Got to say, I find your videos very informative, contain great depth, and the delivery is enjoyable to watch/listen to. As an American, I'm also very thankful that you don't just list metric measurements, but also include "American"! :- )
I always find it amazing the way the USA uses Imperial. Born in 1962 and studied Mechanical engineering at University, I understand both. Materials I relate to MPa but pressure and weights is always pounds and pounds per square inch to me because I can visualise that and relate to it. Sorry for being dull 😀
I have a pair of Neat Iota Alpha connected to a Naim Nait 5si and the sound is nothing short of amazing. Thank you so much for what you do. Love this channel!
Off topic: I recently read your article from eCoustics and found it both comforting and informative. I've been watching your TH-cam channel now for more than two years and it was rewarding for me to read about your background journey as a young man growing up in 1970's/80's Great Britain. I particularly enjoyed reading about your family's contribution to your love of music and audiophilia. Life's more interesting with a backstory and how these experiences contributed to our personal journey. Sometimes our destinations are defined more by the soulful experiences we have, rooted in our heritage and the identity we assume by our present culture. There is no right or wrong in this journey. I appreciate your reflecting upon the pros and cons of the audio industry as a whole; the 'Brick and Mortar' establishments as well as the 'Virtual Town Square', which helps to expose new ideas and provoke discourse. Your message is perhaps stronger than ever: Audiophiles have a thirst for music as well as for the quality of music that reaches our ears and souls! The Audiophile's journey is a process... It's always a pleasure listening to your content, Tarun!
I can't get enough of this channel. Calm demeanor, balanced pro/con, affordable and spendy dream equipment, guest opinions/discussion.... This channel invigorates my enthusiasm to try out new audio stuff. Just got a used Rogue Medusa tube/class-d hybrid for more clarity/soundstage over my ancient 5-chan Parasound (mixing it up a bit). Keep it up! I'll be listening!
Thank you for the breakdown on how AMTs work, hadn’t seen that before and it was a bit of mystery to me. I thought the review excellent as well, thanks again.
Not lean. I had a listen at my local shop in Montreal, Art & Sound, engaging sound I was really impressed. I walked out with a Rega Brio I didn’t know I needed. It has fixed my Evoke 20 problem. Cheers!
🤗👍THANKS TARUN , FOR SHARING YOUR EARLY AUDIOPHILE JOURNEY 😎 And IMHHO Prices can cloud 🌧️ an audiophile’s judgment, but your descriptions can be an aide to help others find what they are looking 👀 for 👍💚💚💚
In search of clarity and definition, I experimented and went the DIY route with Troels Gravesen's Purifi 6R kit. Ribbon tweeter and low distortion modeled woofer, with a 2nd order tweeter crossover and excellent quality inductors, caps and resistors. The results were quite astonishing - clarity, detail retrieval, holographic sound and pinpoint imaging above and beyond my Super HL5+, at an overall budget that was 3 times cheaper. The Harbeths have moved to the second system. I can understand what the Petite Classic brings in terms of SQ and I'm now a convert to the importance of high quality crossover components.
@@mattythehat I live in an apartment and it would have been criminal for me to do any kind of woodworking. There weren't any available workshop rentals at the time, so I commissioned the boxes to a furniture maker. That only left the crossover build and final assembly, which I enjoyed.
Great review, thanks Tarun. My input in the "long gone manufacturers" list: 1. Turntable. A Logic DM101, once a challenger to the Linn Sondek, Logic no longer with us. 2. Tone arm. An Alphason HR100MCS - the full spec version with Van Den Hul MCS cabling. Both still in regular use and no plans to sell them. Ever.
You may remember Malcolm Steward, the late great hifi critic, he always kept a pair of Neat Petite’s handy as a go to reference. He also enthused about partnering Neats and Naims. Regarding former hifi firms, remember Heybrooks ? I still have a pair of their point 5’s with original stands.
Thanks for this review Tarun. I am going to demo a pair of these, along with Neats' Motive sx1 and Iota's. The latter two blew me away with their soundstage and imaging. I can only imagine what these Petites will do...
In 1989 I bought a Kelvin Labs integrated mk2. (It is still in my brothers house!) Stunning, 450 pounds I think. I purchased it from a gentleman operating out of his house in a village in Leicestershire. 'Take it away and if you do not like it, bring it back' I paid for it there and then. Stunning service.
I remember the Kelvin. I was amplifier shopping in that price range at around that time. Auditioned it and it was good but my priorities saw me acquire my old Exposure X amp as a good phono stage was essential. I listened to many amps before purchase, Nytech, Sondex Amadeus, QED (they made integrated amps back then) and the Lecson Quattra among them, and the Kelvin too.
Hi Tarun , nice review and your style of presenting and structure of reviews is really engaging and on point . I think you have a super channel and hope it continues to grow . It would be great if you were able to review “higher end “ units and provide context how they differ from lower price points although granted one general hears the difference if the downstream components are better quality too .
Thank you. I am planning to do exactly that. I just wanted to build a lot of references in the tiers below before moving into the £5k+ component range. That way I could talk with some authority about what extra performance you get or don’t get for the extra outlay 😊
@@abritishaudiophile7314 I think there is a general reverse snobbery that all DACs regardless of price sound the same or that a cheap streamer sounds as good as one costing 5 figures . In my experience if you upgrade a source , you need a better amp / speakers to hear the difference . Look forward to your conclusions in due course .
@@mrsinghsstereos6662 I agree both accounts. There does seem to be a bit of reverse snobbery out there and your need a resolving amp and speakers to highlight differences in the source 😊
Regarding speaker brands that have not survived the test of time, I was a big fan of Infinity speakers in their heyday. I owned Infinity’s smallest RS series loudspeaker and the equivalent of the Neat Petite for over 20 years. The RSe was a 2 way system with 8” polypropylene woofer and EMIT ribbon tweeter. I powered them with an original NAD 3020. Like many poly drivers the surrounds disintegrated with time and I had them reconed. Infinity was owned by Kyocera for a few years (along with KLH) before being sold to Harmon International. The Infinity brand still exists at Harmon solely for car and marine speakers.
Hi Tarun, great review as always! I see you have what I believe to be the new Hifi Rose RS520 Streaming amplifier at 14:41. I can't wait to hear your thoughts on it and comparisons in sound to the other amps you have on hand, even though it is in a different product catagory being an all in one. P.s. if you could test the Dali Menuet SE with it also, I'd highly appreciate it! I had bought them mostly based from your review. I'm only using older fairly budget electronics at the moment whilst in the search for the right amp to upgrade to, and although I know you say the Exposure 2510 works great with them, I'm leaning towards an all in one piece due to limited space availability in my room.
Thank you Kurt. The DALI Menuet SE are one of my favourite speakers, regardless of price. The new Hifi Rose RS520 is a lovely looking unit. I hope the review will be out soon 😊👍
Took a punt on the Petites last month, paired with a Naim XS3 (Merason Frerot DAC) Coming from the Dali Opticon Mk2 2 and also the QA 30s I was concerned about diminishing returns. I need not have been, these are leagues above both the aforementioned. Can't stop listening to them. Terrific review, confirms everything I've been hearing 👍 the only thing where I'd differ is I don't find them bright or overly fussy with source material (my hearing is good up to 14khz). Small Room Audio found them slightly rolled off if anything as do I but my room isn't all that lively
Thank you Ajay. The Neat Petite Classic, ProAc 1SC and ATC SCM19 all have relative strengths and weaknesses. I would say one is overall better than the other more a preference 👍
Hi ho matey, I picked up a pair of Proac Signature tablet 2000 (S Tracy signature) at the local recycle depot in Canberra... and a pair of Mission 700s a couple of days ago. Both pairs work flawlessley. Price 40 Oz dollars.....22 quid equivalent for the two pairs. Both mint condition except the foam tweeter surround on the Proacs was marshmellow through age, both had covers in good nick too . Proacs are that lovely dark wood finish, 13 kilos, almost no resonance at all. Missions have a really wide sound stage, wider than I've ever heard before. I must give you credit, the Proacs are good. Cheers matey.
Again I’d say you were on the money with this review. I’ve recently blogged about these speakers as part of my review for the audio retailer I work for. I was going to say that I found the cymbal region of the Neats to be less than perfect, but as you point out, they may be just so revealing of a recording rather than a weakness of the AMT tweeter itself. If you’ve still got them try listening to track “Out of this world” by John Coltrane and listen to Elvin Jones cymbal work to see what I mean. Given how good the Neats sound I’m not trying to be ironic by suggesting this track. Another thing which may interest you is that I prefer the Proac DB1’s, which I have heard extensively and I think, given your Proac 1SC ownership may usurp the Neats when you hear them.
