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Review ATC SCM 40 A floorstanders.....finally

I thought I knew.  I thought I knew all about imaging, dynamics, resolution, PRaT, all the audiophile buzz words allowing one into the coded audiophile secret society pontifications.  I got schooled.  It’s called ACTIVE.  Everthing I’ve been yearning for has been solved with my new ATCs.  They just do musical reproduction with immediacy.  The attack is instantanious.  Bad recording, bad reproduction.  Great recording, great reproduction.  Period.  Fin.  Ende.

I’ve progressed through some fairly serious talent.  Great equipment I’ve enjoyed over the decades: always the journey, never having arrived at the ultimate destination.  I do not know why it took so long to depart the traditional souce, preamp, monoblocks, cabling and transducers formula.  I hope this encourages others to at least consider leaving the world of so many pieces and cabling.

System:  Naim UnitiServe with unknown serious external PSU, Nordost Valhalla II digital cable, Mojo Audio Mystique V3 DAC, Manley Neo Classic preamp with Takatsuki 300B tubes.  Decware ICs, Patrick Cullum Crossover II PCs, Furman IT Reference 15i power conditioner.  All components sit on Quadraspire Reference X stand.  Wireworld Silver Elipse 8 RCA to XLR interconnects from Manley 300B to ATCs.  Isoacoustics Gaia II footers.  I’m really there for now.  Tchau
celtic66
celtic66 OP
1,743 posts
 
tomic601,

Thanks for the HRS damper suggestion.  Will follow up.  I have a Pardo PSU and it made a terrific difference.  Then somebody on A'gon had a different PSU and claimed it smoked the Pardo he also used.  Bought it used  from him and he was dead on.  It was crazy better.  Sometimes I hate this hobby.  There are no markings on the casework.  Ciao

Jon_5912,

They do lose some sparkle at low volume, but then don't most systems?  I will not say that they got flat, just less impressive.  But at moderate listening levels it all comes together.  I have not experienced my greatest fear, that of an overaggressive midrange.  Everything is so balanced, almost sweet.  That may be the Manley Neo Classic.  Ciao
phusis's avatar
phusis
1,258 posts
 
@celtic66 --

They do lose some sparkle at low volume, but then don't most systems? I will not say that they got flat, just less impressive.  But at moderate listening levels it all comes together. 

First, congratulations on your active ATC's - great speakers :)

The "loss of sparkle" at lower volumes is not a unique observation where ATC speakers goes, so you've got to wonder about a possible tendency here. Personally I hear it differently and am inclined to instead focus on their traits at higher volumes, where you get the feeling they're dynamically less restricted than the vast majority of (direct radiating) hifi speakers. 

If anything ATC speakers are monitors in the best, or at least better sense of the word, meaning there's no added "sparkle" (the operative word, it seems), air or excess energy in the high frequencies, nor any boost, bloat or fatness in the lower frequencies - a sans loudness effect, if you will - and this may apply less favorably at lower volumes. Perhaps ATC speakers this way "clicks into place" better at more realistic volume levels that emulates live music SPL's and dynamics. 

Your observation therefore, from a certain perspective, is not without merit; horn speakers to me inherently "ignite" better at lower volumes compared to most any direct radiating alternative, which is one of the reasons I wound up going this sonic route instead (initially I had planned on buying the ATC SCM150 ASL Pro, one of the best speakers I've ever heard). 
tomic601's avatar
tomic601
13,166 posts
 
 @celtic66 Crap...... mystery power supply indeed.... I know Paul Haynes in UK does one for the u-serve but that would be marked... my inclination is the new core which has NAIM LPSU
... argh

i also have HRS Nimbus under the serve, but I believe you have excellent rack, doubt that would help

enjoy !!!
shadorne's avatar
shadorne
7,490 posts
 
The volume issue is simply that they are voiced at realistic music levels. The equal loudness contours effectvmeans that relatively speaking ATCs sweetspot (where treble and bass are balanced) is a little higher than your typical smilie EQ speaker.

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/Sound/eqloud.html

Comparatively Harbeth, B&W and many others are voiced so that they have more bass and work better at lower volume. Of course, excessive bass will ruin the balance of sound at louder levels but most speakers aren’t capable of live loudness levels anyway. This is the pro aspect of the ATC design - the drivers play cleanly and without stress at relatively much louder/dynamic levels than other speakers.
peter_s
1,348 posts
 
What are considered the best ATC floorstanders, both overall and bang for the buck?   I am very much enjoying my passive SCM-11 v2.  
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