Neat Acoustics, Barnard Castle November 25, 2009. Neat Acoustics is pleased to announce the launch of the PETITE SX. The PETITE SX is the fourth generation of the PETITE — a loudspeaker that has been delivering a thoroughly insightful musical performance for 20 years. The PETITE will be available from December 2009.
In common with its larger ‘brother’ the ELITE SX — and unlike traditional bass reflex designs — the PETITE SX incorporates an innovative staggered port-tuning design. A 32mm diameter port on the rear of the cabinet has a narrow operating band centred on 40Hz. An additional 50mm diameter port, also mounted on the rear of the cabinet, is tuned higher over a wider operating band.
Click on one of the two images below and it will open to print resolution that can be saved
no images were found
This intelligently voiced system delivers a very convincing full-bodied bass performance; far more impressive than might be expected for an enclosure of these dimensions. However, for small rooms the larger ports may be closed using the supplied open-cell foam bungs. This alternative tuning delivers a low-end that may seem overdamped in larger rooms but which is remarkably believable and enjoyable in smaller ones.
The main drive unit is the latest version of that used in Neat’s reference Ultimatum range. This unit has a 6.5in doped paper cone, a ferrite magnet assembly and a vented voice coil to enable high power handling without compression.
The new 25mm tweeter is a soft-fabric dome type with internal damping and a non-resonant chamber. Neat believe that 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 match the similar virtues of the mid/bass unit.
As with all Neat loudspeakers the crossover, though simple in execution, is the result of painstaking development. Neat prefer to judge all aspects of tuning and voicing by ear, rather than referring to measurements. This is an iterative process, which takes time.
The crossover in the PETITE SX is a simple three-element type utilising low-loss air-core inductors and a high-grade polypropylene capacitor. The slopes are first order (Bass/midrange) and second order (HF). All crossover components are specified within very tight tolerances in order to ensure excellent pair matching.
The cabinet is precisely manufactured from selected MDF — not all MDF is created equal — balance veneered and includes bitumen-composite damping panels. The result is a rigid, quiet inert cabinet complimenting the high quality drive units. A well optimised system.
Specifications
Bass/Mid Unit: 6.5in Doped Paper Cone
HF Unit: 25mm Soft Fabric Dome
Enclosure: Two-way bass reflex, staggered tuning
Recommended amplifier power: 25 – 200 watts
Impedance: 8 Ohms nominal (6 Ohms minimum)
Sensitivity: 86 dB for 1 watt
Size (hxwxd): 31x20x18cm
