THEIR FLAGSHIP 2-WAY! ATC SCM 20 Speaker Review

[@jas.oncroft]

Good to see you back as you've not posted any video since last year. 😉

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@jas.oncroft thank you 😊

[@JonnyParker-]

the fight with the giant snail took its toll as you can see 😂

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@JonnyParker- what giant snail? 😉

[@howard5992]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 must be a joke related to the reflective glare from portions of your shirt

[@Rowdy_UncleDave]

Have been following your channel for years Tarun. Finally was able to purchase my first stereo setup. Thanks for all your help your videos are second to none.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@Rowdy_UncleDave thank you for all you support 😊👍

[@morespinach9832]

@@Rowdy_UncleDave what did you get?

[@bengleason508]

I appreciate you mentioning late night listening, thank you!

[@jimfarrell4635]

Yep. I bemoan the loss of loudness buttons on modern amps. They really do work, and are much more convenient than faffing with EQ.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

You are so welcome 😊

[@mjj841]

I love the ethos and engineering behind ATC speakers. It is the perfect audiophile hobby speaker as it forces you to re-evaluate your entire system around them - the weight 18Kg each means your need new stands, the power & performance requirements your amplifier to drive them properly, and they will reveal your source components too. That said, they are worth it.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@mjj841 thx for sharing 😊

[@myself61607]

I owned a pair some ten years ago and one of the things was to find suitable stands with the right height. And as I did not have a sub or even thought about one I was disappointed in their bass performance. The mids was fantastic like this review and many others say. And I also came to the same conclusion that they needed placing well into our room which turned out impossible for my family. They had to go.

[@selo8050]

​I've solved the bass extension problem with the parametric eq on my Eversolo streamer+a good DAC because I can't give up on the midrange of ATC's and the very very low distortion. But that's me. I would be interested to ear how you replaced the ATC's.

[@myself61607]

@@selo8050 Well since then I went in a round about way via a Linn Exakt system and then fell for a pair of heavy JBLs until I switched to my present marvelous KiiThree. They solved my placement problems and still sound large. I would say sound quality is on par with the ATCs.

[@JCP-Ghy]

Happy New Year, Tarun. Thank you for paying special attention to low-volume listening. It’s a very important factor for me.

[@jimfarrell4635]

Vintage amps with loudness buttons are your friend here. If ever a button was misnamed, it's that.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thx and happy new year to you too 👍

[@Romulus980]

What a great way to start 2025 a review of ATC SCM20...!👍

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@Romulus980 thank you kindly 😊👍

[@LS-vy5om]

I used to have ATC SCM7, SCM11, then the SCM20 under very powerfull ATC P2. Now I have the active ATC SCM20ASL Pro and I am VERY happy. ATC for life!!!

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Cool 😎

[@morespinach9832]

Would love to see pics of the 20 asl pro in a home setting. Do you have stands for them?

[@swd7901]

I am a happy owner of the SCM19s and a pair of C1 subs. One of the qualities I highly appreciate is the soft dome's much wider vertical dispersion, which allows you to move around in the room without loosing too much treble. Ribbons only sound good in one spot, and this is often overlooked.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@swd7901 good point. Thx for sharing 😊

[@morespinach9832]

@@swd7901 what am do you use?

[@Simon_Hawkshaw]

All thevery best to you, and your family, in 2025. I wish you continued success and happiness. I look forward to more of your content this coming year. Thank you for this review and your perspectives.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Simon. Happy new year to you too 😊👍

[@bryanherr1093]

A great way to start the new year Tarun. Great review as always. Thanks!

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you kindly. Happy new year 😊👍

[@mevdinc]

Another great ATC review. As always, very accurate description of the ATC sound and capabilities, well done. I can't wait for you to review one of ATC's bigger active speakers such as the SMC 50As. Happy New Year!

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@mevdinc thank you, much appreciated. I am slowly working my way up the range 😊👍

[@beefsflat7426]

Here's the review to save you time 😂 Passive scm50's Sound like bigger better passive 20's. Active 50's sound like bigger better active 20's. Active 100's sound like bigger better active 50's Active 150's sound like bigger better active 100's. With active you lose the ability to tweak the sound and waste money. Everything else is better.

