ATC SCM11

[Pedro2]

Heard these yesterday at Musicraft in Derby (thanks Rick). Follows a listen to kef ls 50 and r300 couple of weeks back. Never heard atc before so no preconceptions. Must say, we were very impressed. You get what it says on the tin: uncoloured sound with lots of detail. Also musically engaging so could have listened for hours.

They will take some beating and will probably sound just right at home in our smallish room (4mx4m) with the low ceiling. Any bass emphasis is a no go. Will try to hear PMC next before making a decision.

Rick also offered home listening which is a must before we eventually purchase. This was not on offer with the KEFs. I know that some have suggested that ATCs can sound somewhat clinical but we didn't find this to be the case.

 

[Thropplenoggin]

Thanks, Pedro. An interesting read. I've read lots about these speakers. Not cheap, but the build quality and sonic results sound enticing. Be sure to report back about the PMC test: which ones do you have in mind?

And what will you do with your Neats?

 

[sweety7272]

I'm with you on that.....I looked long and hard for a pair of speakers that would work well close to a wall (we don't all have the space for "free space" location of speakers!). Listened to various offerings from Spendor, Neat, PMC and finally settled on the SCM11s (old version, not the new curvy ones).

I've been extremely pleased with the purchase, have them on the end of a Cyrus X-power and Sonos Connect. So a really simple system, takes up hardly any space and sounds huge.

The thing I noticed more than anything moving to the sealed box design was the tunefulness of the bass - I'm not sure how best to describe it, but before with ported speakers there was almost bass....or no bass. With the ATCs, I can really distinguish the tone of the bass guitar, double bass, sub-bass if it's some electronica. This just makes me smile a lot.

Also the build quality is something that doesn't smack you in the face when you first see them, but the quality of the finish on the cabinets is excellent - well matched veneers, and very firmly put together.

So I am a fan....you might end up being one too, but you are spot on with the home listening session - especially in a compact space, it's more about getting the right balance for your space than necessarily the "best" speaker from other people's reviews.

 

[unsleepable]

And can you confirm what they say in reviews about the SCM11? That don't shine until they play them at higher volumes.

 

[MUSICRAFT]

Thanks, Pedro. An interesting read. I've read lots about these speakers. Not cheap, but the build quality and sonic results sound enticing.

Hi Thropplenoggin

If you get a chance then have a look at ATC's professional studio quality drive units :twisted: in the flesh away from the cabinets. This is the main reason why the reproduction of ATC monitors sound enticing

Btw, thanks Pedro.

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

 

[BenLaw]

Heard these yesterday at Musicraft in Derby (thanks Rick). Follows a listen to kef ls 50 and r300 couple of weeks back. Never heard atc before so no preconceptions. Must say, we were very impressed. You get what it says on the tin: uncoloured sound with lots of detail. Also musically engaging so could have listened for hours.

They will take some beating and will probably sound just right at home in our smallish room (4mx4m) with the low ceiling. Any bass emphasis is a no go. Will try to hear PMC next before making a decision.

Rick also offered home listening which is a must before we eventually purchase. This was not on offer with the KEFs. I know that some have suggested that ATCs can sound somewhat clinical but we didn't find this to be the case.

Sounds excellent. I'd love to hear the new 11s, but given I can't afford to buy them at the moment it's probably better I don't... How do they look in the flesh?

 

[Hi-FiOutlaw]

Olá Pedro,

With what system? I've demo the "old" SCM11 and love them, couldn't buy them though, my wife said they were ugly as hell...

Love the look in the new range!

 

[Richard Allen]

D'ya know what, and I wonder if Rick will agree with me here.

In these times of designer lounges that are in fact getting smaller and a combination of "Er Indoors" not allowing anything to sit in free space due to the size thing again, I have a feeling that the likes of ATC with their SCM11s and EB with the EB2s may come back into fashion because you can play them off a wall with very little room boundary issue.

I think the day of the closed box is returning. Be interesting to see if Rick agrees with me.

