Motive – Overview

The Motive range was introduced in 2005 and revamped in 2013.

The key objectives of the Motive range are:

1) To deliver exceptional performance from compact and attractive contemporary cabinets.
2) Easy-to-drive designs with a consistent and coherent sound across the range.
3) High standard of AV/multi-channel performance.

The Motive range was a significant development for Neat as it marked the entry into the more mainstream market which was largely dominated by much bigger manufacturers. A new tweeter was developed for this range, loosely based on the inverted titanium dome used in the original Ultimatum models. This tweeter offers a very detailed, uncompressed performance and gives the Motive models a level of dynamic and micro-dynamic insight unrivalled at its price point.

The entire Motive range was revised to the ‘SX’ status in 2013 using an improved version of the NMT tweeter – the SXT. The SXT tweeter employs the same massive magnet system, but with an anodised aluminium dome replacing the previous titanium dome. The crossovers, tuning and internals have also been updated, resulting in a wide-ranging improvement in all-round performance.

TECHNICAL DETAILS

The Motive SX range comprises of three main models, the SX1SX2, and SX3, which share many common features. They are elegant, room friendly designs, finished in a choice of real wood veneers or a satin white paint finish.

Motive range models are built from high grade MDF, with extensive internal damping and bracing.

The 134mm treated paper cone main drive unit and Neat’s SXT tweeter are used in all of the standard models. The 134mm main drive unit offers a superb blend of speed, articulation and bass extension. The SXT tweeter is a development of Neat’s original NMT tweeter which was created specifically for the Motive range. It delivers a highly analytical performance, with exceptional dynamics. Yet, unlike may analytical devices, the SXT tweeter has a smooth, unfatiguing presentation which allows the listener to enjoy the performance for long periods.

The crossover networks use high grade customised components built to very tight tolerances and are all hard-wired, directly connecting each component to the next without the need for a printed circuit board. This results in a cleaner signal path and increased resolution.

All models present benign impedance loads and can be driven by quite modest entry-level amplification, making them very flexible in use.

There is also a Motive centre-channel model, the SXC, for use in high quality home cinema applications.

The Motive SE2 is a development of the original Motive 2 model using an upgraded crossover and a EMIT planar magnetic tweeter, which shares some characteristics of a ribbon tweeter. It has a response in excess of 40kHz and lends the SE2 a very natural, organic character. It is available as a special order.