Active ATC vs Spendor / Pass Labs

I am the US importer of ATC, so know first that I am terribly biased. I won’t disagree with much said in this thread because opinions seem to ring true except @celtic66 - which makes me think he heard them in a terrible room. (They don’t sound like that to anyone I’ve ever demo’d to and I’ve demo’d to a huge cross section of people, skilled and unskilled, at listening). I do think they are clean, which is what low distortion sounds like, but the closer I get to people who actually write, mix or master recordings or are gear reviewers, typically the more they like the ATC sound (which is actually lack of sound of its own). Look up a review done by Neil Gader - passive vs active 50s- its interesting.

BUT the thing I can add to the comments above is 50As can do one thing differently than most speakers: reveal more details about what is front of them. I have never heard more difference in cables, DACs, footers, preamps, streamers, turntables etc as I have with ATC 50A-150A. Tube vs solid state preamps are MASSIVELY different. I think active 50s improve the hobby, make a better platform for experimenting as these little changes become even bigger and easier to identify. I don’t miss changing amps when changing anything else before the ATC 50A is such a significant change. I think 50 Actives are a blast to own over time for this very reason!

Brad

@lonemountain  Isn't language interesting?  What I obviously failed to convey is that others who have listened to my ATC SCM 50 actives have found them scary GOOD!  The immediacy, sound stage, dynamics and slam are astonishing.

I see them as my end game transducer.  Period.

@celtic66 Well Im so sorry to jump to the wrong conclusion. Im glad you like them!

brad 

Thanks Brad.

Budget is a major factor in my choice.

Is the Benchmark LA4 preamp a good choice for the 50A ?

Or another option was getting a used Chord Hugo TT2 and use that with no preamp. direct into the speakers.

You will only know in your room. I would first purchase an active ATC speaker. Run it in for several hundred hours. Then audition what would proceed them. Your best best for synergy would be the ATC CDA2mkII (includes DAC and CD transport) or ATC CA2mkII (preamp only). Several folks I know use the Weiss DAC501 much like you would use the Hugo TT2 and are very happy. I have no experience with the Benchmark LA4. I'm currently using Audio Note DAC 4.1x DAC and L5 Mentor preamp with a highly optimized streaming system.