 

[chebby]

I think the day of the closed box is returning.

Let's hope so.

 

[plastic penguin]

And can you confirm what they say in reviews about the SCM11? That don't shine until they play them at higher volumes.

Whoa! get your tin hat on...

 

[plastic penguin]

I think the day of the closed box is returning.

Let's hope so.

You've lauding the closed box speaker for ages, so why did you choose Rega?

 

[unsleepable]

And can you confirm what they say in reviews about the SCM11? That don't shine until they play them at higher volumes.

Whoa! get your tin hat on...

😀 Didn't know it was a sensitive subject. Anyways, maybe there is no opinion formed yet in this thread.

PP, I wanted to ask you about the PMC, how do you find them at low volume? I understand the Leema is actually fantastic.

 

[NHL]

And can you confirm what they say in reviews about the SCM11? That don't shine until they play them at higher volumes.

Whoa! get your tin hat on...

😀 Didn't know it was a sensitive subject. Anyways, maybe there is no opinion formed yet in this thread.

PP, I wanted to ask you about the PMC, how do you find them at low volume? I understand the Leema is actually fantastic.

PMC twenty-21 v.s. ATC ?

 

[plastic penguin]

And can you confirm what they say in reviews about the SCM11? That don't shine until they play them at higher volumes.

Whoa! get your tin hat on...

😀 Didn't know it was a sensitive subject. Anyways, maybe there is no opinion formed yet in this thread.

PP, I wanted to ask you about the PMC, how do you find them at low volume? I understand the Leema is actually fantastic.

No complaints about the PMCs at low or high volumes. That midrange smoothness of the i series and the Leema is rather good. Low volumes has always been a personal criterior, as we have little'un and I play late at night.

 

[csq2]

Are ATC speakers polite, less incisive sounding due to soft dome tweeter?

 

[Frank Harvey]

In these times of designer lounges that are in fact getting smaller and a combination of "Er Indoors" not allowing anything to sit in free space due to the size thing again, I have a feeling that the likes of ATC with their SCM11s and EB with the EB2s may come back into fashion because you can play them off a wall with very little room boundary issue.

I think the day of the closed box is returning.

It has baffled me as to why they haven't made a big comeback already.

 

[CnoEvil]

It has baffled me as to why they haven't made a big comeback already.

Infinite(ly) baffled? 😳

 

[BenLaw]

Are ATC speakers polite, less incisive sounding due to soft dome tweeter?

No.

 

[Pedro2]

Thropplenoggin,

Would like to compare the ATCs with Twenty 22 or possibly it’s smaller brother, the 21. Will probably sell the Neats on the well known auction site (but only after hearing a better sound, they will stay if the difference isn’t worth it).

Sweety7272,

I know what you mean about the bass; you can follow bass notes with ease. I cannot do the same at present with the Neats. I get quite a lot of bass at times but it’s a bit too much and can mask the actual notes themselves (if you know what I mean?). I agree fully with your comments about appearance too. They are not exactly ‘designer chic’ but we both liked the look; a rather understated elegance which suggests they ‘do the business’. Must also add that my wife is somewhat of a rarity; she doesn’t really worry too much about the looks but is far more interested in the sound. Explains why she married me, I suppose.

Unsleepable,

The volume was not what we would consider ‘loud’ although I have yet to test them on the end of a Roksan Caspian so might find them hungry for power. Don’t know.

Rick,

Appreciated your discussion of the build process and for showing us the drive units. They really are of serious construction and weight.

Hi-Fi Outlaw,

I believe that they were on the end of a Densen CD drive, Rega Dac and into an ATC integrated (don’t know which model).

BenLaw,

You’re right. Polite is not a word I’d use in this context. I’ve yet to hear these speakers at home, but feel that the Neats can be bettered in our listening space.

The problem is that the sound varies so much depending on where you sit. I believe (rightly or wrongly) that this is down to the interaction of speaker with the room and would rather try different speakers in preference to room treatments or DSP for now.

