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Amp pairing for ATC SCM11 (v2)

I’ve just ordered some ATC SCM11 V2 speakers, polarizing for some people in these forums, perhaps I should have left a trigger warning.

I’m a bit concerned that my current amp, the Rega Elex-R (72.5W into 8 Ohms and 90W into 6 Ohms), might not be powerful enough to drive them. I have a feeling I read that the impedance lies somewhere in-between 6-8 Ohms but I can't find where I read that.

I heard these speakers in person and I thought they sounded incredible to my ears, but I’ve also read many accounts of them sounding flat without the right amp pairing.

The SCM11s have a power requirement of 75-300W, so I am right at the lower end. Billy Woodman said that they work best with Class A/B Amps.

I spent most of my budget on the speakers, so if I need a more powerful amp, the majority would have to come from selling my Rega. I have heard, however, that Rega amps are known for having high-quality current, I’m just not entirely sure what that means in practice. Has anybody tried this pairing already?

Or…

Does anybody have advice on somewhat affordable amp pairings that work well with the SCM11s? I came across a used Hegel H190, which I understand has a high damping factor, possibly helping the speakers perform better at lower volumes? 

Any suggestions / advice would be greatly appreciated
Thank you.
small_heretic
noromance's avatar
noromance
9,769 posts
 

There you have it. Spending more (or procuring better) on improved source and amps will always allow speakers to perform better.

I spent most of my budget on the speakers,

hhudo
15 posts
 

For SCM11 that Rega will be more than powerful enough. Is more about the synergy. I drive SCM40 with 110W amp, and don't feel anything's missing, I also compared my amp with some other much more powerful at the dealers place. 

small_heretic OP
1 posts
 

Thank you for these responses! I have a couple of options to consider here and i'm grateful for everyone's time.

There you have it. Spending more (or procuring better) on improved source and amps will always allow speakers to perform better.

My friend, who’s also into audio, once told me it's not worth upgrading unless you're spending at least $3k more due to diminishing returns. While that's not a universal rule—different gear has different 'flavours'—I felt my speakers were the weak link, and in my less-than-ideal space, the sealed cabinet design of the ATCs was a great solution.

Hearing them side by side with my old speakers felt like someone had removed pillows from my ears. That was two years ago, and I've been lusting after them ever since, just out of my budget until I found these preloved ones. I was well aware my amp might need upgrading down the line, but that’s a future consideration I want to be prepared for.

 


celtic66
1,654 posts
 

The ATCs are not as critical as some, but will benefit from decent stands, stand height and Herbie's Fat Dots placed under the cabinet.  You are correct in assessment that non-vented designs interact less with their environment.  Perhaps, keep the Rega and work on other improvements.  Cheers

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