Neat - Ultimatum XLS bookshelf speaker

tailap

I am researching a bookshelf speaker.   Neat - Ultimatum XLS is one of my target.  As the price is close to HK$60k so I want collect more opinion from different Ching.  Any Ching have experience about Neat speaker can share?

SkyGeo

回復 1# tailap


    呢個牌子好冷門。What Hi Fi 比佢5 粒星，但recommend 一定要配原裝腳架。 c hing 真有米！

但以50-60K 的價錢，有很多 choices。單論外形，不及法國或意大利 speakers 咁 stylish。

tailap

SkyGeo,
My listen environment have a strong limitation which do not allow floor stand speaker.  The only selection is bookshelf speaker.  I use nearly 2 years research of bookshelf speaker.  This is one of my considering speaker only.  I also concerning such big investment may have other better alternative choice.  Is Ching have other suggestion of bookshelf speaker?

CyberBB

SkyGeo,
My listen environment have a strong limitation which do not allow floor stand speaker.  The  ...
tailap 發表於 2012-5-4 00:11

I am not sure if your Densen set can drive it well! Neat was the brand aimed to partner with Naim amp set. I have previously sent an email to them and they replied all their speaker model made & test are conformed to Naim audio. Their speakers, no matter the cheapest lower end or high ultimatum series are actually not as easy to drive as we think. Naim, maybe one of the best matching brand.  Some expensive brand even can't drive well to their motive series, whereas the Naim cheapest 5i-2 could do it well either.
The great merits of ultimatum series are the great dispersion of sound. I reckon it was due to the two great suppertweeters attached to the top of it. The drawback was, a bit 'hifi' sounding was audible during my critical listening years before! And it is also a MUST to purchase their stand as well if you really decide to go for it.
Think carefully before making decision since it was a speaker with certain difficulties to cope with amps IMHO!
Nevertheless Neat was one of the top notch brand most people normally unaware of.

CyberBB

Oh sorry, my comments was made towards their former flagship bookshelf, MFS.

SkyGeo

回復 3# tailap

Sonus Faber is the one I prefer. Good sound, stylish look. BTW. What kind of music do you prefer? I've recently purchased a pair of floor standing Focal speakers -- also sound great. Focal has some high end bookshelf speakers.

tailap

回復 4# CyberBB


    Thanks Ching share.  I used Naim integrated amplifier at last 5 years and upgrade to Densen last year.  Two years before I start visit different HiFi shop across Asia and evaluate which BookShelf speaker is my favor.  After 2 years research there have 3 bookshelf speaker are under my consideration list.
- Neat Ultimatum XLS (~ 55k)
- Focal Audio Diablo (~ 78k)  out budget
- Vivid Audio V1.5

I invited different friend join with my evaluation trip and record following result.  
- Vivid Audio -- High density of sound but bass not solid enough
- Focal Audio Diablo -- Best performance and nice outlook.  But too expensive and drawing high power otherwise real performance cannot drive out.
- Neat Ultimatum XLS - Easily create a sound stage, Very solid and high quality bass.  Not comfortable as Focal but reasonable cost vs value ratio.  

It is the reason I tends to go for Neat.  The selection of speaker is base on actual evaluation instead of second hand trading value.  But this speaker may consume all of my saved money.  So I want collect more voice before execute my purchase plan...  Anyway thanks for Ching share....

SkyGeo

回復 7# tailap


    Have you tried Dali Helicon series (MK300 model)? Perhaps can match well with your pre/power. Not many shops carry this model, try the one in Central (8/F香林大厦). Triangle has high end bookshelf Duetto that fits your budget.

tailap

回復 8# SkyGeo


Thanks SkyGeo,  Heard about Both Speaker.  But I do not have opportunity listen about this.  Let me base on your recommendation research about these speaker performance...