Setup and Sound
Contents
Importer Latham Audio brought a set of Solidsteel SS-6 stands that fit these speakers just fine. In addition, they decouple the speaker from the floor so outside vibrations have less impact on playback. We placed the Neat Petite Classic a little closer together than usual, about two feet apart, and turned them in slightly. And then the ports. This is the first time this author has used those “foam” fills. In our space, we obtain the best result by filling the smallest port. YMMV
Sound
Surely they are very small we think to ourselves. If only that would work out in our relatively large, open listening room. But our doubts are quickly dispelled. What an infectious speaker this is. The Neat Petite Classic pulls you completely into the music and doesn’t let go. That tweeter is perfected to perfection and does it for us. You rarely hear this much micro-detail in this price range
The other side of the coin is that the whole chain and the recording have to be right. There’s nowhere to hide with this Neat Petite Classic. But with our diet of pop, folk and electronica, it usually does just fine. The Sonnet Morpheus may be in between for something there, too. It never provokes. So the issue will be getting everything in balance. This speaker does not go well deep but bass sounds incredibly fast and punchy with plenty of body. A feat as far as we are concerned. The midrange is open and fresh. This is not a warm speaker. Let that be clear.
Marble Sounds is back from never really being gone and made a wonderful new album in early 2022. Opener “Quiet” is an atmospheric track that sounds fresh and fruity through the Neat Petite Classic. Each piece of music seems fresh off the press and invariably sounds new and shiny. Vocalist Pieter Van Dessel’s voice is a bit more at the back of the mix and surrounded by the full sound of the rest of the band. In the song “All Gone,” the feeling that lies in this song comes through nicely. A great start.
Grace Ives made one of the most enjoyable and versatile records of the year with “Janky Star.” “Back in LA” is a track full of bouncing beats and they come through fast and full of punch on the Neat Petite Classic. Bigger drivers go deeper but oddly enough we miss little or nothing in the lower regions. ‘On the ground,’ the next track, shows that the tweeter can sometimes be a bit on the punchy side. It goes just fine and we like it to splash a bit now and then but well behaved or careful this speaker is certainly not
We’ve been following the Belgian group Intergalactic Lovers since the beginning and find their latest release “Liquid Love” their best to date. This is pop music grand cru and the Neat Petite Classic has the tremendous quality of propelling music forward at a scorching pace. This is a fast-paced speaker that makes rhythm and timing a matter of honor. The track “Crushing” is then another quieter track and here the stable soundstage stands out. Music lingers between the speakers but each element is delineated in its correct place
One of last year’s finest albums comes from Lucrecia Dalt. She wrote ten mysterious songs with enormous layers on ¡AY! The Neat Petite Classic has no trouble presenting each layer individually and ensures that this beautiful music does not sound like a cacophony. ‘Enviada,’ the penultimate track sounds menacing, incantatory and mesmerizing all at once. Each time we discover new elements on this magnificent record.
Compare
We still have the Elac Carina BS.243 sitting in the cabinet (thanks to Servi-Q for the long loan) which also has a ribbon, the famous JET tweeter. So ideal comparison material although the Carina is half the price. The first thing you notice is the sublow which sounds rounder and fuller through the Carina. You even have to take care with the Carina not to overpower the low. That’s why we put them on IsoAcoustics Aperta’s. Second difference is the tweeter which is less punchy and sounds more controlled on the Carina. The Carina’s reproduction is a bit softer and braver. This makes the Carina less critical of control, space and source
But the Petite Classic, if you get everything right, is more exciting to listen to without becoming tiresome and lets much more information through. The midrange of the Carina is also darker than that of the Petite Classic. The Petite Classic is a lot more playful and lets micro details through better while the Carina comes across as a bit more serious. In most areas, the Petite Classic goes further and it should, given the price difference. Especially the timbre of instruments and the ‘justesse’ of the vocals justify the extra price
Hi, having read this review and watched your multi test video on youtube, it seems that these are tremendous speakers. I know it’s been a while since you reviewed them but can you recall if they sounded good at lower volume levels as well? Thanks in advance for any reply.
Hello Damian,
I’m not sure anymore. With a bit of luck they will return to me in the near future. I will test it when i get the chance.
Best regards
Geoff
Hello Martin,
Very much appreciate your advice, dully noted! Nice to know it might be possible to keep my sub relative to positioning (Rel t7/x). And, pun wholeheartedly accepted 😂🙏🏼
Saw the multi-comparison on your channel that included the Neats. Really well done comparo!! Wondering if these would still work well with a sub even though they dig as deep as they do. Considering these for a 10x14ft space.
Hi John. You have to have a very fast responding sub to keep up with the Neats. I would suggest trying them without a sub first, it might be sufficient, especially when they are close to a wall. If not, you can always add one. It will be hard work to get them neatly (yeah, that’s a pun) integrated, but it can be done.