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ATC SCM7 or Legacy Studio HD for small living room?

Morning all,I am looking to upgrade my system from a great hand-me-down of a Rega Mira Integrated amp, and Epos S12 speakers, Rega Vulcan Sub.  So far, I have the Rega Elex~r integrated and want to do the speakers next.
I have been wanting to try the ATCSCM7, based on hearing them a couple of times, and reading a lot of similar impressions -strong, articulate, detailed, good sound stage and depth, a sort of great all around music speaker.  However, a friend is recommending the "Legacy Studio HD bookshelf/monitor speakers".  His professional opinion (works in music and electronics industry for decades) is that these are among the best he has ever heard, especially for around $2000 compared to the ATC7s.

My system is multi-purpose (home entertainment), and wide range of music. I like strong, tight, articulate mid presence and a sort of live acoustic barn room sort of feel, but detailed.  I am NOT all that worried about sound stage, and can sacrifice that as my space is not and CANNOT be set up truly properly.  It's sort of, they can only go in one spot, and be set one way, sort of thing.  So tone, presentation, pace, detail, speed, projection usually are more important to me.
Thank you for time and experience and thoughts.

128x128amtprod

Showing 2 responses by jjss49

jjss49's avatar
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jjss49
6,612 posts
 
epos es12’s are a very nice speaker, excellent midrange purity and good coherence top to bottom

i have not heard legacys but i suspect the atc’s will be a step up in refinement from the epos, and, with a very good and powerful power amp, would probably play louder without strain than the epos

that said, there are many excellent standmount speakers for 2 grand a pair that may be very good for your application, and a good bit easier to drive than the very inefficient little atc’s
jjss49's avatar
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jjss49
6,612 posts
 
ATC are excellent no doubt,but IF I were to buy anything ATC it would be a powered version.


i agree w this - still have my scm10 and 20 actives, fondly recall that driven by arc ref 3 linestage the sound was lovely lovely... need to break them out and listen to them again sometime soon

passive atc’s are fine but you just need a very strong, pure solid state amplification to do them justice (not cheap)

one just needs to understand with all atc’s they are real monitors, in that they don’t smooth over warts or harshness... they play pretty much exactly what is fed to them for you to hear, and so you had better have a damn good signal coming in, or they may not bring the joy one may seek
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