2. speakers
  3. 144394-2231

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
jon_5912
252 posts
 
How do they sound at low volume?  I'm curious if the new tweeter and/or different voicing have made the active domestic speakers sound better without needing to be turned up.  I have a pair of 2012ish 110s that have the old tweeter.  They're spectacular when cranked but less so at lower volume.  Part of it is definitely the old tweeter as it is not as resolving as the other drivers.  A perfect speaker would be able to emphasize the lows and highs a little at low volume but be perfectly flat at realistic volume.  
tomic601's avatar
tomic601
2,164 posts
 
how wonderful !!!!!!!! enjoy the music. I get some time listening to them (ATC ) in studio, certainly revealing to source AND musical !!!

your front end is waaaay better than many give it credit for, IMo and I own two of the userves w Pardo Linear PSU.

IF you have jot already tried it, give an HRS damper block on top of the Uniti a try...yowsa...the usefve factory case rings like a bell...

happy happy for you

enjoy the music !!!! in good health

Jim
celtic66 OP
990 posts
 
tomic601,

Thanks for the HRS damper suggestion.  Will follow up.  I have a Pardo PSU and it made a terrific difference.  Then somebody on A'gon had a different PSU and claimed it smoked the Pardo he also used.  Bought it used  from him and he was dead on.  It was crazy better.  Sometimes I hate this hobby.  There are no markings on the casework.  Ciao

Jon_5912,

They do lose some sparkle at low volume, but then don't most systems?  I will not say that they got flat, just less impressive.  But at moderate listening levels it all comes together.  I have not experienced my greatest fear, that of an overaggressive midrange.  Everything is so balanced, almost sweet.  That may be the Manley Neo Classic.  Ciao
phusis's avatar
phusis
350 posts
 
@celtic66 --

They do lose some sparkle at low volume, but then don't most systems? I will not say that they got flat, just less impressive.  But at moderate listening levels it all comes together. 

First, congratulations on your active ATC's - great speakers :)

The "loss of sparkle" at lower volumes is not a unique observation where ATC speakers goes, so you've got to wonder about a possible tendency here. Personally I hear it differently and am inclined to instead focus on their traits at higher volumes, where you get the feeling they're dynamically less restricted than the vast majority of (direct radiating) hifi speakers. 

If anything ATC speakers are monitors in the best, or at least better sense of the word, meaning there's no added "sparkle" (the operative word, it seems), air or excess energy in the high frequencies, nor any boost, bloat or fatness in the lower frequencies - a sans loudness effect, if you will - and this may apply less favorably at lower volumes. Perhaps ATC speakers this way "clicks into place" better at more realistic volume levels that emulates live music SPL's and dynamics. 

Your observation therefore, from a certain perspective, is not without merit; horn speakers to me inherently "ignite" better at lower volumes compared to most any direct radiating alternative, which is one of the reasons I wound up going this sonic route instead (initially I had planned on buying the ATC SCM150 ASL Pro, one of the best speakers I've ever heard). 
tomic601's avatar
tomic601
2,164 posts
 
 @celtic66 Crap...... mystery power supply indeed.... I know Paul Haynes in UK does one for the u-serve but that would be marked... my inclination is the new core which has NAIM LPSU
... argh

i also have HRS Nimbus under the serve, but I believe you have excellent rack, doubt that would help

enjoy !!!
More to discover