MONTANA NEO
Three-Motor Mid-Tier Reference — Montana NEO Balances Engineering and Practicality
Description ⌄
Acoustic Signature Montana NEO — high-end turntable. The Montana NEO brings Acoustic Signature's three-motor precision into a remarkably compact footprint — 430 × 430 mm — without any concession to its engineering principles. The 13 kg aluminum platter carries 24 Silencer modules, and the DTD diamond-coated bearing spindle provides the same near-zero-friction foundation found in AS's most expensive designs. The external DMC-20 AVC Level 3 controller maintains speed accuracy to within vanishingly small tolerances. With two tonearm positions and a Stereophile-reviewed pedigree, the Montana NEO is the choice for audiophiles who demand reference performance in a real-world living space.
Technical background
The Montana NEO uses three motors with a 13 kg platter carrying 24 silencer modules — a scaled-down version of the Ascona NEO topology optimised for a more compact chassis. DTD diamond-coated bearing and DMC-20 AVC Level 3 motor controller are shared across the AS range. Accepts up to two tonearms simultaneously.
Design story
Designed as the step below the Ascona NEO — same three-motor topology, same bearing and control technology, in a smaller and lighter chassis suited to a wider range of rooms and racks. The most compact three-motor AS turntable.
Best for
Space-conscious audiophiles who want three-motor performance; those building a two-arm analogue system in a dedicated listening room Serious analogue audiophiles wanting multi-motor performance in a more compact and practical chassis; two-arm system builders High-end reference analogue system; dedicated listening room; two-arm setup
Awards & press
⭐ Stereophile Recommended Component 2022; TAS Editors' Choice 2023 "The Montana NEO proved that extraordinary performance need not demand extraordinary space." — Stereophile, 2022 "The Montana NEO proved that extraordinary performance does not require extraordinary dimensions — it is a masterclass in engineering efficiency." — Hi-Fi News "A genuinely competitive reference turntable at a price that serious analogue enthusiasts can realistically achieve — the Montana NEO is a landmark product." — Hi-Fi+
Features ⌄
- 3-motor belt drive with 13 kg platter and 24 silencer modules for outstanding stability
- DTD diamond-coated spindle bearing for ultra-low friction and exceptional speed accuracy
- Compact footprint for its mass class; accepts up to 2 tonearms simultaneously
- Made in Süssen, Germany — CNC-machined chassis, hand-assembled and tested in-house
- Compact footprint for its mass class — 13 kg platter with 24 silencer modules in a manageable chassis
- External DMC-20 AVC Level 3 controller — the same speed accuracy as the Invictus flagship