What are 2.5-Way Speakers ? Neat Iota Alpha

[@stephenelston7596]

Thank you Simon. As you said: extraordinary speakers. I've placed my pair on sections of hard composite board donated by a local flooring shop and find this an effective way to bring out the best in the underside woofer. Otherwise, soft carpet absorbs energy and breaks up the sound. I'm limited for space in this study which is about the size of a fighter cockpit so also had to take care with placement since worktops might inhibit air movement and corners could amplify reflections. Stephen

[@COLDMKULTRA]

This an absolutely honest review from someone who obviously knows what He is talking about ... with none of the usual audiophile word salad ! @13th Note HIFI Reviews ... Thank you ... Yes these speakers are actually phenomenal for the price ... they are absolutely superb all rounders.

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

Thank you very much.

[@DevonReviewer]

Just picked up the 2 way Iotas... very impressed for the size and these are on the list for future consideration!

[@m.j.s.3838]

Thanks, always wondered about this unique design.

[@Steve160k]

Very clear explanation with the difference in speaker drivers. Good review, and certainly a boost for Neat speakers. I just hope some of the manufacturers appreciate your clear concise explainations that invariably will help potential sales.

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

Steve Allard cheers Steve and enjoy our chats!

[@cruzingrsx4484]

I felt your format and the way you communicated were well done. Keep up the good work sir.

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

Cruzing RSX thanks very much

[@philr9753]

Excellent review, thankyou. I have recently bought these NEAT Iota Alphas (with Naim amp) and I'm impressed to say the least, the sound is frankly stunning. Just to see I would try putting these speakers on a pice of marble/wood if you have them on carpet, and see how that sounds in relation to the bass.

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

They are stunning aren’t they. My own more expensive pmc’s still not come back ‘on line’.

[@1jhnpennington]

Hi, which Naim amp are you using with the Neats?

[@philr9753]

I'm using the Naim Uniti Star

[@brentnaylor8406]

Just found your channel; and I must say that amongst all the "competition" for HiFi reviews, yours stands out. Common sense, logic, and clearly stated impressions without excess verbiage. Plus, we tend to like the same gear. :) Cheers!

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

Thank you very much Brent. It is a slow builder....

[@Malcm59]

Thanks for that informative insight - I’m in the market for some small room speakers and these will most definitely be on the short list !👍

[@pedrospeedski1]

I have a pair and due to my listening position being quite bass shy due to firing across the width of the narrow listening room I added a Dali 12" sub Bass firing down the room. Wonderful!

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

Tremendous. What amps are you running? Works well?

[@pedrospeedski1]

@@13thnotehifireviews7 see above!

[@antonchigurh4125]

Fantastic, Simon. High praise indeed for these diminutive speakers! Had to chuckle at the 'i used a carpeted floor' quip :) Looking forward to your extended thoughts and review of the Hegel..

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

Anton Chigurgh thanks very much Anton. I think getting personality across is good. I didn’t include the sweary outtakes though. Lol.ps definitely my real view on these as I might buy a pair.

[@antonchigurh4125]

@@13thnotehifireviews7 I think your enthusiasm for these speakers really shone through. I would love to hear a pair myself of the back of this review..

[@pedrospeedski1]

I have a pair and they run off an Emotiva BasX PT-100 Pre amp and Emotiva BasX A300 power amp- 150w a channel into 8 ohm, 300 a channel into 4. They are fantastic. Rooms not too big, but they fire across the narrow side so are in a bass dip. So I added a Dali 12" active sub bass firing down the long side and WOW. Total integration, bass notes I've never heard before with the Neat's still doing their wonderful imaging and sound stage etc. HiFi heaven. rest of my gear is a new Rega Planar 3 deck, new Rega Apollo CD player and Chord Hugo mk1. Kimber interconnects and speaker cables.

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

Looks like very good kit! Did you find my review accurate

[@KOL630]

Nice video. I remember hearing some neat motive speakers with Johnny cash through a Naim unitiqute a few years ago at TomTom audio and they sounded amazing. I’d love to try these I’ve seen them in a few shops and they’re a really nice little speaker.

[@johnseddon2955]

Dear 13th Note. Thank you for a great review. I have a 3m x 3m room with some restriction in placement. I listen at moderate to low volume to lots of different music. Given that it's a small room would your instinct be for the tiny Neat Iota or the Atom. Or something completely different. I would appreciate your knowledge and experience in this matter. I loved the carpet joke. Thanks, John

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

Thanks too. Advice is now being offered to patreon subscribers and one off PayPal donations.

[@johnseddon2955]

@@13thnotehifireviews7 Thank you for your great channel. John

[@EdenAudio]

Always good sounding speakers Neat Acoustics.

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

I might even buy these considering how good they are. Hope you are keeping well. Keep up the reviews.

[@EdenAudio]

@@13thnotehifireviews7 I always enjoy Neat, they sounded fab at Bristol this year with Norma amps and I used to use them with Sonneteer, a fabulous combo. Hopefully something new soon, family all at home at the moment so a bit to noisy ha ha.

[@alansmith8010]

Thank you. Very informative. I have Hegel Rost Amp and am wondering if it would be a good match? Keep up the good work. Also wonder if you have any views on the big brother speaker - Neat Acoustics IOTA Xplorer?

