SCM45A Pro as Home Speakers

[SolarMusic]

Hello, is there anybody out there?

my name is tom,
i found this ATC Forum again and want to show you my little simple system.

This are ATC SCM45A pro speakers, normaly used in studios, but they work brilliant in my livingroom too.

Setup is:

- roon R.O.C.K Server on a Intel NUC with files on a synology NAS (in another room behind the wall)
- Metrum Acoustics AMBRE (roon endpoint/streamer)
- RME ADI 2 DAC FS
- a GRADO GH1 as Headphone
and a little room treatment here and there..

ah, and two ATC SCM45A, so that the music can get out somewhere 😊

[SailorZH]

Ah, besides nice speakers, there’s the nice RME ADI-2 DAC!

[Bulldog]

Very nice system. I see you're running the same preamp as me - the RME ADI-2 DAC.

[9radua1]

Very nice setup! Cool speaker stands, what are they?

[SolarMusic]

Very nice setup! Cool speaker stands, what are they?

Hi,

the statives are from a company for prof. music equipment called König & Meyer

K&M 26791 Design Monitorstativ

https://www.thomannmusic.com/km_26791_design_monitorstativ.htm?ref=mobile

they are adjustable in height and very heavy and stable for my nearly 40kg speakers.
Under the speakers i use iso-acoustic iso-pads, which improve the sound a bit.

Ah, besides nice speakers, there’s the nice RME ADI-2 DAC!

Yep
it is a little wonderbox
Before the RME i had a Metrum Acoustics Adagio R2R Dac.
I sold it cause the bancrupty of the company in fear of getting no support anymore for such an expensive DAC in case of an error.
2 days later they write, they will come back....

So the RME was a cheap solution for me and looks like first a toy versus the Adagio
But the sound is superb too.
Hi-Hats had a little more metallish feeling with the Adagio, but Highs are more refined with the RME and bass is as defined like with the Adagio.
After a few days listening and a few configurations i did not miss the Adagio anymore.

The RME ADI is very good for ATC, also as Preamp with a good remote.

regards
tom

[kingabs]

Hello, is there anybody out there?

my name is tom,
i found this ATC Forum again and want to show you my little simple system.

This are ATC SCM45A pro speakers, normaly used in studios, but they work brilliant in my livingroom too.

Setup is:

- roon R.O.C.K Server on a Intel NUC with files on a synology NAS (in another room behind the wall)
- Metrum Acoustics AMBRE (roon endpoint/streamer)
- RME ADI 2 DAC FS
- a GRADO GH1 as Headphone
and a little room treatment here and there..

ah, and two ATC SCM45A, so that the music can get out somewhere 😊

Very nice setup

[SailorZH]

Hi,

the statives are from a company for prof. music equipment called König & Meyer

K&M 26791 Design Monitorstativ

https://www.thomannmusic.com/km_26791_design_monitorstativ.htm?ref=mobile

they are adjustable in height and very heavy and stable for my nearly 40kg speakers.
Under the speakers i use iso-acoustic iso-pads, which improve the sound a bit.




Yep
it is a little wonderbox
Before the RME i had a Metrum Acoustics Adagio R2R Dac.
I sold it cause the bancrupty of the company in fear of getting no support anymore for such an expensive DAC in case of an error.
2 days later they write, they will come back....

So the RME was a cheap solution for me and looks like first a toy versus the Adagio
But the sound is superb too.
Hi-Hats had a little more metallish feeling with the Adagio, but Highs are more refined with the RME and bass is as defined like with the Adagio.
After a few days listening and a few configurations i did not miss the Adagio anymore.

The RME ADI is very good for ATC, also as Preamp with a good remote.

regards
tom

Good to know that the RME ADI-2 is a superb DAC. It received lots of raving reviews. My top choice is either a Benchmark DAC3 or the ADI-2. But for the moment I am fine with my equipment.

[SolarMusic]

Good to know that the RME ADI-2 is a superb DAC. It received lots of raving reviews. My top choice is either a Benchmark DAC3 or the ADI-2. But for the moment I am fine with my equipment.

I haven't been able to compare the Benchmark Dac3 yet, but after a period of getting used to it, the RME also beats the Metrum Adagio for me. Also the Auralic Vega I had before.
ATC and ADI is a good combination

[SailorZH]

I haven't been able to compare the Benchmark Dac3 yet, but after a period of getting used to it, the RME also beats the Metrum Adagio for me. Also the Auralic Vega I had before.
ATC and ADI is a good combination

Me neither, I have never heard Benchmark's DAC3 nor the RME ADI-2. As I am a one-box user with my Devialet, I have no urgent need for a new DAC at the moment. But, as every audiophile, I get restless at times and I start to think about new equipment. Till recently, I was thinking along the lines of replacing my Devialet with a modular setup of a good DAC with volume control and a power amp. That's why I read lots of DAC reviews. And among those, two came constantly up as very good DACs, namely the Benchmark and the RME ADI-2.

Anyway, there are interesting developments regarding DACs. The Benchmark might not be the most modern DAC available, but doubtless an extraordinary good one. Modern DACs appear that measure incredibly well, sich us Topping, etc. And most interestingly, they are amazingly affordable.

Never mind, I calmed down regarding my restlessness and I am concentrating on upgrading my speakers to either the SCM 19 v2 or the SCM 40. And also, as I like my present combo very much, I might just as well upgrade my Devialet Expert to the Expert Pro.

Interesting setup you have with the SCM 45As! How do they sound? Also, I like your Grado headphone! Is it a GH1? I used to have one, but I never listen to headphones anymore.

