Originally Posted by time2mix.com ➡️

The question really is are the ATC's worth the extra $3500? They very well could be if you find them a better fit for what type of work you do most. If you find both the PMC's and ATC's are so similar that it isn't drastically shortening your work time or making your mixes sound night and day better (on the ATC's,) then your decision shouldn't be too difficult. The difference in cash can either be put towards something else like room treatment, or saved. My opinion is PMCs + room treatment will be better than ATC's in an untreated room.

I spent an extra $4kish to go from the KH310's to the ATC 25's. Both could have gotten the job done fine but I can do a ton more in less time on the ATC's, so the difference in price made sense for me. I had every intention of returning the ATC's if they weren't a night and day difference to the Neumanns. But they were, and my mixes have greatly improved since then, and I can get much more work done in less time which helps me either A - have more of a personal life, or B - take on more projects. I tend to choose B most of the time lol.

Just trying to put it into perspective, easy in theory but much more difficult to make the decision so I get it!

Originally Posted by time2mix.com ➡️

The question really is are the ATC's worth the extra $3500? They very well could be if you find them a better fit for what type of work you do most. If you find both the PMC's and ATC's are so similar that it isn't drastically shortening your work time or making your mixes sound night and day better (on the ATC's,) then your decision shouldn't be too difficult. The difference in cash can either be put towards something else like room treatment, or saved. My opinion is PMCs + room treatment will be better than ATC's in an untreated room.

I spent an extra $4kish to go from the KH310's to the ATC 25's. Both could have gotten the job done fine but I can do a ton more in less time on the ATC's, so the difference in price made sense for me. I had every intention of returning the ATC's if they weren't a night and day difference to the Neumanns. But they were, and my mixes have greatly improved since then, and I can get much more work done in less time which helps me either A - have more of a personal life, or B - take on more projects. I tend to choose B most of the time lol.

Just trying to put it into perspective, easy in theory but much more difficult to make the decision so I get it!

Originally Posted by Yamaoka86 ➡️

Did you compared the KH310 with Ma1 vs ATC25 or just the KH310 without any correction? Im on the KH310/KH750 ma1 System and after calibration the KH310 were way more precise in imaging. I'll ask because I wanna try the ATC20 in the future vs my KH system, just curious.

Originally Posted by time2mix.com ➡️

I came very close to buying the KH750 and implementing the MA1 thing, but it was sold out. And to be honest I'm happy it was because in that time I got the ATC's and they changed my life. BUT... I've heard wonderful things about how the 310's sound with the sub and wouldn't be surprised at how much more detailed their mid range becomes once paired with the 750 and EQed to the room. Nothing but love for those speakers. I don't think the ATC 20's vs KH310's would really be a fair comparison, really apples to oranges unless you got a sub with the 20's. Still wouldn't be a true 3 way system tho.

Originally Posted by uptheoctave ➡️

I'm currently using the ATC SCM45a's with a PSI sub and a Trinnov system and it is absolutely incredible.

Originally Posted by time2mix.com ➡️

Sounds amazing. Trinnov is something I've been considering for a while, I've got my room down to a pretty good balance of frequencies that I enjoy working in and trust. I think Trinnov would take it to the next level at some point.

Originally Posted by 50-pence ➡️

Trinnov does something special here too. I am also on large ATCs and two PSI A125. All aligned through an MC-PRO. That’s me good til the end of my career lol

Originally Posted by uptheoctave ➡️

I went for a PSI A225-M.
I am considering a second one to be honest.
MC-Pro here too.

Which ATC's do you have?
Do you use bass management in the Trinnov?

The Trinnov has been a total game changer for me.

Originally Posted by 50-pence ➡️

I have 50s. The profile means the PSIs can sit under them in the sound anchor admids, makes a nice 4-way tower lol. Not using BM in current preset but am about to move space and will change to have everything done by the Trinnov.

Originally Posted by sirjuxtable ➡️

Hey folks,

As I just moved to a new place with a larger room for my home studio, and my current monitors are starting to show their age, I think it's time to upgrade.

TLDR: Should I upgrade my KRK VXT4's plus 10s Sub to the Neumann KH120(A or D?) or should I swing for the fences and get the ATC SCM20asl?

Before everyone tells me to get the more expensive option, a little background:

I record and mix mostly podcasts/dialogue and live bands, although I want to do more studio work with bands. Either way, detail is important for the dialogue work and balance is important for bands.

I currently have the KRK VXT4's which I loved, paired with the KRK 10s sub. The VXT4's are started to get noisy, one with a faint crackle and one with a bad buzz, and the sub footswitch hasn't worked for years, so it's always on (loved the option of turning the sub off and bypassing the crossover). I may get them fixed or try to fix them myself as a "B" and mobile setup, or I may just sell them for cheap and help pay for the upgrade. Either way, they've given me dutiful service for about 10 years now, and I know them well.

