For whom? And Conclusion
Contents
Good question. Of course for the audio engineer who works with vocals, classical, acoustic and jazz. And of course for all types of music, but we do think it excels in the genres mentioned above. These monitors are an indispensable tool; if the mix sounds good on the SCM20A, then it will sound good everywhere. It seems to be a slightly more forgiving alternative to the no longer available Yamaha NS10. In the studio, an A/B comparison with a full-range and midfield monitor is necessary.
For those looking for the ultimate desktop speaker, this ATC is definitely an option. Place them about 1 metre apart, connect a good DAC with volume control and you won’t want to leave your desk.
For the living room, the SCM20A has a surprisingly wide range for a nearfield monitor. The sound image remains intact at a distance of a few metres, although we do miss the bass. These monitors can function perfectly in a not too large room. An additional subwoofer would be the solution if you want more bass. If you are brand loyal and stick with ATC, these will come at a hefty price tag. However, subwoofers are also available from other good studio brands (such as Genelec and Dynaudio).
Hi. I have demoed the ATC 20actives in store and love the clarity etc. I may however miss some bass. I have checked out your ATC C4 mk2 sub out and think this maybe a great addition to the 20s,
My question is at £6500 for the 20s and £4500 for the C4 does that bring in the 50 actives into play. Still a bit to pay also but lose the big sub!
My room is 4.0m x 4.2m in size with normal ceiling height. Will the 50s overpower it🤷
Any experience if the 50s
Regards and thank you for any thoughts.
Hi Yung,
I have been following you guys for some time and I would just like to say, thank you for your work here and sharing your reviews and comparisons. You are just about the only group who actually compares like products in a systematic manner. As a former HiFi dealer, we used to take great care in not only comparing products in the evaluation for what to carry in the store but we went to great lengths to find proper combinations of components etc. It is a sad situation that this is just simply not done for the most part in the majority of the market. Publications, be it in print or on-line nor dealers take the time for the most part. So, thank you for that effort. It takes time and dedicated effort and it is very much appreciated.
I am curious how you would compare the ATC SCM 20A to that of the equivalent monitor in the PSI line? Also, in the ATC passive line up, how would you characterize the differences between the SCM 12 Pro and SCM 20 Pro?
Thanks, again….Best regards….John
Hi John,
Thanks so much for your kind words! We strive to do just as you mention; to be as transparent as possible in sharing what we hear and experience. And yes, to compare it with like products (which is not always what all manufacturers want). Let’s just say that the brands we are reviewing here are confident to be compared with other models, and have confidence in our methods.
On your question: I have only listened to PSI monitors on a factory visit and at PSI/Weiss booths during hifi shows. The PSU A21-M is also a 2-way active speaker, the crossover frequency is at 2.4 kHz. I was really impressed by the larger model, the PSI A25-M. A three-way system, midfield. You should compare therse two if you want a serious shoot out. I would say, based on my memory, that PSI sounds a little more ‘hifi’ than ATC. This is also due to the bass reflex topology of PSI whereas ATC is a closed speaker. The ATC SCM20A is almost twice the weight of the PSI A21-M, which says something about the inertia of the speaker casing. But both brands are a pleasure to listen to. No listening fatigue, very accurate and fast.
On the passive ATC monitors: I have not listened closely to these yet. In general, you will need very good amplification for these speakers and since this has already been done by ATC in the active models, we think the price/quality ratio is in favour of the latter category. Unless you already have very beefy and precise amps, look for the active models.
Yung,
Thanks for the prompt response and your perspective. In these days of pay to play by the manufacturers and distributers, it is a breath of fresh air to read and hear via your YouTube group reviews. You guys are doing a great job and approach things from a clean slate. That is commendable. Thank you, once again.
Best regards….John
ATC SCM 20A Pro. You wrote under Cons:
“Everything is audible
Poorly mixed tracks are mercilessly exposed”
Aren’t those the point for a Pro studio speaker?
Yes, you are right that this is the point to pro monitor speakers.
Nevertheless, you would be surprised how many of these speakers perform differently compared to the ATC SCM20A.
We have reviewed quite some professional monitors, please read these and this review. The list of pros and cons does not cover the full story.
Happy reading!