ATC's SCM 7- joyous!

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Perhaps I should give the SCM 7s a try again this time on my Nait.

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Even if all Naits sound more powerful than they are I believe the Nait5 is simply to small for the ATCs. It might sound ok but a speaker with both a kinder impedance and higher sensitivity will be a better match IMO.

I bought a pair of SCM7's a few months ago used,mainly because of their size and being a sealed box,as I was having bass problems with my ported Royd Doublets.
I can honestly that they are one the best speakers I have ever heard,and the lack of any real bass is not really a problem for me as what they produce is tight and fast with perfect pitch and timing.
I'm using mine on Linn Kan stands,but I have just bought a pair of Target Reference 4's to try out.........sound better on the Kan stands to me.

Paul.

"Of course, in a bigger room than mine-- you'll probably want one of the company's bigger speakers.

I am quite happy with them so far, and I highly recommend that those wanting either a standmout pinch-hitter, or a main speaker in a not-too-big room give the lil' ATC's a listen.

A beautifully musical speaker" onlythat

I agree with your opinion regarding the SCM7's.
Very underrated speaker that sounds good in a larger room as well, mine is 1,000 sq ft. Go up well against the wall.

John: is your room 1000 square feet, or 1000 cubic feet? I can imagine SCM7's working just dandy in a room of 1000 cubic feet. In a room of 1000 square feet you'd almost need a telescope just to see 'em!

Jim

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Originally posted by Buffy:
I shall find out soon. Also giving PMC DB1 a listen. (Hifi News recommended system - Nait5/DB1)

Buffy

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Good luck in your search.

"is your room 1000 square feet, or 1000 cubic feet? I can imagine SCM7's working just dandy in a room of 1000 cubic feet. In a room of 1000 square feet you'd almost need a telescope just to see 'em!"

The room is really about 1,000 sq. ft. The room where the hi-fi and speakers are located is about 25 X 24, it also has a pool table and 13 foot long bar. This room is open to a room that has my records and a home theatre, this room is 17 X 18. Behind the bar is a storage room that is about 12 X 17. Here's a downsized photo to give you an idea.

The speakers really do produce a very satisfying and tuneful bass and I've never felt a yearning for anything more in that department. In fact,having the speakers in a large room mounted 5 feet off the floor helps the bass develop in a way they wouldn't in a smaller room.

[This message was edited by John Gilleran on WEDNESDAY 20 August 2003 at 18:06.]

So a question or two--

First, grilles on or off??

Second-- if i like the little SCM 7's and I want to try the bigger boys, do you go for the SCM 12's or the active 10's?

Before you answer that one, know that I JUST GOT my nearly new 202/NAPSC/200, which sounds wonderful-- so getting a pair of active 10's would mean either just using the 202 and maybe buying a hi-cap with the money from the sale of the amp--

or buying one of the new baby ATC pre's to use. This would mean selling my NAIM stuff ALREADY (which i just friggin' got!!! but at a good price, thankfully) (and which sounds great I might add).


Getting a pair of SCM 12's would mean just selling the 7's and upgrading. Simpler? Yes. But if their pre is as great as their speakers... maybe a CDX2/ATC pre would be amazing.

Let me know.

I much prefer the sound of mine with the grill's off.
Andrew,do the active 10's work ok near walls like the 7's?
Considering how good the passive 7's are I am very tempeted as well to hunt down a pair for a listen......not shure about the pro looking cabinets though

Paul.

[This message was edited by quickie on WEDNESDAY 20 August 2003 at 17:41.]

I spoke with the reps of ATC in the states, flat earth audio.

They told me that if you have a "good Naim system" you might want to check out the SCM 12, as they work really well with Naim stuff (as good as 7's) and that will save you having to ditch your system for an ATC pre with active speakers etc.

She says the 12's are basically a 7 with more scale and bass. Souds good to me!

David

Passive ATCs are very good speakers, but I agree with those who say ATC actives are where the action really is. (I have active 10s.)

They will work very happily with a Naim pre - a dealer can make up the required DIN to twin XLR cables, or Chord will sell you some. You will need a hicap for the pre, however.

They work close to a wall, as well...

-- Ian

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Buffy:


I auditioned the ATC SCM 7s at the beginning of the year on my previous non-naim system and I thought they were
- lightning fast
- very musical
- and sounded bigger than they looked.


You later said this:

The SCM7s are slow (sorry to spoil your fun onlythat). Even though instruments and vocals are fuller and have more body with better pitch, I find that these speakers are boring. They don't dance and they don't groove. In my opinion, the 7s are a small speaker that tries to sound like a big speaker with limited bass extension. However I feel if partnered with powerful amps (eg: 200/250), they might actually sound better and more balanced, but still with limited bass extension. But stil they will be quite slow and boring. Vocals are nice and rich.

What amp did you use when you first listened to them?
If the Nait can't drive them,then what do you expect them to sound like?

Paul.

The ATC's slow????? Dont think so. My Neats are BLAZING quick and the ATC is just a step or two behind 'em on the dance floor. In fact, the ATC is the first speaker since the Kans that didn't make me think I was on a one way ride back to Roundie-ville on Boredom Highway.

Perhaps you like Rock music (or whatever you kids are calling it these days-- hoppity hip?? Eh? Something??) more than I do-- and so you value a speaker that can play your man Satriani like a bastard. Perhaps the DB1's fit that bill nicely.

Me?? I'll take Pavarotti any day over Joe and the alien he rode in on, so the ATC is probably more my bag, baby.


