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Which Int. Amp with passive ATC SCM40

Hi all.
Have had to down size from Mac C2300 + JBL LSR6312 (acitive) to an integrated with the now selected SCM40. The room is awfully small. Listening distance is about 7ft and speakers will be 6ft apart. 
Due to the compact placement, a sealed box would be best, thus these speakers.

Music taste runs from Slayer, Metallica, Rammstein to Enya, Patricia Barber, Mary Black, The Prodigy ... mostly the heavier stuff..

Please help me by advising which amp will smoothens the highs (most heavy metal recordings accentuate the highs) and give me slam

ATC SIA2150 (adv : same make as speakers)  OR
Parasound Hint 6 (adv : tone control, phono stage)

Thanks
Jagjag
128x128jagjag
12 responses Add your response
kevinhughes77
21 posts
 
I have had the SCM40 speakers for about a year now. Chosen for how they handle metal specifically. We listen to a bit of everything including death and adventure metal (Amon Amarth, Demons and Wizards etc.). Any system we set up here has to present well with some fast double kick.

Paired them with a Hegel 160 initial and thought it was a little too analytical. Moved from that to a Luxman 507ux and it is much smoother to my ear. Great midrange and good bass.  Plenty of power too in a room a little bigger than yours. Big improvement over the Hegel that was no slouch.

I also sub in a Primaluna Dialogue HP part time that works pretty too.

jagjag's avatar
jagjag OP
89 posts
 
Thanks Kevin,
Nice to meet another one who appreciates music on the heavier side. Yes, Amon, Ensiferum, Eluvetie etc are on my regular list too. The new Testament with Gene Hoglan and Steve DiGiorgio are amazing. They might be coming to tiny Singapore next year. Never had Luxman on the radar. Will check it out. Thank you. 
kevinhughes77
21 posts
 
I actually have my wife to thank for most of the more recent metal I listen to and the ATC speaker decision too. We were in a local hifi shop auditioning other speakers and she heard the SCM40. Ordered a pair same day. They were being fronted by probably $20k of Naim equipment which I didn’t think was the best match but nice enough. 
Appreciate the recommendation on new Testament. I’ll add it to my list on Roon for a listen. Tough to find well recorded heavy music.
mktmkt
16 posts
 
I have the SCM40s with a pair of Benchmark AHB2s. I’m happy. 
soix
9,456 posts
 
There’s a nice Plinius Hautonga on US Audio Mart for $2495 (List $6000) that will have sweet highs and also has 200Wpc that should be plenty to rock your excellent SCM40s.  There are some reviews out there if you’re interested in reading further.  Best of luck. 
avanti1960
1,473 posts
 
speakers are a horrible match for your room.  driver coherence and integration will be noticeably bad which will cause image wander between the drivers.  

sorry but hopefully you can do something different before it's too late.  
jagjag's avatar
jagjag OP
89 posts
 
Thanks Soix, Always liked Plinius, . Unfortunately, we run in 230VAC in tiny Singapore. Will be reviewing the integrated today. Thanks for the reminder
jagjag's avatar
jagjag OP
89 posts
 
Hi Avanti1960, you are not wrong here. I will be doing some work to try to tame them a bit. The best speakers for my room would be headphones. But, I need to feel the music. Bookshelf speakers just dont do it. They dont go low enough. Tried the Macintosh XR50, Wharfedale Lynton & Evo 2, Elac, and a host of others. Did not suit. 

 If I could,I would get the SCM50, but, those are out of the budget and absolutely a no go in the room. The SCM40 are sealed boxes, and this might help. Thank you for your input. 
celtic66
1,653 posts
 
Agree these speakers and the room are not a match made in heaven.  Consider a direction change.  ATC SCM20ASL Pro mk2 6.5" Powered Studio Monitors.  250W woofer, 50W tweeter.

Smaller physical size, no need for amplifier and these will rock.  I own the SCM 40 active so understand the sound.
jagjag's avatar
jagjag OP
89 posts
 
Big thank you Celtic66
Will speak to the dealer. 
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
jagjag OP
Please help me by advising which amp will smoothens the highs


The ATC SCM40 are only 81db independently tested, so they’ll need a good >100watter or more to get them going.

You don’t need an amp with lots of current muscle though, as they have very easy impedance curve and -phase angle.
http://www.avmentor.net/reviews/lab/2014/atc_scm40/display/atc_scm40_impedance.jpg

So even tubes, mosfets or Class-D will drive them, just pick the amp you like the sound of. Parasound Hint 6 would be a great choice and it has a dac in it too.

Cheers George
jagjag's avatar
jagjag OP
89 posts
 
Cheers George, 
I have decoided on the Hint 6.
Another speaker option has been thrown into the speaker mix. I will be auditioning the JBL 4312G, 4307 & 4306 today. 

I have been using the LSR series for a long time and I have a feeling the parasound will match the JBL's well. Lets see.


Jag
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