Quote:
Originally Posted by
AlexK
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Don't expect the same level of midrange resolution from an SCM7 as you had from your SCM50s.
While the SCM7s embody all the things that I think of ATC as being (musical, neutral, fatigue free, not that 'showy' but actually very involving to listen to, reliable, long lasting), the difference between a ~4.5" mid woofer being expected to reproduce everything from 40Hz up to 2.5 KHz, vs a dedicated dome mid with all the additional engineering in that driver (the ceramic SL layer etc) is quite large.
SCM 7 > SCM 11 > SCM 20 > SCM50 etc, each time it's a step up on every front. Midrange clarity, bottom end, headroom. Especially the step up to a 3-way without the issues of IMD affecting midrange production... it's quite large.
If you want SCM50 resolution, you need SCM50s really. SCM20 actives will get you surprisingly close for a 2-way though.
It's true, ATC is one of those designers where the more you spend the more amazing their products become as piece by piece the compromises fall away.
25's amazing
45's amazing +
50's really fantastic
100's really fantastic +
150's mind blowing near perfection!
And were at $23,000 for a pair of stand alone speakers.
I've tracked and mixed once on 150's and it's an experience I'll never forget - absolutely stunning.
For me the ATC marquee is all about that fabled mid driver, it's there three way design the seems to offer the X-ray vision into a mix via that ultra high resolution relatively wide bandwidth mid driver. Though as pointed out above the 20's do do a good job of getting close.
I'm happy with my 25's
