ATC SCM40A, $14,000 Per Pair (38.58h, 14.5w, 13.5d, 79 lbs)

(6.5” Woofer, 3” Dome Midrange, 1” Soft Dome Tweeter)

{Amps, 150w, 60w, 32w}

Standard Veneer Finishes: Cherry or Black Ash

Speaker dimensions include plinth

Please be sure to read my writing about ATC Actives on our ATC yellow tab. Further, please read about SCM40A’s bigger brother, Dave’s Faves SCM50 ASTL. Everything you’ll read about ATC Actives and the SCM50 Active, holds true for the 40A- except that 40A has less bass output.

To be clear, the 40A is the same speaker as the 50 Active but with a smaller woofer, (6.5” instead of a 9”) amps, cabinets and price tag. Of course, if you can afford the 50 Active you should buy it. But the 40A weighs in at about half the price.

The ATC Active attributes of great spacial presentation, smooth midrange, taut bass with exciting impact and high end without distortion, are equal in 40A to its bigger brothers. The 40A does indeed use ATC’s class leading DOME midrange driver which takes you beyond cone performance. You’ll hear it casts a huge soundstage and gives you the specific aural texture of the singer or instruments on the CD. The advantage of using a dome midrange and tweeter is that they create a more cohesive musical presentation. Virtually everyone else uses dome tweets and cone mids. They can certainly be good.. but not AS good.

As a piano hound I always notice when the best players play notes cleanly without smearing. Play any CD by Evgeni Kissin and the 40A will let you hear each note as opposed to somewhat of a smear or roll. Kissin has unsurpassed technique. ATC Actives lay it all out for us to appreciate. The image is spacious and fills the wall in front of us. The bass is surprisingly deep given the size of the woofer and cabinet. It’s a 6.5” woof, but it’s driven by its own amp, which is fed specific frequencies and contour, by the electronic crossover. Great benefits are garnered from ATC Actives where each driver can play to its full potential.

There are many rooms and listeners where 40A is going to be plenty to do the job. Fire up almost any Ray Brown album (Summer Wind is my #1) and ATC Actives will let you feel, as well as hear, Ray’s deft playing. My room is a 17×17 loft with a living room below. The 40A is enough to do the job. But of course… the 50 is even more fun! If you can swing the 50, don’t drive yourself nuts parsing details. Just buy the 50.

We have many customers who prefer to listen in modest sized rooms, as opposed to their Great Rooms, to be in their own world. I’m sure you know the feeling of being immersed in music. Let the house burn down, I’m enraptured right now! SCM40A will do that for you, albeit without as heavy a punch as its bigger brother.

If you have a more intimate space, perhaps a modest living room, den or a room where a kid once lived, the 40A would be ideal. I still want the 40A over its 2-way cone based alternative, SCM20ASL ($11k per pair). The 40A’s aren’t that much more money. They have much superior midrange due to employing the dome mid technology, and the woofer is dedicated specifically to its task- which you can’t get in a 2-way. Again, the ACTIVE 6.5” woofer, dedicated to that task, is an impactful musical tool.

Don’t be afraid to toss on some Nils Lofgren and let ‘er rip. There’s a ton more in the 40A than you’ll guess, given its modest size.

If you’re fortunate enough to be married to the right girl, then you can place them anywhere. Yet a good percentage of our listeners find they can only PLAY their hi-fi as they like in smaller quarters. I am happy to tell you that if you would love SCM50 Active sound but don’t have the money for their power & majesty, you’ll love the 40A’s.

ATC Active Audition Opportunity

By invitation only, we can set up an audition for ATC Active speakers.

We are based on the north side of Milwaukee.

We demo CDs, not LPs or streaming.

You’re welcome to bring your music or listen to ours.

The prices are firm. We don’t take trades.

We welcome serious inquiries.

Contact Dave.

holmesaedh@gmail.com

Models Available:

SCM40A, $14k Per Pair

SCM50 ASLT, $27,000 Per Pair