Thank you Adrian. That is very interesting and best to learn about your experiences. I shall check out those tracks. I haven’t given up on getting the DB1s home to find out how they compare to my 1SCs yet 😊👍
My Neat SX3 sound open and clear, but also have a musicality factor that is seldom present in some other standmount speakers. I am hoping the Petite Classic also has this Neat trait. Great review as always Tarun.
I bought a pair of motive SX3's second hand for my second system a couple of years ago. Shocked to see them up to £1600 new, now. Feel I got a genuine bargain at £600. Great speakers if you are short of space/positioning. Love mine for that alone. Prefer them to my (old/retired/overrated) Harbeth P3ESR's. 100% effortless and as musical as you say.
Good review as usual, Tarunl. I occasionally have thought that it would be fun to have all my formerly owned audio gear together in one spot so I could listen to it again decades on. Probably a recipe for disappointment. You cant reheat an old shuffle'.
SB Acoustic drivers are really well designed and sounds good! I upgraded from a Seas magnesium driver to Sb's alu 6" driver, and it was a big upgrade in spl and clarity.
Great review. Definitely going on my shortlist. I’d love to see you review Karl-Heinz Fink’s new Epos ES-7N bookshelf speakers in the same/similar price point.
You review a lot of stand-mount speakers which is a good thing in my books as I'm a big fan of quality smaller speakers partnered with a subwoofer. Have you considered reviewing speaker stands and decoupling devices such as Townshend podiums and ISO Acoustics Gaia. I've recently been experimenting in this area with great results.
It would be great to have your review of the Proac Tablette 10. And maybe a comparison with the Harbeth P3ESR XD. They both should be great as nearfield speakers, but your opinion would be helpful, before spending so much.
@@abritishaudiophile7314 As a consumer, in these cases it seems the company doesn't believe in their own product. Rather than being exposed, they prefer to rely on the name of the brand. Thank you for trying anyway! :D
@@abritishaudiophile7314 That's a shame when you consider your reference is the 1SC and you constantly declare them never beaten in that price range. Or maybe its because they don't make the 1SC any more and you constantly declare it never beaten 😆
@@archonblaze it can be beaten. In some ways the Neat Petite Classic is better and in other ways the 1SC. It is a shame that ProAc declined to send me something to review. I suppose for them there is a risk I won’t rate the new products as well as my 1SC.
@@abritishaudiophile7314 You should try Russel K for review samples of their Red 50/100. They barely have any reviews out there, so probably would be open to it. And the design philosophy is really intriguing and something to talk about, with deliberately no damping, no internal filler e.t.c
I like that this design has a wider baffle - not a fan of baffles that are really tight to driver/ cone to side panels (More 'backwave' is going straight back into cone)
Good review. If ever you have the possibility to test a Totem speaker (Sky monitor, Sky tower or Signature One) you should. There are in the UK some dealers that sell them. You could ask one of them to send you a pair of Totem speakers. I would like to know what you think about them, though they seem expensive in your country.
Another amazing video!! 😊 Speaking of "sound staging".... I am getting my husband to build a media console for me, in the mid-century modern style. Although he hasn't started on it as wood is expensive and I am not sure quite yet what I want (not to mention we are in the middle of building a rather large and tall wooden privacy fence). My current set-up, I have my speakers set about 14 feet apart, but due to the limitations of the room, they are angled in a good bit. While they do produce an adequate sound stage, it is pin-pointed due to the angling I believe. Even slightly left or right from my listening position, there is a noticeable difference. In addition, also perhaps due to the above mentioned angling (around 12-15 degrees maybe) the sound stage is quite shallow as well. In your opinion would it be preferable to have the speakers placed say 10 feet apart and not angled in, to produce not only a wider, but also deeper sound stage? Please keep making these great videos. I hope it isn't too cold yet in the UK. Been a bit under the weather here as the temperature has been really fluctuating a lot (like 85F one day for a high, to 45F two days later for highs). Tasha 😊
Thank you Tasha for the kind words of support. I hope the console and fencing projects go well. 14ft is getting to the limit of the distance that most speaker will work at. Unless, they are extremely big speakers. If the speakers are too far apart the central image becomes vague, vocal and lead instrument sound thin and the soundstage can suffer. I would try them 10 ft apart with less toe-in. Another key factor is how far you are away from them as you want to get something approaching an equilateral triangle. Good luck 😊👍
Thank you for another superb presentation. I am not surprised at their ability to take the step up to the quality of your power amps. My (light oak finish) Motive SX3's love my Exposure MCX CD. The magic of Neat is that they always make absolutely everything you throw at them, sound so, so good. Every day they put a great big smile on your face, and that's priceless :0) Thanks again. Best wishes to you and your family, Steve
This is fortuitous timing, I’m due to demo these next week along side the ProAc DB1. I have high hopes for the Neat’s and that has been somewhat elevated by your (as always) excellent review.
@@abritishaudiophile7314 Today was demo day. Frist off was the Neats, sound was full and the tweeter makes you pay attention it. The bass was a little thick for my taste so we placed the bung in the rear port, it improved things significantly. I am no hifi reviewer, but I wasn’t really hearing anything more significant than my current setup, music is all about feeling and I didn’t feel the music through the Neats. Next up was the ProAc DB1, they were a completely different beast, just spectacular, detailed, large sounds stage, I felt the corners of my mouth lifting towards an uncontrollable smile. I knew to be analytical I should have switched back to the Neat’s, as often in an A/B the mind prefers the second thing it hears, but I didn’t want to … I just wanted to play more music through the ProAcs … and isn’t that the point of all this?
£2000? Small cabinet not particularly well finished, 1st order so not much of a crossover, cheapish drivers, design pretty much already done in the Petite 30, why cost so much? These should be nearer £1200.
Knew that 30 years ago matey. The point I was making is that if companies like Wharfedale, Focal, Elac, Monitor Audio etc can make decent quality Bookshelf loudspeakers for under £1000 why are these over double those? Modern Hifi speakers are the biggest con going.
Great review. This SBacoustic midwoofer is very popular in the DIY group. Cheap and great driver. It blends nice to the ATM around 4K but that tweeter looses 7db above 13KHz :(
Beutiful, at first a little, quite interesting and touching audio nostalgic voyage...and later on comprehansive exemplary technical presentation...at the highest level...BRAVO again Tarun! Top noch review. What a pleasure to follow your audiophil story...Thank You!
I had a pair of Ruark Talisman 2s for over 10 years. They're capable of great resolution way beyond their price point - BUT they need top notch partnering equipment and careful cable matching. They aren't fit and forget! I have to admit that it is pretty tricky to get the bass to sound right.
Great informative review Tarun, thank you, I am eager to seek them out and have a listen. Do you plan on reviewing the ProAc Tablette 10? That one is a very interesting speaker as well, given your affinity to the brand.
Thank you for another outstanding review! Too bad the company would not make more of these beauties. I think they could sell very well in the Hi-fi niche market.
Really goes to show the weight design holds vs parts given that these are mid-range drivers. Also didn't know that Dayton acted as a OEM for manufactures so thats interesting to see as well.
I have the Neat Xplorer and was also blown away by the clarity in the beginning. Living with them now for more then a year I'm starting to miss the warmth en fullness more and more. I will keep them for their unique design but I'm going back to a dome tweeter. It al depends on your taste but for me the Neat house-sound is just to lean.
So....... Go back to 1996 and the HiFi show at Heathrow and Bob was playing the Petites with a pair of passive subwoofers the Gravitas... One of my favourite sounds I've ever heard. .....
Every couple of months, I'll swap out the Neat Ultimatum MFS for Petite/Gravitas. Both have been so enjoyable and satisfying that I can't envisage ever letting them go. If you're reading this,Bob, thank you, thank you, thank you! Best.Ken (Neuance)
Hi Tarun, you are the only audio channel that I can watch from start to finish, excellent and informative, thanks for these videos. All the best, Alan.
Much agree with Alan’s sentiment. Sometimes i have to watch your video twice to absorb all of the insights you give. It is much appreciated. Hopefully I can find a pair here in Texas and take a listen.
