Speakers for CA 840a V2 : ATC SCM 11, ATC 19 or Dynaudio Focus140

[admin_exported]

I recently got th integrated amp: CA 840A v2 and I'll getting between this 3 options:

Atc 11

Atc 19

Dynaudio Focus 140

The speakers will be near the wall, maximum distance 20cm. And the room could be 7x3.

I know Atc are sealed boxed and Dyns has rear bass reflex.

The prices I've found for the atc11 and Dyns, are the same, and for the 19 maybe 300 eur more.

What do you think what should I do?

Thank u

 

[Craig M.]

Going that close to a rear wall? Discount the Dyns. I had the Focus 110s, they needed to be about 50cm from the rear wall or the bass gets very thick. You also could barely have chosen speakers that sound more different from each other (I replaced my 110s with SCM19s).

 

[MUSICRAFT]

Hi rsantist

Firstly what you should do (if possible) is to listen to all three models.

Anyway, SCM11's and SCM19 monitors will be the easiest to position. All things being equal and particularly given the 300 Euro price difference then SCM19's. I posted some of the following earlier on giving some of my views on SCM11 & SCM19's -

With SCM7 and SCM11 monitors ATC give an exceedingly good taste of what they are capable of however starting with SCM19's ATC well and truly push the button and significantly raise the game of their monitors. Even though SCM19 monitors use the same dimension (150mm) Mid/LF drive unit as SCM11's however this Mid/LF drive unit (the first in ATC's range of monitors) incorporates ATC's state of the art ultra low distortion SLMT (Super Linear Magnet Technology) in a massively engineered and built assembly (which is also used in SCM20ASL Professional monitors). To put this into perpective the SLMT drive unit weighs more then a complete SCM11! In practically every area below HF SCM19's more or less show SCM11's a clean pair of heels.

Listening to SCM11's and SCM19's using Naim's SuperUniti a track i used was Tere Bina Zindagi Se (Lata Mangeshkar). Even with this simple and old recording as good as SCM11's are however the SCM11's didn't have the same scale, depth, weight, dynamics, resolution, precision, focus etc. and overall sounded veiled in comparision to SCM19's. After hearing SCM19's there is no going back to SCM11's. Simple

Fwiw, i feel SCM19 monitors are probably the finest VFM passive bookshelf speakers currently available on the market regardless of price.

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

 

[Anonymous]

Thank you both, and Do you think the 840a is enough for that speakers? i mean in quality sound and power.

Because if not, I can get a cheaper speakers.

And a pair of chario 1000mk that have the bass reflex at the bottom?

Musicraft, I read a lot of interesting comments from you in the Forum, thank you.

 

[MUSICRAFT]

Hi rsantist

Your welcome.

I would the 840A V2 has got good quality of power and performance to be paired with SCM19 monitors. Although please try and audition.

Btw, please refer to page 10 for an explaination of SLMT http://www.atcloudspeakers.co.uk/downloads/CompanyProfile.pdf

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

 

[Anonymous]

Finally, I've decided for the ATC SCM 11. In a few weeks I'll show you my feelings with the equipment:

CA 840A V2

DAC : SMSL 1950+...

ATC SCM 11

speaker cable : Chord Carnival silversecreen.

:dance:

 

[BenLaw]

Good choice

I look forward to your thoughts.

 

[Anonymous]

Any of you has any experience in CA 840A V2 ?

I just checked it yesterday with the atc scm 11, and I can see the volume of the amp, rises up easily. I mean, the volume about 2 o'clock and the sound is not too loud, you can listen easily. Is that normal ?

 

[Ketan Bharadia]

I wouldn't worry too much about where the volume control ends up as long as the sound isn't distorting. It's likley the the ATC's relatively low sensitivity means you have to push the amp that bit harder to get the kind of listening levels you want. The SCM11s also stay composed when pushed hard, so listening levels tend to creep up, anyway. Hope you enjoy them. We've used a pair for years now and are still impressed everytime we have a listen.

 

[Anonymous]

I'd like to resume my feeling vs the new equipment:

Although I have to put he volume control quite up ( about 2pm ) , the soundstage is good and the bass is controlled. Mainly, I can listen a sweet sound maybe for the DAC behaviour ( an SMSL Chinese in ebay, very cheap ). The sound don't make me feel tired, and you can listen several hours without a headache.

I like their dry bass and the sweet treble.