[@mevdinc]

@@beefsflat7426 I've been using ATC speakers since 1998. My last pair of ATCs were EL 150 Actives. :) Just interested in what Tarun has to say about the bigger ATCs.

[@geraldcannon6512]

Happy New Year From NYC. I have the ATC sm40's and I love them.

[@andrehendrik]

do you use a sub with them?

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Cool 😎 HNY to you too 😊

[@marcgoldin8937]

Happy New Years! Thanks for everything you do.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@marcgoldin8937 thank you and happy new year to you too 😊👍

[@marcus1970]

Happy new year Tarun... Lovely loudspeakers, always have been!... Looking forward to your superb content throughout 2025.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@marcus1970 thank you Marcus. Happy new year to you too 😊👍

[@Staybrown11]

I listened to these ATC in a fairly large room. Speakers were about 12 feet into the room. They were connected to McIntosh mono blocks. 🤯 no sub required. Imagining, soundstage was better then the large speakers they had there. But the trick is the mono blocks. They are beautiful.

[@richardrogers4335]

Thank you . I've always contended that amplification is the key to bass quality and refuse to add complication and waste my money on "subs"

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Cool 😎

[@Staybrown11]

@ I hear ya…but adding subs can be less expensive than buying top class mono blocks….but these ATC have a high ceiling. Best I’ve heard with the set up.

[@richardrogers4335]

@@Staybrown11 I know . I see how tempting it is to stick subs in a system , but you can buy a secondhand pair of respectable mono blocks for reasonable money . I recommend Bryston PowerPacs . No longer made , but they come up for sale occasionally . I have PowerPac 60's which sound superb with my SCM 11's . If I want party volume , I put them on a pair of Heresy 3's , but how many of us are really able to blast our music ? High-quality amps sound satisfying regardless of volume

[@LS-vy5om]

Exactly, I've had the SCM20 under their own ATC P2 (2x300W) in ~45m2 room and the bass was shocking, the amount and the QUALITY of bass (millions of colours and textures), I listened to these 10-12h a day as I work from home and listen all the time, I very often find myself turn around and look at them with disbelieve. The same with the soundstage, in every corner of the room you can still feel it, the sweet spot is basically everywhere. Lately I replaced these with the actives 20 Pro and everything is even more plus endless speed and dynamic, it's like having 4 mono blocks, each one attached to every speaker, each working in it's own frequency (no passive crossover). Amazing. If I ever change 20 Pro that will be another ATC (50 or 100). Speakers for life.

[@DaveSnider-y4p]

I’d probably enjoy watching your videos even if I wasn’t that interested in HiFi….really appreciate this channel. Happy New Year!

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@DaveSnider-y4p thank you Dave. Very kind and Happy New Year to you too 😊👍

[@hirdeshirde]

A great review to start 2025. Thanks Tarun.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@hirdeshirde thank you 😊

[@ross4332]

Happy New Year and thanks for another great video. Just to add into this for general info - I recently upgraded from ATC SCM11's and was fortunate enough to audition the ATC19's, 20s and Alta Audio Alyssa's in my living room at the same time (Hegel 190 and Rega p8/Aria). For me, the 19's were great but dynamically more laid back than the 11's. It was only when listening very carefully that I realised there was a lot more information coming through. They were tempting but maybe not enough of a difference over the 11's for me. The Alyssa's had far far more bass and offered a much 'fuller' sound but they are quite warm and to my ears, lacked a bit of ...sparkle/punch. The ATCs 20's were quite different. Immensely clear and defined but they didn't half show up the quality of the recording. They gave spine tingling performances on occasion, incredible really, far better than the 19s and Alyssa's, but for me, they also came dangerously close to treble sharpness/sibilance. They were extremely analytical and I think if I had gone with them I would have had to ditch half my record collection. The occasional brilliant performances couldn't overcome the grating ones. For me they are a professional studio tool - excellent in helping the engineer to hear exactly what is going on in the music but not necessarily "kind" enough for general, albeit audiophile-level, listening. Maybe the rest of my system couldn't keep up with them? (For info, in the end I went with Marten Duke 2's)

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@ross4332 HNY and thank you for sharing 😊

[@tonyhodgkinson4586]

I bought the 20ASL special edition active stand mounts. Took a good while to bed in, a good two or three months as running in the drivers and amplifiers and active crossovers, now sounding exceptional and never run out of steam.