Hi Andrew. I am looking at some new hifi and very much enjoying your reviews. Looking at the Nain Nova and torn over speaker choice. Have you ever reviewed the Neat Iota explorer? Also looking at the B&W 805D4's and PMC Twenty 22i's. Would be keen on your opinion.
My entry was a pair of JPW mini monitors, white and white grille, 100£, connected after crossover of white passive (!) subwoofer, 200£. There were also active mini monitors. I lived with this gear for 30 years. When time came replace them, I found brand discontinued. I chose Acoustic Energy A1 active. So, stepping up a notch, but still no-nonsense, value-for-money, and somewhat willful. My Asus headphone DAC works splendid with the AE1s by-the-way. Front-end upgrade will be icing on the cake only. Thank and best regards.
Hi Tarun, that is an interesting review. The most remarkable part of it being the speaker selection. Both SB Acoustics and Dayton Audio make good but not expensive speaker components. So clearly you pay for the application here and not the bill of materials.
I thought the same thing. I think it has better quality crossover parts than you normally find at this price and as you state, it is all about implementation 👍
I have to agree, they use nice parts in their cross-over but internal wiring + terminals are 😬, the woofers in the Xplorer are really cheap from stamped metal (they weigh nothing 😭) cabinets are 18mm MDF with not much bracing. With the recent price increase Neat is really expensive for what you get 🤷 I know the most important thing is how they sound but still they can do a little better of lower prices.
Hi! Very nice and informative review as usual. When you mention the 'british sound', what does It mean? Is there a common trait of all the speakers engineered in the UK? Thanks
There certainly used to me. It is a rich tonality in the midrange which is highly prized by some for the way in which vocals and many acoustic instruments are presented 😊
Thoroughly enjoyed this one Tarun.... Talking of SB drivers (but off at a tangent) did you ever hear a pair of SD Acoustics SD3?.... I loved those.... But still chose ProAc Super tablets over them with a Delta 90.. in preference to 8000A or A1(I know you'll known the brands 😊) .. Orelle ! ... Blast from past.. How about Inca Tech? Again you mentioning Ruark... I'd love a re-entry of Ruark to large hifi loudspeakers and offer a modern day Excalibur (that would be a very expensive loudspeaker now) .. Gorgeous... Great mention of some fantastic industry characters (past and present) .... Neat are indeed a very tidy outfit....the one on discussion here would fit a great deal of pockets and living rooms here in the UK 👍🏻 Personally some of my all-time favourite loudspeakers have well implemented AMT tweeters... Including my own Audiovector R3 Arreté.
Hi Marcus, The Inca Tech Claymore was my first real hifi amplifier I purchased from the Audiofile in Herts, Lovely sounding amp in it day. Talking of old Manufacturers that disappeared, I used to work in unit right next to DEAN Audio speakers in Stanstead Abbotts, I used to hear them testing out their speakers quite often and kinda wished I worked there instead. Unfortunately like a lot of companies they disappeared.
Great looking speakers and again detailed review ... thanks once again Tarun. i am enjoying my 4 pairs of second hand speakers and also your previous video with your friend i m planning to buy Focal 816 which is fin the UK "826 " available at £850for my living room and AE1 for my desktop ... Let's see how wifey reacts
I got lucky and got some free $1550 speakers (Two Triad LCR Bronze Inrooms and one Inwall) when I bought a Marantz sr7500 for $200. I added a Marantz 15" low pass woofer to each speaker and now I am in sound heaven.
I am new to channel, and I really enjoy your analysis/ Do have a list of your recommendations like all of the Outstanding Equipment? Is that your highest level? A breakdown of the different levels would be great! Thank you.
I’m looking to home demo these speakers. I currently have monitor audio silver 300s linked to a Cambridge audio CXA81. Intrigued to see what sound I get from them. Really great in-depth and well presented review
Hi Tarun. I really enjoyed your video and it convinced me to buy a pair :). I am curious abour the stand height, as the manufacturer recomands 600mm, but you said you used 700mm. Can you please tell me your ear height in your listening position and distance from speakers?
Another good review Tarun. I've just demoed these in two different systems/rooms, with four different amps, with a good, if somewhat mixed, performance. With a Linn Selekt all-in-one I thought they sounded fine but a bit 'small'. With a Naim Uniti Atom it sounded similar: clean but not much bottom end. However, with a Hegel H120 it really started to shine, and was clear, atmospheric and more authoritative, and with a H390 it was even more so. The top end/tweeter has real potential, and for a smallish room they are superb speakers.
Hi tarun, i heard you mention your younger days in cardiff, you working etc, then raising a family then your disposable income going as you were raising a family,WELL, im in that position now,, i havent got the spondooleys to go buying extravagant hifi equipment,im in turmoil as in what to buy as theres so much misinformation as what you must buy,not buy, ive got the chance of getting my hands on a denon tx nr515 receiver which has good reviews plus internet radio which is a plus as i havent got to go spend money on a tuner,plus im looking at getting my hands on a marantz cd player, ive got a pair of decent-ish speakers,(jamoe870) ,i love the sound they reproduce,what is your thoughts on that sort of set up,id really like sort of input please, oh an hello from cardiff
Hi Phil, I am not familiar with the TX NR515 but I would if you can accommodate them go for separates. The Cambridge Audio AXA35 (or AXA25) and a WiiM steamer. I am sure it will sound better and offer more upgrade possibilities down the line. Just check the WiiM supports the steaming functions you require 😊
Hi Tarun! Lovely review as always. Approximately what size room would you consider the Petite Classics to be better suited than the Menuet SE's? I'm very much looking forward to hearing your take on the Exposure 3510 monos, hopefully some day soon! :)
Thank you Johannes. The distance from the speakers is more critical. I wouldn’t want to be any more than 2.5m away from the Menuet SE and them a similar distance from each other. With the Petite Classic I would think you could get way with about 3m 😊
An enjoyable review! I currently have a pair of Focal Chora 806 standmount speakers but am interested in the possibility of upgrading them over the next 12 months and the Neat speaker could be a good choice. One question though. How are they when listening a low volumes? I do most of my listening at only 60-65 dB and sometimes like to have them even lower to provide me with background music to buffer me from outside noise. The Focal's do a great job at low volumes.
As always a very informative and interesting review. I'm a big Neat fan: the Neat Iota Xplorers are among the very best speakers I have ever heard, so I'd love to give the Petite Classics a listen. Very interested to hear that you too were a Ruark Talisman III owner. I absolutely loved these speakers: they may not be the most resolving, but on the end of my Anthem MRX710 they sounded dynamic and always got the feet tapping: but they had beautiful body and weight to instruments, just a beautiful tone with the right amp. You could genuinely listen to them all day without fatigue, but they weren't boring either: I found them totally engaging. Sadly they developed a fault during lockdown and I no longer have them, but can I suggest that if you see a pair of the standmount Ruark Epilogue II's in good condition, they are absolutely worth a punt. Finding good ones these days isn't easy though: what DO people do with their speakers? Why can't people look after them? Anyway, the Ruark Epilogue II's are unassuming little speakers visually, but I drive them with my Quad Vena II in a second system and it makes me smile like very few other combinations do, despite their relatively budget price. Full of PRaT, excellent tonality and truly surprising bass weight and articulation for such a small speaker and they make pretty much any genre of music sound its best. For my tastes their treble crispness and bite is perfectly judged: brass and guitars have a wow factor but still actually sound like brass and guitars without sounding too forced and unnatural. It's so gutting that Ruark stepped away from passive speakers to making DAB radios and Bluetooth speakers around 2006, good though they may be for that market.
Sounds like they are amazing speakers. Too bad they may be one of the ugliest I have seen. Can't even imagine a person that buys them and uses them for years and years and has to look at them every day for years and years. If the Dali Menuet SE get you 90% of what Neat Petite Classic can do, it is a no brainer for me. And a $1000 cheaper in Canada.
Sb Acoustics drivers are good. Fritz uses their 29 BE Beryllium tweeter which is great! Neat petite Classic looks like the ugly sister as compared to the Menuet SE or the Proacs. I wish they raised the price enough to pretty up the housing.
Excellent review as always!!Thank you!!!Since you review also Amphion Argon 1 may i ask,in your opinion which is better for nearfield and low volumes listening?
Thank you for your informative and educational reviews. What do you think of Emotiva Airmotive B2+, is it the same tweeter? It is much more afordable and very tempting.
