Scratching the ATC itch...
Discussion
In the last thirty years I've seldom heard any speaker to rival the ATC SCM50As that I listened to when buying my first Meridian CD player in the 80s. They just seemed to do everything right. I've basically been a Meridian user ever since then including M30/M33 speakers, wall mounted and supplemented with a large, double ended transmission line sub of my own design. For front end, 207CD then 500/563 and latterly a G95 all in one CD/ DVD/ 5.1 unit.
I've always harbored an "itch" for that ATC sound though and coming across an ad for some SCM20ASLs at a very reasonable price got me scratching.
They are an early pair featuring a very heavy cast aluminium cabinet. Well over 30 kgs each. I was worried about the strength of the wall, never mind the wall-bracket!
I bought them direct from a small studio who showed me a receipt for a recent "calibration". They were "well-used" but working perfectly. Given the low asking price I reasoned that after a suitable refurb I could sell them on at a profit if I didn't get on with them.
They were duly stripped down and both the cabs and the ridiculously thick baffles have been titivated and professionally sprayed.
As regards the sound it seems like for the most part that someone has stolen my CDs and replaced them with different ones. There is more "space" between the instruments. Reverb on vocals or snare can be heard fading into the distance for miles. Whole new instruments sometimes appear.
The ATC "effect" isn't universal, some of my favourite CDs still sound as flat as ever. I'll still play them though.
I'm listening to more music than ever during the lockdown. Buying new CDs including the Crusaders and Little Feat. Re-discovering artists like Tracy Chapman and Supertramp. "Crime of the Century" is epic.
All that remains now is to sneak in some SCM50As when SWMBO is looking the other way.
[pic]
I've always harbored an "itch" for that ATC sound though and coming across an ad for some SCM20ASLs at a very reasonable price got me scratching.
They are an early pair featuring a very heavy cast aluminium cabinet. Well over 30 kgs each. I was worried about the strength of the wall, never mind the wall-bracket!
I bought them direct from a small studio who showed me a receipt for a recent "calibration". They were "well-used" but working perfectly. Given the low asking price I reasoned that after a suitable refurb I could sell them on at a profit if I didn't get on with them.
They were duly stripped down and both the cabs and the ridiculously thick baffles have been titivated and professionally sprayed.
As regards the sound it seems like for the most part that someone has stolen my CDs and replaced them with different ones. There is more "space" between the instruments. Reverb on vocals or snare can be heard fading into the distance for miles. Whole new instruments sometimes appear.
The ATC "effect" isn't universal, some of my favourite CDs still sound as flat as ever. I'll still play them though.
I'm listening to more music than ever during the lockdown. Buying new CDs including the Crusaders and Little Feat. Re-discovering artists like Tracy Chapman and Supertramp. "Crime of the Century" is epic.
All that remains now is to sneak in some SCM50As when SWMBO is looking the other way.
[pic]
spyder dryver said:
In the last thirty years I've seldom heard any speaker to rival the ATC SCM50As that I listened to when buying my first Meridian CD player in the 80s.
Ah yes, this brings back memories of my old ATC SCM50 Actives, fed through a Michell Gyrodec and Audio Innovations valve pre-amp. Some sort of step up device from the turntable too, but I forget.Fantastic active speakers, weighed a tonne, and not that pretty, but utterly bomb proof and I should never have sold them.
I remember playing "True Faith" by New Order at full chat in my living room at a New Year party and everyone leaping around like crazy, and the ATC's didn't even break sweat. Wonderful bits of kit.
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