The Ultimatum project was a labour of love for Bob Surgeoner. It began in 1995 as a no-compromise design intended to deliver the very best attributes of Neat’s accumulated ideas and expertise, and development took place over several years.

Originally conceived as a single model, the proptotype sported several design cues which can be identified in what eventually became the Ultimatum MF9 loudspeaker six years later. The slim, 150cm tall enclosure, with separate cavities to house each drive unit in an extended d’Appolito array. Employing 4 x 168mm main drive units in each cabinet, the driver configuration was designed to simulate a point source.

The Ultimatum MF9 was launched in 2001 to great critical acclaim and international commercial success. It was soon followed by smaller variants, the 120cm high MF7, the 100cm MF5, and the standmount/bookshelf MFS model. All of these versions adhered to those principles which rendered the Ultimatum models as being among the very best in the world.

The original line up was upgraded recently to ‘XL’ versions, further improving all aspects of their performance.

BLACK OAK

WALNUT

OAK

FIGURED BIRCH

VELVET CLOUD

RED VELVET CLOUD

PIANO BLACK

The ULTIMATUM XLS loudspeaker is a standmount design which adheres to all the principles that have marked out the ULTIMATUM project and given it such enduring success. The ultra-rigid birch-plywood enclosure, innovative baffle-decoupling technology, ‘isobaric’ bass loading and use of twin EMIT ribbon-type super-tweeters are employed here to deliver the ULTIMATUM promise of a lifetime of musical enjoyment.

The enclosure comprises four discrete internal cavities each optimised for purpose. The Mid/Bass tuning is optimal for the main enclosure volume while the HF cabinet is small to increase rigidity and to stop back pressure from the Mid Bass driver adversely affecting the rear chamber of the tweeter. The two EMIT supertweeters are similarly isolated.

A dedicated XLS stand is available as an optional extra. It comprises an Italian black-slate baseplate with steel uprights and a tri-laminate top-plate made from steel/bitumen/steel.

M6 spikes are used to couple the stand to the floor, and adhesive putty is supplied to be used as an interface between the speaker and the stand. The rear upright can be filled with lead shot, dry sand, or similar ballast.

The XLS stand has been designed specifically for the XLS loudspeaker. It makes an ideal partner, allowing the XLS to perform optimally in any environment.

HF Unit 26mm SONOMEX Domed XL

Super HF Units 2* EMIT 25mm planar/ribbon

Bass / Midrange 2* 168mm NEATUnit with Aluminium Phase Plug

Dimensions (hwd): 38x22x37cm.

Enclosure type: Multi-chamber, multi-driver array, incorporating isobaric internal cavity, plus upward firing super-tweeters

Sensitivity: 88db/1 watt

Recommended amplifier power: 25 – 200 watts

Impedance: 6 ohms average. Minimum 4 ohms