Excellent review. I have a pair of 30s coming Thursday to replace some fact 12 signature that sound awful in my new smaller lounge. First time buying blind so should be fun!
The Neat Petite was designed by Derek Gilligan, he left Neat and set up Kudos loudspeakers. Sadly Kudos seem to be only doing higher end loudspeakers now, I guess that is where there is profit?
Thank you, Tarun, for another informative review. I especially enjoyed your explanation of ribbon vs. EMT tweeters. A friend owned a pair of Heil EMT speakers (way) back in the day. What I remember about them is listening to side 1 of 'Disraeli Gears' over and over, as we were all too high to get up and flip the record over. So many brands of great hifi equipment are gone and not due to performance deficiencies. And some of the old names come back on mid-fi gear.
Good and interesting review. Not sure constantly comparing to your Proac’s as a reviewer is right. Doing so all the time leans you towards a influencer. There are many brands and models of speakers and it comes across that the proac’s are the best. As you mention in the video “it’s the sound that you like” but it’s your sound & view. Appreciate though you can only compare to what you’ve heard.
Thank you Ian. The ProAc Response 1SCs are my reference at this price. Until I find something else I prefer, it provides viewers with some consistency as to where I land with products 😊
Tarun, good job on the review. Thing about mini monitors is they usually lack bass. The AMT tweeter is known to be edgy with the wrong equipment. It will show poor recordings up and won’t let you get away with sub standard recordings. Perfect example of this was ESS back in the 70s. These could be a bit bright and were best with Luxman gear. It seemed to let them shine. Cheers!
Thanks, as always a great review. Loved the PS Audio Aspen's and the Golden Ear Reference (which are my speaker of choice for stereo and reside in the family house). The Aspen's are set up for anyone coming to Boulder to hear and they have the largest sound stage I have ever heard with some sacrifice in placement, but the whole tone and dynamic will knock your socks off. All my old speakers have since gone to ozone heaven as the old poly just gets eaten over time.
Aaaarghhhh,,, I cant get rid of what you said about the Musical Fidelity Nu-Vista a couple of weeks ago. Its weird,, in one way its unreachable, but in the same time, they go for "only" ca 4k Euro used on HiFiShark. 🥶/😋 The valves should be good for about a sillion hours, and with a 200W solid state amp I guess theres grip and defenition enough for most speakers. I want define and textured bass, a sprinkle of warmth in the mids, I want details in the highs, but hate sterile overanalytical eardrumpiersing treble, and I waaaaant holography. Thanks Tarun for gettin my head in spin,, 🤪! Ifeel happy for u that u found a speaker u like,, 🤩💖 Cheers friend and I wish all of u the best of weekends,, 🍻😎👍👍
Thank you Irene. I would love to have reviewed the MF Nu Vista amplifier. It sounded very impressive on the occasions I heard it. Wishing you a great weekend too ❤👍
I have the nu-vista 800 and absolutely love it. I have it driving KEF Reference 5 speakers which it easily manages. The only drawback is the weight - at about 42kg - but a least no one will ever steel it!!! 😊
Wow! Thanks for this review Tarun, I think I’ll stick with my Neat Motive SX3s for the time being. As much as I like the look of these, they seem to be on a different level to my Motives and I’d be too tempted to upgrade my amplifier.
His videos always give me a clear understanding of what he heard. Which reminds me of what the Neat Petite sounded like in a friend's system many years ago. Just enough too bright and etched for my tastes.
Got to say, I find your videos very informative, contain great depth, and the delivery is enjoyable to watch/listen to. As an American, I'm also very thankful that you don't just list metric measurements, but also include "American"! :- )
Thank you Mike. That is very much appreciated 😊👍
I always find it amazing the way the USA uses Imperial. Born in 1962 and studied Mechanical engineering at University, I understand both. Materials I relate to MPa but pressure and weights is always pounds and pounds per square inch to me because I can visualise that and relate to it. Sorry for being dull 😀
@@Spondoodikins not dull. I do the same. Some metrics just feel more intuitive in imperial and others in metric 😊
@@Spondoodikins We don't call it "Imperial'. That sounds so pretentious. We say "standard", as it should be the standard.
Re Delivery
To us uncouth 'muricans, anything presented in a British accent sounds classy
😝
I have a pair of Neat Iota Alpha connected to a Naim Nait 5si and the sound is nothing short of amazing. Thank you so much for what you do. Love this channel!
Thank you. Much appreciated 😊👍
Off topic: I recently read your article from eCoustics and found it both comforting and informative. I've been watching your TH-cam channel now for more than two years and it was rewarding for me to read about your background journey as a young man growing up in 1970's/80's Great Britain. I particularly enjoyed reading about your family's contribution to your love of music and audiophilia. Life's more interesting with a backstory and how these experiences contributed to our personal journey. Sometimes our destinations are defined more by the soulful experiences we have, rooted in our heritage and the identity we assume by our present culture. There is no right or wrong in this journey. I appreciate your reflecting upon the pros and cons of the audio industry as a whole; the 'Brick and Mortar' establishments as well as the 'Virtual Town Square', which helps to expose new ideas and provoke discourse. Your message is perhaps stronger than ever: Audiophiles have a thirst for music as well as for the quality of music that reaches our ears and souls! The Audiophile's journey is a process... It's always a pleasure listening to your content, Tarun!
Very well put Gerry. Thank you for your kind words of support 😊👍
To me this lends credibility to you as a reviewer, in that you aren’t afraid to place things above your reference. Excellent review as always.
Thank you buddy. Much appreciated 😊👍
I can't get enough of this channel. Calm demeanor, balanced pro/con, affordable and spendy dream equipment, guest opinions/discussion.... This channel invigorates my enthusiasm to try out new audio stuff. Just got a used Rogue Medusa tube/class-d hybrid for more clarity/soundstage over my ancient 5-chan Parasound (mixing it up a bit). Keep it up! I'll be listening!
Thank you my friend. Much appreciated 😊👍
What 1tdx review?
He never reviewed the css
@@enjoshi-godrez8775 I realized that right after posting. Embarrassing! I'll edit my post. Thanks.
@@2madamimadam290 no worries, I assumed you confused it with another review 😊
Thank you for the breakdown on how AMTs work, hadn’t seen that before and it was a bit of mystery to me. I thought the review excellent as well, thanks again.
Thank you Carl. Much appreciated 😊👍
Not lean. I had a listen at my local shop in Montreal, Art & Sound, engaging sound I was really impressed. I walked out with a Rega Brio I didn’t know I needed. It has fixed my Evoke 20 problem. Cheers!
@@phitur thx for sharing 😊
🤗👍THANKS TARUN , FOR SHARING YOUR EARLY AUDIOPHILE JOURNEY 😎
And IMHHO Prices can cloud 🌧️ an audiophile’s judgment, but your descriptions can be an aide to help others find what they are looking 👀 for 👍💚💚💚
Thank you my friend 😊👍
More than an excellent review this was an education.Thanks for going the extra mile.
Thank you Leo. This one was quite a journey 😊👍
In search of clarity and definition, I experimented and went the DIY route with Troels Gravesen's Purifi 6R kit. Ribbon tweeter and low distortion modeled woofer, with a 2nd order tweeter crossover and excellent quality inductors, caps and resistors. The results were quite astonishing - clarity, detail retrieval, holographic sound and pinpoint imaging above and beyond my Super HL5+, at an overall budget that was 3 times cheaper. The Harbeths have moved to the second system.
I can understand what the Petite Classic brings in terms of SQ and I'm now a convert to the importance of high quality crossover components.
I love reading up on Troels' designs. If only I had the space for the woodworking equipment I'd be making up some of those designs
@@mattythehat I live in an apartment and it would have been criminal for me to do any kind of woodworking. There weren't any available workshop rentals at the time, so I commissioned the boxes to a furniture maker. That only left the crossover build and final assembly, which I enjoyed.
Thank for sharing you experiences. Very interesting 👍
The looks of this little beast, and the way you describe their sound reminds me of some Martin Logan's.
I can see similarities too 😊
Great review, thanks Tarun.
My input in the "long gone manufacturers" list:
1. Turntable. A Logic DM101, once a challenger to the Linn Sondek, Logic no longer with us.
2. Tone arm. An Alphason HR100MCS - the full spec version with Van Den Hul MCS cabling.
Both still in regular use and no plans to sell them. Ever.
