ATC SCM 40A > StereoNet review
If you think about it, active loudspeakers should be more prevalent. Those of us with a love of hi-fi separates tend to spend considerable time and money searching for the ideal match between loudspeakers and amplifiers. This quest for synergy then extends to cables, isolation, coupling and decoupling experiments and so on, too…
However, with speakers like ATC's SCM40A, this time-consuming and oft-frustrating step is rendered redundant – as its 36kg cabinet comes fitted with a dedicated 242W Class AB triamp arrangement, plus an active crossover. This configuration consists of a 150W module for the bass driver, a 60W unit that drives the midrange, and a 32W amp for the tweeter – all designed and built in-house. A pair of MOSFET transistors per channel add up to four identical output stages, fed by three separate secondary power supplies to scale the power according to the frequency band and driver demands.
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THE LISTENING
The SCM40A took no time to impress upon mhat it's the kind of speaker that's ready to rock. The onboard power amps provide plenty of grunt with a healthy 19V rms over XLR on tap, which meant that lots of air was soon moving around my listening room. Yet this speaker was still able to leave its lab coat in the studio, and slide into a pair of slippers, acoustically speaking. By this, I mean that despite ATC being very much a pro audio brand, this speaker has plenty of audiophile hi-fi appeal – it's less clinical than many pro speakers whilst remaining highly insightful and punchy.
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THE VERDICT
Talented, dynamic, and fun, with a soundstage wide and deep enough for you to forget about the cabinets standing in your room, ATC's SCM40A makes a great case for itself. ATC's pro-audio DNA shines through, with a musical performance offering fresh insight and impact to pieces you thought you already knew inside out. This speaker presents orchestral music with scale and finesse, yet you can turn things up to hooligan levels without fear of the drivers letting go and musically losing control.
- Jay Garrett, Dec 2022
Link to product: ATC SCM 40A
Link to review: StereoNet