Atc 11 or 19A

[bear23]

Hi all, i am currently in a dilemma of chosing atc scm 11 pairing with accuphase e480, or atc scm19a pairing with a cheaper preamp.( not enough funding to buy a accuphase c2150)
and i saw some review saying that if using scm19 we need a better source to enjoy the music. I currently only stream my music using my pc on my bedroom. Any recommendations since my source is not as good and kinda lack of fund to buy a new streamer and a good preamp for 19a. Will i regret to get 11 with e480 or i should get 19a in ur opinion?

[Mariner]

I have no experiences with the 11th and 19th!
But I would say..it depends where you see your hifi in the future.
If you will buy the 19a you will have a speaker that could last, and give you joy a long time. You also have the advantage of an active crossover and you must not spend thoughts which amp will compare. Other components will come in the future when you might have money to spend again.
If you will buy the 11 you surly have a good speaker, but you need an amp. If you might plan or see a change in the future to go on actives (and who of us doesn't have that thoughts) , you have to sell you speaker and amp and will loose money .
So my advice is....think about the level you will get, and what your listening room now and in the future might need. Than the decision is much easier.

[SolarMusic]

my 12 points go to:

atc scm19a pairing with a cheaper preamp

[AndyU]

Absolutely 19A, no question, no doubt. Active speakers can be orders of magnitude better than passive ones with respect to inter modulation distortion and all sorts of things. This is what ATC say:

Active Vs Passive – What are the benefits of an active loudspeaker system?

While it is possible to design a high performance loudspeaker using passive components, an active design has a number of benefits, these are listed below;

1) More accurate crossovers

• Active filters allow independent control of level and phase(time). This is not possible with passive crossovers. With a passive crossover any changes you make to the circuit affect both level and phase. The benefit this allows is that we can adjust for the crossover to have a perfect magnitude response and phase response. The result is that the stereo imaging is much more stable and the tonal balance of instruments is improved.
• An active filters performance is not changed by the temperature of the drive unit voice coil as they are not directly connected to them. A passive crossovers performance (filter shape and crossover frequency) will change with voice coil temperature which, increases with SPL (input power). This leads to passive loudspeaker systems having a slightly different sound when driven at low SPL compared to high SPL. The performance of active ATC systems changes very little with drive level.
• More efficient crossovers. Active crossovers do not need to use series inductors to achieve their filter shapes. Series inductors have resistance that reduces bass driver efficiency and also increases the Q of the low frequency tuning.
• More cost effective crossovers. Passive crossover networks use large, bulky and expensive components in order to deal with the high voltages from a power amplifier. Active crossovers offer better performance for lower cost.

2) Lower Intermodulation-Distortion

As the separate amplifiers in an active system are located after the crossover, they only operate over a limited bandwidth. This reduces intermodulation-distortion and, in comparison to a passive system, even a bi or tri-amped passive system, an active system will show 15 – 20dB lower intermodulation distortion.


3) Improved Frequency Response and Stereo Matching

An active system can very simply feature individual gain trims for the two, three or four amplifiers involved. This allows very simple fine tuning of the frequency response and the stereo matching. Similar matching in a passive system would involve the replacement of large, soldered passive components which, in practice, is difficult and time consuming for the manufacturer.


4) Lower Cost for Higher Performance

Because an active system is designed, engineered and implemented by a single manufacturer into as compact a package as the design allows, cost is saved on electronics case work and packaging and the manufacturer can invest in real performance enhancing changes or pass the saving on to the customer.

Loudspeaker Technology Ltd, Gypsy Lane, Aston Down, Stroud, Gloucestershire, GL6 8HR.
Tel: +44 (0)1285 760561 Fax: +44 (0)1285760683 Email: [email protected]


Link: http://atcloudspeakers.co.uk/active-amplification/

When my fancy DAC was away for repair I used my SCM50ASLs with an old Squeezebox Touch. Still sounded pretty good. You can get a decent enough DAC with a USB input and balanced output for £100/£200. In time your finances will recover and you can buy something better and you will have wasted little.

[SolarMusic]

a alternative (if you like black) ccould be ATC SCM20A SL Pro

a bit cheaper than 19A and the better tweeter in s-spec than 19A
but needs a stand.
i use active pros for hifi listen and love it

https://www.whathifi.com/atc/scm20asl-pro/review

[bear23]

a alternative (if you like black) ccould be ATC SCM20A SL Pro

a bit cheaper than 19A and the better tweeter in s-spec than 19A
but needs a stand.
i use active pros for hifi listen and love it

https://www.whathifi.com/atc/scm20asl-pro/review

But actually in my country 20asl is expensive than 19a by ard usd 1500 if i nt mistaken.just one quick question, for the 20 it say its less forgiving for bad record, will that mean all my song stream from pc via tidal will sound bad? Since more hi fi user all using cd or vinyl instead of using pc.

[SolarMusic]

with the other tweeter, the highs would be a bit more detailed (as wanted in studios) but I have this tweeter and it is not intrusive and suitable for long-term use.

19A are certainly just as good for use at home and don't need a stand

[bear23]

with the other tweeter, the highs would be a bit more detailed (as wanted in studios) but I have this tweeter and it is not intrusive and suitable for long-term use.

19A are certainly just as good for use at home and don't need a stand

alright, since so many ppl recommend 19a for home use , i guess i will just proceed with ordering the 19a and wait for it come!

[SolarMusic]

sounds like a good plan :-)

As Preamp i do just use a RME ADI DAC FS, that sounds very good and is not too expensive

[Mariner]

After the technical and audiophile choice has apparently been made, I would like to add something to consider. The WAF (wife accepting factor) Fathers may know the problem! 😉 In contrast to the SCM11, the SCM19A is a large tower speaker! Our lovable women have problems with these here and there! 😁 But for the audiophile forum community a minor problem!

[AndyU]

But on the other hand the 19A is attractive wood all the way to the floor, whereas the 11 needs a stand which is usually metal and ugly especially with cables dangling down from the speakers, and possibly ends up taking up just as much floor space anyway. And with the 19As you save all the clutter of a power amplifier, and the cables that run to the speakers are much smaller and neater.

[Mariner]

AndyU you are absolutely right! But are that really thoughts of a women with very less relations to Hifi, or your own?
But all situations, and also women, are different, and i hope for bear23 that he can choose what ever he want! But for some of us, I think, the WAF is a point we have to take care for.

[bear23]

AndyU you are absolutely right! But are that really thoughts of a women with very less relations to Hifi, or your own?
But all situations, and also women, are different, and i hope for bear23 that he can choose what ever he want! But for some of us, I think, the WAF is a point we have to take care for.

Haha yeah, actually i can chose whatever i want. And myself also think that 19a is prettier if someday i want to move my hifi from my room to living room. Its gona be look nicer than using some iron leg 🤣 i am from malaysia so maybe i gona wait for few months before i get my 19a. Cant wait!

[SolarMusic]

WAF, that is a problem, i don´t have.
I´m so ugly, i just date blind woman
another advance, i can use the ATC pro models, haha

have fun with your 19a, never heard them, but think they are very good