Several ATC questions!

[admin_exported]

Hi all, British expat living in the States now

. Seems like a good forum for having ATC questions answered, so I'll just shoot:

1. SCM19 vs SCM20SL - seem identical standmounts, except the 20SL is heavier/older/targeted for pro use - does anyone know the sonic differences?

2. SCM19 + sub vs SCM40 - assuming a 15 x 18 room - these'd cost more or less the same, so what differences would be expected? The SCM40 doesn't have the SL driver, right?

3. Primare I30 vs SIA2-150 - quite a big price difference on these two in the US, but they are both meant to work well with ATCs. Again, what would the differences be?

4. SCM20A SL Pro actives vs SIA2-150 + SCM19s - preamp aside; you're almost at the same price again - how would these compare?

Thanks for any insight!

 

[MUSICRAFT]

Coys:

Hi all, British expat living in the States now

. Seems like a good forum for having ATC questions answered, so I'll just shoot:

1. SCM19 vs SCM20SL - seem identical standmounts, except the 20SL is heaver/older/target for pro - does anyone know the sonic differences?

2. SCM19 + sub vs SCM40 - assuming a 15 x 18 room - these'd cost more or less the same, so what differences would be expected? The SCM40 doesn't have the SL driver, right?

3. Primare I30 vs SIA2-150 - quite a big price difference on these two in the US, but they are both meant to work well with ATCs. Again, what would the differences be?

4. SCM20A SL Pros actives vs SIA2-150 + SCM19s - preamp aside; you're almost at the same price again - how would these compare?

Thanks for any insight!

Hi coys

1) SCM20 has a better tweeter so therefore better HF performance. The bass also sounds ever so slightly better integrated.

2) A sub such as ATC's C1 with the SCM19's would be excellent however i would still go for the SCM40's due to three separate drivers and the magnificent studio Soft Dome unit.

3) The I30 is an excellent amplifier (works well with ATC speakers) however i would choose the SIA2-150 MK2 over it any day.

4) I would choose SCM20 active speakers with the CA2 pre amp over SIA2-150 MK2/SCM19.

Overall i would choose the SIA2-150 MK2 and SCM40's.

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

 

[Craig M.]

i've had the i30 on home dem before but it was in a different system to what i have now and so any comparison i can make is pretty flawed. i did compare the i30 to a moon i3rs in the same system though and the moon amp made the i30 seem, hmmm, processed is about the best way i can describe it. it seemed a bit fake compared to the natural, organic sound of the moon, although it had a punchier sound and was very clean sounding. when i went from the moon i3rs to the sia2-150, the sia lost none of the moons natural way with music but added detail, control, dynamics and punch in huge doses. the sia and scm speakers is a great match, and in your size room you might feel no need to add a sub to a pair of 19s. if you google atc and forums, you might get more responses to some of your questions. i can't help much with you other ones except to say the 40s have the SL drivers.

 

[Craig M.]

that's what happens when the phone goes half way through posting!

Ricks the man for atc info!

 

[Anonymous]

cheers, Rick 🙂 - so, you reckon SIA2-150MK2 + SCM40 > CA2 + SCM20ASL?

Care to elaborate? I thought the Nirvana of ATC is active + the SL drivers?

 

[Frank Harvey]

Personally I'd rather have the SCM20's (passive or active). As good as the three way SCM40's are, we tend to find that most people prefer the sound of the two way ATC's like the SCM19. Many people have commented on the SCM40's little brothers being more communicative and enjoyable to listen to, even if the 40's are technically better.

But as always, it's a personal preference, so please do have a listen for yourself with your own favourite styles of music.

The I30 would be fine driving the ATC speakers, but there just seems a synergy between their amps and speakers that just works. As well it should.

 

[MUSICRAFT]

Coys:

cheers, Rick 🙂 - so, you reckon SIA2-150MK2 + SCM40 > CA2 + SCM20ASL?

Care to elaborate? I thought the Nirvana of ATC is active + the SL drivers?

Hi coys

Your welcome.

Unfortunately the battery on my computer is about to go so i hope you will not mind but i'll respond to you in more detail later on.

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft