Decisions.... SF Liuto Monitor vs. ATC SCM-11

[siudai8888]

I have short-listed my speaker choice into SF Liuto Monitor vs. ATC SCM-11, and can't quite make up my mind. I haven't come across one shop where I can audition both, so I had to rely on my "listening memory" from two different shops.

To me, the Liuto Monitor sounds more "open" and somewhat "louder" than the ATC SCM-11. On the other hand, the SCM-11 is a sealed design and it may be more "booming proof" (?) given my small living rooom (see below). The Monitor is a better bargain as it costs the equivalent of about GBP1250 including dedicated stands, whereas the SCM-11 costs about the same but without stands.

I listen mostly to classical music, and love my violin, piano, and heavy orchestral works such as Mahler symphonies.

I am likely going to buy the Naim Uniti 2 to drive the speakers.

The area of my rectangular living room to be used for Hi Fi listening (and TV watching) is about 8 feet deep, wall to wall. The other area is the dining room so I won't be placing my Hi Fi equipment there.

If you were me, which would you choose, and what are the reasons? Would one be more "booming proof" than the other?

Thanks a lot in advance! Cheers!

 

[matt49]

Obviously you're taking a risk if you don't try the speakers at home, whichever model you buy. If there's absolutely no possibility of trying at home, then on paper the ATCs will present less risk of bass boom. Of course, if you decided to go for the SFs and had boom problems, you could "tune" the bass ports with a sponge bungs, rolled socks, bundled straws or similar.

I'm a big fan of SF speakers, and I mainly listen to classical music.

Matt

 

[Pedro2]

Hi Siudai8888,

I have recently bought the ATCs (see my recent post) and also have a relatively small room with tricky acoustics. You're right about the lack of 'boom' and they give a very 'uncoloured' presentation which is, nervertheless, easy to listen to and exciting.

We listen to a range of genres and the ATCs do not appear 'fussy' in any way. Best to get a home demo if possible but if you're going to take a risk, then the ATCs might be the safer bet. The SFs look great but not heard them. The review by WHF, however, does mention positioning out into the room. You may not be able to do this?

Good luck,

Ped

 

[siudai8888]

Hi Ped

Thanks for your reply, and for refering me to your other ATC SCM11 discussion thread. I note from that thread that you appear to have owned a Neat before, which you found some problem with bass booming. If you don't mind, could I ask which model of Neat was it (I tried the Petit SX before in another shop and found it sounding good) and what's your approx room size in which you placed the Neat with the booming problem? Was Neat a ported or sealed-box design? It's great to have your sharings, and thank you once again! Cheers!

 

[Pedro2]

The Neats were the Motive 2SE which are a small floor-stander designed for small to medium size rooms. They sounded very good except for some excessive bass which was too much for me as it tended to affect detail and left some music with an 'overhang'. Our listening room is approx 4m square with a low ceiling. The walls are thick stone and the floor is solid. Low frequencies must find it easy to 'bounce' around despite the furnishings.

The Neats were ported, located underneath. They sat approx 25cm from the rear wall and 1m from side walls. I tried 'bunging' them with foam, socks etc but this just seemed to compress the sound and make them appear somewhat 'dull'.

The Petite sx would probably suit the room size and I think stand-mounts are better suited to my own situation. Whether they would sound better than the ATC or SF is impossible to say as you would need to compare in your own room and it would then be down to your own personal taste and preference.

I believe that we are now getting a more 'honest' presentation of music without any undue colouration at the lower end with the ATCs. They sound great and I have no regrets about changing.

All the best,

Ped.

 

[nopiano]

Given your preference for classical music I would think the Sonus faber would be preferable, but if your audition hasn't persuaded you already then the ATC is probably a better choice.

When I heard sf I knew I had to own a pair and nothing came close for me in musicality (whatever that meant!). They just sounded like an orchestra to me whereas most others sounded like hifi.

I would need to be sure of the match with Naim, however, which might suit Neat or PMC better.

 

[davedotco]

Older 'classic' Fabers were a horrible match with Naim amplifiers, though we are talking late model 'olive' series here.

The Luito are probably one of the last models of a certain kind of Sonus Faber, even the more expensive Cremona and Olympica models are 'different', difficult to explain but they are.

That said, Naim would not be my first choice for ATCs either, I would prefer a more overtly muscular amp, but thats me.

Not desperately helpful but, difficult though it might be, you need to try and listen as much as you can and probably research Sonus Faber, particularly amp matching. Take particular notice of comments about older models.

 

[siudai8888]

Nopiano, thanks for your comment. I was actually persuaded by the SF sound in the demo room (which was a huge shop floor). I am not sure whether the loud and wide orchestral sound would be like in my far smaller living room. Thats why my recent discovery of the ATC has given me some second thoughts.