Active ATC vs Spendor / Pass Labs
I had a lovely demo. of a Pass INT 60/ Spendor D9.2.
Had all the musical flow, engagement at all volume levels that I could ever want. A truly impressive demo.
But……. I have always wanted an active ATC SCM50A is what I always dreamed of owning with say a Benchmark LA4 Pre. about the same $$$ where I am for either combo.
I have heard the ATC - different room and gear. But I didn’t do the all listening levels demo. like I did with the Pass / Spendor. Just at a medium / loud level and was so very impressed. I can’t demo the ATC again, my dealer only orders them as someone wants one from ATC direct due to the current economical environment.
So… will I be unimpressed ordering the ATC at all level listening levels or will it not have the Pass / Spendor engagement factor that we quite frankly very addictive ?
I am really at a crossroad as which way to go.
@lonemountain Isn't language interesting? What I obviously failed to convey is that others who have listened to my ATC SCM 50 actives have found them scary GOOD! The immediacy, sound stage, dynamics and slam are astonishing. I see them as my end game transducer. Period. |
@celtic66 Well Im so sorry to jump to the wrong conclusion. Im glad you like them! brad |
You will only know in your room. I would first purchase an active ATC speaker. Run it in for several hundred hours. Then audition what would proceed them. Your best best for synergy would be the ATC CDA2mkII (includes DAC and CD transport) or ATC CA2mkII (preamp only). Several folks I know use the Weiss DAC501 much like you would use the Hugo TT2 and are very happy. I have no experience with the Benchmark LA4. I'm currently using Audio Note DAC 4.1x DAC and L5 Mentor preamp with a highly optimized streaming system. |
my two sets of active atc’s are somewhat older models but i doubt the company has significantly altered the tonality of their speakers when i was using those speakers, my trying any top solid state pre made the atc’s too biting in the treble and thinned out the midrange a touch too much to my ears -- so i found happiness in time with the lovely audio research reference 3 balanced tube linestage... it was one of the very best at the time, now surpassed by successor models in the arc reference line as such, i personally would advise against using benchmark or chord tt2 (which i have currently) to drive active atc’s, as i think this would most likely result in ’negative synergy’ in all but the most dead listening rooms |
