ATC Owners & Discussion Thread

[naimster]

From the postings, there doesn't seemed to be many ATC owners, be it their speakers or amps...thought this is one way I will have a good gauge of how popular are the ATCs here. I am using the SCM19 and the SCM50 actives are my "dream speakers".  ;D

[lszomb]

I have the lowest end one SCM7.  :)

[naimster]

Cool.

 

ATC speakers are designed to sound very similar all the way from their smallest to largest offerings, differing only in terms of scale and effortlessness.

 

Cheapest model for ATCs doesn't mean it sounds inferior than it's bigger brother like SCM11 or 19, it's just smaller sounding but still delivers excellent midrange with very good details. It's also as power hungry.  :P

[lszomb]

Wow bro, you let me feel so good even I just own the lowest end model.

 

For speakers, I can only say ATC is the one that fits my appetite, and moreover  it is quit "cheap" in the current hifi market.

I won't say ATC is good or maybe the best? But it really worth the money I paid for.

 

A lot of horrible stories about how ATC thirsty for the power. Personally, I found the new SCM entry series is very easy to drive and can deliver pleasant results with just a normal amplifier.

 

If you like the sound from the ATC just go for it :D.

 

Yeah, I have to say I feel itchier and itchier when I see the fatter and bigger ATC speakers and I need try my best to resist to the buy buy bug. 

 

[aLKayeL]

Wonder whats the price range for those ATC active speakers.

[naimster]

Actually, there's some truth in it....not that ATCs sounds bad with low power amplification. But it really sounds a whole lot better with higher amplification. So isn't it good to know that your speakers have a lot more room for improvement when you upgrade your front end and will not be a bottleneck?  ;D

 

The newer range are designed to be more "hifi" friendly and is indeed easier to drive.

 

A lot of horrible stories about how ATC thirsty for the power.

[naimster]

Some ATC pics to whet your appetite... ;D

 

Look at the driver construction on the SCM20 and SCM19. It weighs 9kg.

 

 

 

 

[naimster]

Another piece of advice to fellow ATC or potential users, if you think you've heard the best from your ATCs after 200hrs, wait till 500 hrs and you will be pleasantly surprised. Performance will go up another notch with deeper bass,  big soundstage and even better mids. I kid you not.... It does take that long to run in.

[ks]

OT:

Is it ATC or PMC that makes drivers for Proac?

[DIYer Straits]

I have a pair of SCM7 and I have spoken with Billy Woodman himself during my i-Audio days.  ;D I love my babies, since I upgraded them from a pair of HL-P3s. No, they are untouched (unmodded).

ATC build their own drivers except for the tweeters. ATC used to supply the 175 mids to PMC until the latter bought over the plans etc. However, the mids that ATC uses have a curved waveguide whist the other one has got straight sides. Proac uses drivers from anybody.

[lobster1624705763]

I own the following ATC speakers from the previous generation:

 

Bookshelf:

 

SCM12 - 3 pairs

SCM7  - 1 pair

 

Centre:

 

C3C - 1 unit

C1C - 1 unit

 

I started with SCM7 in 2003. 

 

I drive SCM12 with Densen DM-10 in 2-channel setup. 

 

For HT, LR are SCM12; centre is C3C.

 

One day, when there is $$$, can aim for the higher models  ;D

 

Cheers,

 

 

 

 

 

 

[tky]

Hehe. I think if you own a Merc, even entry model, it's a Merc.  ATC makes good speakers.  Personally I'm very tempted but pocket not deep enough. 

 

Wow bro, you let me feel so good even I just own the lowest end model.

 

For speakers, I can only say ATC is the one that fits my appetite, and moreover  it is quit "cheap" in the current hifi market.

I won't say ATC is good or maybe the best? But it really worth the money I paid for.

 

A lot of horrible stories about how ATC thirsty for the power. Personally, I found the new SCM entry series is very easy to drive and can deliver pleasant results with just a normal amplifier.

 

If you like the sound from the ATC just go for it :D.

