Evertyhing

Nothing, perhaps a rather straight forward look, but 1st grade finishing.

The ATC's are the greatest undiscovered small speakers that can play a full-scale Mahler with the proper dynamics and slam. Having met the designer Billy personally, I am truly impressed by his speaker design approach.

To comment on the lack of imaging, I like to share the tricks to yank the imaging problem from ATC:

1. Do not use spike or any other material between SCM20 and the speaker stands. Use Blu Tak. I have experimented with many different options, but only Blu Tak works. Take 3 or 4 big pieces of Blu Tak, roll into a ball about 3/4" diameter to make sure there is a gap between the stand and speakers.

2. Use 21" stand, too high the bass becomes thin, and too low, the bass is too rich. I personally put the speakers 5' away from the back wall, and 3' away from the side wall.

3. Placement method. Use Audio Physic's speaker placement method for ATC and you'll get astounding soundstaging, wide and deep.

ATC has low efficiency, but it is not difficult to drive, with a fairly gentle impedance never dropping to below 3 ohm. I originally used it with Mark Levinson 23.5, but later replaced with Clayton Audio M100's. In my opinion, that's the system I can live with for a long while....until I heard the SCM50ASL.....

Well, you know the rest of the story.....

Similar Products Used:

Heard them all, audiophle speakers are sadly, marketing make believe. Try some true studio speakers like ATC, Harbeth Monitor 40, Dynaudio.

Tonality, Resolution, Imaging, Dynamic, Control

Soundstaging - not as 3D as some, sound dead at low play back levels

First, I hate how it looks! ugly square box. My wife hates it too - having lived with goergous speakers in the past. But boy, this baby rocks!

I was looking to trade in my B&W 803, if felt that it is a rather boring - nothing wrong with anything, but unexciting speakers - I went to my local dealer to try out the AudioPhysic virgo II. The virgo was very nice with nice imaging and soundstage and excitement, how I think they are quite restrained interms of dynamics. I asked the dealer "do you have anything which is a cross between the excitement and dynamic of the watt/puppy, the resolution and neutrality of the B&W and the imaging of the virgo?

He said, "then you gonna love this".

I took the ATC home that day, bear with my wife complaints at first, but that evening she actually spent listening to old CDs with me...rather than go to the other room to watch TV.

It is one of the most involving and dynamic speakers I ever came across. Dynamic, pinpoint imaging, neutral, smooth and extended in the treble. The bass is excellent and controlled. (actually the manual says it is -6db at 60Hz, but I measure -6 db at 31hz in my room!) My room wasn't big anough otherwise I would have to buy the SCM50.

downside? the soundstage wasn't as wide as the N803, extended to about a foot from the outer edge. and it sound even worst than the N803 when played at a lowish level (interms of excitement). You have to play it loud! loves rock jazz and large scale music.

Could recommend more!

Similar Products Used:

Wilson WP3/2, Thiel 2.3, ProAc 2.5, B&W N803

HEAT AND BALANCEATC SCM20 IS SYMBOLIZED BY THAT WORD.
RIGOROUS IN SYSTEMIC SOUND BALANCE.
ITS A LITTLE BIT BETTER IN JAZZ & BEAT MUSIC THAN CLASSIC.

PRE: SPETRAL DMC 10
POW: QUAD 606(IT WILL BE CHANGED)
CD : SONY CDPX5000
A,P: THORENS 320+SHURE V15

Accuracy, dynamics, coherence, music step, high power handling ability

lack of ultra high frequency, demanding on power amp

I use Krell 100W/ch Class A power amp to drive ATC. That's a starting point. ATC seems need power (watt) rather than electric current. You may not need Krell which doubles its power when impendence halves. Power amp that delivers more in watts may be a better choice. If you have high power amp, you may need Tara Lab high-end model cables and interconnect to compensate for ATC's high frequency.

Similar Products Used:

KEF 105/2, AR 18B

accuracy and resolution of timbre and timing. Not fussy concerning room placement. Built like a brick.....

small box=limited low bass: were you expecting otherwise? Low efficiency requires lots of watts/

I've had a used pair of SCM 20's for over four years. They are astounding. Don't take my word for it - check out the reviews in Listener and The Absolute Sound (later review is most current, slightly revised, model). About 2 years ago I added a REL Storm subwoofer, and have been very pleased. My living room is difficult, but this combination gives me outstanding results, particularly with a listening position about 12 feet from each speaker (speakers 7 feet apart, 3 feet from back walls, closest side wall is 5 feet). They don't do the exaggerated soundstage thing, but they image quite well. They seem to resolve timbral information without imposing any coloration - which can sometimes lead to dryness or a forward sound - but I'm convinced this is a matter of tracking the character of the source, as there is plenty of warmth when the source tends in that direction. Of particular interest is their ability to project the character of a given instrument into the room. This has been most notable with all wind instruments; on well-recorded material, the attack, decay and overtone characteristics are faithfully reproduced, and you get the sense of real instruments interacting and moving air in your presence. Given appropriate amplification, the bass is surprisingly good without the subwoofer; lacking in volume or extension, but tonal color is good and convincing, and a surprising amount of impact. And while they need a lot of power, they can also dish out some serious impact at high volume. You should try a pair for yourself if at all possible. They are not cheap, but you really do get your money's worth.