Thank you John 😊
You may remember Malcolm Steward, the late great hifi critic, he always kept a pair of Neat Petite’s handy as a go to reference. He also enthused about partnering Neats and Naims. Regarding former hifi firms, remember Heybrooks ? I still have a pair of their point 5’s with original stands.
Thank you Stephen. I remember Heybrook. Wasn’t Peter Comaeu involved in that company? 😊
Thanks for this review Tarun. I am going to demo a pair of these, along with Neats' Motive sx1 and Iota's. The latter two blew me away with their soundstage and imaging. I can only imagine what these Petites will do...
Great. Please let me know how you get on 😊
Did you already audition them?
What is there not to like? Refined reviews, intelligent analysis & a good raport with viewers........👍
Thank you John. Much appreciated 😊👍
Thank you for another intelligent and informative video.
These seem to be very impressive
Thank you my friend. Much appreciated 😊👍
Another wonderful review. Very informative. Thanks Tarun!
Thank you Bryan. Much appreciated 😊👍
@@abritishaudiophile7314 hey Tarun, just a heads up it looks like you have a scammer on your channel below. Thanks
@@bryanherr1093 thank you. I have reported it 😊
Looks like the same drivers that are in my Burchard S300's
Great content as always 👍
Thank you 😊
It seems like a worthy consideration but there's a lot of great choices at that $ tag.
Indeed 😊
Well well well your review has peaked my interest Tarun.
Cool 😎 worth checking these out 😊
In 1989 I bought a Kelvin Labs integrated mk2. (It is still in my brothers house!) Stunning, 450 pounds I think. I purchased it from a gentleman operating out of his house in a village in Leicestershire. 'Take it away and if you do not like it, bring it back' I paid for it there and then. Stunning service.
Thank you Stephen. Great to know about a brand I am not familiar with 👍
I remember the Kelvin. I was amplifier shopping in that price range at around that time. Auditioned it and it was good but my priorities saw me acquire my old Exposure X amp as a good phono stage was essential. I listened to many amps before purchase, Nytech, Sondex Amadeus, QED (they made integrated amps back then) and the Lecson Quattra among them, and the Kelvin too.
Hi Tarun , nice review and your style of presenting and structure of reviews is really engaging and on point . I think you have a super channel and hope it continues to grow . It would be great if you were able to review “higher end “ units and provide context how they differ from lower price points although granted one general
hears the difference if the downstream components are better quality too .
Thank you. I am planning to do exactly that. I just wanted to build a lot of references in the tiers below before moving into the £5k+ component range. That way I could talk with some authority about what extra performance you get or don’t get for the extra outlay 😊
@@abritishaudiophile7314 I think there is a general reverse snobbery that all DACs regardless of price sound the same or that a cheap streamer sounds as good as one costing 5 figures . In my experience if you upgrade a source , you need a better amp / speakers to hear the difference . Look forward to your conclusions in due course .
@@mrsinghsstereos6662 I agree both accounts. There does seem to be a bit of reverse snobbery out there and your need a resolving amp and speakers to highlight differences in the source 😊
Regarding speaker brands that have not survived the test of time, I was a big fan of Infinity speakers in their heyday. I owned Infinity’s smallest RS series loudspeaker and the equivalent of the Neat Petite for over 20 years. The RSe was a 2 way system with 8” polypropylene woofer and EMIT ribbon tweeter. I powered them with an original NAD 3020. Like many poly drivers the surrounds disintegrated with time and I had them reconed.
Infinity was owned by Kyocera for a few years (along with KLH) before being sold to Harmon International. The Infinity brand still exists at Harmon solely for car and marine speakers.
Thank you for sharing David 😊
Nice review. Really well done!
Thank you 👍
Great review Tarun!!Hoping you can review a true ribbon tweeter,like Quad's speakers!Cheers from Argentina
Thank you 😊
Hi Tarun, great review as always! I see you have what I believe to be the new Hifi Rose RS520 Streaming amplifier at 14:41.
I can't wait to hear your thoughts on it and comparisons in sound to the other amps you have on hand, even though it is in a different product catagory being an all in one.
P.s. if you could test the Dali Menuet SE with it also, I'd highly appreciate it! I had bought them mostly based from your review.
I'm only using older fairly budget electronics at the moment whilst in the search for the right amp to upgrade to, and although I know you say the Exposure 2510 works great with them, I'm leaning towards an all in one piece due to limited space availability in my room.
Thank you Kurt. The DALI Menuet SE are one of my favourite speakers, regardless of price. The new Hifi Rose RS520 is a lovely looking unit. I hope the review will be out soon 😊👍
Took a punt on the Petites last month, paired with a Naim XS3 (Merason Frerot DAC) Coming from the Dali Opticon Mk2 2 and also the QA 30s I was concerned about diminishing returns. I need not have been, these are leagues above both the aforementioned. Can't stop listening to them. Terrific review, confirms everything I've been hearing 👍 the only thing where I'd differ is I don't find them bright or overly fussy with source material (my hearing is good up to 14khz). Small Room Audio found them slightly rolled off if anything as do I but my room isn't all that lively
Thank you Chris. Best to learn about your experiences 👍
Lovely review Tarun. Can’t believe your Proacs and the ATC 19’s may have taken second place lol
Thank you Ajay. The Neat Petite Classic, ProAc 1SC and ATC SCM19 all have relative strengths and weaknesses. I would say one is overall better than the other more a preference 👍
I went on to audition the NEAT IOTA- ALPHA recently and am impressed!
Cool 😎
@@abritishaudiophile7314 Thanks for your generosity anyway, greatly appreciated
Hi ho matey, I picked up a pair of Proac Signature tablet 2000 (S Tracy signature) at the local recycle depot in Canberra... and a pair of Mission 700s a couple of days ago. Both pairs work flawlessley. Price 40 Oz dollars.....22 quid equivalent for the two pairs. Both mint condition except the foam tweeter surround on the Proacs was marshmellow through age, both had covers in good nick too . Proacs are that lovely dark wood finish, 13 kilos, almost no resonance at all. Missions have a really wide sound stage, wider than I've ever heard before. I must give you credit, the Proacs are good. Cheers matey.
Thanks for sharing Allan. What absolute bargains 🥳🥳🥳 It has been a long time since I have heard the 2000 model 😊
Great review Tarun! Would love to hear your thoughts on the IOTA Alpha / Xplorer....such an interesting design! Any chance of a review down the line?🙏
I hope to review more Neat speakers next year 😊
Again I’d say you were on the money with this review. I’ve recently blogged about these speakers as part of my review for the audio retailer I work for. I was going to say that I found the cymbal region of the Neats to be less than perfect, but as you point out, they may be just so revealing of a recording rather than a weakness of the AMT tweeter itself. If you’ve still got them try listening to track “Out of this world” by John Coltrane and listen to Elvin Jones cymbal work to see what I mean. Given how good the Neats sound I’m not trying to be ironic by suggesting this track. Another thing which may interest you is that I prefer the Proac DB1’s, which I have heard extensively and I think, given your Proac 1SC ownership may usurp the Neats when you hear them.
Thank you Adrian. That is very interesting and best to learn about your experiences. I shall check out those tracks. I haven’t given up on getting the DB1s home to find out how they compare to my 1SCs yet 😊👍
Great review as always. I especially liked your description of how an AMT tweeter is designed and how it works vs. a dome tweeter! Thanks!
Thank you Alan. Much appreciated 👍
My Neat SX3 sound open and clear, but also have a musicality factor that is seldom present in some other standmount speakers. I am hoping the Petite Classic also has this Neat trait. Great review as always Tarun.
Thank you Yohan. Glad you are enjoying your SX3s 👍
I bought a pair of motive SX3's second hand for my second system a couple of years ago. Shocked to see them up to £1600 new, now. Feel I got a genuine bargain at £600. Great speakers if you are short of space/positioning. Love mine for that alone. Prefer them to my (old/retired/overrated) Harbeth P3ESR's.
100% effortless and as musical as you say.
@@Sunshine_Superman I did the same, best thing I've ever bought🙂
Good review as usual, Tarunl. I occasionally have thought that it would be fun to have all my formerly owned audio gear together in one spot so I could listen to it again decades on. Probably a recipe for disappointment. You cant reheat an old shuffle'.
Thank you Jim. You are probably right. I wouldn’t want to eat a reheated soufflé 👍
SB Acoustic drivers are really well designed and sounds good! I upgraded from a Seas magnesium driver to Sb's alu 6" driver, and it was a big upgrade in spl and clarity.
