Arcam A38 with ATC scm 11s or Spendor SA1s

[admin_exported]

I have upgraded my A18 to A38 - five days after I purchased the A18.

It is now down to the choice between atc scm11s and spendor sa1s for the speakers. I auditioned these speakers yesterday and I liked both of them. But the local dealer used roksan cdp and amp with the atcs yesterday. so I do not really know what it woud be like if I use arcams to work with atcs. Anyone has experience of arcam and atcs?

Thanks.

 

[MattSPL]

Can you take your amp to the dealer for a demo?

 

[d_a_n1979]

As above really; you need to find a dealer that will let you take your amp in for demo's.

Other amps will sound different to the Arcam full stop; especially Roksan!

 

[Anonymous]

Def audition those speakers with your amp! I heard the Spendor A6 with the Kandy K2 and the A38 and I didn't like the combo with the A38. It seems that the A38 is capable of a lot more bass which made the A6s sound a little uncontrolled. This might be exactly the right synergy with the SA1s though. I was surprised at the difference and you def need to see what happens.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks a lot for the suggestion.

Yes, I will try to see if I can take my amp to a demo in the local shop.

 

[Rich27]

Better still get your dealer to let you borrow both pairs of speakers to use in your room with your equipment. Using in your own room imho is absolutely critical with speakers. If your dealer will not let you do this find a different dealer as any good one will!

 

[chebby]

Sorry to break this to you, but you may need to audition all the speakers again.

You have tried them all (so far) with a much less capable amp.

Some of the speakers you have dismissed along the way are - quite probably - going to sound a lot better with the extra 'grip' of a better/more powerful amp.

 

[MUSICRAFT]

bluelittle:

I have upgraded my A18 to A38 - five days after I purchased the A18.

It is now down to the choice between atc scm11s and spendor sa1s for the speakers. I auditioned these speakers yesterday and I liked both of them. But the local dealer used roksan cdp and amp with the atcs yesterday. so I do not really know what it woud be like if I use arcams to work with atcs. Anyone has experience of arcam and atcs?

Thanks.

Hi bluelittle

FWIW, i have sold quite a few ATC speakers (including SCM11's) over the years to owners of Arcam electronics and all the subsequent feedback which i have received from my clients has been nothing but positive.

What did you think of the ATC's with the Roksan electronics?

Thanks

Rick @ Musicraft

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Rick,

Many thanks for the information, most helpful.

I found that the combination of ATCs and Roksan worked very well, but I would prefer the warmth and smoothness of Arcam, or is it call musicality? - sorry I am apparently new to hi-fi and I do not really know how to descrive the sound using proper hi fi terms. SO I imagine with Arcam, ATCs would produce the sound that I really like.

 

[crusaderlord]

congratulations - i think you made a great move going for the A38 which will give you more power and control and leaves you with an amp i think you will be happy with for a lot longer than the A18

whilst i have never heard the ATC it seems to come highly recommended, i would again say the Neat Motive would be similarly a great choice. that said if you like what the SA1 does with the midrange then this could be your best choice

you are going to have to listen again and choose you favourite

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks.

I did try to find neat motives but none of the deals I spoke to had them in stock.

I like the midrange of SA1s but I am also a bit concerned about the bass. The response range of SA1s is between 75hz and 20khz. 75 hz does not seem to be enough for a lot of music.

 

[chebby]

bluelittle:I like the midrange of SA1s but I am also a bit concerned about the bass. The response range of SA1s is between 75hz and 20khz. 75 hz does not seem to be enough for a lot of music.

The SA1 is quoted by Spendor as -3db at 75hz.

The STM11's are quoted by ATC as -6db at 56hz.

Without a frequency plot in front of me to compare, it is quite possible that the SCM11's are -3db at 75hz as well. (Or similar.)

It is in the nature of small, sealed box, two-way standmounts to 'tail off' like this.

You are going to have to listen to both (with the same amp) to decide which speakers give the most satisfaction overall. I have never heard anyone here complain about the bass from either.

 

[MattSPL]

Also, don't let on paper specifications make decisions for you.

My scm19's are quoted as -6db at 54hz, but in my room fairly close to the rear wall, they can play a 25hz tone off a test cd.

 

[plastic penguin]

bluelittle:

I have upgraded my A18 to A38 - five days after I purchased the A18.

It is now down to the choice between atc scm11s and spendor sa1s for the speakers. I auditioned these speakers yesterday and I liked both of them. But the local dealer used roksan cdp and amp with the atcs yesterday. so I do not really know what it woud be like if I use arcams to work with atcs. Anyone has experience of arcam and atcs?

