Snell Acoustics has come a long way since the late Peter Snell founded the company in 1976. Now owned by Boston Acoustics and led by current head designer David Smith, it remains a small operation still dedicated to producing exceptional loudspeakers....

All survivors of the classic audiophile disease of upgrade-itis can rattle off one or more components they wish they'd held on to. Easy enough to do in hindsight; at the time, we needed the dough to climb the next rung on the ladder to audio nirvana. I...