ATC SCM19 Speakers at Lower Volume Levels

Posted by: NewNaim16 on 09 April 2016

I've read some of the forum threads that mentioned ATC SCM19 speakers but couldn't find what I was looking for about what happens with ATC SCM19 speakers at lower volume levels.

We recently showroom auditioned a pair of ATC SCM40 speakers and thought we'd found the perfect solution to replace our ageing but still competent Linn Keilidh speakers with Ku-stone bases. However, when the volume was turned down the sound became rather thin and not to our taste. This was with a 272 and 250DR combination, which is exactly what we have.

Unfortunately, it didn't occur to us to try a pair of ATC SCM19 speakers. Although another audition is possible, it's quite a drive so before considering this, any comments from those who are using the SCM19 would be very welcome.

We've listened to quite a number of speakers, so this question is very specific to the ATC SCM19. Our short list is down to the Focal Aria 926 which is a totally different beast that we'll home audition, although it's possibly a tad on the large size for us.

We feel that our Keilidh speakers don't have the bass precision that we'd like and at the other end, things like symbols could be a lot better too.

Posted on: 09 April 2016 by Simon-in-Suffolk

Over at SinS towers I sometimes run my 19s at very low volume, they seem to work fine, but at very low volume we hear things slightly differently and I think that means extreme bass and treble reduce slightly. But at regular low volume, like at very late at night listening no issue at all with NAP250 and open frame stands.

Simon

Posted on: 09 April 2016 by cat345

Simon-in-Suffolk posted:
Over at SinS towers I sometimes run my 19s at very low volume, they seem to work fine, but at very low volume we hear things slightly differently and I think that means extreme bass and treble reduce slightly. But at regular low volume, like at very late at night listening no issue at all with NAP250 and open frame stands.
Simon

I think that loudness controls seen most likely in some early electronics was a better idea for low volume listening no matter the amplifier used. Another option for low level listening is to push back loudspeakers nearer to the wall.

Posted on: 10 April 2016 by NewNaim16

Thanks to SIMON-IN-SUFFOLK and CAT345 for your inputs. Sure, I’m aware of the human ear’s lower sensitivity to high/low frequencies at reduced volume levels - hence loudness controls. Probably I didn’t convey things adequately but this was more a question of the ATC SCM40 speakers being superb at the kind of volume level that would be appropriate for dedicated listening but IMHO enjoyment dropping off at lower volume level appropriate for having a conversation at the same time. I didn’t mean to imply really low volume.

Maybe it was the combination of equipment, or just us but of the half dozen or so speakers that we’ve audition and our existing Keilidh, the SCM40 speakers have been the only ones that seem to us to thrive so much better at a more robust volume compared with lower levels. We thought they sounded superb but that characteristic is a concern.

Good to know from SIMON-IN-SUFFOLK that the SCM19 does not exhibit the same characteristic so thanks for that.

Posted on: 10 April 2016 by Patu

I use SCM40 (v2, I suppose you auditioned this one also) with SN2 + HCDR sourced by Naim DAC.

Of course it does sound better when played louder but I don't feel it loses its magic with lower volume levels. Every single speaker and setup I've heard sounds better when played loud, and I mean louder than the late night listening volumes. I live in an apartment building and play a lot at late hours when I have to keep the volume down. Though I do have great neighbors here.

Could it have something to do with how 272 sounds at lower volume levels? 250 should have plenty of power to drive them so I don't see there could be a problem. SN2 works also great but definitely needs HCDR with SCM40. I recently tried removing it and lost great amount of control in the sound.

Posted on: 10 April 2016 by NewNaim16

Patu posted:
...
Could it have something to do with how 272 sounds at lower volume levels? 250 should have plenty of power to drive them so I don't see there could be a problem. SN2 works also great but definitely needs HCDR with SCM40. I recently tried removing it and lost great amount of control in the sound.

Although I've only just got the 272 so have limited experience with it, I would agree that it could well be the combination of equipment.

Posted on: 10 April 2016 by Huge

In my limited experience, the best for low level listening are 2 way speakers whose bass/mid cones aren't too large and which also have very large magnet assemblies. Large or heavy cones with smaller magnets suffer from too much mechanical damping. Many 3 way passive systems loose a bit of energy through losses in the crossover (N.B. that's many not all).

3 way active and 3 way tri-amped systems may not suffer from this if both the bass and mid units have sufficiently large magnet assemblies to provide for good low level running (but I have no direct experience of this).

Posted on: 11 April 2016 by NewNaim16

Thanks everyone for your welcome comments. Just to be emphasise that it's not really low level listening so much as not having the speakers singing away at a robust level that this is all about. All very subjective and difficult to describe without measuring equipment.

Of the half a dozen speakers audited, the effect was more pronounced, with our setup, on the ATC SCM40 than any other - apart from that, we thought it excellent. Anyway, we'll now wait for the planned home loan of Focal Aria 926 that we liked at our trusted dealer and then decide on the next move.