[@jimfarrell4635]

I just looked those up. Beautiful speakers. Love that blue, and good to see they don't use Class D amplification.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Great 👍

[@ssspppify]

me too. Although the same drivers in the regular 20ASL PRO/ASLT, the modifications made in the crossovers and the slightly higher power of high-driver made a different 20ASL, closer to the sound of 10SE 70th anniversary, a class above 20ASL regular edition

[@stevehollingbery9744]

Happy New Year Chap, good to see you on top form with the ATC review. Cheers

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@stevehollingbery9744 thank you and Happy New Year to you too 😊

[@deanfisher1656]

Hope your holiday season was great. This brand has always been high on my list. My brother has the active 50s…..very impressive. Nice review and captured the strengths of the ATC brand.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@deanfisher1656 thank you. Much appreciated 😊👍

[@joergwittenberg2178]

Thank you Tarun for the informative review of the atc speakers. I wish you a good new year and keep healthy. Greetings to you 😊

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you and happy new year to you too 😊👍

[@sudipdutt9699]

Happy New year to you too, Tarun .

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thx 😊

[@paultaylor2388]

Happy new year Tarun. I'm looking forward to your reviews again in 2025. Good luck.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@paultaylor2388 thank you and happy new year to you too 😊👍

[@bassandtrebleclef]

I had not heard either ATC or Harbeth speakers until an audio show at a hotel some years ago. It was not until I heard them myself that I understood what all the fuss was about. Both brands had their larger monitors available for audition. Stunning.... both of them.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Cool 😎

[@joaquinbarreto9398]

Thank you for putting the lb conversion in!

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@joaquinbarreto9398 you are most welcome 😊

[@Cousins08]

Happy new year, Tarun! Hope you had a great Christmas. I haven't watched this yet but I've been watching a lot of your reviews (going back to 2020) over the last few days as I put together a shortlist for an amp and speakers upgrade. They've been very helpful so I just wanted to say thank you. (I have the Amphion Argon 1, Cambridge Audio CXA81, Music Fidelity A1 and some others shortlisted). I'll watch the vid now.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@Cousins08 thank you. I appreciate you watching. Happy new year to you too 😊👍

[@mjj841]

I got these speakers a few months ago ex-demo and for a great price. Very happy with them and have paired with a Rel sub - even their smallest sub adds a lot to the low and mids and really warms up the sound. essential in my view. I currently have them paired with Naim Unity Atom, but aware they need a looot more power to sound at their best. Currently considering 2 Quad 303s or Audiolab 9000P. Thanks for the great review!

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@mjj841 thank you. Nice to know my experience was similar to yours. Try a Hegel 190 😊

[@justasimplefox]

Nice to know but the 2 amps you consider don´t seem to be really that powerful and stable, rather small transformers and capacitors. I think there are better options for such nice speakers 😊

[@mjj841]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 Looks like a great product and fit for the speakers. However, I try to keep all my hifi British and unfortunately I don't have the space for such a deep amplifier currently.

[@mjj841]

@@justasimplefox Yes, agreed there are better but more expansive options. However 2 Quad 303s in bridged mode gives 140W. Im sure that is a significant improvement from the 40wpc Atom. Will be trying it out when they are in stock, but If you have any other suggestions...?

[@justasimplefox]

@@mjj841 I´m using an Atoll AM400, it was also for me (to) expensive but I´m happy now I took the pluggen because I don´t have to worry anymore about power/current in the future. The Eversolo F10 (don´t really a fan of this brand)seems to be good on paper for the price but first reactions describe it as analytical..

