
• The 10-inch sub sounds large for its size
• Clean reproduction of movies and music

Ergonomics: 90
• The satellites have a boundary-compensation circuit, which eliminates boom if you need to wall-mount them
• The sub has a front-mounted volume control, which makes it easy to fine-tune bass

Overall Rating: 93
Kudos go out to Snell for keeping production in the U.S.A. and offering custom finish options for minimal cost. The speakers are built to rigorous tolerances that ensure miniscule unit-to-unit variations; maybe that's part of why Snell's sound is unusually pristine.

General Information
LCR7, $1,000/each
K7, $1250/pair
ICS Sub300, $1200
Snell Acoustics
(978) 538-6262
snellacoustics.com
Dealer Locator Code SNE