Jensen Neo Speaker

rhinocaster · April 5th, 2008, 09:23 PM

I spent time with one last night and came away not impressed.

It's warm and balanced and weighs almost nothing, but it has no character. Sort of a dull and plodding jazz tone. It also seemed dark"ish" in the tweed deluxe style amp it was in.

We then plugged the same amp into a Victoria with an Eminence Legend speaker and the deluxe sounded fantastic. It had crisp highs and rich lows, and it broke up in a very musical way.

Other than weight savings, I can't see a reason to go with a Neo yet.

I was dissapointed with it after all of the very positive reviews I've come across.

Just my observations. YMMV.
__________________

tdu · April 5th, 2008, 09:27 PM

I love em. Different strokes for different folks.

rhinocaster · April 5th, 2008, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdu

I love em. Different strokes for different folks.

Have you compared them to other speakers?

Pepi · April 5th, 2008, 09:43 PM

I love them too. I've compared them to a V30 and like them a lot more.

rhinocaster · April 5th, 2008, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pepi

I love them too. I've compared them to a V30 and like them a lot more.

I can understand that, especially if you're using it in a Fender style circuit. What is it that you love about the Neo?

Big White Tele · April 6th, 2008, 12:26 AM

If you dont like the Neo, or Celestion century Vintage, you most likely wont like EV's or JBL's either. Has some similarity, but without the weight.

rhinocaster · April 6th, 2008, 05:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big White Tele

If you dont like the Neo, or Celestion century Vintage, you most likely wont like EV's or JBL's either. Has some similarity, but without the weight.

I can say that I don't much care for either one of those speaker types. Maybe EVs as part of certain Mesa Boogie tones.

I'm just wondering if people are cutting the Neo too much slack simply because of the significant weight savings.

I also have to admit that I'm not a fan of the overly tight sound of most Twin Reverbs.

Having said that, that's not really my issue with the Neo. The only speaker that I tried in direct comparison to the Neo was much better to my ear. Even before hearing that speaker I felt that the Neo was lacking.

It's not a bad sounding speaker, but I do think that it isn't particularly good.

Big White Tele · April 6th, 2008, 06:11 AM

I think thats where it gets interesting. A lot of people love a tight sound, thats what a twin is all about. Thats what a JBL and EV is also. We get into trouble by saying that its not a good speaker because we dont like it. If I had a loose sounding flabby speaker, Id say it was not for me. But I'd be carefull to not say its bad. Bakersfield Twang might not be the same through a Greenback, or a Black frame Rola. I certainly appreciate where your coming from, but to each his own. Thanks goodness for all the different stuff out there. We sure wouldnt all want to sound the same!!

rhinocaster · April 6th, 2008, 06:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big White Tele

I think thats where it gets interesting. A lot of people love a tight sound, thats what a twin is all about. Thats what a JBL and EV is also. We get into trouble by saying that its not a good speaker because we dont like it. If I had a loose sounding flabby speaker, Id say it was not for me. But I'd be carefull to not say its bad. Bakersfield Twang might not be the same through a Greenback, or a Black frame Rola. I certainly appreciate where your coming from, but to each his own. Thanks goodness for all the different stuff out there. We sure wouldnt all want to sound the same!!

I agree, and that's why I mentioned that I'm not talking about a certain style of sound here. I'm talking about a speaker that is doing a kind of alnico, fat clean tone but it a muted manner.

More of a response to all of the uber positive talk about these speakers. My friend was even going on about how great it sounded. I fully expected this speaker to sound great. Almost immediately I found it lacking. I heard what it wanted to do, but I felt like it didn't succeed.

With what I heard last night, I'd be very surprised to find that anyone would choose that speaker based on tone alone. Certainly when A/B'd with the other speaker in the room.

Pepi · April 6th, 2008, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhinocaster

I can understand that, especially if you're using it in a Fender style circuit. What is it that you love about the Neo?

I just hate a speaker that will go into the "Ice Pick" area. The Neo's just don't seen to get to that. My Neo is in my Valvetronix AD60VTX. On some models that are a bit dark I can always dial that out with the EQ. I wish my 2 X 12 cab had two of them instead of the V30 and 12H. JMO

dangelico603 · April 6th, 2008, 05:02 PM

I really like mine because I want a speaker to put out exactly what I put in it and the Neo seems to do that really well. I am a jazz player so what I like about it is probably what you dislike about it. However I do love the fact that it is light

tdu · April 6th, 2008, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhinocaster

Have you compared them to other speakers?

Yep. Jensens, Webers, Eminence. I have Webers in 2 of my amps and Neo's in 2.

I love a lot of bottom end, and the Neo's are the best speakers I have found for that. Yet they don't have harsh mids or highs to my ears. They are the perfect balance for my needs. No speaker is going to be good for everyone though. And I am sure there are amps I wouldn't like the Neo in too.

April 5th, 2008, 09:23 PM	#1 (permalink)
rhinocaster Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Oregon Age: 44 Posts: 1,509	Jensen Neo Speaker I spent time with one last night and came away not impressed. It's warm and balanced and weighs almost nothing, but it has no character. Sort of a dull and plodding jazz tone. It also seemed dark"ish" in the tweed deluxe style amp it was in. We then plugged the same amp into a Victoria with an Eminence Legend speaker and the deluxe sounded fantastic. It had crisp highs and rich lows, and it broke up in a very musical way. Other than weight savings, I can't see a reason to go with a Neo yet. I was dissapointed with it after all of the very positive reviews I've come across. Just my observations. YMMV. __________________ __________________ Just because I "Don't" get it doesn't mean I "Won't" get it!

April 5th, 2008, 09:27 PM	#2 (permalink)
tdu Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Ontario, Canada Age: 32 Posts: 2,532 11 Photos	I love em. Different strokes for different folks. __________________ Torn Down Units brand Rock n' Roll My Solo Stuff:

April 6th, 2008, 05:02 PM	#11 (permalink)
dangelico603 Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Oklahoma City Posts: 222	I really like mine because I want a speaker to put out exactly what I put in it and the Neo seems to do that really well. I am a jazz player so what I like about it is probably what you dislike about it. However I do love the fact that it is light __________________ "Don't just play something, stand there."

April 5th, 2008, 09:43 PM	#4 (permalink)
Pepi Tele-Meister Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Indiana Age: 54 Posts: 209	I love them too. I've compared them to a V30 and like them a lot more.

April 6th, 2008, 12:26 AM	#6 (permalink)
Big White Tele Tele-Meister Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Canadian Rockies Posts: 242	If you dont like the Neo, or Celestion century Vintage, you most likely wont like EV's or JBL's either. Has some similarity, but without the weight.

April 6th, 2008, 06:11 AM	#8 (permalink)
Big White Tele Tele-Meister Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Canadian Rockies Posts: 242	I think thats where it gets interesting. A lot of people love a tight sound, thats what a twin is all about. Thats what a JBL and EV is also. We get into trouble by saying that its not a good speaker because we dont like it. If I had a loose sounding flabby speaker, Id say it was not for me. But I'd be carefull to not say its bad. Bakersfield Twang might not be the same through a Greenback, or a Black frame Rola. I certainly appreciate where your coming from, but to each his own. Thanks goodness for all the different stuff out there. We sure wouldnt all want to sound the same!!