[@jimfarrell4635]

Happy New Year, Tarun. Such a detailed review without a hint of dryness. Very few reviewers manage that. Those are speakers which look so much better without the grill. If I could tweak a component, it would be to add a screen to my Teminator Plus DAC. God, I hate that LED/button interface even if I love the sound it makes.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@jimfarrell4635 thank you kindly Jim 😊👍

[@antunkatona5674]

Happy New Year! An informative review, as I’ve come to expect from British Audiophile! Thanks! I’d just like to point out how important the power delivery is for an ATC loudspeaker. The drive units - predominantly the bass-midrange unit, is large-diameter voice-coil affair which is ‘immersed’ in the magnetic field completely - even while the moving assembly (diaphragm + voice-coiil) is in its maxium excursion. Furthermore, the wire that makes the voice-coil is square in cross-section, not circular, providing greater ‘packing’ of copper in the same amount of space. All of this works in tandem to provide very low distortion at very high volume levels but also, excellent voice-coil ventilation for better cooling and consequently, further decreased distortion and higher longevity. They are notoriously difficult to drive and one indication of this is that ATC makes their own amplifiers, the one recommended for loudspeakers like these being 150 Watts into 8 Ohm, 20-20k. The ATC sound is such that - and I’ll be frank - if you have to make a decision between quantity and quality with the amplifier, choose quantity. They will sound better with a high-powered amplifier of decent quality than a low-powered amplifier of excellent quality. The drive unit design precludes that and it must stressed. That being said, power them properly and you shall be rewarded with uncanny ability to reveal the subtleties of the voices and instruments that reside in the midrange. They are exctremely transparent and true to the source. Spoken word sounds true to life and that’s a trick not many speakers do so well, even at that price point. The bass won’t go as deep as some but it will be forward-driving, quick and colour-less and will reveal just what a proper sealed-box/closed-system loudspeaker can do and why ported designs will never be as good. It is also worth pointing out that a sealed box like the ATC will start to roll off in the bass sooner than a ported loudspeaker. However, the roll off is a lot more gradual than a ported loudspeaker which roll off very stiffly - basically, below the tuning frequency of the port, the response falls off a cliff and distortion rises very steeply. There are no such issues with a sealed box. Thanks for the review and keep up the great work. Again, all the best in the New Year. Cheers!

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@antunkatona5674 thank you my friend. Great analysis 😊👍

[@antunkatona5674]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 Cheers mate!! I just read what I wrote and can't believe the typos - I will be more careful the next time! That's the thing I admire about you, by the way - you don't just do reviews, you educate and a part of that is using proper language and grammar. Brilliant job, man!

[@selo8050]

Hello Tarun. Excellent review. My 19's is helped in bass region only by the Parametric EQ inside my Eversolo DMP-A6 streamer without phase/timing issues or at least I don't feel like bass is lagging behind. I'm professional drummer so, I shoul be sensitive to timing😊. For anyone interested the EQ values as follows.(my eversolo also helped by locally made LPS which converts it in to a polished streamer) Freq. selected: 33.6hz Gain: +6 db Q: 1.01

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@selo8050 thank you for sharing 😊

[@markushaller604]

I own a pair of ATC20ies and feed them with the danish Copland CSA150. I added an ATC C1 MK2 sub. All in all a wonderful setup for my small listening room (15sqm)

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@markushaller604 cool 😎

[@umitr]

thanks great review, i used atc scm 7, scm 11, scm 19, scm 20, scm 40 models very good speakers

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@umitr thx 😊

[@chewy560]

Another excellent review! Happy New Year.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you kindly and HNY to you too 😊👍

[@JohnZolla-bp7tl]

Happy New Year to you and yours Tarun ! I'm fairly satisfied with my current system, and have other components that I substitute when I want a little bit of a change. I do continue to have a wandering eye when it comes to stand mount speakers. Currently have Harbeth 30.2s on the stands, but I'd love to try something from ATC or Proac. 😎 All the best for 2025.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@JohnZolla-bp7tl thank you. I need to get some Harbeth’s in for review. Happy new year to you too 😊👍

[@JK-rt2jj]

I once auditioned a classic pair of SCM20’s about 20 years ago, and especially their clean sound and full bodied vocals and bass guitar reproduction struck me. And the looks by the way, drivers and cabinet really look stunning in the flesh. My current SMGC SE Magnepans remind me of that lively fret less bass sound I once heard. Actually I think maggies are being underrated and deserve more attention from reviewers like you. But thank you, I value your work.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@JK-rt2jj thank you 😊

[@robust98]

This is my first time watching your review and I love your relaxed yet professional commentary style immediately! I personally owned a pair of ATC SCM40 (Passive) speakers that comes in Piano Black. I bought directly from the UK and shipped to Taiwan in 2015. The 3 things I'd upgrade on my ATC are the crossover network, internal wires and the complete plastic binding post back panel and the binding posts. The inductors will be left untouched but the capacitors and resistors will be upgraded.