Cool 😎 thank you 😊
I didn't know sb acoustic makes ribbon tweeters. SB acoustic is owned by my school friend. Have been to their factory showroom once. It was nice.
Philharmonic Audio here in the US uses SB drivers too. Amazing speakers at incredible values.
Has Stephen bit ribbing you about your ProAc’s?
I was well impressed with the Majistra, I bet the petite is a winner 🥇
Now watching this 😊
He did mention it. I hope you enjoy the review 😊
@@abritishaudiophile7314 I did thank you. 👍
Great review. Definitely going on my shortlist. I’d love to see you review Karl-Heinz Fink’s new Epos ES-7N bookshelf speakers in the same/similar price point.
Thx 😊
You review a lot of stand-mount speakers which is a good thing in my books as I'm a big fan of quality smaller speakers partnered with a subwoofer.
Have you considered reviewing speaker stands and decoupling devices such as Townshend podiums and ISO Acoustics Gaia. I've recently been experimenting in this area with great results.
Thank you for the suggestion. It would be worth investigating at some point 😊
It would be great to have your review of the Proac Tablette 10.
And maybe a comparison with the Harbeth P3ESR XD.
They both should be great as nearfield speakers, but your opinion would be helpful, before spending so much.
ProAc politely declined to send me speakers to review. I did email Harbeth but didn’t hear back 😊
@@abritishaudiophile7314 As a consumer, in these cases it seems the company doesn't believe in their own product.
Rather than being exposed, they prefer to rely on the name of the brand.
Thank you for trying anyway! :D
@@abritishaudiophile7314 That's a shame when you consider your reference is the 1SC and you constantly declare them never beaten in that price range. Or maybe its because they don't make the 1SC any more and you constantly declare it never beaten 😆
@@archonblaze it can be beaten. In some ways the Neat Petite Classic is better and in other ways the 1SC. It is a shame that ProAc declined to send me something to review. I suppose for them there is a risk I won’t rate the new products as well as my 1SC.
@@abritishaudiophile7314 You should try Russel K for review samples of their Red 50/100. They barely have any reviews out there, so probably would be open to it. And the design philosophy is really intriguing and something to talk about, with deliberately no damping, no internal filler e.t.c
I like that this design has a wider baffle - not a fan of baffles that are really tight to driver/ cone to side panels (More 'backwave' is going straight back into cone)
Good review. If ever you have the possibility to test a Totem speaker (Sky monitor, Sky tower or Signature One) you should. There are in the UK some dealers that sell them. You could ask one of them to send you a pair of Totem speakers. I would like to know what you think about them, though they seem expensive in your country.
Thank you. I need to look into that 👍
Another amazing video!! 😊 Speaking of "sound staging".... I am getting my husband to build a media console for me, in the mid-century modern style. Although he hasn't started on it as wood is expensive and I am not sure quite yet what I want (not to mention we are in the middle of building a rather large and tall wooden privacy fence). My current set-up, I have my speakers set about 14 feet apart, but due to the limitations of the room, they are angled in a good bit. While they do produce an adequate sound stage, it is pin-pointed due to the angling I believe. Even slightly left or right from my listening position, there is a noticeable difference. In addition, also perhaps due to the above mentioned angling (around 12-15 degrees maybe) the sound stage is quite shallow as well. In your opinion would it be preferable to have the speakers placed say 10 feet apart and not angled in, to produce not only a wider, but also deeper sound stage?
Please keep making these great videos. I hope it isn't too cold yet in the UK. Been a bit under the weather here as the temperature has been really fluctuating a lot (like 85F one day for a high, to 45F two days later for highs).
Tasha 😊
Thank you Tasha for the kind words of support. I hope the console and fencing projects go well. 14ft is getting to the limit of the distance that most speaker will work at. Unless, they are extremely big speakers. If the speakers are too far apart the central image becomes vague, vocal and lead instrument sound thin and the soundstage can suffer. I would try them 10 ft apart with less toe-in. Another key factor is how far you are away from them as you want to get something approaching an equilateral triangle. Good luck 😊👍
Thank you for another superb presentation. I am not surprised at their ability to take the step up to the quality of your power amps. My (light oak finish) Motive SX3's love my Exposure MCX CD. The magic of Neat is that they always make absolutely everything you throw at them, sound so, so good. Every day they put a great big smile on your face, and that's priceless :0) Thanks again. Best wishes to you and your family, Steve
Thank you Steve. That is much appreciated. Gratbti know you are loving your SX3s. Best to you and your family too 😊👍
These are BANGING speakers! Great review Tarun! :-)
Thank you David 😊👍
This is fortuitous timing, I’m due to demo these next week along side the ProAc DB1. I have high hopes for the Neat’s and that has been somewhat elevated by your (as always) excellent review.
That is great Rich. I would love to compare the DB1s to my old 1SCs. Please let me know how you get on 👍
@@abritishaudiophile7314 Today was demo day. Frist off was the Neats, sound was full and the tweeter makes you pay attention it. The bass was a little thick for my taste so we placed the bung in the rear port, it improved things significantly. I am no hifi reviewer, but I wasn’t really hearing anything more significant than my current setup, music is all about feeling and I didn’t feel the music through the Neats. Next up was the ProAc DB1, they were a completely different beast, just spectacular, detailed, large sounds stage, I felt the corners of my mouth lifting towards an uncontrollable smile. I knew to be analytical I should have switched back to the Neat’s, as often in an A/B the mind prefers the second thing it hears, but I didn’t want to … I just wanted to play more music through the ProAcs … and isn’t that the point of all this?
@@richcarless7740 that is the point of all of this. Thank you for sharing 😊
£2000? Small cabinet not particularly well finished, 1st order so not much of a crossover, cheapish drivers, design pretty much already done in the Petite 30, why cost so much? These should be nearer £1200.
You now discovered that more expensive woofers and tweeters is not necessarily better sound.
Knew that 30 years ago matey. The point I was making is that if companies like Wharfedale, Focal, Elac, Monitor Audio etc can make decent quality Bookshelf loudspeakers for under £1000 why are these over double those? Modern Hifi speakers are the biggest con going.
@@mgsamps smaller.compamy. sometimes made in England.
Looked at their isobaric designs recently. V interesting brand.
I may request them for review next year 😊
@@abritishaudiophile7314 guessing they cross isobaric woofer(s) where impedance naturally rises, below 100hz or so?
Great review. This SBacoustic midwoofer is very popular in the DIY group. Cheap and great driver. It blends nice to the ATM around 4K but that tweeter looses 7db above 13KHz :(
Thank you buddy 👍
@@abritishaudiophile7314 Oh about going back in time. Didnt Quadral make some good stuff? I dont think they are still around or are rebranded.
@@Mrhifitunes I can recall any specific product but I think they may still be around 🤔
Thanks Tarun for this review. Whether buying or not I learn so much from your well structured presentation and analysis. Keep it up!
Thank you Sarah. That is much appreciated 😊👍
Beutiful, at first a little, quite interesting and touching audio nostalgic voyage...and later on comprehansive exemplary technical presentation...at the highest level...BRAVO again Tarun!
Top noch review.
What a pleasure to follow your audiophil story...Thank You!
Thank you my friend for watching and all the support 😊👍
Hello
Very nice speakers
Would the Rega Elex Mk4 be a good amp to be paired with them ?
Thank you !
@@dragui9932 hard to say without trying 😊
@@abritishaudiophile7314 Hello. Thanks. Did you try them this the ATOLL IN300 ?
I had a pair of Ruark Talisman 2s for over 10 years. They're capable of great resolution way beyond their price point - BUT they need top notch partnering equipment and careful cable matching. They aren't fit and forget! I have to admit that it is pretty tricky to get the bass to sound right.
Thank you 😊
Great informative review Tarun, thank you, I am eager to seek them out and have a listen.
Do you plan on reviewing the ProAc Tablette 10? That one is a very interesting speaker as well, given your affinity to the brand.
Thank you. Unfortunately, ProAc declined to send me the current speakers to review 😊
Thank you for another outstanding review! Too bad the company would not make more of these beauties. I think they could sell very well in the Hi-fi niche market.
Thank you Yves 😊
@abritishaudiophile7314 overall are they better than Vela BS 403 ? :) Very simillar to Neat Petite
Really goes to show the weight design holds vs parts given that these are mid-range drivers. Also didn't know that Dayton acted as a OEM for manufactures so thats interesting to see as well.
Thank you 😊
I have the Neat Xplorer and was also blown away by the clarity in the beginning. Living with them now for more then a year I'm starting to miss the warmth en fullness more and more. I will keep them for their unique design but I'm going back to a dome tweeter. It al depends on your taste but for me the Neat house-sound is just to lean.
I get that. They are certainly leaner than my ProAc’s and I enjoy a fuller sound too 😊
Hi Tarun. Excellent review as usual. What do you use to raise the height of your speaker stands.
Thank you. Eva yoga block 👍
So....... Go back to 1996 and the HiFi show at Heathrow and Bob was playing the Petites with a pair of passive subwoofers the Gravitas... One of my favourite sounds I've ever heard. .....
I am trying to remember that show. I suspect you may enjoy the new ones too 👍
Every couple of months, I'll swap out the Neat Ultimatum MFS for Petite/Gravitas. Both have been so enjoyable and satisfying that I can't envisage ever letting them go. If you're reading this,Bob, thank you, thank you, thank you!
Best.Ken (Neuance)
@@kenlyon8285 cool 😎 thanks for sharing 😊
Hi Tarun, you are the only audio channel that I can watch from start to finish, excellent and informative, thanks for these videos. All the best, Alan.
Thank you Alan. That is very kind and much appreciated 😊👍
Much agree with Alan’s sentiment. Sometimes i have to watch your video twice to absorb all of the insights you give. It is much appreciated.
Hopefully I can find a pair here in Texas and take a listen.
@@ModestoMundo thank you my friend. Getting feedback like that means a lot 😊👍
Hi Andrew. I am looking at some new hifi and very much enjoying your reviews. Looking at the Nain Nova and torn over speaker choice. Have you ever reviewed the Neat Iota explorer? Also looking at the B&W 805D4's and PMC Twenty 22i's. Would be keen on your opinion.
Thank you Andrew. I have only heard the Iota Explorer at a show. Sounded good but I would need to get it home to find out what they are about 👍
My entry was a pair of JPW mini monitors, white and white grille, 100£, connected after crossover of white passive (!) subwoofer, 200£. There were also active mini monitors. I lived with this gear for 30 years. When time came replace them, I found brand discontinued. I chose Acoustic Energy A1 active. So, stepping up a notch, but still no-nonsense, value-for-money, and somewhat willful. My Asus headphone DAC works splendid with the AE1s by-the-way. Front-end upgrade will be icing on the cake only. Thank and best regards.
One of my favourite speakers. Great to learn about your experiences 😊
Hi Tarun, that is an interesting review. The most remarkable part of it being the speaker selection. Both SB Acoustics and Dayton Audio make good but not expensive speaker components. So clearly you pay for the application here and not the bill of materials.
I thought the same thing. I think it has better quality crossover parts than you normally find at this price and as you state, it is all about implementation 👍
I have to agree, they use nice parts in their cross-over but internal wiring + terminals are 😬, the woofers in the Xplorer are really cheap from stamped metal (they weigh nothing 😭) cabinets are 18mm MDF with not much bracing. With the recent price increase Neat is really expensive for what you get 🤷 I know the most important thing is how they sound but still they can do a little better of lower prices.
Hi! Very nice and informative review as usual. When you mention the 'british sound', what does It mean? Is there a common trait of all the speakers engineered in the UK? Thanks
There certainly used to me. It is a rich tonality in the midrange which is highly prized by some for the way in which vocals and many acoustic instruments are presented 😊
Always a good watch
Thank you Mark 😊
Thoroughly enjoyed this one Tarun.... Talking of SB drivers (but off at a tangent) did you ever hear a pair of SD Acoustics SD3?.... I loved those.... But still chose ProAc Super tablets over them with a Delta 90.. in preference to 8000A or A1(I know you'll known the brands 😊) ..
Orelle ! ... Blast from past.. How about Inca Tech? Again you mentioning Ruark... I'd love a re-entry of Ruark to large hifi loudspeakers and offer a modern day Excalibur (that would be a very expensive loudspeaker now) .. Gorgeous...
Great mention of some fantastic industry characters (past and present) ....
Neat are indeed a very tidy outfit....the one on discussion here would fit a great deal of pockets and living rooms here in the UK 👍🏻
Personally some of my all-time favourite loudspeakers have well implemented AMT tweeters...
Including my own Audiovector R3 Arreté.
Thank you Marcus. I bet those Tablette’s sing with the Delta 90 😊👍
@@abritishaudiophile7314👍🏻
Indeed they did.
Hi Marcus, The Inca Tech Claymore was my first real hifi amplifier I purchased from the Audiofile in Herts, Lovely sounding amp in it day. Talking of old Manufacturers that disappeared, I used to work in unit right next to DEAN Audio speakers in Stanstead Abbotts, I used to hear them testing out their speakers quite often and kinda wished I worked there instead. Unfortunately like a lot of companies they disappeared.
Nice stuff , I had some of that myself 😊
Thank you 😊
Great looking speakers and again detailed review ... thanks once again Tarun. i am enjoying my 4 pairs of second hand speakers and also your previous video with your friend i m planning to buy Focal 816 which is fin the UK "826 " available at £850for my living room and AE1 for my desktop ... Let's see how wifey reacts
Thank you Atri. I am sure she will understand. There are worse vices than hifi 👍
I got lucky and got some free $1550 speakers (Two Triad LCR Bronze Inrooms and one Inwall) when I bought a Marantz sr7500 for $200. I added a Marantz 15" low pass woofer to each speaker and now I am in sound heaven.
Cool 😎 thank you for sharing Carl 😊
I am new to channel, and I really enjoy your analysis/ Do have a list of your recommendations like all of the Outstanding Equipment? Is that your highest level? A breakdown of the different levels would be great! Thank you.
Welcome to the channel Steven. I appreciate the suggestion 😊
I’m looking to home demo these speakers. I currently have monitor audio silver 300s linked to a Cambridge audio CXA81. Intrigued to see what sound I get from them. Really great in-depth and well presented review
Thank you Neil 😊
Hi Tarun. I really enjoyed your video and it convinced me to buy a pair :). I am curious abour the stand height, as the manufacturer recomands 600mm, but you said you used 700mm. Can you please tell me your ear height in your listening position and distance from speakers?
Cool 😎 I was just very 2m from the speakers and had them at 700mm off the floor. Your mileage may vary. Have the tweeter at ear height 😊
Another good review Tarun. I've just demoed these in two different systems/rooms, with four different amps, with a good, if somewhat mixed, performance. With a Linn Selekt all-in-one I thought they sounded fine but a bit 'small'. With a Naim Uniti Atom it sounded similar: clean but not much bottom end. However, with a Hegel H120 it really started to shine, and was clear, atmospheric and more authoritative, and with a H390 it was even more so. The top end/tweeter has real potential, and for a smallish room they are superb speakers.
Thank you for sharing your experiences 👍
Hi tarun, i heard you mention your younger days in cardiff, you working etc, then raising a family then your disposable income going as you were raising a family,WELL, im in that position now,, i havent got the spondooleys to go buying extravagant hifi equipment,im in turmoil as in what to buy as theres so much misinformation as what you must buy,not buy, ive got the chance of getting my hands on a denon tx nr515 receiver which has good reviews plus internet radio which is a plus as i havent got to go spend money on a tuner,plus im looking at getting my hands on a marantz cd player, ive got a pair of decent-ish speakers,(jamoe870) ,i love the sound they reproduce,what is your thoughts on that sort of set up,id really like sort of input please, oh an hello from cardiff
Hi Phil, I am not familiar with the TX NR515 but I would if you can accommodate them go for separates. The Cambridge Audio AXA35 (or AXA25) and a WiiM steamer. I am sure it will sound better and offer more upgrade possibilities down the line. Just check the WiiM supports the steaming functions you require 😊
Hi Tarun! Lovely review as always. Approximately what size room would you consider the Petite Classics to be better suited than the Menuet SE's? I'm very much looking forward to hearing your take on the Exposure 3510 monos, hopefully some day soon! :)
Thank you Johannes. The distance from the speakers is more critical. I wouldn’t want to be any more than 2.5m away from the Menuet SE and them a similar distance from each other. With the Petite Classic I would think you could get way with about 3m 😊
An enjoyable review! I currently have a pair of Focal Chora 806 standmount speakers but am interested in the possibility of upgrading them over the next 12 months and the Neat speaker could be a good choice. One question though. How are they when listening a low volumes? I do most of my listening at only 60-65 dB and sometimes like to have them even lower to provide me with background music to buffer me from outside noise. The Focal's do a great job at low volumes.