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

Thanks very much, definitely a good match I think. I’m using a Hegel h120 atm which is the Rost’s successor I believe. I used a marantz pm7000n as I think I said in film. I’d love to try the Xplorer and I will probably ask!

[@alansmith8010]

@@13thnotehifireviews7 Thanks for reply. I suspect that the Xplorer would be a better match with Hegel H190 amp. I hope you do get to test the Xplorer :)

[@peptdi]

I love mine with Uniti Atom and now added a NAP 200 non DR, Kinda wished I got the black hover my oak one having seen on this clip though.

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

I think they look cool in white.

[@DevonReviewer]

Hi, just found your channel, great info! I am thinking about upgrading from sonos to hifi, during lockdown I bought a decent headphone set up (Quad Era 1 & Chord MoJo) and feel inspired! I would like to buy British hence my interest in Neat... what do you suggest for a budget conscious home grown system... I like the look of Rega Brio and Apollo... what would you suggest for a total budget of £2 - 2.5k?

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

good choice. Rega amp and Neat would work really well. I recommend Hegel Amps too, although Norwegian.

[@DevonReviewer]

@@13thnotehifireviews7 Thanks, a local store carries both so an audition is possible for me.. as an aside, my thinking is that small floorstanders offer a bigger sound and the money normally needed for stands (£200-400) can be better invested into the speaker... the Duevel Planets have caught my eye, especially as my room is a strange shape... any experience with those?

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

@@DevonReviewer I definitely agree as costs of bigger speakers go up exponentially. Neat Iota Alpha do have lots of sound per pound.

[@jctai100]

Thanks! Subbed. Since your logo is a Totem, how did you think these compare with the Signature Ones? About the same price range.....

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

Thanks. Can’t comment on what I haven’t reviewed

[@gianluigimazzorana3256]

Hi and thank you so much! I need to replace my Naim SBLs and wondering if these Neat could do the job. Rest of the chain is a Naim 82 - 250 - LP12 with a Hana SL cartridge.

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

Thank you . I can’t answer that because I don’t know your HiFi and interactions

[@johningham4219]

Hi have you any experience of dynaudio speakers .would the beats be a good match with roksan k3 or moon 240i keep up the good work john

[@johningham4219]

Sorry meant evoke 10

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

John Ingham haven’t tbh John. One on the list.

[@johningham4219]

Hi thanks for quick reply are the alphas good for low level listening

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

Absolutely, most of my listening is that way. What they are work well for

[@paulmcwilliams8641]

I have an Audiolab 6000CDT Transport and use a solid state hard drive feeding a Samsung Blu Ray player as a method of playing FLAC's into my Yamaha A-S801 amp. I am thinking of replacing my Polk Rti A3 with these speakers. Do you have a view on the speaker/amp relationship. I only listen to digital sources nowadays and no heavy metal.

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

I don’t tbh as never comment on what I haven’t reviewed.

[@markusschulzbro]

Great review!

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

Thanks very much

[@mikemcguinness1304]

Thanks mate.. What are your thoughts on partnering those speakers with a rega elex r amp

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

Elicit would probably get more out of them, but Elex R looks fine

[@mikemcguinness1304]

Ive just got a pair for audition... Omg... Stunning! The tweeter is awesome, and bass is phenomenal. But I live in an apartment.. I need to tone the bass down a little... Any thoughts?

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

@@mikemcguinness1304 lots of soft furnishings , a rug possibly. Change speaker cables and an amp or dac with tone controls. Also possibly add a room correction type device. Mini dsp for example.

[@pdemetriou92]

... I am seriously considering getting these speakers but can't bring myself yet, what was your comparison with the PMC Twenty5.23 which I'm also seriously considering!?! ...

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

PMC’s a fuller speaker obviously with the transmission line, beefier bass. But neats have it over the PMC’s with 3 way esque layering, as well as width soundstage dispersion for size, as explained in film. If you are going for twenty5 23 you want to try the 25-23 new i series instead.

[@pdemetriou92]

13th Note HiFi Reviews ... Thanks for your reply and help but there are plenty more speakers I like but can’t get a head to head comparison! 👍🏻 ...

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

Bin Baz I’m doing some definitive technology demand D11’s. Maybe not a video but certainly written piece on my website, soon. Check out link to website in description. About £1000/$1000 and competitions with the neats. A bit bigger sound but not quite as detailed and as accurate as these neat speakers but more for dispersion and a warmer mid bass. If you want speakers in the same type as the PMC’s you want to try spendor and pro ac, are my recommendations.

[@tomsarti8961]

In your liistening area,using the Neat speakers,how far from the rear wall is the back of the speaker cabinet ?

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

Not too far 40cm maybe

[@hclandscapes]

Do these sound better than the kef ls50 meta's.

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

covered in Kef video

[@lyndonramchatesingh105]

Hi 13note hifi can dali oberon 3 bookshelf sound close to the iota alpha also definitive tech can it sound that good to the alpha

[@13thnotehifireviews7]

Never tried that Dali.

[@lyndonramchatesingh105]

Will u be able to try one I like the open sounding speakers that r small but sounds bigger than it is

[@lyndonramchatesingh105]

I know also alot of audiophile youtubers like klipsch rp600m not sure how will it compete with neat alpha how good does the def tech d 11 sounds

[@yerifan3161]

Is that cheap peerless woofer sitting @neat iota ??? Terrible quality woofers @ xpensive neat family