2. amps-preamps
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ATC SCM150 Amp and Preamp recommendations

Just received my ATC SCM150 passive speakers last week and looking for amplifier suggestions.

I have a large, well-treated room (45' x 16' x 8') and primarily listen to large-scale classical music — symphonies, piano concertos, cello works, etc.
For me, dynamics are critical, but so are tone, instrumental timbre, and harmonic richness.

Front-end setup:

  • Technics 1200G with Umami Red cartridge

  • Luxman EQ-500 phono stage

  • Aurender A100 streamer/DAC

So far, I’ve tried the following amplifiers:

  • Classe Delta Stereo + matching preamp: very polite sound, but too soft on top, poor bass control, slow and muddy low end, recessed midrange — overall unable to properly control the speakers.

  • Luxman L-595A SE: gorgeous microdynamics and a liquid, beautiful midrange; however, limited in dynamics and authority due to power constraints. No brightness !

  • Auris Fortissimo (tube amp): outstanding midrange and highs with a very holographic presentation, but again lacks bass energy and authority due to lower power output.

  • Luxman 507Z - way too bright for ATC, so assuming Luxman M10 will be just as bright 

Given these impressions, I'm now looking for a serious amp/preamp combination that can bring out the full potential of the SCM150s — maintaining musicality and tonal beauty but with the dynamic slam and control these speakers demand. 

Budget: ~$20-30k for amplification, ~$10-15k for a preamp (open to used market gear)
I'm also open to bi-amping if someone has successfully done it with the SCM150s.

Amplifiers I'm considering:

  • Electrocompaniet AW800

  • Simaudio Moon 861 monoblocks

  • Hegel H30 monoblocks

I'm also looking for preamp recommendations to pair with the above amps — ideally something that adds a touch of tube warmth and harmonic richness, but without softening transients or slowing down the dynamics.

Would love to hear from anyone with direct experience driving SCM150s, or who can recommend synergistic combinations that deliver both the dynamic authority and tonal sophistication I'm after. 

ei001h

Showing 8 responses by maxwave

maxwave's avatar
maxwave
1,035 posts
 

As ounce said Warren Buffet :  to get rich , have a good  job

To remain wealthy , have a good martiage 😂😂😂

maxwave's avatar
maxwave
1,035 posts
 

With Vinnie Rossi Brama generation 1 , you have both world ´´ on the fly ´´ :

SS  and Tube  mode. 

maxwave's avatar
maxwave
1,035 posts
 

@ei001h 

Also ; Vinnie Rossi  warranty is 10 years ..

That says  a lot about the building quality of their procucts.

After almost three years mine has been perfect .

maxwave's avatar
maxwave
1,035 posts
 

About the OP  desire for very powerfull mono blocks amplifiers .

Do very powerfull mono blocks amps  means  ´´ musical ´´  amplifiers ?
The OP speakers are 91 DB sensativity .

Would that made much difference  on a musicality stand point ?

maxwave's avatar
maxwave
1,035 posts
 

Is there such a thing as   ´´ the quality of the watt ´´  ?

Or is ´´ a watt ´´   only ´´ a watt ´´  ?
 

maxwave's avatar
maxwave
1,035 posts
 

First , the OP  wants to listen to the gears at home.

And that’s the way , it should be.  no specifications will tell him about the emotional 

perception , he will have .  And IMHO  , music is about emotions . Our taste and ears are all different .

Second , I am in the camp that you buy ounce and you keep your gears a long long time. No need to change and change if you did your home work .  Buying gears raise the serotonine but it doen’t last  very long . And this pattern gets expensive .

It is not about ´´to keep up with the Joneses ´´

This hobby may be expensive .  But what is realy expensive is when you get gears in and out , non stop.  Think about marriage  😉

Just my 2 cents

maxwave's avatar
maxwave
1,035 posts
 

https://youtu.be/6HUCvifOnjE?feature=shared

maxwave's avatar
maxwave
1,035 posts
 

@ei001h 

 

It would be interesting to know , what gears  you have finally chosen.

And did they meet your expectations.

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