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Neat Petite Classic

Loudspeakers

Relative price

typical

Among the 26 loudspeakerss in the catalogue, this one is typical.

A band places a component against its peers and carries no price. It is deliberately the only price indicator on this page: a second one, measured against a different set, would narrow the two together far enough to give the figure away.

What it is

Neat Petite was the company first speaker (1989). The Petite Classic (2022) descends from the 30th Anniversary limited run (2021) - modern drivers (SB Acoustics mid/bass, Dayton AMT) in a cabinet matching the original footprint.

KEY POSITIONING: Neat house signature (per multiple reviewers) is "musical engagement" / "foot-tapping" / "innate joy" - the PRaT axis. But its AMT tweeter delivers exceptional vocal realism and detail (The Ear: "Vocal realism was superb"). Candidate for PRaT, Romantic, and Intimate philosophies.

PLACEMENT: Bob Surgeoner explicitly designed Neat speakers for "real world" placement. The Petite Classic shares this design philosophy.

Competition record

Assessed against 6 rivals across the sixty systems: 3 head-to-heads won, 50 lost.

Where it gives ground

The dimension the engine names as the weakest link, counted across every head-to-head it lost.

  • timing and drive ×11
  • bass control ×6
  • low-level clarity ×2
  • vocal presence ×2

Who it comes up against

Emmae Reginae (custom)

33 lost · Anchored, Artisan, Cavity-Native, Characterful, Intimate, PRaT, Reference, Romantic, Silent Path, Twin Arms, Vocals-First

Against the Anchored brief, the Emmae Reginae (custom) keeps the slot decisively.

With the Longdog Audio P6100M Biamp 2x2 (4 units), the pairing gives up most on bass control.

On its own merits the Neat Petite Classic is the weaker loudspeaker for that brief.

It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the loudspeaker position.

lowest-distortion midwoofer he had testedZaph|Audio 6.5" shootout + ZRT measurements (driver-level)

Neat Iota 2

7 lost · Artisan, Characterful, Intimate, PRaT, Reference, Silent Path, Vocals-First

Against the Characterful brief, the Neat Iota 2 keeps the slot by a whisker.

On its own merits the Neat Petite Classic is the weaker loudspeaker for that brief.

ProAc Tablette 10 Signature

6 lost · Artisan, Cavity-Native, Intimate, PRaT, Reference, Twin Arms

Against the Intimate brief, the ProAc Tablette 10 Signature keeps the slot by a whisker.

On its own merits the Neat Petite Classic is the weaker loudspeaker for that brief.

Epos ES-7N

2 lost · Silent Path

Against the Silent Path brief, the Epos ES-7N keeps the slot by a whisker.

On its own merits the Neat Petite Classic is the weaker loudspeaker for that brief.

NVA Cube 3

1 lost· 3 won · Anchored, Cavity-Native, Romantic, Twin Arms

Against the Anchored brief, the Neat Petite Classic takes the slot by a whisker.

On its own merits the Neat Petite Classic is the stronger loudspeaker for that brief.

Falcon LS3/5a Gold Badge

1 lost · Vocals-First

Against the Vocals-First brief, the Falcon LS3/5a Gold Badge keeps the slot by a whisker.

On its own merits the Neat Petite Classic is the weaker loudspeaker for that brief.

It sits well below the share of the budget this brief aims at the loudspeaker position.

Systems it is part of

What the reviewers said

hand-built English standmount, classic crossover Neat Petite Classic + Hi-Fi News reviews· Tonal body
AMT tweeter delivers exceptional transient speed Hi-Fi News + dealer reviews· Timing precision
wide and deep soundstage from compact cabinet Hi-Fi News + dealer reviews· Spatial naturalness
hand-built English standmount with characteristic Neat speed Neat Acoustics + Hi-Fi News· Presence & articulation
near-field listening reveals AMT speed and detail Hi-Fi News + dealer near-field reports· Micro-dynamic resolution

How it scores

Voice

  • Tonal body 71 from listening evidence
  • Presence & articulation 74 from listening evidence
  • Spatial naturalness 74 from listening evidence

LowerVolume

  • Micro-dynamic resolution 74 from listening evidence

Specifications

speaker typestandmount
enclosure typetwin reflex
way count2
drivers150mm SB Acoustics mineral-filled cone mid/bass + Dayton AMT tweeter
sensitivity db87.0
nominal impedance ohm6.0
minimum impedance ohm4.0
recommended amp w25/150
frequency response hz30/22000
dimensions mm200/300/180
weight kg7.0
stand requiredTrue
notes