Question for all you Neat Freaks

Thanks Alex.

BTW, I'm sure you noticed but I meant to ask about the comparison between the Petite/Gravitas with an Elite. My room is quite large (living/dining combo, about 20 X 40).

Bruce

Elite versus P/G? Good question. It's not entirely fair as the P/G has the benefit of comprising of two optimised boxes which combine to make up the one 'speaker', which allows Neat to keep the P small and compact and the G larger (and more importantly deeper).

As for comparisons? Well, the Elite I have only heard once and it is a good speaker. The Petite is only a little cheaper than the Elite, and adding the Gravitas adds around £1500 to the overall cost - taking it up to around £2500 I think.

Given the choice, I'd always go for the P/G, as the isobarically loaded bass is surprisingly powerful, clean and deep, and the Petite is (in my experience) unsurpassed at the price for musicality and that in my book is a winning combination.

I'm looking to move up to the MFS or MF5/7 in the next year or so, and as a consequence I'm selling my P/G with custom-made Mana stands (like little Brik stands) plus a custom-made Nordost Red Dawn jumper (for between P to G).

I'm asking £1250 all-in - see my ad on PFM if you or anyone is interested.

TC '..'
"Girl, you thought he was a man, but he was a Muffin..."

Ehm, Bruce, listen to the VA Beethoven if you like what you have now but want some more... They blew me away when I heard them!

TC,

Do you think my 112/Hicap/150 has the juice for either elites or petites/gravitas?

Bruce

Something that is interesting is that Neat actually say that their speakers are designed to be bi-amped. Anyone tried this ??

My Petites seem to be an easy load for my 72-Hi-180.


Nana

Brian,

Thanks, very helpful. How quickly do you think I'll want to send away my 150 if I go for Elites? I suppose a better to way to ask this is, "is a 112/150/Elite combo musically satisfying?".

BTW, what's the story with the Neat Ultimatum range on their website?

Bruce

Bruce,
I demo'd the Elites extensively against other speakers with CD5/112/150/FC2/Rega P25 and thought they were excellent. In fact it was Brian who suggested the combination I seem to remember.
I don't think you'd be keen to dispose of your 150 if you went for this option. They have the big grin factor. Rather it would position you nicely for future upgrades.
The downside of the Elite is that it didn't fill the room in quite the same way as some other floorstanders might (I have a big listening room). If you like high volume and have a big room then I don't think they'd be for you.
I didn't buy them in the end as I plan to move house later this year and want to match my next speakers to the room. To sum up, I would definitely demo the Elites.
Hope this helps
Simon

Simon,

Thanks for the very helpful comments. They ech wgat I read in HiFi Choice about the Elites being geat for a smallish British room.

My room is really quite large (20 X40, really two rooms that rum in to each other, and then the listening rom also opens to a foyer and upstairs). Maybe the Elites won't fill that space too well. Just have to wait for the home demo I suppose.

Bruce

Bas,

I know what you mean about the Beethovens, but I think they'll be too big a load for my 112/150.

Bruce

Dias,

Most be a typical Seattle layout! Did you but your Mystiques at Hawthorne?

Bruce

I believe it was 4 Exposure 16 mono's

quote:

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Originally posted by NAIMGAIM:
four Exposure 4DR amps (similar to the 250)IT ROCKED! Seriously the best sounding room that year. They start at around $5,000 and go up to $16,000 for the MF9.


Brian

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Bruce wait!!!

I have listened to the Beethovens with my hicapped Nait5 and they sounded marvellous. These are very easy speakers to drive, I have even heard them sounding pretty good with a simple Marantz amplifier. Try try try!

Bruce, you should be fine driving the Petites with a 112/150, though obviously the speakers will reward better amps if and when you move up through the range.

I've successfully run my Petites with a Nait-2 - providing your source is A1, and providing you don't expect miracles, you'll get a better sound than you'd expect. The drawback is that the bass isn't as quick or extended as it would be with a bigger amp. The upside is that a Nait-2 is cheap and I'd put money on a Nait-2+Petites being better than nearly any other sub £1k Amp:Speaker combo (assuming the speakers are to be bought new; s/h would mean this combo would be even better value still).

P/G/Mana still for sale, folks

TC '..'
"Girl, you thought he was a man, but he was a Muffin..."