Bookshelf / standmount speaker impressions

Discussion in 'Speakers' started by rlow, Feb 10, 2020.

  1. McFly

    McFly New

    Joined:
    Mar 6, 2019
    Likes Received:
    39
    Trophy Points:
    13
    Location:
    Australia
    I had the same thoughts as you my man, so i went and auditioned the 40's. Exactly what you want. I have had them for 2 years so far and haven't heard anything better.

    Remember SCM stands for studio control monitor.
    The 19s are very much cut from the studio cloth. The 40's though, whole different beast. More hifi, just the right amount. Everything I liked about the 19s was there and everything i thought the 19s were missing was there. No need for subs ymmv.

    Mind you, its a floorstander. With the same x and z axis dimensions aka footprint, mind you.

    If you willing to splurge on the 19s, maybe you'll be willing to go a lil deeper for the 40s.
     
  2. yunie_

    yunie_ Acquaintance

    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2018
    Likes Received:
    69
    Trophy Points:
    28
    Location:
    Singapore
    I don't know if you meant the special 40 or the atc scm 40. S40 is not a floorstander so I don't think you meant that, but then again atc scm40 also has the scm in there so your argument about scm being studio control monitor doesn't make sense since both have scm in their name
     
  3. GoodEnoughGear

    GoodEnoughGear Evil Dr. Shultz‎

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 25, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,070
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Cape Town, South Africa
    Regardless of the name, SCM40 is consumer line ATC.
     
  4. rlow

    rlow A happy woofer

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Jul 18, 2017
    Likes Received:
    7,738
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Canada
    I would be interested to hear the SCM40s for sure. I’m sure there are differences with the 19s considering they employ the infamous mid-dome, plus the size of the cabinet etc. Still the same tweeter though, although on a different crossover due to the mid-dome.

    Specifically how do you feel the sound differs?

    The problem is they almost never come up used in Canada, and I’m not paying the new price for those - they’re almost $8k CAD plus tax. Above my spending limits right now. I’m also not likely to want to ship those beasts around unless I got a crazy deal, so likehood of me ending up with them is fairly low.
     
    Last edited: Mar 3, 2020
  5. yunie_

    yunie_ Acquaintance

    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2018
    Likes Received:
    69
    Trophy Points:
    28
    Location:
    Singapore
    Atc mention there's no difference between their consumer and pro line in terms of sound. Just the look of the cabinet
     
  6. GoodEnoughGear

    GoodEnoughGear Evil Dr. Shultz‎

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 25, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,070
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Cape Town, South Africa
    There is no pro SCM40 though, nor is it one of the super linear spec. Check out the reviews of the SCM45 and SCM25 vs the ASL range - they are considered my many to be a separate line vs the SL's.

    I guess your point holds somewhat though - only way to really know is to hear them!
     
    Last edited: Mar 3, 2020
  7. murphythecat

    murphythecat GRU-powered uniformed trumpkin

    Pyrate Banned
    Joined:
    Apr 4, 2016
    Likes Received:
    1,201
    Trophy Points:
    93
  8. rlow

    rlow A happy woofer

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Jul 18, 2017
    Likes Received:
    7,738
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Canada
    Yep, just have to get some time to pull together all my notes. Started to do that for the LS6. The Special Forty will come sometime later, and will probably be more concise, since I haven’t had that speaker for a bit and will be going purely from notes and memory (plus I think I’ve been too long winded previously anyhow).

    On another note, got these in the other day:

    B67C9942-BEB6-443D-B41F-FFD4568A9F80.jpeg
     
  9. Metro

    Metro Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Dec 27, 2016
    Likes Received:
    1,590
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    San Francisco
    KEF R3? Feel like a nerd that I can identify it.
     
  10. Biodegraded

    Biodegraded Friend

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    May 28, 2017
    Likes Received:
    7,980
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Vancouver BC
    Not from where I'm standing. Your reports seem to me to strike a good balance between details and overall impression. I say keep it up.
     
  11. Armaegis

    Armaegis Friend

    Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    7,464
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Winnipeg
    There was a SCM40 on canuckaudiomart, but I messaged the guy last night and he said it was sold already. Shucks.
     
  12. McFly

    McFly New

    Joined:
    Mar 6, 2019
    Likes Received:
    39
    Trophy Points:
    13
    Location:
    Australia
    Oh deary me - read the whole thread and posted a reply about the 40's completely forgetting that the Dynaudio special 40s were being talked about in the thread.

    I was in fact referring to the ATC SCM40's - the floorstanding version of the SCM19's.

    I had the SCM19's and fell in love with the transparent and honest sound, and slow roll off of bass (in the sense that it didn't vanish after port tune hz). Vocals were great, but to me it was drums that really blew me away - ive never heard drums better than on the SCM19's, and I still give it to the 19s vs my 40's now. I cant quite pinpoint it but the SCM19's while amazing, I could never relax and listen to. The SCM40's did that instantly and still do it. Everything about the 19s was there, the transparency, the tightness, the clarity, and the mid treble was just slightly wound back... Like a perfect home-not-studio aimed version of the 19's. Maybe its the deeper extension, or the slight dip in the upper mids, but whatever it is I know if you are lusting after a perfect home stereo pair of speakers and don't need massive 25hz extension then try the SCM40. The footprint is the same after all.

