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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
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lordmelton's avatar
lordmelton
1,070 posts
 

@ei001h 

Ok, preamps I have the Viola Sonata and the SMC VRE-1. Steve McCormack continuously updates his gear and I need to get the VRE-1 updated/upgraded but they are both very special pre-amps. I would like to own a Spectral pre-amp too, they are also special. I know you want a tube pre-amp but top end SS pre-amps are not harsh and beautifully accurate.

Hands down Vitus to my knowledge and experience makes the very best power amps. I have a long standing love affair with the MF Titan and we have been through a lot of shite together so it would take a lot for me to ditch it.

Please don’t forget you need to spend at least the cost of your speakers on ICs and speaker cables to get the full potential out of you system.

I know you don’t want to hear this.

BTW I listen to rock and acoustic mostly Stones etc at highish volume.

I don’t stream anymore just listen to my ripped SACDs, CDs and DVD-As on my Aurender N20

iovi66
7 posts
 

How about Balanced Audio Technology?! Great engineering design and build quality, most importantly though, fantastic fidelity and SQ. 

Call Victor or Steve at BAT and ask about synergy with your specific ATC's. They won't BS you if there are any issues.

For your speakers and system consider....:

Preamp - VK-90 $15K (8 6H30 tubes that will last a long time and sound fantastic)

Amp - Rex 500 (500W @ 8 ohms, 1000W @ 4 ohms) $25K, i bet this amp will have no problem getting the most out of your ATC's. again, ask BAT first.

pricey, but your speakers and other gear costs how much?

....end game electronics, wish i could afford them, i'd get the preamp and the Rex 300 amp in a heartbeat! There's always something better out there, but I bet if you hear these with your gear in your room your search will be over. 

Yes, I'm a BAT fanboy, i live close, have been there with my older gear for updates, as i can't afford the new gear, and after many, many years of chasing the right sound i finally found it and can tell you that if i were starting out now, i would just go right to the BAT electronics. Like many others here, i have lost a lot of money with wrong purchases that can't be recovered, but at least I got to the successful finish  I'm at now thanks to BAT. Love the sound, with the right speakers, room treatment, and sources, they just make fantastic music, and they're built to last, and look great, and if it matters an actual real USA company!

Just one man's opinion...

 

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kennymacc
548 posts
 

@ei001h 

I have a very power hungry pair of Revel Salon 2 speakers that are magnificently powered  by a Hegel H590 integrated amp, in a moderately sized room.  You have a nice large room and I would say that the extremely powerful, extremely high current, extremely high damping factor, extremely dynamic, detailed and transparent, non-fatiguing, lush, natural tone and timbre, Hegel H30 mono-blocks are a no-brainer, as they check all the boxes and  meet all your requirements for driving your speakers with superb sound quality.  For me, my Hegel H590 integrated amp is my end-game amplification.  Happy listening.     

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