Standmounters for Atom

For me, buying an Atom gave me a reason to take my N-Sats out of hibernation in the loft, and they work nicely together. Other than that, I heard an Atom sounding fantastic last year with a pair of Dynaudio Emit M20 - and the best thing about them is that they are so cheap compared to the PMCs you mentioned that you could probably upgrade the Atom to a Nova with the money you'd save!! 

Could be worth waiting for the new Focal Kanta No.1, the Kanta No.2 floorstanders are amazing so I'd imagine that there's something special about the No.1s too.

Unless you want to play music really loud, forget power rating and speaker sensitivity.

RMS power rating defines how much an amp can heat up an 8Ω resistor, and to some extent how loud it can drive real speakers.
Speaker sensitivity only measures how loud the speaker will sound when driven by an amp at a moderate volume setting.

In terms of driving real speakers:
For the amp, maximum current capability and current rise time are much more important (but only rarely quoted!).
For the speakers the most important things are the impedance curve (again only rarely shown!) and the acoustic match to the room.

Does the Atom have a sub out like the UQ2 because if you like the Q Acoustic sound I used Q Acoustic Concept 20's and matching sub with a UQ2.

Bob the Builder posted:

Does the Atom have a sub out like the UQ2 because if you like the Q Acoustic sound I used Q Acoustic Concept 20's and matching sub with a UQ2.

It has a pre out, same as the UQ2, so yes, you can use a sub.

Emit M20s are now on the list. Would the 4 ohm load be a problem for the atom? Does power output on the atom double at 4 ohm?

Not interested in subs just yet.

Noted re the impedance curve, yet so hard to find that info on speakers. Was only after the high sensitivity to increase headroom, not play super loud. The 91db 3050i's went to decent volumes and the dynamic peaks never really distorted. Shame i cant accommodate them in this new room, great speakers for the coin.

Have you considered the Neat Motive range?

I've used the Neat iotas to good effect in a small room - this said, whilst making very engaging sounds, the speakers are tiny and of course nothing much below the mid-range. Atom can definitely justify much more expensive speakers and I continue in my own search.

As for ATCs, I tried the atom with the SCM7 and I wanted to like the combo, but to my mind the speakers never really came alive - I suspect more power is required - haven't heard the PMC range but would like to try the standmounts  

I listened to the Nova and Atom with the Twenty5.22 and Twenty5.21 - I bought the latter as they seemed to involve me more in the music, but it was a close thing. I also listened to the Totem Sky with the Atom - again a good pairing.

So, I'd keep the twent5.22 on your list and add the twenty5.21 and Totems. The KEF LS50 worked well too, but they were outclassed by the Totem amd PMC speakers - but they are fantastic for the money.

I've heard good sounds from the Dynaudio range too, but didn't do a "proper" demo. Focal's Kanta 2 are a good (floorstander) match so if they're now available the Kanta 1 may be worth a listen. Also heard a Russell K with the Atom - sounded pretty good, but I can't remember which model - these had a bit more of a warm bloom at the low end which I think I'd find annoying over time, but that could have been their less than ideal positioning.

Cato posted:

I've used the Neat iotas to good effect in a small room - this said, whilst making very engaging sounds, the speakers are tiny and of course nothing much below the mid-range. Atom can definitely justify much more expensive speakers.

The Motive SX1 is in a different class to the Iota. 

I’m getting an Atom with SX1 speakers in a couple of weeks.  I’ll report back then.

Jack911 posted:

Cato posted:

I've used the Neat iotas to good effect in a small room - this said, whilst making very engaging sounds, the speakers are tiny and of course nothing much below the mid-range. Atom can definitely justify much more expensive speakers.

The Motive SX1 is in a different class to the Iota. 

I’m getting an Atom with SX1 speakers in a couple of weeks.  I’ll report back then.

I've had old Motive 3, stand-mounts which performed happy with Unitiqute into smaller room, sized as OP's

Motive 1 was quite bas heavy, guess room plays a role

Motive 1 or 2 takes no more floor-space than Motive 3 on dedicated stands, not sure OP intention to use them on shelves or wallmount ? Otherwise give Motive 2sx a listen.

Latest SX Motive indeed better than earlier.

Perhaps the new funny looking Iota Alpha might be interesting too ?

I have the Atom paired with Spendor A1s.  The SQ is amazing to my ears. 

I'd probably go far more budget speaker than anyone here is suggesting. Naim like to pair the Atom (and likewise it's predecessor, the Qute 2) with fairly expensive speakers at hifi shows to make a point that the little box has a lot of driving potential. Which is true. But you'll often get better results with a lower cost speaker the modest amp in the Atom can really take by the scruff of the neck and throttle. It just doesn't make as much of a statement as a display item.

And in that price range (I'm thinking sub GBP400 here), you are really spoilt for choice. I wouldn't say money was no object but I stuck dinky Qacoustics 3010 on my UQ2 (GBP160) which was about 10% of what I had budgeted for on speakers, simply because it drives them so well and they fit better on my desk than anything else. Not suggesting you go to that extreme but I am suggesting you put this to the test at your dealer's dem room by trying the Atom with something like the PMC Twenty5.21 and then with a very low cost budget speaker. You might be surprised which gives the most enjoyable listen over a longer period. I say this as someone who is very familiar with the PMC sound using Twenty5.23 in my main system.

Neat's Motive range has been mentioned before, when I used to own the Atom it matched the Neat Motive SX2's perfectly!

How about the Atom with Dyn special 40? Anyone have any feedback on this combo?

I have the Atom paired with Special 40s.  I think it’s a great sounding setup!

feeling_zen posted:

I'd probably go far more budget speaker than anyone here is suggesting. Naim like to pair the Atom (and likewise it's predecessor, the Qute 2) with fairly expensive speakers at hifi shows to make a point that the little box has a lot of driving potential. Which is true. But you'll often get better results with a lower cost speaker the modest amp in the Atom can really take by the scruff of the neck and throttle. It just doesn't make as much of a statement as a display item.

And in that price range (I'm thinking sub GBP400 here), you are really spoilt for choice. I wouldn't say money was no object but I stuck dinky Qacoustics 3010 on my UQ2 (GBP160) which was about 10% of what I had budgeted for on speakers, simply because it drives them so well and they fit better on my desk than anything else. Not suggesting you go to that extreme but I am suggesting you put this to the test at your dealer's dem room by trying the Atom with something like the PMC Twenty5.21 and then with a very low cost budget speaker. You might be surprised which gives the most enjoyable listen over a longer period. I say this as someone who is very familiar with the PMC sound using Twenty5.23 in my main system.

Completely agree. I had an Atom with my Spendor A4's and while it handled them no problem the synergy/authority was not quite right to me. They will always boast how the Atom can drive large speakers, which is largely true but that does not necessarily imply the synergy is correct. The A4's are not large speakers but I always felt the Atom is more suited to smaller bookshelf / stand mounters. I since upgraded to a Nova and now the A4's have been kicked in to line with a lot more authority. 

I used Focal Chorus 706 with my Atom, I really wanted the Focal 906 at the time.

jheidelo posted:

I have the Atom paired with Special 40s.  I think it’s a great sounding setup!

Great to hear this. Am considering upgrading my old bookshelf with the Special 40. Thanks !