ATC SCM150 Amp and Preamp recommendations


Just received my ATC SCM150 passive speakers last week and looking for amplifier suggestions.

I have a large, well-treated room (45' x 16' x 8') and primarily listen to large-scale classical music — symphonies, piano concertos, cello works, etc.
For me, dynamics are critical, but so are toneinstrumental timbre, and harmonic richness.

Front-end setup:

  • Technics 1200G with Umami Red cartridge

  • Luxman EQ-500 phono stage

  • Aurender A100 streamer/DAC

So far, I’ve tried the following amplifiers:

  • Classe Delta Stereo + matching preamp: very polite sound, but too soft on top, poor bass control, slow and muddy low end, recessed midrange — overall unable to properly control the speakers.

  • Luxman L-595A SE: gorgeous microdynamics and a liquid, beautiful midrange; however, limited in dynamics and authority due to power constraints. No brightness !

  • Auris Fortissimo (tube amp): outstanding midrange and highs with a very holographic presentation, but again lacks bass energy and authority due to lower power output.

  • Luxman 507Z - way too bright for ATC, so assuming Luxman M10 will be just as bright 

Given these impressions, I'm now looking for a serious amp/preamp combination that can bring out the full potential of the SCM150s — maintaining musicality and tonal beauty but with the dynamic slam and control these speakers demand. 

Budget: ~$20-30k for amplification, ~$10-15k for a preamp (open to used market gear)
I'm also open to bi-amping if someone has successfully done it with the SCM150s.

Amplifiers I'm considering:

  • Electrocompaniet AW800

  • Simaudio Moon 861 monoblocks

  • Hegel H30 monoblocks

I'm also looking for preamp recommendations to pair with the above amps — ideally something that adds a touch of tube warmth and harmonic richness, but without softening transients or slowing down the dynamics.

Would love to hear from anyone with direct experience driving SCM150s, or who can recommend synergistic combinations that deliver both the dynamic authority and tonal sophistication I'm after. 

ei001h

@ei001h 

I have a very power hungry pair of Revel Salon 2 speakers that are magnificently powered  by a Hegel H590 integrated amp, in a moderately sized room.  You have a nice large room and I would say that the extremely powerful, extremely high current, extremely high damping factor, extremely dynamic, detailed and transparent, non-fatiguing, lush, natural tone and timbre, Hegel H30 mono-blocks are a no-brainer, as they check all the boxes and  meet all your requirements for driving your speakers with superb sound quality.  For me, my Hegel H590 integrated amp is my end-game amplification.  Happy listening.     

You’re headed in the right direction if you found the Luxman was too bright. The Luxmans and other Japanese integrateds tend to share that character of an elevated upper midrange. Not that it’s necessarily a bad thing, it just requires the right speaker matching. 

Sim, Hegel and Electrocompaniet all have a warmer, more forgiving character, especially Hegel. Electrocompaniet will be closer to the Luxman sound spectrum but not quite as forward. 


Please don’t forget you need to spend at least the cost of your speakers on ICs and speaker cables to get the full potential out of you system.

Lol! 😂 😂 😂 😂 🤣🤦🏼‍♂️

 

@ei001h Alright then my recommend actually is gonna be left field if you don’t mind for the Monoblock.

 

Two of this - https://apollonaudio.com/product/hypex-nc2k-premium-monoblock-amplifier-apollon-pnc-2k/

And for the Preamp you can go for either of this:

 

MC12000 - https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/650200262-mcintosh-c12000-2-chassis-reference-stereo-preamplifier/

MC2700 - https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/650164797-mcintosh-c2700/

Edit: Should've told you why that Monoblock:

 

How about damping factor over 1000, 2000WATT @ 2 OHM, 2500WATT @ 4 OHM, 1600 WATT @ 8 OHM power delivery peaks and sustained at around 1500 for 2 and 4 ohms and 1000 for 8 Ohms

We are an atc dealer we have been using the remarkable coda power amplifiers  with them for years

 

the coda .8 mono blocks sound absolutely fabulous with the Atc loudspeakers

the coda power amplifiers are pure current machines

 

the .8 monos can be ordered as either an 800 watt power amplifier or a 500 watt unit with the difference being more class A power

V2: 800 Watts into 8 Ohms

1,600 Watts into 4 Ohms

Class A ~8 Watts

V1: 500 Watts into 8 Ohms

1000 Watts into 4 Ohms

Class A ~16 Watts

 

CURRENT CAPABILITY

150 Amperes peak

 

the coda power amplifiers are very  dynamic, have great bass control, throw a huge soundstage, and are slightly warm made in America 

and a pair if them cost s less then 14k 

and the matching 07 preamp makes an ideal partner to the amplifiers

 

dave and Troy

audio intellect NJ

atc and coda dealers