Question Suggestions for foundational parts of a longer term vinyl setup

[RTHerringbone]

Just checked the supplied plate size on the Atacama Moseco, 130mm wide x 170mm deep, a good fit for the Neats I would say.

I've just got some modest Kanto stands at the moment and their plate literally mimics the footprint of the Classics. I may upgrade the stands at some point but I'll see how they get on in a normal and rotated orientation. Stands are one of the many, many audiophile things I'm a bit sceptical about.

 

[skinnypuppy71]

Did you notice any tangible "burn in" benefits? I looked back on your Classics thread and you seemed pleased straight out of the box. Did they develop noticeably or were they just good from the off for you?

I think they were pretty good straight out the box and any burn in must have been subtle...I didn't notice any big difference.....they just sound fantastic with any amp I've used, Primaluna Dialogue premium hp, Mytec Brooklyn amp plus, Electrocompaniet eci80d and my current Electrocompaniet Eci 6mkii has taken them to a different level.

 

[RTHerringbone]

Right, we're off! Early impression is that the finish is nicer than I remember at Audio T and they're also slightly larger than I recall too. These were little buggers to get out of the plastic wrappers inside the box.

Time to work on some listening impressions.

 

[Al ears]

Right, we're off! Early impression is that the finish is nicer than I remember at Audio T and they're also slightly larger than I recall too. These were little buggers to get out of the plastic wrappers inside the box.

Time to work on some listening impressions.

View attachment 10771View attachment 10772

Can you not move them further apart? They seem a tad close.
Perhaps it's just the photo.....

 

[RTHerringbone]

Can you not move them further apart? They seem a tad close.
Perhaps it's just the photo.....

It's the photo to an extent, but I've long accepted that there are a series of compromises with how this system is positioned. Just need another £100k extension to build a dedicated Hi-Fi listening space.

 

[skinnypuppy71]

My Petite's are 1.8 metres apart and the soundstage is amazing.......Tool's, Chocolate chip trip from the Fear Inoculum album is a cracking wee tester for sound stage width....it's almost like a demo track they just threw in there, but the sound quality is anything but.
Hb. Just have a play with positioning even if its just for a hour or so..I know the speakers will have to go back to thier placement....lol....but when no one is in the house etc.

 

[Al ears]

It's the photo to an extent, but I've long accepted that there are a series of compromises with how this system is positioned. Just need another £100k extension to build a dedicated Hi-Fi listening space.

Me too!
🙂
That would be the best improvement to my hifi set-up I could make.
Don't see it happening without a significant lottery win though.
One reason I regret selling my old Victorian house, the sitting room was huge.
Speakers look nice although I think Textured Black is so yesterday..... Would have gone for White.
🙂

 

[skinnypuppy71]

It looks like you have a black ash finish hb....do they still have the textured black finish ..that's the finish my Petites came in....I remember they sent me the white textured finish by mistake and I quite liked it but the wife wasn't having it unfortunately, I had to take them back to the shop 😭for the textured black...the oak and other options weren't available when I got mine....early adopter here.lol.

 

[Fandango Andy]

Right, we're off! Early impression is that the finish is nicer than I remember at Audio T and they're also slightly larger than I recall too. These were little buggers to get out of the plastic wrappers inside the box.

Time to work on some listening impressions.

View attachment 10771View attachment 10772

They look good. The sharp edges look better in black than the oak finish.

The picture makes them look big, the are actually the same size as my old Tannoy (if you turn them sideways on).

I love that the Naim amp looks just like the NAIT 1. Retro without the hassle of old equipment!

 

[RTHerringbone]

They're in the only black option that there was - "Black Oak". I like them as there's an obvious match to other parts of the system, I'm not paying another £300 for a wood effect and I just couldn't add white speakers into an otherwise silver and black system.

My wife didn't spot them initially so I owned up and she gave me "one of those looks", tipped her head to one side and instantly said "I much prefer the sound of them to the last ones" (KEF LS50 Meta). She complained when I got the KEFs to replace my old Monitor Audio Silver RX1s because she found them a bit plain - no character if otherwise "good".

I've had just four hours with them but I'm impressed. The bass is the first thing that was noticeable compared to the KEFs. I'm not a huge bass person but those lower frequencies carry a weight and control now that the KEFs just didn't deliver. At the other end of the scale, the fancy little AMT ribbon tweeter gives a lovely sparkle to treble. I haven't yet heard anything bright and there's a lovely ethereal fizz and sparkle which again, I wasn't getting before.

They don't struggle with mid-range either; they just seem extremely well balanced and overall genuinely deliver the fun factor and rhythm that I read about in reviews, and which put these on my radar. Loads more listening to do but they have the personality and character that is just very enjoyable. Real gusto and pep to them.

 

[RTHerringbone]

I think we listened to the Neat's for seven hours yesterday and about eight so far today and they're just great. I stand by the initial observations from yesterday - they're very capable across the whole frequency range and noticeably more engaging than the LS50 Meta were. Bass has presence, control, no boominess but so much impact for tracks like Glory Box by Portishead, which does not shy away from low frequencies. They just feel like very grounded, solid and confident speakers.

I listen to a lot of acoustic stuff, folksy things, Americana and they can handle mid-range heavy genres like that very capably. Vocals are superb and as a fan of female vocalists like Norah Jones, KT Tunstall, Katie Melua, Nina Persson, Agnes Obel, they've been a treat. The AMT tweeter is a real highlight for me - there's absolutely spadefuls of character, fizz and sparkle in a way which adds so much fun and character than the KEFs just didn't have on the agenda and weren't designed to unlock / embellish. That first cymbal crash on Fleetwood Mac's Dreams is spectacularly luscious and to borrow yesterday's word: ethereal. Lovely.

I suspect these are NOT speakers for purists and ASR forum fans, but they have fun, rhythm and toe-tapping by the bucket-load.

Haven't even got round to listening to much Blues and Jazz yet, so that's probably a focus for tomorrow.

 

[Al ears]

The Neat website only appears to have them in Textured Black o r Textured White but I see other dealers offer them in other "wood" options but for an extra £305 which seems a bit exorbitant.

 

[RTHerringbone]

The Neat website only appears to have them in Textured Black o r Textured White but I see other dealers offer them in other "wood" options but for an extra £305 which seems a bit exorbitant.

Quite. It's a ridiculous extra cost and whilst I would probably have gone with one of the "wood" options at the standard price, there was no way I was paying *that* much for what I assume is just a veneer.

That apart, the build quality is high. Very solid, well engineered, no frills but (to my eyes) attractive and they have an understated presence. It was important to me to buy British and the team in the North-East know what they're doing.