Need advice for matching amp for ATC SCM 11

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Hi, I initially had in mind the Roksan Kandy K2 amp to drive the ATC SCM 11. But is it suitable for the 11s which I heard require more wattage? What are some better alternatives to the Kandy K2?
 
jtein:Hi, I initially had in mind the Roksan Kandy K2 amp to drive the ATC SCM 11. But is it suitable for the 11s which I heard require more wattage? What are some better alternatives to the Kandy K2?

Hi jtein

As long as there is a resonable amount to begin with than the quality of power (current and damping factor amongst other aspects of an amplifier) is far more important. For the last three years i have mostly used a modestly priced 50w/ch amplifier with SCM7's, SCM11's, SCM19's and SCM40's.
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The Roksan will be fine with the SCM11's. However you should also consider Naim's Nait 5i or (if your budget allows) the fabulous Naim Nait XS. I have many customers using Roksan and Naim amplification with ATC speakers.
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Thanks

Rick @ Musicraft
 
My system consists of Marantz PM/SA8003 and I'm thinking to get the SCM7 or SCM11. Will the ATCs work well with the sonic characteristics of the Marantz?
 
jtein:Hi, I initially had in mind the Roksan Kandy K2 amp to drive the ATC SCM 11. But is it suitable for the 11s which I heard require more wattage? What are some better alternatives to the Kandy K2?

I thought we'd answered these questions in your other thread?

For your size of room the Nait 5i or XS would be fine unless you play at wall-rumbling levels. Yes, the Roksan Kandy has more wattage, but overall, with ATC's, the Naim is perfect.
 
How about shortlisting the award winning Harman Kardon HK990 amp? Typically £900-£1000 depending on where you buy, but fabulous reviews (sadly none in WHF) and just picked up the HFC amp of the year award.
 
leonmk:My system consists of Marantz PM/SA8003 and I'm thinking to get the SCM7 or SCM11. Will the ATCs work well with the sonic characteristics of the Marantz?

Hi loenmk

The ATC's are flat and honest. Their (amongst other qualities) uncoloured, natural and powerful presentation will reveal the sonic characteristics of your PM/SA8003 combination.

Btw, the SCM7's are superb however the SCM11's are worth every penny extra.
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Thanks

Rick @ Musicraft
 
Because the ATC's are fairly neutral, they can almost be used with any amplification - the choice of which would be down to the individual, in a similar way to people tailoring a system's sound with interconnects. The SCM11's are slightly more efficient than the 7's, so will get a little more from your amplifier and suit larger rooms. I've not tried the Marantz with the ATC's myself, so an audition is recommended to see if it suits you and your music. It's also worth trying a few other speakers to get some sort of reference point of what's available at the price, with ATC's main rival being ProAc based on the demo's we've done recently.
 
plastic penguin:I thought we'd answered these questions in your other thread?

For your size of room the Nait 5i or XS would be fine unless you play at wall-rumbling levels. Yes, the Roksan Kandy has more wattage, but overall, with ATC's, the Naim is perfect.

This thread was started 3 days ago before the other thread was started. Sorry for the confusion anyway. Let's close this thread and continue on the other one.
 
jtein:plastic penguin:I thought we'd answered these questions in your other thread?

For your size of room the Nait 5i or XS would be fine unless you play at wall-rumbling levels. Yes, the Roksan Kandy has more wattage, but overall, with ATC's, the Naim is perfect.

This thread was started 3 days ago before the other thread was started. Sorry for the confusion anyway. Let's close this thread and continue on the other one.

No problem - when someone has two or three threads running at the same time (in the same section) you can start duplicating yourself.

Ever thought about thinking outside the box? rather than just looking at current favourites or award winners like Naim, Roksan etc, why not explore alternatives such as Creek Evo, AVI Lab series, Arcam FMJ A32, Cambridge Azur 840V2.

For me the Evo is as good as any sub-1,000 pound amp and will drive ATC's without any problems. The AVI lab did retail at £1500, pick-up now for nearer the Grand mark. It is also quoted at 200 watts per channel; Arcam is likewise a great alternative to the usual protaganists, and the Cambridge 840V2 is highly rated by a few of the other members.
 
plastic penguin:No problem - when someone has two or three threads running at the same time (in the same section) you can start duplicating yourself.

Ever thought about thinking outside the box? rather than just looking at current favourites or award winners like Naim, Roksan etc, why not explore alternatives such as Creek Evo, AVI Lab series, Arcam FMJ A32, Cambridge Azur 840V2.

For me the Evo is as good as any sub-1,000 pound amp and will drive ATC's without any problems. The AVI lab did retail at £1500, pick-up now for nearer the Grand mark. It is also quoted at 200 watts per channel; Arcam is likewise a great alternative to the usual protaganists, and the Cambridge 840V2 is highly rated by a few of the other members.

I think these brands that you have suggested are probably not available in Malaysia. I did own an Arcam Alpha cd player but that was 19 years ago when I was in the UK. Brought it back to M'sia, sold it and got myself the Marantz CD63 MkII KI Signature which was mated to an Audiolab 8000A and KEF speakers. Sold them all 10 years ago and laid off hi-fi till now. So I'm starting all over again. Only this time, it feels great when money is not an issue.
 
just posting here because this thread still seems to be running

any of the amps you mention plus the cyrus should be fine

my preference would be for the naim because of the musicality you mention though its less analytical than the cyrus
 
jtein:plastic penguin:No problem - when someone has two or three threads running at the same time (in the same section) you can start duplicating yourself.

