Neat Acoustics Iota
Neat Acoustics Iota
Neat acoustics is a British company, Tuttaltrosuono, Milan, is its distributor in Italy. Neat Acoustics is widely appreciated for its non conventional
isobaric configuration for low frequencies, a system that allows a good and
powerful frequency response with an extended low range even with a small
cabinet. Iota loudspeakers do not use the isobaric configuration since
they are very small but they have a very good ribbon tweeter and a small woofer
expressely made for Neat. The cabinet is incredibly small -13x20x16 - it is
constructed from high grade MDF, which is internally damped. It comes in
different bright colours: Satin White,
Satin Black, Flame Red, Zync Yellow and Ultramarine Blu. For my trial the
distributor gave me the Blue ones -
Ultramarine Blue to be precise. The loudspeaker for the bass is a 10 cm
device with a polymer cone, the tweeter is a vertical planar magnetic ribbon
device. The declared sensibility is 86 dB but seems lower despite the use of
the bass reflex of the woofer. The port
of the reflex is in the back. where can be found also the two clamps for single
wiring. Impedence is 6 Ohm and the amplifier power allowed is 25-100 Watt.. The
loudspeaker is heavy and comes with a small but strong package. They cost, in Italy, 900,00 euros the pair. The deign is specifically intended for use very close to
walls, or in locations such as bookshelves and desktop. They are not made for
big spaces and during this test I have brought them to my office.
In my office I have a small system that suites well these small IOTAs. The colour gives them a less serious aspect and in a small object like this creates a sudden liking. This is a trend that is very fashionable and in the different trade magazines many coloured products designed to be used with personal computers can be found. Color is now a rule and not a mannerism like it was before. The guests that came to my house liked the look of the two blue loudspeakers positioned in the bookshelf. 
The system used is the same that I described in the test of the Burmester B10 with the addition of the Nad 2020 and Marantz CD97 Kis that I use in my office. In the office the 2 Iota were positioned in the bookshelf. For the listening in my house I have used BCD stands, 70 cm high. The loudspeakers are designed to stay with the speakers side by side on a horizontal surface. There are no instructions on the position of the tweeter: internal or external? I preferred to position it internally for a better soundstage.
As I started to listen to them I wondered who replaced my Magneplanar with the Quad ESL 57. In fact the sound of the medium-high range of these Iotas is clean, delicate, extended and subtle and never too high. This is positive for those who listen to human voices. I have had the confirm of this listening to the Vespro della Beata Vergine by Monteverdi directed by Gardiner (Archiv) and then the same score directed by Junghenel on Deutsche Harmonia Mundi. All the instruments have a well defined timbre; the woodwinds in the Fifth by Mahler directed by Solti on Decca, the Quintet with Piano by Mozart on Decca, the saxophone played by Coltrane in Blue Train or the saxophone played by Desmond in Jazz Impressions of Eurasia by Dave Brubeck Quartet. The lack of harshness in the sound makes you turn up the volume each time more and these Neat do respond to these power shots.The only limit of these loudspeakers is the low range but it's what one expects from two 10 cm woofers and such a small cabinet. The deep low is missing and is present the classical stress on the medium low range that gives the impression of a bigger woofer. But this trick does not bother since it does not ruin the deep low range that is not present. If they lean against the wall - 10 cm from it - these Iotas sound big, they don't turn into JBL but they seem bigger than they actyually are. I made a comparison with a pair of old Teac bought some 20 years ago but the bass of the Neat is present, more powerful and clean. 
Rock, symphonic music and big orchestras are difficult for the small Iota.
Those that choose them know it - but
this is obvious - and accepts the limitations of volume to the advantage of
such a convincing and mellow sound. About the soundstage, I already said my impressions at the beginning; as
for the listening at moderate volumes, the late night listenings to be clear,
the quality of the medium low range is still present with a quantity of small
details but the bass needs more pressure.
It's a targeted product, not to be used on a stand and far from the walls. Many new loudspeakers are made to be used close to the walls: houses are smaller and smaller the space is limited but the crave for good quality equipment is still the same - or bigger - and Neat Iotas are the answer to this need. 900,00 euros is not a small amount, but this is a targeted product, dedicated to those that want a small and manageable loudspeaker. The Iotas sound well also in a bookshelf, they have a bright color and fit every room. And then the good response of the high and medium range, as I said before is of a very good level. 
Neat Acoustics Iota
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