[SolarMusic]

Interesting setup you have with the SCM 45As! How do they sound? Also, I like your Grado headphone! Is it a GH1? I used to have one, but I never listen to headphones anymore.

not easy to describe how a speaker sounds, but i can say, that they do not sound clinical (as Studio-monitors can sound sometimes)
They have the same musicality as other ATCs. A friend had active scm40 and in comparrison the scm45a have a bit more bass punch and the heights are phenomenal with the "new" tweeter in the best version from ATC.
So the scm45a pro is a good alternative (for me a better) to the scm40a. I got a good price and do like the simple black studio design.
Studios that use the atc scm45a are always very enthusiastic. So i got the idea.

yes, headphone is a Grado GH-1
i am also not a big headphone listener but later in the evening when i do use the Grado i am happy every time for its colorfull natural sound. i think it meets the sound preferences of atc owners quite well
The RME ADI is a very good Headphone AMP too

[SailorZH]

not easy to describe how a speaker sounds, but i can say, that they do not sound clinical (as Studio-monitors can sound sometimes)
They have the same musicality as other ATCs. A friend had active scm40 and in comparrison the scm45a have a bit more bass punch and the heights are phenomenal with the "new" tweeter in the best version from ATC.
So the scm45a pro is a good alternative (for me a better) to the scm40a. I got a good price and do like the simple black studio design.
Studios that use the atc scm45a are always very enthusiastic. So i got the idea.

yes, headphone is a Grado GH-1
i am also not a big headphone listener but later in the evening when i do use the Grado i am happy every time for its colorfull natural sound. i think it meets the sound preferences of atc owners quite well
The RME ADI is a very good Headphone AMP too

Thanks for describing the SCM45‘s sound charateristics, I kno it‘s hard to describe the sound If one‘s speakers.

So what do you think is better bass performance because of the vented design as opposed to the sealed box of the 40s?

[SolarMusic]

the scm45a have the same bass drivers as the scm40, but twice as many. therefore, of course, more bass due to the larger membrane area.
the holes in the front are not bass reflex openings according to atc. they are so that the membrane can vibrate more freely.
the bass is just as accurate and dry as the scm40, just a little more if needed
Before the ATC i had a few active Backes & Müller with sensor controlled bass, but the ATC's bass is almost as accurate and the mids are nicer

[SailorZH]

the scm45a have the same bass drivers as the scm40, but twice as many. therefore, of course, more bass due to the larger membrane area.
the holes in the front are not bass reflex openings according to atc. they are so that the membrane can vibrate more freely.
the bass is just as accurate and dry as the scm40, just a little more if needed
Before the ATC i had a few active Backes & Müller with sensor controlled bass, but the ATC's bass is almost as accurate and the mids are nicer

Yes, of course, I should've looked better at your pictures! Of course, there are two bass drivers. So is that a general principle of ATC speakers that their ported speakers are not considered to be bass reflex boxes?

I was always wondering if there's a true difference between studio monitors (professional) and, what ATC calls, consumer HiFi.

[SolarMusic]

So is that a general principle of ATC speakers that their ported speakers are not considered to be bass reflex boxes?

i don`t know exactly but i could imagine that

i found that from a ATC SCM25A review

Like all of the larger ATC monitor designs, the SCM25A employs a ported cabinet to optimise the loading of the bass driver. However, ported cabinets inherently have a resonant frequency, which is determined by the cabinet and port dimensions. Some speaker designers use this resonance deliberately to 'prop up' and artificially enhance the bass response, especially in small-cabinet designs. However, ATC don't use the port to extend the bass as such, but rather tune it to load the bass driver correctly to control its motion, with the primary aim of reducing distortion — although some gentle low-frequency extension is a handy side-effect.

In technical terms, the difference is that the port resonance in ATC designs is well damped, with a relatively low Q of around 0.5, giving a fairly gentle and natural-sounding bass roll-off with very good extension. In contrast, most ported speakers are designed with more aggressive port tuning, Q values of 0.7 or higher being quite typical. These higher values reduce the port damping, allowing the resonant energy to enhance the low end, often giving the impression of a more powerful, 'thumpy' bass response. The down side is a much steeper roll-off which actually reduces the total bass extension quite dramatically.

source: https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/atc-scm25a

[AlastairH]

Lovely looking! Sure it sounds fab too.

That looks like a nice Marantz CD17KI signature if I am not mistaken on the bottom rack!

[SolarMusic]

Lovely looking! Sure it sounds fab too.

That looks like a nice Marantz CD17KI signature if I am not mistaken on the bottom rack!

thank you Alastair 🙂

the Marantz is a simple CD17 without KI, MK2 or signature
It was the first CD17, and i think i have it for over 20 years now, but its built like a tank
I do use it maximum one time a year when a friend has a CD with him. It stands there more to fill the gap ;-)
My CDs are all ripped to a Synology NAS as Flac files and get played over the Ambre streamer with an Intel-NUC as roon Server (r.o.c.k.)

[AlastairH]

I always wanted the CD17KI sig but ended up with a Meridian 506.20! Still going strong in my dads system :-)

[SolarMusic]

found this video about the SCM 45A, test and impressions on youtube a rare for this excellent speaker
I still love mine :-)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7yI5cm9pTo&ab_channel=PresentDayProduction

[SolarMusic]

I changed my RME ADI Dac to an ELAC DDP-2.
The DDP-2 is a Preamp with the same AKM4493 Dual Dac as the RME.
It is a certified roon endpoint too, so just one unit now for my hifi. I can use my old Thorens TD2001 again over analog input.
My Ambre Streamer wil be sold and the RME goes to my PC setup (where i will sell the Pro-Ject DAC)

think It sounds fantastic and is a perfect match for my scm45A

I can highly recommend the device to ATC users

https://www.elacaudio.ca/pre-amp-dac/alchemy-ddp-2/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3vN47PyhEU

[Musicraft]

Lovely system 😎