ATC scm40 or Spendor A9

I am also interested in ATC and Spendor loudspeakers among others. Hence heading out to AXPONA this year.
One thing to remember about ATC is they are seal boxed design and their efficiency is lower than average. But I have only read appreciations on these speakers. There are not much negative comments on them. Spendors do also have great reviews and their sensitivity also is higher than average.
You might want to call up acousticsounds.com and talk to one of their consultants before you make a decision.
I talked to Jay at BlueBird and he indicated that Spendor will not be represented at AXPONA, which is a disappointment for me. At the same time I had asked him for a dealer in Chicago area where I can audition those. Unfortunately 2 emails to Jay have not yet been replied. So I am guessing that Spendor sales in the US are doing pretty good and BlueBird does not feel the need to reply to individual customers :-)
Finally, a loudspeaker is the most important part of audio equation. Folks here can give you all the information. But it is you who can make a judgement after listening to them. Try to audition both, is the best advise.

Never heard ATC but was researching them awhile back and they look like the mosr overbuilt speakers I've seen. Take a look at the magnets on the midbass drivers; absolute monsters.

I'll be at AXPONA as well. ATC are high on my list of speakers I want to hear there. Especially the active versions which get a lot of praise. What ATCs I have heard were mighty impressive.

Too bad Spender won't be there, true. But you will hardly lack for great speakers to check out.

As a Spendor owner for 16 years, I would audition the SP100s or SP1/2Es before you spring for ATCs or the A9s. Neither will "kick" like the ATCs or A9s or have quite the bass extension, but after you hear just how sublime they are w/Class A, I doubt you'll care! I drive my 1/2Es with a measly 25W amp (First Watt M2), and they are just sick good.

I second the recommendation to try some Spendor Classic series speakers. I have had my Spendor SP100s since 2001, and for my tastes they are some of the most natural sounding speakers I have ever heard.