Are ISO-BARIC HiFi Speakers BETTER ? Neat Acoustics Ministra Review

[@adrianmortimer3369]

Great review Terry. It has to be said that in the flesh, Neat build quality is excellent and they do not use cheap components. I have heard Neat speakers on several occasions and have always been very impressed. Thanks again for your hard work.

[@Pulpdiction1999]

So I can't see any recent videos where you have revisited Neat speakers, yet the Petite, Mystique and Elite Classic have all been really well reviewed. Also they are all designed to be placed closer to the wall, which suits the size of many modern houses. Be good if you could look at some of these, especially if you wanted to do a compact floor stander round up.

[@milagroscaviglia5034]

Great reviews!!!In my opinion Dynaudio and Quad are the best speakers in this group!Cheers

[@ryankaldesic430]

I've got to say I love the form factor and visual look of these speakers. Having a small listening room ,their size and the fact they can be placed close to the front wall looks like they'd be a contender for me. I currently have Neat Iota speakers which work well in my space. I'd love to hear these speakers to see how they compare to my Iota's. Nice one Terry

[@skumnjepf]

Excellent review. But what about ELAC?

[@higobatman]

Top 3: 1º Arendal 1723 THX 2º Sonus Faber Sonetto II 3º Quad Z2 and Dynaudio Evoke 20

[@trevorcourt1403]

Love your reviews

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

Thanks Trevor really appreciate it

[@trevorcourt1403]

@@PursuitPerfectSystem your welcome I’m hifi obsessed 👍🏻

[@SamLGND]

What do you recommend to use with these , whats pairs well with it in your experience

[@socksumi]

I love the Quads but it's their electrostatics that I really love beyond anything in this group. But mucho expensive unfortunately. Used Quad 57s or 63s can be the value of all as long as they have been properly restored.

[@pennfootball71]

Whgat would be interesting is try a similar priced floor standing Vandersteen Model 1Ci that is time aligned and about $1715 in the usa and for that price they are actualy still made in the USA which is Mega cool.

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

I checked and it seems like they cost closer to $3000

[@pennfootball71]

@@PursuitPerfectSystem ouch You must have different pricing in the UK...On the USA site it says "Starting at $1,715 / Pair With Stands" on their webpage herer...The distributor is getting a hefty cut there marking it up! This happens to much and makes me sad. In the USA the next level up is the Model 2Ce Signature III and here in the USA it is $3279 a pair.

[@richardjohnston4682]

Terry,would they break up at higher volumes? Thanks

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

To be honest Richard with how my room is I always listen at louder volumes louder than most. They didnt break up but I am not sure they are a play me crazy loud speaker

[@Anonymous-sb9rr]

These speakers use woofers from Peerless that cost about $25 each, even though Peerless also makes $40 woofers that have way less distortion.

[@mikepaul2372]

1st - Sonus Faber 2nd - Dynaudio But since it is nearly impossible to obtain the Sonus, I will have to choose the Dynaudio!

[@CovertOperative]

An Iso-Barric bass loading system that receives the sane signal and phase as the visible mid-bass driver, should not be low frequency deficient, especially in comparison to all other speakers in the group test. I have tested most of them and are disillusiioned with the findings here.

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

its a very very small speaker its nothing to do with the design

[@garyizzard839]

Off topic: The 2020 LP 'Audiophile Analog Collection Vol 2 (2xHD Fusion) contains a track with perhaps the lowest bass tone ever cut to vinyl.

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

If its vinyl that will probably be about 80-hz -- just kidding :) very off topic Gary but interesting none the less

[@garyizzard839]

@@PursuitPerfectSystem 16hz and my rel sub rattles the doors. The cutting engineer said it was a challenge. It's from the 4th most powerful organ in the world.

[@garyizzard839]

@@PursuitPerfectSystem Do you have Susanne Sundfor's Music For People in Trouble?

[@pickyaudiophile]

Just a little bit disappointing, I did not expect that. It lacks the sophistication they showed few years ago with buildup of their IOTA line, culminating in that desireable Xplorer model.

[@lint8391]

I'm wondering what sort of audiophile wouldn't want "big bass"? Or at least bass that's roughly in proportion to the midrange and treble and which is of reasonable quality. The sort of audiophile that only listens to string quartets or harpsichord music? Or the sort of audiophile that's so emotionally attached to whatever speakers they have that they justify not having proportionate bass?

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

Maybe ones that live in a flat or apartment or have other people in the house they cant upset etc.

[@lint8391]

@@PursuitPerfectSystem Good point Terry. I was forgetting my own advice when it comes to hi-fi:- The most important component is the house. If you have a home where you have to keep the volume down then it's masochistic torture for listening to music. It's far better to have a modest system in a home where you can listen at generous volumes than a World Class system that you have to keep down.

[@PursuitPerfectSystem]

@@lint8391 your talking to a bass head volume cranking the neighbours must hate me guy but not everyone can have that ")

[@Raymondey]

For me the best - Dynaudio Evoke 20

[@stephenhall3515]

The whole point of the isobaric principle having a second mid-low driver is to allow fine adjustments to what is handed over to a subwoofer, where the in line identical drivers have the same tuning resonance. In chamber, orchestral and choral music these do not reach the lower frequencies they should if cones are matched. I suspect that too little care is taken in this. Handing highest frequencies to a ribbon, there appears to be far too much upper end. This means that a subwoofer is a necessity, adjusted to reach higher than with such as the Quad Z2. The work done by Olson and Villchur should be more closely studied if an isobaric design is to be considered. In short, a whole driver unit is wasted in these speakers -- at least those I heard. The price is high, cabinet bracing perhaps needs attention and visual finish is really nothing special.

[@johnsweda2999]

Box is too small that's why there's no bass 2 inches wider an inch higher and they might be alright

[@apmihai82]

i just couldnt get pass the fact that they look a bit cheap compared to the others in this group. Those bolts on the back/the front cloth for example is pretty unappealing. Quads are the best of course. Thanks again Terry!

[@behemothinferno]

Don't like the build quality for the price. The grille looks cheap, the felt around it seems out of place and the input terminals are what you find for a couple of bucks on Aliexpress!

[@markclancy5371]

Some of the terminals like that on Aliexpress are pure copper better quality then some magnetic terminals you get on some 2 to 3 grand speakers.

[@ianjohnhorwood2605]

No their isobabarik design are ported, so no. Isobabarik should be a sealed design for the best sound quality.