Thank you Richard. The Petite Classics play well at low volumes but here my ProAc outshine them 😊
As always a very informative and interesting review. I'm a big Neat fan: the Neat Iota Xplorers are among the very best speakers I have ever heard, so I'd love to give the Petite Classics a listen.
Very interested to hear that you too were a Ruark Talisman III owner. I absolutely loved these speakers: they may not be the most resolving, but on the end of my Anthem MRX710 they sounded dynamic and always got the feet tapping: but they had beautiful body and weight to instruments, just a beautiful tone with the right amp. You could genuinely listen to them all day without fatigue, but they weren't boring either: I found them totally engaging.
Sadly they developed a fault during lockdown and I no longer have them, but can I suggest that if you see a pair of the standmount Ruark Epilogue II's in good condition, they are absolutely worth a punt. Finding good ones these days isn't easy though: what DO people do with their speakers? Why can't people look after them?
Anyway, the Ruark Epilogue II's are unassuming little speakers visually, but I drive them with my Quad Vena II in a second system and it makes me smile like very few other combinations do, despite their relatively budget price. Full of PRaT, excellent tonality and truly surprising bass weight and articulation for such a small speaker and they make pretty much any genre of music sound its best. For my tastes their treble crispness and bite is perfectly judged: brass and guitars have a wow factor but still actually sound like brass and guitars without sounding too forced and unnatural.
It's so gutting that Ruark stepped away from passive speakers to making DAB radios and Bluetooth speakers around 2006, good though they may be for that market.
Thank you Lee. Great to learn about your experiences. I would love to see a Talisman VI but I doubt Ruark will delve back in 😊
Sounds like they are amazing speakers. Too bad they may be one of the ugliest I have seen. Can't even imagine a person that buys them and uses them for years and years and has to look at them every day for years and years. If the Dali Menuet SE get you 90% of what Neat Petite Classic can do, it is a no brainer for me. And a $1000 cheaper in Canada.
Understood. The looks won’t be for everyone. The DALI Menuet SE is a great speaker 😊
Sb Acoustics drivers are good. Fritz uses their 29 BE Beryllium tweeter which is great! Neat petite Classic looks like the ugly sister as compared to the Menuet SE or the Proacs. I wish they raised the price enough to pretty up the housing.
I would like to see some nice wood veneer options 😊
Excellent review as always!!Thank you!!!Since you review also Amphion Argon 1 may i ask,in your opinion which is better for nearfield and low volumes listening?
Both good but the Neats are more resolving 😊
@@abritishaudiophile7314 thank you so much!!!
Thank you for your informative and educational reviews. What do you think of Emotiva Airmotive B2+, is it the same tweeter? It is much more afordable and very tempting.
Thank you Abdul. I haven’t heard the Emotiva Airmotiva B2+. They are readily available in the U.K. 😊
Excellent review. I have a pair of 30s coming Thursday to replace some fact 12 signature that sound awful in my new smaller lounge. First time buying blind so should be fun!
Thank you. Please let me know how you get on 😊
The Neat Petite was designed by Derek Gilligan, he left Neat and set up Kudos loudspeakers. Sadly Kudos seem to be only doing higher end loudspeakers now, I guess that is where there is profit?
Thank you 😊
Apologies for my prior premature comments on the NEAT Petite Classics. The smaller port is at 35Hz, the larger at 75Hz.
No worries Bradley. It is unusual 👍
Demoed Neat Iota Alpha and the small floorstander SX2. Must say I'm a huge fan of Neat presentation... not heard the Petite.
Cool 😎
I am also interested in what you think of the Naim Nait XS3. Compared to the Nait5si and the Exposures.
I appreciate the suggestion 😊
Dear Tarun,
Please do let me know….in case if you are planning to sell your Proac SC 1 speaker. I’m ready anytime.
Thank you my friend. I suspect my ProAc 1SCs may outlast me 😂👍
Thank you, Tarun, for another informative review. I especially enjoyed your explanation of ribbon vs. EMT tweeters.
A friend owned a pair of Heil EMT speakers (way) back in the day. What I remember about them is listening to side 1 of 'Disraeli Gears' over and over, as we were all too high to get up and flip the record over.
So many brands of great hifi equipment are gone and not due to performance deficiencies. And some of the old names come back on mid-fi gear.
Thank you my friend. Always great to have your perspective 👍
Good and interesting review.
Not sure constantly comparing to your Proac’s as a reviewer is right. Doing so all the time leans you towards a influencer. There are many brands and models of speakers and it comes across that the proac’s are the best. As you mention in the video “it’s the sound that you like” but it’s your sound & view.
Appreciate though you can only compare to what you’ve heard.
Thank you Ian. The ProAc Response 1SCs are my reference at this price. Until I find something else I prefer, it provides viewers with some consistency as to where I land with products 😊
@@ronlysons6750 the DB1s are not the same speaker as my Response 1SCs. One day I hope to get hold of a pair and find out how they compare.
Thank you very much for this review. I subscribed already. Kind regards, Piotr
Thank you Piotr. I appreciate the support 👍
Tarun, good job on the review. Thing about mini monitors is they usually lack bass. The AMT tweeter is known to be edgy with the wrong equipment. It will show poor recordings up and won’t let you get away with sub standard recordings. Perfect example of this was ESS back in the 70s. These could be a bit bright and were best with Luxman gear. It seemed to let them shine. Cheers!
Thank you Mark 😊
Thanks, as always a great review. Loved the PS Audio Aspen's and the Golden Ear Reference (which are my speaker of choice for stereo and reside in the family house). The Aspen's are set up for anyone coming to Boulder to hear and they have the largest sound stage I have ever heard with some sacrifice in placement, but the whole tone and dynamic will knock your socks off. All my old speakers have since gone to ozone heaven as the old poly just gets eaten over time.
Thank you Lonnie. If I am ever in Boulder, I would love to check them out 👍
Aaaarghhhh,,, I cant get rid of what you said about the Musical Fidelity Nu-Vista a couple of weeks ago.
Its weird,, in one way its unreachable, but in the same time, they go for "only" ca 4k Euro used on HiFiShark. 🥶/😋
The valves should be good for about a sillion hours, and with a 200W solid state amp I guess theres grip and defenition enough for most speakers.
I want define and textured bass, a sprinkle of warmth in the mids, I want details in the highs, but hate sterile overanalytical eardrumpiersing treble,
and I waaaaant holography. Thanks Tarun for gettin my head in spin,, 🤪! Ifeel happy for u that u found a speaker u like,, 🤩💖
Cheers friend and I wish all of u the best of weekends,, 🍻😎👍👍
Thank you Irene. I would love to have reviewed the MF Nu Vista amplifier. It sounded very impressive on the occasions I heard it. Wishing you a great weekend too ❤👍
I have the nu-vista 800 and absolutely love it. I have it driving KEF Reference 5 speakers which it easily manages. The only drawback is the weight - at about 42kg - but a least no one will ever steel it!!! 😊
@@serloinoflamm1119 I am feeling envious 😂
@@serloinoflamm1119 I have to take a listen, but the closest place that have it in store, are +400km away,, 🥶.
Pffhhhh,, have to wait. Cheers,, 🍻😎👍
Wow! Thanks for this review Tarun, I think I’ll stick with my Neat Motive SX3s for the time being. As much as I like the look of these, they seem to be on a different level to my Motives and I’d be too tempted to upgrade my amplifier.
Thank you Mr K. You are a wise man 😊
No one would take my clothes lol!😂
I was surprised. I hope their need was greater than mine 😂
Another good explanation for twitter options , and a great speakers review.
Congratulations Tarun. Five tumba up.
Thank you Cesar. Much appreciated 😊👍
His videos always give me a clear understanding of what he heard. Which reminds me of what the Neat Petite sounded like in a friend's system many years ago. Just enough too bright and etched for my tastes.
Thank you Tom 👍
I own Neat Motive SX1, great speakers for a small to medium size room, well worth a listen.
Cool 😎 thank you 👍
Tarun I saw there’s a pair of Amphion speakers at the corner. How would you compare these to the Neat ones?
The Amphion Argon 1 is a great speaker but not as resolving as the Neat Petite Classic 😊