[@abboberg]

Do they use iron-core or air-core inductors in the ATC SCM40?

[@robust98]

@@abboberg ATC uses AIR-CORE inductors in my SCM40.

[@DumfriesDik]

Happy new year!! I use old ATC SCM40's and love em.

[@beefsflat7426]

I had the mk1's. My first atc's and i have not looked back. Had all sorts of speakers over the years and somehow it took me 40 years to find atc. Enjoy.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thx. HNY to you too 😊

[@tggonzales7971]

Great review Tarun. Many thanks

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@tggonzales7971 thank you 😊

[@hubert-williams3379]

Happy New Year good to see you, Thanks again for your very informative reviews

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you and happy new year to you too 👍

[@Roo-n9j]

ATC did make a SCM 20 SLT passive version years ago. Excellent review! Cheers

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thx 😊

[@charlesclifton5896]

I always enjoy your reviews, especially this one. Since relocating back to the city (N.Van🇨🇦) I now have a much better environment relevant to audio. I recently purchased a Schiit Ragnarok and it suits my needs perfectly. I am just an enthusiast not an audiophile, however, my Elac speakers really need to be upgraded to something more along the line of (perhaps) the ATC SCM 19s or 11s. I am retired so budget is to be considered. The other speakers I am considering are the Canadian Totem brand. Both speaker brands are carried in actual retail shops nearby so I can take my amp in to assess partnering. Thanks for this Tarun. May you and your family have a very happy and healthy 2025!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you. Happy new year to you and your family too 😊👍

[@michaelrossmaessler200]

Welcome to 2025 Tarun 🙂 I know it looks a lot like 2024 at this point, but it is a work in progress. Thanks for the ATC review !

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@michaelrossmaessler200 thank you 😊

[@thomaswolski8405]

I've been using the previous version version of SCM20SLs with Seas tweeter for ove 5 years, now coupled with two sealed 12" subs and powered with 500w monoblocks. IMO these are one of the best standmounts and I agree with your findings: they need lots of power, a sub or two, good positioning away from walls and... they have can't be listened to quiet.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@thomaswolski8405 thank you for sharing 😊

[@giangvu7902]

Love the looks of those speakers. Great review thank you!

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thanks for watching 😊

[@mikeb8750]

I’m currently using SCM40A’s and I can confidently say they’re the best speakers I’ve had. They’re absolutely incredible.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Great 👍

[@thomaslanser926]

Happy New Year! Great review. Well done and always well stated. Firmly agree to the addition of a subwoofer for most bookshelf speaker options. I added the Classic 99 to my ProAc D2Rs this holiday - lovely combo! Cheers! 🔊

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you Thomas. And Happy new year 🥳👍

[@danielbushaway1105]

Great insight into ATC, I am in the process of auditioning ATC, Apertura and Acelec swapping a pair of Sonia Faber Olympia Novas, to better suit my system which uses a Vinius passive pre amp and Audionet mono amp. Thanks for your video on the ATCs.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@danielbushaway1105 thank you 😊

[@tonyfarr480]

Happy New Year... As Always, Great Video

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you. Happy new year 😊👍

[@willbrink]

another great review. I purchased the 19s based in large part due to the review from this channel. I was very happy with them. I recently sold them and have Ryan speakers, which are great. I'd love to try these flagship ATCs some day.

[@amigoz3201]

Sold cause was happy😂 ok...