So , for the money I paid, for instance, I can say I am very happy for the new 2nd equipment.

Thank you for all your comments.

 

[ebentjerodt]

Hi Rsantist,

I have had the SCM 11 wiht a Roksan Caspian and have had the same problem. the volume pot was at 2 o´clock to get the volume I liked. later I change to 19 and was the same. ATC like power.

a funny think that happens to me last week is that I bought the Chordette QuteHD and in comparasion to the volume form the OLIVE 06 (I have it conected directely (RCA) and trought the DAC) the QuteHD is 3 numbers lowder in the digital volume of the Diablo compared to the Olive.

sometimes the CDO or DAC can make a huge diference on the volume.

kr

Edurdo

 

[drummerman]

... Even though SCM19 monitors use the same dimension (150mm) Mid/LF drive unit as SCM11's however this Mid/LF drive unit (the first in ATC's range of monitors) incorporates ATC's state of the art ultra low distortion SLMT (Super Linear Magnet Technology) in a massively engineered and built assembly (which is also used in SCM20ASL Professional monitors). To put this into perpective the SLMT drive unit weighs more then a complete SCM11! In practically every area below HF SCM19's more or less show SCM11's a clean pair of heels.

Rick @ Musicraft

Speaker design is always a compromise. Whilst a closed box is arguably the better solution than having a reflex port or line, it also usually reduces sensitivity. That, in ATC's case is further exhagerated by the magnet design and probably the crossover. Its sensitivity is mediocre which, in some part explains why such a huge magnet is necessary in the first place ... power handling. It needs lots to achieve the same levels as some other, similar sized but ported designs.

Furthermore, the large magnet assembly arguably creates a highly reflective point right where you least need it ... behind the driver. Others try to get around this issue by using neodynium magnets for the bass drivers, often in unusual ways such as some of B&W's Diamond Series which places twin such magnets inside the voice coil to minimize footprint and to reduce distortion and improve field symmetry. Some use drivers with underhung magnet systems and/or 'wide open' spiders and PMC has even been known to damp the spider outriggers with absorbing materials.

I'm not saying the ATC are bad speakers but there are always trade-offs. - Simply looking at the specifications of the 19 (or even the 11), I would look for an amplifier with at least 150w/ch, such as ATC's own to fully exploit musical peaks at volume. Better still more though the Cambridge may just be enough if used sensibly. Otherwise, they are probably not to much hassle for an amplifier.

I also agree that compared to some others, ATC, materially speaking seem to offer a lot especially considering they develop their own drivers whereas others often use of the shelf units (or 'made to spec' ones) from one of the larger specialists. One is not necesseraly better than the other but it must have increased development cost for ATC, at least initially.

regards

 

[plastic penguin]

Hi Rsantist,

I have had the SCM 11 wiht a Roksan Caspian and have had the same problem. the volume pot was at 2 o´clock to get the volume I liked. later I change to 19 and was the same. ATC like power.

kr

Edurdo

If I had said that I would've been 'ganged-up on', some claiming that ATCs are easier to drive than MAs. Anyone who claims that clearly haven't had much experience with the brand. :shhh:

 

[drummerman]

Hi Rsantist,

I have had the SCM 11 wiht a Roksan Caspian and have had the same problem. the volume pot was at 2 o´clock to get the volume I liked. later I change to 19 and was the same. ATC like power.

kr

Edurdo

If I had said that I would've been 'ganged-up on', some claiming that ATCs are easier to drive than MAs. Anyone who claims that clearly haven't had much experience with the brand. :shhh:

PP, the smaller ATC's ie the ones mentioned here are easy to drive, arguably more so than many other, price comparable speakers. They dont pose much of a problem regarding load to any decently made amplifier but they do require volts to go loud.

regards

 

[plastic penguin]

Hi Rsantist,

I have had the SCM 11 wiht a Roksan Caspian and have had the same problem. the volume pot was at 2 o´clock to get the volume I liked. later I change to 19 and was the same. ATC like power.

kr

Edurdo

If I had said that I would've been 'ganged-up on', some claiming that ATCs are easier to drive than MAs. Anyone who claims that clearly haven't had much experience with the brand. :shhh:

PP, the smaller ATC's ie the ones mentioned here are easy to drive, arguably more so than many other, price comparable speakers. They dont pose much of a problem regarding load to any decently made amplifier but they do require volts to go loud.

regards

Need I say more...