Neon K: Q. for Rick or Frank -- will a NaimUniti be able to drive ATC SCM 40's adequately -- as I'll be looking at this set-up next year?
Thanks!
It's David, as in the signature
I would need to ask a few questions before answering that one accurately. What size is your room? What sort of volume do you listen to your music at? What distance would you be sitting from the speakers? And would you be listening to them across the shorter width of the room, or the longer length?
At low or medium voumes you'll be fine. Higher volumes and more demanding music require gutsier amplification that will keep it's composure when driving speakers like the ATC's which are a little more demanding. The harder the amplifier has to work, the quicker it's going to reach it's limits, compromising sound quality, and reducing it's dynamic headroom.
While sealed cabinet speakers have a smoother in room bass response which sounds more natural, the trade off is a drop in efficiency, hence their 85dB rating, compared to the average 88-90dB.
Overall, I'd say the Uniti will drive them adequately. You could always add a power amplifier at a later date if you needed to. But then if you were going to do that, I'd be recommending Naim and ATC pre/power combinations from the off.