As a footnote, we thought the KEFs were great (for different reasons) but the demo was awful (different shop). Was not impressed with the ‘buy them now and we’ll knock a £100 off but only for today and you can’t try them at home’ approach. We‘re after a great-sounding pair of new speakers, not a new washing machine.

 

[Richard Allen]

In these times of designer lounges that are in fact getting smaller and a combination of "Er Indoors" not allowing anything to sit in free space due to the size thing again, I have a feeling that the likes of ATC with their SCM11s and EB with the EB2s may come back into fashion because you can play them off a wall with very little room boundary issue.

I think the day of the closed box is returning.

It has baffled me as to why they haven't made a big comeback already.

The problem David is the drive unit parameters. Hardly any loudspeaker companies are making drivers with the right Q for a closed box unless you're like ATC and make your own. With the exception of the LS3/5A incarnations from the likes of Stirling and Harbeth it ain't gonna happen due to the size of the cabinet vs Er Indoors. This is why reflex boxes are so popular bar none.

 

[Richard Allen]

You really don't get it do you. Any of you.

You can't compare ANY loudspeaker that is a reflex design with a closed box.

It is absolutely pointless comparing SCM11 with KEF LS50 or NEAT or anything else. Yes, they will all compare 1 on 1 if you take SCM11 or, for that matter EB2 out of the equation. A closed box speaker is one on its own. The only way to ask about comparison is with another closed box.

An example. The new EB4 floorstander is 875mm tall + spikes, 225mm wide and 240mm deep including grilles. The reason for these dimensions is due to the drivers. EB4 is an aperiodic but not all 'closed box' speakers are this type of alignment and will be resultantly bigger than this. The other half ain't gonna allow a huge hunk, 2 actually, in the lounge whether you pay the bills or not. It ain't gonna happen.

As I said in the previous reply to David, Er Indoors has a lot to answer for when it comes to this hobby. That's not my sexist opinion, that's a fact. At some point there is gonna have to be a trade off. Other half wants floorspace?, Other half is going to have accept cabinets will get larger but can be played close to a wall. My wife's exactly the same but is aware that I cannot break the laws of physics. Not even for her. She's not happy but does understand the dilemma that I and others like me face when it comes to this type of design.

 

[plastic penguin]

You really don't get it do you. Any of you.

I do. One type has a dirty great hole in the front, rear, both or underneath and the other type doesn't. :bounce:

 

[Hi-FiOutlaw]

You really don't get it do you. Any of you.

You can't compare ANY loudspeaker that is a reflex design with a closed box.

It is absolutely pointless comparing SCM11 with KEF LS50 or NEAT or anything else. Yes, they will all compare 1 on 1 if you take SCM11 or, for that matter EB2 out of the equation. A closed box speaker is one on its own. The only way to ask about comparison is with another closed box.

I get your point Allan, I really do!

but why everybody do it? Even the audio Magazines?

For exemple not to long ago (May 2014) Hi-Fi Choice did a test between SCM7 (that win the comparative test) and other open speakers...

Sealed or not sealed they all are loudspeakers, aren't they...?

the final point is: do the buyer like them or not, Or do they serve better the buyer or not, in case of positioning. :?

 

[hooflungdung]

i think i have solved the biggest issue on this thread

er indoors has become er outdoors......permanantly, thus reducing the noise floor of my house considerably.

Seriously though, i am in a very similar position to you Pedro, using caspian m1 pre/power

looking to downsize from full range floor stander to suit a smallish room.ie 4.7x3.5m with neighbours

the speaker can be 750mm from rear wall to front of speaker & 1.3m from side ,is this considered free space or tight to the boundaries?

Apart from rear wall interactions, what are the major benefits or indeed disadvantages of sealed boxes in smaller rooms

P.s hope this is't considered hijacking as i thought the anwser would be useful in your search Pedro

 

[plastic penguin]

Personally, for low volumes, you are generally better off with ported speakers. They require less wattage/current to move the cone. Also the internal capacity of the cabinet with play a part, too.