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thx Will 😊👍

[@johncallaghan3097]

Enjoyed the review. Good to see you back at the beginning of 2025 -- I hope you had a merry Christmas and that you will be supremely happy all through the rest of the year. 🙂 As regards tweaks to my system, I just made what I hope will be my last for a good long while and would like to share it with anyone struggling with a power amp that is a bit too powerful for their speakers. This may mean, of course, that one ends up with limited scope for travel of the volume knob of the preamp. Even with its gain set at minimum, my NAD C268 power amp attached to my acoustic invader preamp forced the maximum volume knob position to be only a little past 7 o'clock for my very sensitive open baffles. I realised I needed a quality variable (via rotary control knob) passive attenuator between my preamp and amp and found the perfect solution in a JBL Mpatch-2 -- recently discontinued, but I picked up a nearly new one for only £80 shortly before Christmas. It's wonderful -- means I can now have the preamp's volume knob set around the 10.30 position with plenty of room for manoeuvre up or down. The attenuator doesn't degrade the sound in the slightest, and also allows for switchable connection of two power amps if required (useful for direct comparisons between a couple of other power amps I happen to have).

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you John 😊

[@billwoods9302]

The list of professional musicians and reputable recording studios that use ATC speakers is staggering. They're expensive enough to scare most away, but it's difficult to claim that they aren't worth every penny based on the brand's loyal, as well as famous customers. ATC speaker reviews are kind of rare, so thank you Tarun. And Happy New Year, sir.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you. Much appreciated 😊👍

[@beefsflat7426]

If you like them you keep them for many years. You pay a reasonable for great engineering not marketing. The actives are even more of a bargain.

[@samidebs3559]

Happy new year to you and to your family 🎆

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@samidebs3559 thank you. Happy new year to you and your family too 😊👍

[@mrkitewine7700]

Happy new year Tarun. If I could tweak one of my components it would be my Exposure 3510 integrated. I would add a proper monitor function to the tape loop, that would allow me to add a DSP or equaliser should I feel the need. I would also tweak the speaker sockets on the exposure to make it easier to add a sub via high level inputs. Most subwoofer high level cables require the use of proper binding posts, so the banana only sockets on the Exposure are somewhat limiting in that regard. I know I can use a low level signal via the pre-out, but many deem the high level option to be best for sub integration

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thx for sharing 😊

[@damianzaninovich4900]

Great review as always. Revela 2 and Wharfedale Aura 4 would be nice to hear your thoughts on.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@damianzaninovich4900 thank you. Watch this space 😊

[@cenkisil574]

Thank you Tarun

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@cenkisil574 thx Cenk 😊

[@veroman007]

honestly most of us will use a sub or two even with larger speakers. i dont bother much with bass extension specs any more. you sacrifice sensitivity often and whats the point really. well done

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thx 😊

[@vernonrobert7879]

Great review!!

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@vernonrobert7879 thank you 👍

[@TheRealWindlePoons]

Great review and Happy New Year Tarun. I have been aware of ATC for some decades although my early HiFi career had them well beyond my budget. I have become more interested since I bought a pair and find they suit my HiFi expectations very well. I'm sure the SCM20 works well with a REL sub but it would be interesting to know how the SCM20 pairs with ATC's own smallest sub, the C1. As a trivial aside on the topic of dual concentric drivers - not all of them require external electronics. The classic Lowther designs use a single motor to drive a three way design. The tweeter is a ring, an extension of the voice coil (the reason they need a phase plug). The midrange is the whizzer cone and the woofer the main driver. A great design but it only works properly in a horn enclosure which will always be somewhere between large and positively massive.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@TheRealWindlePoons thank you and Happy New Year to you too 😊👍

[@adamcfada5071]

Happy New Year Tarun 🎉. I love the idea of these as passive floorstanders. I don't have room for a subwoofer and prefer floorstanders. Hope ATC watch your review.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you and happy new year to you too 👍

[@kentitterington6830]

I’ve been following your channel for about 4 years. My family is originally from England in a town called Titherington. My last name is Titterington which is a variation. My son and I are traveling to England and Scotland in August. Would love to meet you in person and share a pint or a meal. Keep up the great work.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@kentitterington6830 thank you for you support. I will be at the NW Audo HiFi show, in Cranage, in June. It would be great to meet you if you can make it. Have a great trip to the U.K. with your son 😊

[@kentitterington6830]

@ We’re thinking about going to Premium Sound while we’re in London in August. Perhaps we could meet you there.