    FWIW I had dual SB2000's with 19's, and sold them after I got the SCM40's. Top to bottom clarity, just feed them with a bit of wattage. Medium room size, and FWIW I feed the 40's with an RME ADI2 DAC, Yamaha MX-1 amplifier.
     
  13. McFly

    McFly New

    Joined:
    Mar 6, 2019
    Likes Received:
    39
    Trophy Points:
    13
    Location:
    Australia
    I also have a pair of these on FL/FR HT duty. Very happy with vocal clarity and power handling.
     
  14. yunie_

    yunie_ Acquaintance

    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2018
    Likes Received:
    69
    Trophy Points:
    28
    Location:
    Singapore
    Funny, I heard drums on the atc scm40a and thought it's much better than the 19 powered by atc sia2.

    The distributor was showing me from atc 11 to 19 to 40. And the dynamism of the atc is something BBC speakers can never quite match. The drum on the 40a is so awesome that going back to the 11 immediately after it make the drum sound so lame. But of course, that's definitely got something to do with 11 limited extension.

    Don't think the 40a is suitable for rlow's room though. Needs a lot of spaces by the side
     
  15. McFly

    McFly New

    Joined:
    Mar 6, 2019
    Likes Received:
    39
    Trophy Points:
    13
    Location:
    Australia
    Agreed, and I think the 40A's are another step up with the line level crossovers and 3 amps per speaker. On the drums yes the 40's have it in weight, but i've never heard a more real snare like I have on the 19's. It was really quite something. I havent heard the 11's or 7's but I bet they would make neat little secondary systems.

    Edit - starting to derail this thread a bit. rlow - looking forward to your thoughts on the special 40's and the r3's. I lusted for the former and own the latter, mainly because I got them through work channels at prices most would dream of.
     
  16. JayC

    JayC Resident Crash Test Dummy

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 26, 2015
    Likes Received:
    980
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Eindhoven
    A bit of a wet thumb in the air question - considering how you liked the S400, would you spring for a pair of the A500? I've got a close buddy looking to move upwards, and so far he's been eyeing the Dynaudio C1 but this weekend he was talking about how he would like to get something that allowed for room correction from all his sources. This led to the A500 and their DSP (using their hub, which does only < 250Hz correction) but he was on the fence because of the lack of familiarity with the brand and also the price point.
     
  17. rlow

    rlow A happy woofer

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Jul 18, 2017
    Likes Received:
    7,738
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Canada
    Not a chance. Way, way too expensive for my blood, and I’ve spent too much time dialing in the sound I’m looking for to basically throw my whole chain away. Unless they somehow managed to hit the perfect mark for my tastes across the board on every front, but I have pretty high doubts.

    Also room correction is fairly suspect in my book - you can’t actually correct the room, only adjust the frequency response, which is not the same thing and has issues. If I was starting with nothing, or had very little equipment that I wasn’t all that enamoured with, maybe. Or if I really wanted to get rid of all the boxes in my room, possibly. But I’m too fickle for that anyhow and change my tastes too much - I’d rather not have to rebuy all the gear when I eventually change my mind.
     
  18. yotacowboy

    yotacowboy McRibs Kind of Guy

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Feb 23, 2016
    Likes Received:
    10,691
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    NOVA
    Home Page:
    I wouldn't write off room correction under 200Hz or so. I'm running mains that are good to 40Hz and two $99 8" shitty Pioneer subs plus convolution through REW + Roon and I'm completely happy with the bass response at 85–95-ish dB. Most of my listening doesn't slay Slayer since things start rattling the condo and annoying neighbors above 100dB, so that's a grain of salt. Honestly, I think one of the cheapo Dayton USB mics should be on permanent loaner status for SBAF folks that want to see what some REW can do, both good and bad.
     
    Last edited: Mar 10, 2020
  19. rlow

    rlow A happy woofer

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Jul 18, 2017
    Likes Received:
    7,738
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Canada
    Yeah I’m not completely writing it off, don’t get me wrong. Sure you can take down some peaks in one sitting position if you have a room mode, but then of course you have lowered things at those frequencies in another positions where you don’t. And the timing of reflections can’t be changed, and can’t do anything about nulls. I’m sure there’s some benefits to be had (I’ll probably mess with it at some point too, I already have a Umik and REW), it’s just not the panacea some make it out to be.
     
  20. yotacowboy

    yotacowboy McRibs Kind of Guy

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Feb 23, 2016
    Likes Received:
    10,691
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    NOVA
    Home Page:
    Agreed - I think what's pertinent to a discussion of bookshelf speakers is that sub-sat combos can be shockingly good given some intelligent EQ below 200Hz or so, especially given room/domestically challenged folks. Thanks for doing the work and being a guniea pig trying out so many stand mounts.
     

Share This Page