ATC SCM150 Amp and Preamp recommendations

@kofibaffour 
Thank you for the detailed response — I really appreciate it. I just wanted to mention that my close friend, who’s an experienced audio engineer and whose ears I trust, strongly dislikes pairing McIntosh with ATC. I used to own McIntosh gear myself and was never a fan of their house sound, so I’m hoping to avoid that direction.

To give you more context, I primarily listen to large-scale classical music at concert-level volumes, sitting about 10 feet from the speakers in an equilateral triangle setup. Based on ATC’s specifications (91 dB/1W/1m efficiency), I know that reaching sustained 100 dB levels with realistic transient peaks around 110 dB would demand close to 1000W of headroom — so amplifier stability under those conditions is critical for me.

I should also add that I’m not looking to pair a solid-state preamp with the system. I really enjoy the sound of tubes and would like to introduce a harmonically rich element into the chain, but without sacrificing speed, transient response, or overall control — especially given the demands of large-scale classical recordings.

I’m trying to find a solution that meets these dynamic requirements reliably while preserving tonal accuracy and musical realism.  

@lordmelton 

Thanks for sharing your setup — it sounds like a great pairing. The Titan is definitely a beast of an amp, and I completely agree that the ATCs seem to just soak up endless amounts of power without strain. That’s part of what makes them so special at realistic listening levels.

Out of curiosity, what other amps and preamps have you tried with your ATCs? Also, what kind of music do you typically listen to, and how loud do you usually play it? I’d love to hear more about what sound characteristics are most important to you — whether you’re prioritizing things like tonal richness, dynamics, speed, or imaging. And lastly, what’s your main media source — vinyl, CD, streaming, or a mix

@kofibaffour 

The fuse blowout you mentioned occurred under extreme laboratory conditions with continuous sine wave testing, far more demanding than normal music playback. In regular use, I assume,  the risk of this issue is minimal. Since I don’t plan to drive the AW 800 M at extreme power levels, and ATC speakers present an easy load, should I still be concerned about this? 

@maxwave 

Vinnie Rossi looks interesting — I wonder if a home audition might be possible. First, though, I need to secure some high-power monoblocks. 

It seems that high-power solid-state amplifiers are quite rare and extremely expensive when it comes to good quality equipment, and almost impossible to audition due to their size. I prefer not to buy blindly and risk paying a huge amount only to be disappointed. Converting to active is not an option — I could have purchased the active version, but I specifically chose passive in order to experiment with different amplification setups. At the moment, it appears I’m still limited to options like the Electrocompaniet AW800, Simaudio 861, and Hegel H30. Among tube amplifiers, Vinnie Rossi and Audio Research seem to be the most highly recommended for matching my tastes

Thanks for the advice. I already have two dedicated 20A lines installed — one for each amplifier. My interconnects are top-tier Nordost. Front end is a Luxman EQ-500 feeding an Umami Red cartridge on a Technics 1200G. At this point, all I need is an amplifier and a preamplifier. I’m not interested in anything under 800W/channel, and I’m definitely not interested in Class D designs

@ltmandella 

I’ve listened to both the active and passive versions extensively, and I actually far prefer the passive. It’s not just about the flexibility to experiment with different amplifiers—though that’s a big plus for me—but I also personally didn’t like the sound of the active version at all. It simply didn’t connect with me musically the way the passive setup does. Passives are far more engaging. 

@yoyoyaya 

Passlabs160W into 8 ohms simply won’t be nearly enough for the SCM150s. I’m currently running Classe Delta with more power, and they’re barely moving that 15” woofer. These speakers demand far more current and headroom to truly come alive, especially with large-scale classical music.

Also, good point about amplifiers inside speaker cabinets—I hadn’t considered that aspect before, but it makes a lot of sense. Heat, vibration, and limited space for power supply design definitely aren’t ideal conditions for an amplifier

@lonemountain 

Hi Brad,

Thank you for the detailed and thoughtful response. I appreciate your insight as the U.S. importer and certainly respect ATC’s engineering philosophy—especially the precision and integration of their active systems. The technical points about phase coherence, component tolerances, and amp-driver calibration are well taken and valid from a design purity standpoint.

That said, I chose the SCM150 passives very deliberately, not as a compromise, but because they allow me to shape the sonic outcome exactly as I want it. My priority is extracting a harmonically rich, dynamic, and lifelike presentation—qualities I’ve been able to enhance by pairing them with an ultra-high-current Class AB amplifier and a well-matched tube preamp. The transient performance and low-end authority I’m getting now are exactly what I was seeking.

While I understand the argument about passive crossovers and inductor wire lengths, in practice, the performance delta depends heavily on system synergy and listener priorities. The subjective gains I’ve achieved through amplification choice—particularly in tone density and spatial realism—outweigh the theoretical drawbacks of the passive network in my setup.

Regarding power: you’re right that +3 dB isn’t a night-and-day difference on paper, but in dynamic music like large-scale orchestral works, the added headroom of an 800W+ amp translates to more effortless macro- and microdynamics at live-like levels, especially with complex low-frequency content. For me, it’s not about listening at 115 dB, but about having total control and composure when the music demands it.

Ultimately, this comes down to different paths to musical satisfaction. I fully understand the merits of the active approach, but I’ve found that the passive route—with the right amplification—gives me the flexibility and sonic character I value most.

I sincerely appreciate the dialogue and hope we can stay in touch as I continue refining the system.

@lonemountain 

I actually remember when I first reached out to you during my decision process between active and passive SCM150s. You strongly recommended going with the actives, and I took that advice seriously. I spent time listening to them—really trying to connect—but while they were undeniably impressive in terms of clarity and control, I found myself oddly unengaged. Something about the presentation just didn’t draw me in.

So I went with the passives—and as you’ll recall, you kindly arranged to have them shipped directly to my home. That moment marked the beginning of a very different journey. With the passives, I was finally able to shape the sound in a way that felt personal. Pairing them with an ultra-high-current Class AB amp and a tube preamp brought out the harmonics, tone density, and transient realism I’d been chasing. The system came alive in a way the actives simply didn’t.

I do understand and respect the technical benefits of actives—better phase coherence, reduced component variability, and so on. But in my experience, the real-world gains of external amplification—especially in bass authority, dimensionality, and tonal nuance—have made a bigger musical impact. For someone like me, who listens primarily to large-scale classical and acoustic recordings, that nuance is everything.

You also made a great point about how level differences and source material can color perception. It’s something I try to control for when I’m evaluating gear. But those same small differences don’t invalidate what we feel when we’re genuinely moved by a system. At some point, it’s not about which one measures better—it’s about which one connects.

So while I completely respect the elegance of the active design, for me, the passives were never a compromise. They were the doorway to shaping a system that feels uniquely mine—and that makes music feel more human, more alive. Edward