 

Yeah, I have to say I feel itchier and itchier when I see the fatter and bigger ATC speakers and I need try my best to resist to the buy buy bug. 

 

[joamonte]

Used to own a few pair of ATC many years ago...

 

SCM 20T

 

SCM 20 and SCM 10(use as center speaker in  the photo)

 

Still can remember how well it handle most of the music, from Classical to Pop to Jazz all no problem......but only problem is it need to play quite loud to enjoy it...

 

:)

 

 

[jeromelang1624706015]

Used to own a few pair of ATC many years ago...

 

SCM 20T

 

 

wah, your system changed a lot since then.

 

your room seems to have gotten smaller too  ;D

[lszomb]

yeah, very true. ATC speakers are different from others..needs to play loudly to enjoy it.

[joamonte]

wah, your system changed a lot since then.

 

your room seems to have gotten smaller too  ;D

 

And more messy too.... ;D

[naimster]

ATC now makes their own tweeters too..about to be launched.

 

I had a chat with Billy Woodman too when he was in town last year. Aged quite a bit with a beer belly to boot. Otherwise still sharp and alert and remembers his technical stuff.

 

And yes, there's no reason to mod 'em...the crossovers in there are already high quality stuff.

 

I have a pair of SCM7 and I have spoken with Billy Woodman himself during my i-Audio days.  ;D I love my babies, since I upgraded them from a pair of HL-P3s. No, they are untouched (unmodded).

ATC build their own drivers except for the tweeters. ATC used to supply the 175 mids to PMC until the latter bought over the plans etc. However, the mids that ATC uses have a curved waveguide whist the other one has got straight sides. Proac uses drivers from anybody.

[naimster]

Yes, ATC especially the older ones does seem to need a certain loudness to sound good but no need super loud dah.

 

In fact, the newer offerings like 11, 19 and 40 has higher sensitivity than the old ATCs (85db vs 83db) and I enjoy listening at soft volumes too.

[jeromelang1624706015]

And more messy too.... ;D

 

what,... new equipement to play with?  :D

 

need some more 1st pressing CDs to load into your server?

[lobster1624705763]

if you think you've heard the best from your ATCs after 200hrs, wait till 500 hrs and you will be pleasantly surprised

 

How true! 

 

ATC speakers will reward one's patience  ;D

 

In 2007/08, I had a rotation policy for the 3 pairs of SCM12 - switched their duties between movie and music and after some many hours, they began to sound very good and have been like that since.

 

Cheers,

 

 

[Chowbotak]

Besides SQ, another thing I am impressed with ATC is their built quality. When I had the bookshelves SCM20, they were heavier than some of the floor standers I had. The SCM20 was about 23kg each! They'll probably still be in playing condtion long after my demise  ;D

[naimster]

Besides SQ, another thing I am impressed with ATC is their built quality. When I had the bookshelves SCM20, they were heavier than some of the floor standers I had. The SCM20 was about 23kg each! They'll probably still be in playing condtion long after my demise  ;D

 

Bro, they are heavy for a reason. ATC apply heavy bracing on their cabinets. See below and you'll know why they are so heavy. The designs are the opposite of Harbeth, whereby Harbeth cabinets are of lossy type and the vibration from the cabinets actually contribute quite a bit to the Harbeth sound. No right or wrong...just a different speaker design concept.

 

Of course....you know my preference.  ;D

 

http://www.mhennessy1.f9.co.uk/atc/index.htm

[Chowbotak]

Yah bro my buddy told me long ago when he tried to sell me his SCM10, the bass driver alone weighs 10kg. Heavier than many bookshelves liao

[naimster]

Steve Hoffman uses ATC actives....

 

http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/showthread.php?t=181263

[naimster]

Good technical writeup on ATC design objectives (page 4)...

 

http://www.atcloudspeakers.co.uk/downloads/CompanyProfile.pdf

 

ATC pays attention even to the phase response of the speakers (since the tweeters and main driver are not coming from a single point source) and has built in phase correction circuitry in their passive speakers to address this. For the actives, they are of course taken care of electronically. Brilliant stuff.