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ATC SCM 50A active towers review

Now with 30 hours playing time I can at least state these exceed by a substantial margin my ATC SCM 40A actives, which are quite good in their realm of price/performance, but are truly left behind by the new kid on the block.

Thank you Tom at Big Ear Stereo and Lonesome Mountain (ATC distributor) for affecting the deal.

Expectations for me were of improvement of scale and dynamics given of course larger drivers driven by larger amps.  However, and it is a considerable however, the 50As travel well beyond by delivering a far deeper, more complete and penetrating soundstage.  Closer to that elusive 'live' experience.  And yes they are very much more dynamic, immediate and slammin' terrifying!  But not like a PA system.  It all remains quite civilized and non-fatiguing.

SPLs are there without the shriek or compression.  Nothing sounds overwhelming nor head severing.  This being their consumer line, may be tuned differently.  I've no experience with ATC Pro products.

Naim Core, Weiss 501 DAC, Decware ZLC power conditioning, Quadraspire Reference X equipment stand, commensurate cabling, ATC 50As with Gaia l footers.

celtic66
admranger
144 posts
 

@celtic66

Thanks! The wife acceptance factor is much higher on the 40A than the 50A.

A generous gift to your friend. I run a sub with my 19’s to help make up for their lack of a lower end, but I’m sure the 40’s are better.

My first experience with the 40 passives was at the Palm Hotel and Casino recording studio (which has the Neve board from Abby Road, btw). Lone Mountain Audio demo’d them using the ATC integrated amp and cd player. Simply stunning. Everyone was blown away. I knew right then what my next speaker brand was. I was surprised b/c I’ve heard everything from Oligarch only priced Wilsons and Rockports to more pedestrian Sonus Faber Olympica III’s (and I’s driven by a 300w/ch McIntosh amp!) and Focal Sopra 3s. All are spectacular in their own right, but I prefer the ATC house sound.

 

celtic66 OP
1,681 posts
 

Now at approximately 200 hrs. break-in time on both the ATC 50s and Weiss 501 DAC, everything has settled in nicely.  The improvements while palpable are not monumental in scale.  It was never cold, muffled and/or thin.

Great recordings are superlative in reproduction while lesser qualitative material is rendered listenable and therefore enjoyable, but certainly not 'fixed'.

This combination will remain for years.

 

Ag insider logo xs@2x
lonemountain
462 posts
 

I am so happy you are digging your ATC's.  You are in good stead with some of the best artists in the world who swear by them!

Brad

  

jerrybj
869 posts
 

Good to hear others enjoying ATC.

I have the ATC SCM19v2. Well worth the price. End game speakers for me.

 

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