John
No-one has a more dramatic name in hifi than Bob Surgeoner – he’s the MD of UK-based Neat Acoustics, who have recently launched a new, tiny standmount loudspeaker called the Iota.
“The IOTA delivers a spectacular audio performance from an impossibly small cabinet, specifically intended for use very close to walls, or in locations such as bookshelves, desktops etc., where a regular size compact/bookshelf design may be too large.” — so runs the Iota brochure copy. A bookshelf and/or standmount speaker for smaller, trickier spaces. Neat. (Sorry – I couldn’t help myself). You can see from the logo orientation that these speakers are designed to be laid on their ‘side’, enabling the tweeters to be faced in or out.
“The 2.6 litre cabinet is constructed from high grade MDF, which is internally damped. The main drive unit has a 100mm PPB cone with a powerful ferrite magnet assembly coupled to a finite analysis designed suspension system. The tweeter is a 50mm vertical planar magnetic ‘ribbon’ type device. The choice of tweeter is critical, because the tweeter lends the whole speaker its essential character and integrity. In this context, the tweeter’s strengths of superb dynamic contrast and accurate tonal colour are beautifully matched to those of the main drive unit, creating a room filling depiction of the music which totally belies the IOTA’s tiny dimensions.”
Here be specifications:
- Enclosure type: Two-way bass reflex.
- Recommended amplifier power: 25 – 100 watts
- Impedance: 6 Ohms nominal
- Sensitivity: 84 dB/1 Watt
- Size (hxwxd): 130x200x165mm
- Weight: 3Kg each. Shipping weight per pair: 7Kg
The Neat Iota are available in a range of colours – Satin White, Flame Red, Zinc Yellow, Ultramarine Blue – and retail (in the UK) for 650GBP. No word yet on local availability or pricing.
Watch the WhatHifi video review here.
Further information: Neat Acoustics
