Neat Ultimatum MFS vs Totem Mani 2

Mordante,
The Netherlands seems like a fabulous place. Curious, what's the audio scene like there?

Hi Rja,

Well the audio scene is divided basically into 3 groups.
Group 1) All CD players sound the same, exotic cables are nonsense.
Group 2) CD players make a difference so do cables
Group 3) minced meat, the is a small group who let there gear be modded by a man who's forum name is minced meat or meat ball.

So there are also 3 2 channel hifi fora more or less divided according to those 3 groups. But like most fora, discussions can get out of hand but they are all friendly people in real life. There some audio shows each year. Some of them are more about meeting people and seeing friends then about audio. But most of the audio scene take place on fora. We should leave our computers more often and make home visits. 12 march I will be going to Sneek it is a 1 shop hifi show with the focus on analogue. I think last year that shop had the world primier of the TW acustic Balck Night. But agian it more about haging out with people you know, after the show we all go for dinner at the local Chinese restaurant.

I do think the (visible) audio scene is less high profile then compared to the US. The really big spenders are people who are low profile who often don't visit shows or fora. he most active people are white man around 40 with an average income. I do think audio is relative expensive here compared to the US. Due to import tax and other taxes.

Also our house tend to be small, we are a rather crowed country, so even people would have the money for a mega buck system if you live in a town centre chances are you will have no place to put it. Luckily I have a very forgiving girlfriend. So my audio take up a prominent place in our living room.

The Netherlands used to be great but now with the crisis people are more afraid and conservative and that shows in politics. I'm a social liberal and there seems to be few of us.

There are some good Dutch audio brands, like Master speakers, Van den Hul, Impulse, Van Medevoort, Array audio DSS, Prima Luna.

Feel free to visit me if you are ever in the Netherlands.

Neat Acoustics has made a return to the USA after nearly five years, debuting their new Ultimatum line at CES 2012. The new importer/distributer is High Fidelity Services at www.hifiservices.com.