ARCM big enough for ATC SCM19s?

[landmarker]

I'm pretty much set on ATC's latest SCM19 as my next speaker, after having the opportunity to listen to a last generation pair here in France.

My current amp is an venerable Arcam A32, which I bought back when they half price back in 2008. It's rated at 100wpc but it's difficult to find any specifications about damping factor etc.

Does anyone have any experience driving the mid-size passive ATCs with this range of amps (I believe A85, A90 & A32 all had similar power sections)? I would like to be able to listen at moderately high SPLs from time to time.

I could think about upgrading to 150wpc amp like the ATC SIA2, but would prefer not to have to do this straight away (especially if it's the silver art-deco version, the older black one looks much better). I would also then have to invest in a seperate phono stage, even though 90% of my listening is through my DAC and the Arcam phono stage does the trick for me today.

 

[Al ears]

I'm pretty much set on ATC's latest SCM19 as my next speaker, after having the opportunity to listen to a last generation pair here in France.

My current amp is an venerable Arcam A32, which I bought back when they half price back in 2008. It's rated at 100wpc but it's difficult to find any specifications about damping factor etc.

Does anyone have any experience driving the mid-size passive ATCs with this range of amps (I believe A85, A90 & A32 all had similar power sections)? I would like to be able to listen at moderately high SPLs from time to time.

I could think about upgrading to 150wpc amp like the ATC SIA2, but would prefer not to have to do this straight away (especially if it's the silver art-deco version, the older black one looks much better). I would also then have to invest in a seperate phono stage, even though 90% of my listening is through my DAC and the Arcam phono stage does the trick for me today.

There's only one way to find out if the Arcam has enough drive for your required listening levels. I would suggest it has. However, if you are convinced the ATCs are going to work ok in your room, the cheapest way is to use them with what you already have. They are not too difficult a load just require the amp to have a decent transformer which Arcams tend to have.

Must state that I have not heard them with this particular amp but I cannot see any problems.

 

[DocG]

Moreover, going from a 100 Wpc to a 150 Wpc amp will have a marginal effect on the SPLs you can produce. If 100 Wpc doesn't do it for you, you must multiply the power to get a significantly higher sound pressure level.

Having said that, I guess your current amp will do fine...

 

[chebby]

Maybe i'm not getting it but what's wrong with your A32? It's not very old (7 years?) and it has the power the A19 would lack and a phono stage that you already like.

An amp as young as this shouldn't even need a service for quite some years.

EDIT: Sorry I glossed over some details there and thought you were suggesting replacing an A32 with an A19 (you were actually talking about SCM19s).

Yeah, for sure, keep the A32 and try that first.

2008 is hardly 'broken-in' yet and 100wpc should be enough power.

 

[drummerman]

I can't see why it shouldn't work.

The Arcam measured at quite a bit more than 100w/ch.

Whether you like the result is another question altogether, as usual.

 

[plastic penguin]

I'm pretty much set on ATC's latest SCM19 as my next speaker, after having the opportunity to listen to a last generation pair here in France.

My current amp is an venerable Arcam A32, which I bought back when they half price back in 2008. It's rated at 100wpc but it's difficult to find any specifications about damping factor etc.

Found the PDF manual for the A32 (page 14)

 

[SteveR750]

ATC speakers are an easy load, so no nasty impedance dips requiring large amounts of current. However, they are not sensitive, so they need a higher voltage to achieve a comparable volume to more sensitive designs. 100wpc would be fine

 

[landmarker]

Thank you for all you answers. It seems clear that it's worth at least keeping the A32 during the break-in period of the speakers before evaluating any other options.

Just to clarify I've read in many places that the SCM19s (and to a lesser extend smaller passive models) really come alive with an amp that has bags of power, and very strong control over the bass. I've also read that some Arcam models could be a little "loose" in their bass control, although my current speakers are would not be demanding/good enough to highlight this.

Another option could be to add a secondhand P35 or P38 power amp, which it seems was a popular upgrade back in the A32's heyday.

 

[MUSICRAFT]

I can't see why it shouldn't work.

The Arcam measured at quite a bit more than 100w/ch.

Whether you like the result is another question altogether, as usual.

Hi drummerman

+1

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

 

[MUSICRAFT]

ATC speakers are an easy load, so no nasty impedance dips requiring large amounts of current. However, they are not sensitive, so they need a higher voltage to achieve a comparable volume to more sensitive designs. 100wpc would be fine

Hi SteveR750

+1

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

 

[MUSICRAFT]

during the break-in period of the speakers.

Hi landmarker

We have the first production pair of curved SCM19 passive monitors which we received in December 2013. Two years on and they still sound the same.

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft