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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
rfc
35 posts
 
How much toe in do you have ?
If a lot, try to lessen the toe in.
petg60
1,486 posts
 
Hi,
tweeters do not need run in time, so something in the amp/cross section is entering to another phase. They are very nice speakers and real good value for money, i have heard the passive version.
hedwigstheme
140 posts
 
Can we get @lonemountain input to 9radua1's post?
Post removed 
celtic66 OP
1,682 posts
 
Nothing on this website is biblical.  That said, I have lived with my ATC 40 actives for three years now and found any acoustical anomalies, nasties or plain deficits identified upstream, rectified and clearly not the fault of ATC design.

I had some muddiness in the bass.  Corrected most of that with a Decware ZLC power conditioner.  Remnants remained so I upgraded to Patrick Cullen Crossover II PCs.  95% remedied.  Contacted Kara Chaffee at de Havilland and she recommended a particular rectifier tube to replace her stock preamp tube.  

All problems solved by addressing other parts of the system.

I run about 7 degrees of tow in.  Speakers on Isoacoustics Gaia II footers and carpet discs.  System in OP is as stands except for the Mercury 3 preamp and Furman power conditioner.

9radua1   I hope this helps, calms and/or validates your purchase.  Once you are able to successfully dial them in, they truly are frightening.  The immediacy of attack, dynamic range and detail should all be astounding.  Best of success in your listening endeavors.
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