ATC SCM40A Active speakers with built in amps, $14k Per Pair

ATC’s SCM40As are game changers. Their ability to start and stop on a dime makes passive speakers sound murky. The only way to achieve the speed and control of the SCM40As is to go ACTIVE.

Even if you were to purchase SCM40s in passive form, which you can, no matter how expensive your power amp is, you can’t beat the ACTIVE version. It’s imperative to tie the amps directly to the drivers instead of forcing that signal through a network of components and wire.

SCM40A uses an electronic crossover to feed three amps which directly drive your woofer, midrange and tweeter drivers. There is NO passive crossover or speaker wire in the road!

The advantage this makes to musical purity is remarkable. It removes a layer of gray that you’ll notice the moment you hear what the Actives can do. The transient attack of plucked strings from a guitar, stand up bass, drum kit or piano are simply much more realistic than you can achieve with a passive speaker system.

The ATC system is ACTIVE, which is different and better than POWERED. Powered speakers invariably are stuffed with D class amps and extensive DSP PROCESSING. Sometimes there are even passive crossovers inside the speakers, after their amps, to boot.

ATC Actives are analog with no DSP monkey biz. The amps are class AB. The SCM40A sounds more dynamic and alive than any passive speakers out there.

There’s another unbeatable characteristic of the ATC Actives. They sound less bright and mannered. To give you a visual analogy, they sound like a video picture that has gorgeously rich colors with a dead black background. Most speakers sound like video with colors and brightness cranked up- sometimes unabashedly to VIVID. While such emphasis does grab your attention for a moment, it will wear you out quickly. That’s just the opposite of ATC.

I specifically hear the improvement with the Actives in piano dynamics, speed and powerful yet controlled bass. Rachmaninoff composed prolifically, using the lower register of the piano better than anyone. Spin his Sonata #2 or Variations on Corelli’s Theme- and you’ll hear grand piano bass to lust for. It’s deep, powerful and NOT obfuscated by passive crossover components including a million miles of inductor wire. You’ll appreciate exactly the color Rach wrote for in your living room.

With passive speakers, most of the lower register turns soft, if not to a blur- and can even be annoying. With the ATC Actives you can’t help but appreciate the full range beauty of his compositions.

Associated Equipment

You surely have some nice hi-fi gear now. Whether you have separates, an integrated amp, or even a receiver, if you have preamp outputs, you’re ready to roll.

The SCM40As have one input. It’s balanced. Yet you can run RCA to XLR adapters ($20) and feed YOUR preamp, integrated or receiver (assuming it has preamp outs) into the ATCs. I promise you that his improvement is overwhelmingly worth the $14k investment. Remember, you’re not buying just speakers for $14k. You’re getting three amplifiers in each speaker- which controls the drivers like a vice grip.

Here’s an example of a smart upgrade path. Many of our customers run their systems with an Atoll IN50 integrated amp to drive whatever speakers they have. IN50 is a terrific sounding integrated and great value at $1350. Atoll was uber smart to include TWO sets of preamp outs on the back panel. With the adapters mentioned above, you can run XLR cables (Kimber Heros are best) from the IN50 to the SCM40As and you’ve taken your music to the stratosphere! Continue to run your CD player, Streamer and turntable into the Atoll.

If you want to go to a higher level, of course you can consider a true balanced preamp like the Atoll PR300. It will sound better than an integrated amp used as a preamp. But Rome wasn’t built in a day.

I know you’ll be ecstatic about what the SCM40As will do for your music. I want you to get them into your system ASAP. You can sweat the nuances of other components later- because you’ve hit a home run out of the ball park with the 40As! The 40As are so clear and resolving that you’ll be able to appreciate any upgrades you make in front of them. But the biggest bang for your dollar investment is to start with the ATC SCM40As.