ATC SCM40A speakers


Considering the purchase to replace my B&W 803 D3 pair. 

Have read nothing but rave reviews about the ATCs.

Would appreciate anyone's opinion who has first hand experience with ATCs, particularly the SCM40A.

Thanks in advance.

tomcarr

Way back from the SCM40, but have the SCM19v2.

Fabulous speakers. My last speaker purchase.

Ran ATC SCM 40A for 3 years, then gifted them to a friend.  They are fabulous and reveal each improvement made in front of and to them (Gaia ll footers).  
They provide immediacy of attack, space around vocals and instruments, are dynamic and sound stage well.  

They do not like tube preamps IME.  Tubes were too slow.  They can be a bit merciless with bad recordings.  They are not aggressive.  Only revealing.

Replaced them with ATC SCM 50A.  Best of luck.

I run my SCM40V2’s with a Cary SLP05 with ultimate upgrade and Raytheon VT231’s and CBS Hytron 5692’s (latter in input buffer). I have a hard disagree with use of the passive or active versions with a tube preamp. I replaced my otherwise excellent but hard sounding SCM35’s with these speakers, so 22 years of living with ATC speakers. I think my setup (with a SST Son smp) sounds better than any combo driving these speakers (including ATC electronics). I haven’t heard anything below $10K that matches the passive version, and IMHO if you get the active version, a tube preamp will slightly soften the edge on the sound but will give a better spatial sense of air around the instruments and make the sound more lifelike.