ATC SCM20ASL review - 5 stars!

[nopiano]

No surprise for me that these brilliant active speakers get 5 stars all round! They were one of the best sounds at the recent North West Show at Cranage, and were connected in the usual modest fashion that ATC adopt. No hosepipe cables or ostentatious stands, just a simple rack with their preamp, a Technics turntable and a pair of these lovely speakers.

Full WHF review…https://www.whathifi.com/speakers/hi-fi-speakers/atc-scm20asl

And another from an ‘old friend’ who used to write here too…https://www.sound-advice.online/product-reviews/atc-scm20asl

 

[Gray]

Yes, I was interested to read the WHF review earlier.
Still expensive of course, but a whacking £4,000 less than the Anniversary edition - and it seems that, with these, apart from the limited edition status, all you lose is the 'fancy paint finish and leather-covered front baffle'
We're led to believe the sound is the same.

I'd really like to have a good listen and compare these to the best amp and passives that £6.495 could buy.

Maybe others can say what might be their preferred choice of amp and passives if spending this much.

 

[Friesiansam]

I could spend a lot less on a pair of Focal Stellias. Speakers being a non-starter for me, I would just have to make do, though I would have a good bit spare to put towards a headphone amp and DAC upgrade. Isn't life hard...

 

[nopiano]

I could spend a lot less on a pair of Focal Stellias. Speakers being a non-starter for me, I would just have to make do, though I would have a good bit spare to put towards a headphone amp and DAC upgrade. Isn't life hard...

You could, but it’s a slightly off-piste comparison! I could spend less than the Stellias on an Amazon Echo, and spend the balance on beer! 😉🙃😎

 

[nopiano]

Maybe others can say what might be their preferred choice of amp and passives if spending this much.

Yes, that’s the key point isn’t it? Certainly, the active ATC SCM40 pair was significantly preferable to the passives I heard when a pal used the Audia Flight FLS10 (about £9k at the time) with his passives. He had actives on loan at the same time. Today the passives are £4,750 and the actives £8,500 a pair.

As you’d need a preamp either way, I guess the closest match would be an ATC Power amp, the P1 retailing at £2,700. But the actives would be well superior.

 

[Al ears]

No surprise for me that these brilliant active speakers get 5 stars all round! They were one of the best sounds at the recent North West Show at Cranage, and were connected in the usual modest fashion that ATC adopt. No hosepipe cables or ostentatious stands, just a simple rack with their preamp, a Technics turntable and a pair of these lovely speakers.

Full WHF review…https://www.whathifi.com/speakers/hi-fi-speakers/atc-scm20asl

And another from an ‘old friend’ who used to write here too…https://www.sound-advice.online/product-reviews/atc-scm20asl

Not heard them but if anyone can integrate amplification into their already excellent speakers then ATC can.

 

[RoA]

ATC actives rarely disappoint, even at shows in sub optimal environments.

 

[Friesiansam]

You could, but it’s a slightly off-piste comparison! I could spend less than the Stellias on an Amazon Echo, and spend the balance on beer! 😉🙃😎

Look, if I could have speakers, I would but, this is the way it is.

 

[matthewpianist]

ATC actives rarely disappoint, even at shows in sub optimal environments.

The ATCs I heard at Bristol sounded horrible, but I can't remember whether they were active or passive. It was definitely a sub optimal room as well, to be fair.

 

[Dave_]

No surprise for me that these brilliant active speakers get 5 stars all round! They were one of the best sounds at the recent North West Show at Cranage, and were connected in the usual modest fashion that ATC adopt. No hosepipe cables or ostentatious stands, just a simple rack with their preamp, a Technics turntable and a pair of these lovely speakers.

Full WHF review…https://www.whathifi.com/speakers/hi-fi-speakers/atc-scm20asl

And another from an ‘old friend’ who used to write here too…https://www.sound-advice.online/product-reviews/atc-scm20asl

Any proper reviews?

Yes, I was interested to read the WHF review earlier.
Still expensive of course, but a whacking £4,000 less than the Anniversary edition - and it seems that, with these, apart from the limited edition status, all you lose is the 'fancy paint finish and leather-covered front baffle'
We're led to believe the sound is the same.

Can honestly say the ATCs don't appeal to me in the slightest, and never have, at least aesthetically.

I think the quality/finish is piss poor (even in their domestic/hifi iterations) for their price tag, and too reminiscent of the the BBC LS3/5, at least for my taste.

 

[Al ears]

Any proper reviews?



Can honestly say the ATCs don't appeal to me in the slightest, and never have, at least aesthetically.

I think the quality/finish is piss poor (even in their domestic/hifi iterations) for their price tag, and too reminiscent of the the BBC LS3/5, at least for my taste.

Each to their own I guess.
Anyone who buys speakers simply on aesthetic appeal is a mug....

 

[Al ears]

The ATCs I heard at Bristol sounded horrible, but I can't remember whether they were active or passive. It was definitely a sub optimal room as well, to be fair.

Admittedly those hotel rooms are not anything like a home environment that they are likely to be used in.

 

[Dave_]

Each to their own I guess.
Anyone who buys speakers simply on aesthetic appeal is a mug....

Who buys purely on aesthetics!

But at the end of of the day, if I was dropping that kind of money on speakers I couldn't live with something that looked like they should of been left in a skip 40 years ago, no matter how good they sound

 

[Revolutions]

Funnily enough, I demoed ATC actives on recommendation by nopiano. First listen at a dealer & I was hooked.

I loved my previous Elac floorstanders & was originally shopping for an amp that could power them properly. They had tonnes of character & v detailed, maybe a touch bass-heavy but nothing that got in the way of enjoying my music. ATC sounded through a massive spanner in the world as they sounded so good to me. Ended up making me rethink my whole system & am thrilled with the outcome.

 

[nopiano]

Any proper reviews?



Can honestly say the ATCs don't appeal to me in the slightest, and never have, at least aesthetically.

I think the quality/finish is piss poor (even in their domestic/hifi iterations) for their price tag, and too reminiscent of the the BBC LS3/5, at least for my taste.

I haven’t seen any technical lab reviews yet, if that’s what you mean. I guess those may well appear in Stereophile, Hifi News or similar in due course. I somehow don’t think you’d be persuaded even if they were ‘perfect’!

Obviously the bluff boxes may not be to everyone’s taste but they are finely engineered I can assure you. They’re about 4x the volume of the LS3/5 so not remotely similar.

Are these like yours? https://www.ejjordan.co.uk/project-jordan-eikona-reflex-7-review/

 

[nopiano]

Funnily enough, I demoed ATC actives on recommendation by nopiano. First listen at a dealer & I was hooked.

Oops! 😬

Glad you’re delighted, seriously! 😃

 

[daytona600]

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