These were my first set of monitors that weren't just glorified computer speakers, and I found the detail and soundstage to be excellent, while still sounding very pleasant. I found them to be a little too relaxed in the high mids and highs, and my mixes would come out a little too pokey. I also found that (more likely due to my previous room, which was only partially treated) my mixes were tubby and bloated in the low end. I hope to treat the new room much more to avoid lowend issues, but I think the flattering mids/highs are a feature of the VXT4s. I could be wrong.

My new room is in a basement with low ceilings (7' tall) but fairly long and wide (21' x 15'). I will most likely set up along the short wall firing downwards but will measure both positions to see what is optimal due to some eccentricities to the space. Again, I want to add much more treatment this time around to avoid flying blind especially in the low end.

After I get things in the room placed optimally and well treated, I hope to upgrade my ailing monitors to hopefully something much better.

I have two competing options in my mind that both seem like an obvious upgrade, but one is much more expensive than the other.

The Neumann Kh120's seem really well loved as nearfields and won't break the bank. I expect them to be better than the VXT4's, but unsure if it will feel like a quantum leap or a marginal improvement. Also, unsure if these will be "my last monitors" or if in 5-10 years or sooner I will feel the need to upgrade again.

The ATC scm20asl seem really well loved as nearfields as well, but seem huge. I'm assuming based on what I read that I will definitely have a "night and day" feeling with my current monitors, but the price tag is certainly high. I would have to get these financed. At this price, I would definitely want them to be my "last" monitors.

For both pairs I imagine I could add a sub later, but that would increase the cost significantly and will probably have to wait a while as I prioritize treatment and mains.

So, assuming I get the room sorted properly, is it worth it to go ATC? Overkill? Are the Neumann's going to be so much better than the VXT's that I will be over the moon at a fraction of the cost of the ATC's? Which set is better for the dimensions of the room? Other contenders that I am overlooking?

Originally Posted by sleshnyc ➡️

i know you didn't ask but, Genelec 8351b are incredible

Originally Posted by sirjuxtable ➡️

So, latest mixes with the PMC's have gone really well. I feel like I can get along with them really nicely.

I just put up the ATC's again (hauling them up 2 flights of stairs gets your heart beating, that's for sure) and I fell into a trance listening to music. I think the PMC's are awesome, but something about these ATC's are mesmerizing. Going to have to try a few more mixes to compare before I have to decide... good problems to have.

Originally Posted by time2mix.com ➡️

Sounds like you're learning towards the ATCs!

I wonder if the PMC twotwo6 is a better comparison to the ATC scm20 since the prices are closer? (albeit, the twotwo's have DSP and the ATC/Results are completely analog.)

Originally Posted by time2mix.com ➡️

Sounds like you're learning towards the ATCs!

I wonder if the PMC twotwo6 is a better comparison to the ATC scm20 since the prices are closer? (albeit, the twotwo's have DSP and the ATC/Results are completely analog.)

Originally Posted by sirjuxtable ➡️

May add a pair of subs at some point - the obvious choice being the Subwoofer Pro's (or maybe the Rythmik's?). But this will ultimately be a decision for once the basement is finished and all the treatment is in there so I can really decide what the room needs.

Cheers, ya'll!

Originally Posted by sirjuxtable ➡️

Okay, at some point I had to make a decision, and something in my gut told me to go ATC. I honestly loved the Result6's, and think they are very complimentary speakers actually.

I take solace in the fact that either way I'd be ending up with a fantastic set of nearfields, and can confidently recommend both of them, especially if they are your first step into the "high end" of monitoring. Both are huge upgrades to what I had been using before, and I feel dumb for waiting so long to open up my budget. If I ever want to change direction, I know the Result6 are an affordable fantastic option, and the fact that the ATC's resell so well and I am getting financing and demo deal pricing makes this all pretty risk-free. In fact, if I ever want a pair of B speakers for reference and travel, the Result6's will be way up on my list, given how detailed, balanced, and full-range they are while still being really light and easy to move around.

I hope I made the right choice! Thank you all for your input - it was extremely helpful, and I definitely appreciate it! Hopefully this thread is helpful for others deliberating between similar options.

May add a pair of subs at some point - the obvious choice being the Subwoofer Pro's (or maybe the Rythmik's?). But this will ultimately be a decision for once the basement is finished and all the treatment is in there so I can really decide what the room needs.

Cheers, ya'll!

Originally Posted by GearFranz ➡️

The main reason why I chose ATCs over other manufacturers was, that the bass roll off is not drastic, but slow and organic/natural.

Originally Posted by GearFranz ➡️

For film stuff I put both subs on a separat channel and let them play to 2kHz.

Originally Posted by Deleted f9397be ➡️

They roll-off like any other ported speaker. 4th order roll-off.

Originally Posted by sirjuxtable ➡️

Interested to hear about the Proac SM100 as well.

That thing everyone says about the ATC SMC20 speakers "disappearing" when combined with a sub is true. And I'm just running a KRK10s, but filling out that bottom bit really makes all the difference. It's truly eye opening. Very happy with the monitors+sub right now.