Ever thought about thinking outside the box? rather than just looking at current favourites or award winners like Naim, Roksan etc, why not explore alternatives such as Creek Evo, AVI Lab series, Arcam FMJ A32, Cambridge Azur 840V2.

For me the Evo is as good as any sub-1,000 pound amp and will drive ATC's without any problems. The AVI lab did retail at £1500, pick-up now for nearer the Grand mark. It is also quoted at 200 watts per channel; Arcam is likewise a great alternative to the usual protaganists, and the Cambridge 840V2 is highly rated by a few of the other members.

I think these brands that you have suggested are probably not available in Malaysia. I did own an Arcam Alpha cd player but that was 19 years ago when I was in the UK. Brought it back to M'sia, sold it and got myself the Marantz CD63 MkII KI Signature which was mated to an Audiolab 8000A and KEF speakers. Sold them all 10 years ago and laid off hi-fi till now. So I'm starting all over again. Only this time, it feels great when money is not an issue.

Regarding the Arcam, the newer FMJ A32 retailed around £1,200 and was Arcam's flagship. Because of the limited availability in your country, the best advice would be to make a short-list and audition as many brands as possible. They all have merits but it is really down to personal taste.
 
jtein:Hi, I initially had in mind the Roksan Kandy K2 amp to drive the ATC SCM 11. But is it suitable for the 11s which I heard require more wattage? What are some better alternatives to the Kandy K2?
I heard the Roksan Kandy K2 on the Spendor A6s today and was very surprised how good the pairing was. I think you'd be fine with one driving the ATCs. Bloody good amp for the money I have to say!
 
did no one read what jstein said

he wants replies on his other thread and this one killed

not that it really matters since hell presumably read both
 
igglebert:jtein:Hi, I initially had in mind the Roksan Kandy K2 amp to drive the ATC SCM 11. But is it suitable for the 11s which I heard require more wattage? What are some better alternatives to the Kandy K2? I heard the Roksan Kandy K2 on the Spendor A6s today and was very surprised how good the pairing was. I think you'd be fine with one driving the ATCs. Bloody good amp for the money I have to say!

Will we see a change in your sig, iggle?
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one off:just posting here because this thread still seems to be running

any of the amps you mention plus the cyrus should be fine

my preference would be for the naim because of the musicality you mention though its less analytical than the cyrus

I'm having a hard time between the naim and the kandy k2 but I'm more in favour of the latter due to the built-in MM phono stage which is absent in the rest
 
one off:did no one read what jstein said

he wants replies on his other thread and this one killed

not that it really matters since hell presumably read both

You're right oneoff, I'm reading both
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No problem.....as long as anyone would like to contribute in this thread, he/she's more than welcome. Only thing is that the title of this thread is rather misleading (for which I apologise) since I'm also exploring the Spendor A5/A6, ProAc Studio 140 and Dynaudio Excite 32 and...dare I incur the wrath of my home & finance minister.....the ATC SCM40.
 
jtein:

I'm having a hard time between the naim and the kandy k2 but I'm more in favour of the latter due to the built-in MM phono stage which is absent in the rest

HK990 has a phono stage by the bye, though it looks like you've discounted that possibility!
 
the only problem i have is that in this thread you say you are having a hard time choosing between the roksan and the naim whereas in the other you say youd like to go for the cyrus

your bound to get contrary advice

thats not forgetting all the other speakers now in the mix

really youd be better off listining at a dealer at least that way youll have some idea what the different combinations sound like

if you cant listen to hifi in the dealers in malaysia perhaps a visit to singapore for the weekend might help
 
one off:

the only problem i have is that in this thread you say you are having a hard time choosing between the roksan and the naim whereas in the other you say youd like to go for the cyrus

your bound to get contrary advice

thats not forgetting all the other speakers now in the mix

really youd be better off listining at a dealer at least that way youll have some idea what the different combinations sound like

if you cant listen to hifi in the dealers in malaysia perhaps a visit to singapore for the weekend might help

Visting S'pore sounds very inviting but weekends' the time I really get busy. Quite frustrating when I just can't take a drive to town to get a listen.

Anyway, when I mentioned Cyrus in the other thread, I meant the CD player. When I mention Roksan or Naim, it would refer to the amp. Hope this clears any confusion.
 
your probably best sticking with all naim if you for for a naim amp or all cyrus if you go for a cyrus amp thoiugh theres no hard and fast rule

those speakers are quite different though so youd really need to hear them

speakers are the one thing you cant buy blind unfortunately
 
the record spot:HK990 has a phono stage by the bye, though it looks like you've discounted that possibility!

Yes I have indeed. Not that I'm biased against the HK. It just that I'll need to travel 200km to KL to audition to my shortlisted choices. The problem is in Malaysia, each dealer would carry only 2 or 3 brands. For example, one dealer carries Naim and ProAc products. So if I want to listen to the ProAc, I can only listen to how ProAc sounds like partnered with Naim. I can't do any comparison.

If I want to listen to Roksan, I'll have to visit another dealer in another part of the city. But that dealer only carries Roksan and ATC. So I can only listen to Roksan partnered with the ATCs. I can't listen to how Roksan sounds like when partnered with the ProAC.

Worse, the dealer for Spendor only carries.....wait for it.......Spendor products! How am I to audition those?

Do you guys understand my frustration now? That's why I'm depending on the reviews and this forum.
 
one off:where are you based out of curiosity

I'm based in a small city 2 hours drive north of Kuala Lumpur. You're in UK right?
 
yes but ive done a few cycling trips in malaysia plus did a stint in singapore so went to malacca and kl quite often

its coming onto winter here so im starting to think about se asia again though work is hard to find at the moment
 

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