Ultimately though, i think they are going to be a touch too small in scale for my room over the long hall-- so I have decided to dem their big brothers, the 12's.

If they are half as good as the 7 but with greater scale-- They might just dethrone my Neats. A feat which none of the 8 or so other well regarded speakers I have had over to tea recently could quite manage. (Including Spica TC50's, Kans, De Capos, Totem one's etc..)

David

ATC's in Chi-town.

Try Chris Barry the US importer of ATC and a great LP12 setup man. He's got practically all the models for demo.

HIGH FIDELITY SYSTEM
19 S. Wabash Ave
Chicago
IL 60603
Illinois


Tel: 312 201 0403

congrats!

I haven't heard any other speakers around the same price and delivers what SCM7 offers. ( maybe except now discontinued SCM10 at used pricing )

Enjoy!

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Originally posted by Royster:

1) They require even more upscale (and powerful) gears than Kans to make them work.

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Not necessarily. Whilst I have not driven my SCM10 with Sony reciever, they don't sound that bad with entry level amps. They do shine, however, at higher SPL, so, better the amps' horse power you can ensure their performance at best.

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2) They are free space speakers, close to wall siting is do-able but not recommended.

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dunno, is 1ft. away from the wall too far? I do agree that they sound better freestanding. I do not recommend putting 'em right up against the wall.

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3) They are merciless and unforgiving.

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I think this depends on who the listener is. I didn't find ATC, especially non SL driver models such as SCM7 or 10 ruthlessly revealing. I found larger active ones, whilst they offer tremendous dynamics and unflappable performance at high SPL, tad too clinical for my taste. ATC active models have a tendency to sound too strident. That's why I prefer using my own electronics to tailor different degrees of musicality.

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4) The only do classical.

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This is puzzling.
I think ATC is one of the best all-rounder and this is their strength. i.e. they treat all music with equal care and enthusiasm.

And this is the main reason ATC is one of my favorite speakers.
I listen to all kind of music and none of 'em are particularly well recorded. They are revealing enough to show upstream components, so, I'd assume that if ATC sounds unbearable, probably faults lie somewhere else in a signal chain...

Vintage pop, rock and soul? Put on Grandmaster Flash and ATC would do justince if they are fed right. ( does not have to be expensive. they just need to be matched well )

at any rate, I thought SCM7 shared the same personality as SCM10 sans bass. One thing going for SCM7 is that they would work near rear wall as SCM10 you want at least 1ft. off the wall. If the space isn't the problem, SCM10 at around the same pricing (used ) as SCM7, the latter might have a wider appeal. ( that is if you buy into the ATC sound )

I think SCM7 sounds more *alive and kicking* than Kans and have more guts. But that's me.

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Originally posted by Ken P.:
Not aware of ATC's in Chi-town.

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A friend of mine scored SCM12 around your neck of the woods for 1200$.

Hi Roy.

"They require even more upscale (and powerful) gears than Kans to make them work"

Mine sound superb driven by a Nap110,just don't expect earth shattering levels.

"They are free space speakers, close to wall siting is do-able but not recommended"

Mine sound better close 5-10" to the wall than in free space(24"+)

"They are merciless and unforgiving"

Maybe of poor quality hardware but not poorly recorded music.
This is one of their best strengths to me....being able to make not so good quality recordings still very enjoyable to listen to.

"The only do classical"

I listen to very little classical.

Are you tempted yet?

Paul.

I second all Kuma says-- the ATC 12's and 7's I had had only one weakness-- the need for power to hear them at their best. Otherwise they are stellar.

They absoultely POUND on rock music and are no classical-only speaker-- that's a total myth! In fact-- they are used all over by professionals in studio monitoring for rock/jazz etc.

Probably only a few studios and audiophiles use 'em for classical!

The only thing they MAYBE are is a touch rolled in the treble-- and a touch warm.

Otherwise they are terrific all-around musical loudspeakers that can play loud without breaking a sweat and have mids to die for.

I am getting a pair of 12's to go with my Harbeth Compact 7's as i could't decide either way.

Oh-- maybe one more caveat-- I should warn you that at very low, background levels with Naim gear in particular for some reason, they may lack some dynamics. This may be a function of their relatively low efficiency and sealed nature. Or of-- perish the thought- the Naim gear itself, in combination with certain speakers.

David

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Originally posted by onlythat:
Oh-- maybe one more caveat-- I should warn you that at very low, background levels with Naim gear in particular for some reason, they may lack some dynamics. This may be a function of their relatively low efficiency and sealed nature. Or of-- perish the thought- the Naim gear itself, in combination with certain speakers.

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David,

It's the speakers. One thing I can fault on smaller ATC is that they fall asleep at low volume. They come alive when a certain level is maintained. Naim gear is plenty dynamic for a solid state design.

Having tried the ATC SCM 12's with a Naim 112/150 Flatcap2 combo, I can say the 150 lacks the oomph to drive the SCM 12's. Switching to a LFD PA2M, dual mono rated at 90 watts/channel, made all the difference. Suddenly there was bass and much more drive to the speakers.
However, I must say the SCM 12's are not perfect. They lack the nth degree of resolution in the treble which I enjoy. The SCM 12's also beg to played loud to bring out the best in the music. YMMV

Hi Roy,

Hope you're enjoying the speakers. How are they working out with the Kan stands? I'm thinking the spikes may not matchup with the footprint of the speaker.

Regards,
John

You will have to turn the Kan stands through 90 degrees so they will fit on the top spikes.
I doesn't look to bad and they work a treat on them.

Paul.