Thanks.

Congrats on the A38. Arcam matches very well indeed with PMC DB1s, price-wise they are a like-for-like match with the ATCs. However, for all their talent, the ATCs don't excel at low volumes like the PMCs. Spendor SA-1 are again excellent little monitors, but factor in the extra 400-500 pounds more, and vfm the PMCs really are a better deal.*

* Before igglebert and others start having a dig, I really reckon the Spendors, but PMCs represent better VFM.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi penguin,

Thanks for the suggestions.

I auditioned PMC db1s yesterday with arcam CD17 and A18. I liked them at the beginning and thought they were what I was after before my ears started to suffer from the "heavy" and woooommmh bass. Perhaps I should try them again with A38?

 

[Anonymous]

Def try them again but that bass signature is certainly a trait of theirs. It really depends on what you want to hear. The ATCs and Spendors are more accurate, likely due to their sealed cabinets, but this limits their extension. Super-minis like this benefit from a good amp like the A38 as it helps to get the most out of them. The difference between my old Rotel RA03 and the Quad was huge in terms of depth and scale.

For what it's worth, I think the SA1s render treble to die for as well as the aforementioned positives, one of the things you pay for. You're also paying for their finish, notably the laquer black or Zebrano.

 

[MattSPL]

I used to have a pair of DB1i's and recently replaced them with ATC scm19's.

For their size, the DB1i's have decent bass performance but it doesn't come close to the 19's.

At low volume levels the DB1i's were good in all area's, but the 19's are equally capable, except at very low levels.

High frequency performance is a little more in your face with the DB1i but very good, although their lack of bass power tends to leave you listening to the tweeter rather than the speaker as a whole.
The 19's are more balanced and seamless in their presentation with a far more open midrange performance.

The DB1i's, like the ATC's, need a decent amp to keep a handle on them especially their bass.

But if you like to listen at high volumes a lot then the ATC's are the way to go. The DB1i's go surprisingly loud for their size but don't have the impact of a larger speaker. And i also managed to cook the Bass drivers of the DB1i's with some prolonged loud music, whereas the ATC's can play loud all day.

 

[plastic penguin]

bluelittle:

Hi penguin,

Thanks for the suggestions.

I auditioned PMC db1s yesterday with arcam CD17 and A18. I liked them at the beginning and thought they were what I was after before my ears started to suffer from the "heavy" and woooommmh bass. Perhaps I should try them again with A38?

Just make sure the PMCs have plenty of space from a back wall. I found on my entry-level Arcam, an inch or so too close to the wall the PMCs can suffer a little (not heavy handedness) from an ill-defined bass. I've moved them two or three inches farther out and the contrast was almost 'night and day'.

Good luck.

 

[Craig M.]

i find my atcs great at low levels, i'm talking about quieter then most people speak, sometimes after some late night listening i can barely hear them the next day when the ambient noise levels are higher.

 

[chebby]

My friends SCM11 + Primare i30 set-up definitely needs some 'welly' to sound it's best. (Sources = iMac 20" + DacMagic connected with Chord XLR balanced leads and Rega P3-24/TT-PSU and Denon DL103 cart.)

 

[Craig M.]

to be fair, i've just seen a review that says the 19s are better then the other atc standmounts at low volumes.

although on another forum, users report being happy with the 11s at low volume as well.

as always, go with what your ears tell you.

 

[MattSPL]

Craig M.:to be fair, i've just seen a review that says the 19s are better then the other atc standmounts at low volumes.

What review was that Craig?
Can send the link to the other side maybe?

Cheers

 

[Craig M.]

haha, it's already on atc forums, you posted it there!!

it's a what hifi review from dec 06 in pdf format.

having a hard time figuring out a direct link.

edit:

here you go! you might get a crick in your neck reading it.

review says to also consider dali mentor 2, hmmmm, not sure about that! i had some of those on home dem - no contest whatsoever. imo, blah blah.

 

[d_a_n1979]

Just to throw a long shot in but have you considered the Dynaudio DM2/7's?

 

[MattSPL]

Craig M.:
haha, it's already on atc forums, you posted it there!!

it's a what hifi review from dec 06 in pdf format.

having a hard time figuring out a direct link.

edit:

here you go! you might get a crick in your neck reading it.

review says to also consider dali mentor 2, hmmmm, not sure about that! i had some of those on home dem - no contest whatsoever. imo, blah blah.

Ha, now thats funny.

I think the drink got the better of me last night.