ATC Monitors - 2x2-way plus sub or 2 larger?

They actually do passives of the 50, 100 and 150 too in the 'hi-fi' range.

 

Nonetheless the responses are putting me into re-think mode. I'm in no rush. I see a few people complaining about KH310 harshness. I'm not interested in digital so bigger Genelecs are out.

Maybe I need to take a harder look at passives. Aegir is coming.

 

I know this question may come across as obtuse but just to be sure....

Have you heard the pro-line of ATC before?

 

I heard some Zu towers recently that I thought sounded good, those might be god with aegir.

I don't remember the model but something recent, as their older stuff never let much impression - though admittedly I'm not much of a 2ch guy.

 

the small ATC 2 way are all very extension limited, they need a sub crossed too high imo and makes integration hard between sub and mains. even their scm19 need a sub up to 60 hz.

its one thing integrating a sub under 40hz, much easier then trying to integrate at 60hz.

I dont think anyone who has heard the ATC SCM 50 would complain about the bass. that said, id go with the passive SCM50

 

Good question - nope. South Africa hasn't got the type of access that exists in the U.S., so I'm working with reviews, opinions and what the dealers have available to buy (they don't just demo anything you want). The simplicity of active appeals to me, and I have the Genelecs so I have some background with studio stuff. The Gennies are great, with the exception of the metallic tweeters, I could stand to soften that up. We'll be getting a bigger place soon and I've been given permission to co-opt a room for listening hence the research.

I'll be in Seattle and L.A. in July on business so I'll be getting as much listening is as I can while I'm there.

 

It's always hard to audition speakers but I'd have a listen to the ATC 3way passives of you can.

They were out of my budget and too large by a mile but the mids ... I can see why some might forgive a lot for that dome.

 

The Zu stuff is interesting.

I have a feeling there's a money pit and lots of backtracking possible down the multi-amping/high-efficiency/DIY road though. Actives prevent me from going overboard .

 

Neumanns are far from harsh. KH120 is rounded and veiled. KH310 kicks butt.

For production? Yamaha HS series. They just don't have a normal tonality and need a model in between the HS7 and HS8. The smaller ones are way too thin for music listening and HS8 is veiled but listenable. Adam are better but also not normal. If you can get a sick used deal A7X and A77X are fun as hell though.

Actually good two way nearfields that sound normal and aren't veiled? Honestly, the higher end KRKs. Not the awful Rockits. The V series stuff and the even older ones that used Focal drivers. Focal's own speakers have always sucked. The current fourth gen V6 is the best current one. V8 has more bass but less detailed mids but is still a good speaker. V4 is too tiny. The V series are much better than the Neumann KH120 and Adams weirdness.

Three ways? Neumann KH310. These rule and make the two way Neumanns sound like garbage more fit to hang out with the likes of JBL and Mackie. Maybe KH420 but obviously that can't be used close up.

 

Do you like Neumann KH310 better than Hedd Type 20? Will KH310 work for mid field listening?

 

Never heard any HEDD, which will be completely different due to the ports, Amt tweeter, and linear phase on computer dsp plugin crossover option.

For Kh310, Depends on how loud you listen and how far away you mean by midfield. Increased distortion and hitting the limiter is certainly possible from blasting rap when I tried them with rap in midfield once.

 

It's plenty good for me from 2.5m. However, I am routing everything under 90Hz to a sub.

 

Damn, the Neumanns (KH 310) are way cheaper than the SCM50s. I doubt I need the power of the 420s and the mid dome and tweeter on the 310 is the same.

I'm surmising from the gearslutz threads that they won't quite match the scm50s but will get 80% of the way there for like 1/3 the price. Taste in bass excepted...which is not my focus. @Hrodulf how would you characterize the difference (if you've had ears on the SCM50s)?

An issue is they're not available here, but importing is an option.

 

Ive never heard either the neumann or the pro ATC, only their hifi range. I think its hard to "quantify" how better then atc would be over the neumann.

a good option if you want to go ATC would be the Passive ATC SCM40 v2. these offer the dedicated soft dome midrange (albeit not the S spec version) and a 7 inch woofer in a floorstander size. They cost about 5k usd if you shop around
https://www.musicdirect.com/speakers/atc-scm40-v2-tower-speakers

I personally would likely not get atc scm50 asl for music listening, and would opt for ATC SCM45 if I wanted to go active ATC. the scm50asl offer twin 6 inch woofer, so about the same surface area then the scm50asl, and the price difference is substantial. scm45 being 12k and scm50 being 15k

https://vintageking.com/atc-loudspeakers-scm45a-pro-pair
https://vintageking.com/atc-loudspeakers-scm50asl




here a user experience for scm45 vs scm50 in his treated room;
Owned both...currently have the 50s with the new ATC tweeter (which will never leave my studio ).

50s are definitely more accurate/3D/detailed. 45s are more 'fun' cause of the thicker sound, but in comparison they are more 'hazy' in the low mids with the lack of the SL driver. Still more clear than 95% of speakers, but the 50s are remarkably clear down there so they are definitely a step up.

45s sound more musical... 50s more surgical. Any musician / artist in my studio always LOVED the sound of the 45s (as did I). The 50s are a bit brutal...'ok' mixes sound like absolute horse $hit, but when a mix is right it's a religious experience listening on them."

 

Keep in mind that in the hifi-world, ATCs are on the analytical end of the spectrum, especially the 19's, likely because of the SL driver. Studio sound and purposes might be different than one originally intends.

 

There's a SCM40v1 on CAM here: https://www.canuckaudiomart.com/details/649488777-atc-smc40/

I have the SCM20 PSL (mine is sorta in between v1 and v2 from what I understand). Although they are currently sitting in a box, I do enjoy their sound. Super clean all around, and while yeah it does drop in the bass, extension is actually better than the usual ported types.

 

I’ve heard the v1 tweeter was a little bit rough/hot compared to the v2 - I find the v2 tweeter in my 19s to be as hot as I would want it (maybe even a bit much sometimes). I would suggest system matching is very important with the passives, depending on how you like your treble as they are certainly incisive - not to mention they are pretty inefficient and can use some decent power if you want them to really kick and open up as good as they can.

 

At some point I've read comments of some people preferring v1 over v2, and of course vice versa. For me, the decision was based more on the fact "oh hey, this is actually available to me without stupid import fees, let's go for that one".

 

That's kinda my pinch here...the full studio ATC line is available at pretty much parity with US prices. So I get a warrantee, no shipping or import duty etc.. Above a certain price level I would like some local backup.

 

It's not necessarily about power. The woofer increase will yield in better dynamics and extension.
Also the big one is ported and the 310 closed box. Some people like ported sound more than closed and vv.

edit: Beware, @Hrodulf is rocking awesomesauce stereo monster subs that fill in the lacking parts.