Neat acoustics iota speakers. Are they tiny killers or just tiny?

[Charliecj]

In my search for the Worlds best “ tiny white speaker” I recently saw a number of reviews praising a $ 1000 tiny bookshelf speaker. Has anyone ever heard one ? I’m tempted to order a pair. https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/neat-acoustics-iota

 

[thewas]

Have only seen measurements of their bigger Iota series models and those don't really look like "killers", at least not from objective measurement point of view
https://www.stereophile.com/content/neat-acoustics-iota-alpha-loudspeaker-measurements
https://www.hifinews.com/content/neat-acoustics-iota-xplorer-loudspeaker-lab-report
https://www.stereo.de/hifi-test/produkt/neat-acoustics-iota-xplorer-1545

 

[Wes]

there is some basic physics which prevents large advances in speaker SQ

 

[Charliecj]

Have only seen measurements of their bigger Iota series models and those don't really look like "killers", at least not from objective measurement point of view
https://www.stereophile.com/content/neat-acoustics-iota-alpha-loudspeaker-measurements
https://www.hifinews.com/content/neat-acoustics-iota-xplorer-loudspeaker-lab-report
https://www.stereo.de/hifi-test/produkt/neat-acoustics-iota-xplorer-1545

I hear ya. But the reviews on them are fairly amazing. The Absolute Sound, What Hifi, Novo Audio and others rave about their musicality and soundstage. There is only one dealer in the States and I am getting close to taking the plunge. I can only fit an under ten inch speaker in my living room and I think I finally found the best. But was hoping someone on this forum has actually heard them or measured them.

 

[thewas]

The Absolute Sound, What Hifi, Novo Audio and others rave about their musicality and soundstage.

These words usually ring alarm bells in this forum and that not without a good reason. Better listen them yourself and only trust measurements and maximally reviews from people you really know and can correlate to your own experiences.

 

[Eurasian]

For that money, I don't think you can beat the KH80DSP. I love my pair!

 

[sailor2005]

I hear ya. But the reviews on them are fairly amazing. The Absolute Sound, What Hifi, Novo Audio and others rave about their musicality and soundstage. There is only one dealer in the States and I am getting close to taking the plunge. I can only fit an under ten inch speaker in my living room and I think I finally found the best. But was hoping someone on this forum has actually heard them or measured them.

Only an under 10in speaker? Why? if I may ask...

 

[jonfitch]

There are cheap tiny bluetooth speakers that have better spins than that...

 

[Brab]

There are cheap tiny bluetooth speakers that have better spins than that...

Unlike any who have posted so far, I have heard these speakers at a Toronto show, filling a very large showroom with respectable sound, not remotely like a tiny bluetooth speaker. Since I listened briefly and casually, this is not a recommendation; rather a caution not to rubbish a somewhat unconventional speaker based on conventional measurements.

 

[Charliecj]

Unlike any who have posted so far, I have heard these speakers at a Toronto show, filling a very large showroom with respectable sound, not remotely like a tiny bluetooth speaker. Since I listened briefly and casually, this is not a recommendation; rather a caution not to rubbish a somewhat unconventional speaker based on conventional measurements.

Thank you for reporting on your brief experience with them. In my search for the worlds best tiny bookshelf speaker, I think these might be it. I’m hoping the one US dealer has a return policy just in case?

Only an under 10in speaker? Why? if I may ask...

Wife controls living room dynamics. But I do have a second room that I control with another stereo.

 

[Charliecj]

These words usually ring alarm bells in this forum and that not without a good reason. Better listen them yourself and only trust measurements and maximally reviews from people you really know and can correlate to your own experiences.

I’m hoping the one U S dealer has a return policy. Will know tomorrow.

 

[Charliecj]

For that money, I don't think you can beat the KH80DSP. I love my pair!

Those look nice but I already have the new Bluesound Powermide amp so I need passive speakers.

 

[richard12511]

Those look nice but I already have the new Bluesound Powermide amp so I need passive speakers.

I think you can use an active speaker with the blue sound (I do). I think you’d really be limiting yourself by looking only at passives. Actives usually beat passives(in terms of sound quality) at a given price. These might be pretty decent speakers, but the KH80 is objectively a much better speaker.

 

[Charliecj]

I think you can use an active speaker with the blue sound (I do). I think you’d really be limiting yourself by looking only at passives. Actives usually beat passives(in terms of sound quality) at a given price. These might be pretty decent speakers, but the KH80 is objectively a much better speaker.

Multiple reviewers and You tubers rave about the iotas. I’m willing to pay the ten percent restocking fee to find out if the hype is real. Will these speakers defy the laws of physics?

 

[Ilkless]

Neat is one of the worst culprits of the whole cult of personality surrounding British cottage industry speaker design. Complete contempt for evidence-based engineering, egged on by their anti-intellectual followers who make a mockery of sound reproduction just so they can feel special.

You will find little love or apologism for speakers of this sort round here.

 

[MattHooper]

I heard those speakers at the Toronto Audio Fest show: they were my "worst speaker experience at the show."

I was interested in one room but an eager fellow beckoned me in to the Neat room to hear these tiny "giant killers" that "everyone was raving about."

What I heard was the epitome of thin, anti-septic, mechanical, sound. Super spacious, but basically everything I find "wrong" in a speaker.

Could they sound better? I guess. But my encounter was a major turn-off.

 

[HiFidFan]

"But the reviews on them are fairly amazing."

"The Absolute Sound, What Hifi, Novo Audio and others"

"Multiple reviewers and You tubers rave about the iotas"

@Charliecj I sincerely hope that they meet your expectations.

 

[Charliecj]

Neat is one of the worst culprits of the whole cult of personality surrounding British cottage industry speaker design. Complete contempt for evidence-based engineering, egged on by their anti-intellectual followers who make a mockery of sound reproduction just so they can feel special.

You will find little love or apologism for speakers of this sort round here.

Hey I am just seeking the truth. I haven’t ordered them yet.

 

[Charliecj]

I heard those speakers at the Toronto Audio Fest show: they were my "worst speaker experience at the show."

I was interested in one room but an eager fellow beckoned me in to the Neat room to hear these tiny "giant killers" that "everyone was raving about."

What I heard was the epitome of thin, anti-septic, mechanical, sound. Super spacious, but basically everything I find "wrong" in a speaker.

Could they sound better? I guess. But my encounter was a major turn-off.

That would be horrible! If I order them and hear that. Hmmmmm

 

[Thomas savage]

That would be horrible! If I order them and hear that. Hmmmmm

Iv had small neat speakers , great for listening to 1950s jazz records at 50db and listening to bbc radio 4 .

I'd not touch them with a bargepole.