[@rmabgoi]

I envy your no dust furniture ! :)

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thx 😊

[@hugobloemers4425]

Hi Tarun, happy new year to you as well. Those ATC mid woofers are indeed very interesting drivers going by how you describe them. If I understand it well, they are like a modern take of the Altec BiFlex drivers. I guess they need a sealed box to sound right and as you mention probably need to be tuned for each cabinet volume. My own speakers are also a bit base light, but they sound the best with the amp I have of a few that is the lightest. So first of all I can live with it but secondly, if there was a way to have a bit more body in the base region without sacrificing their sound otherwise I would like to do that. (I have even thought about replacing the rear firing ports with SEAS passive drivers. But if that goes sideways then going back will be difficult)

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@hugobloemers4425 thank you Hugo and Happy New Year 😊

[@DigitalPhilosophers]

You got me. I want to hear these 20’s!

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Cool 😎

[@adrianconti5718]

Another great review, I have a Rega elex r mk3, I’d love Rega to make stand alone dac again, rather than making it part of the amp like the newer version of the elex r!

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@adrianconti5718 thank you kindly 😊👍

[@gloriab7801]

Re. tweaks, I have ATC Active 50's. I use a subwoofer to help with the bass, but I agree with you about the tweeter being a tad polite, especially for older listeners. Hence, a ribbon tweeter would be my preferred tweak. However, given the years it took to develop the new tweeter, that will never happen.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thx. I would love ATC to integrate a great sounding ribbon tweeter. What a speaker that could be 🤔

[@frerikdejong]

Great review! I'm using the SCM20PSL (so the professional version) with a Spectral power amp and two Rel subs in my recording studio on a daily basis. Amazing, very communicative and (something that's important for any recording engineer) non-fatiguing monitors, that translate perfectly to other speakers. The closed-box configuration gives truly predictable low frequency information due to the gradual roll off. The subs in my studio are only there to support the true frequency fundamentals of instruments and the recorded room acoustic. Feels like they are built to last forever too. Lovely brand!

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@frerikdejong thx for sharing 😊

[@barlow2976]

Tarun, I'm proud to say I've worked out why time appears to go faster as you age: it's all relative. At ten years old a year is 10% of the life you've experienced. At sixty years old a year is only 1.66% of your life, therefore I'm experiencing my life at about six times the speed of a child. That explains why those summer holidays went on forever.

[@barlow2976]

My life went very quickly in my twenties too, but for another reason.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@barlow2976 well said 😊

[@hrvojekant9415]

Happy New Year to You too !

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thx 😊👍

[@senorgreenjeans]

Definitely looking forward to your review of the Moonriver. The fact that it can drive those ATC’s..

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@senorgreenjeans thx 😊

[@PurpleDreki]

Happy New Year to you, sir!

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you and happy new year to you too 😊👍

[@wallstreetcrash1]

Hi Taryn.. Well….. In answer to your question. As a listening (component) to my "hi-fi" set up ..(modest as it is) I wish I had your listening /memory / knowledge to music and sound. However, that may be a bad thing ! Because then I would be totally aware of what I’m missing … Anyhow, I look forward to the continuing journey in 2025 of achieving those tiny steps towards acoustic Nirvana ..! Happy New Year to you And may I wish you continued success with your channel in 2025 . KCB

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@wallstreetcrash1 thank you kindly. My advice, if it ain’t broke doesn’t try to fix it 😉👍

[@arte2arquiteto]

The ProAc 1SCs are hard to beat. I’m glad that I purchased them nearly twenty eight years ago!

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

I agree. Fantastic speakers 😊

[@markcarrington8565]

Hey Tarun, great review as always. Just looked up these up on the tinterweb and noticed a huge variation in price based on how fancy your chosen finish is! As regards to picking an item to tweak, well that’s just too easy for me as the owner of an LP12. As you know there is a never ending list of components to swap on this deck and the next such will be the fitting of my new custom top plate, already bought, with a Karousel bearing, looking for a deal in Bristol!

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thanks Mark. Much appreciated. Looking forward to your next step. See you at Bristol 😊👍

[@D1N02]

I would almost always want to tweak the tweeter of a speaker, more details, but no to much sibilance. I especially value enough high frequency presence without it loosing connection with the mid range. It should not stand out too much or it will loose engagement. A decent amount of bass for a sense of scale and fundament is also very important. Maybe you should try contacting Audio Solutions from Lithuania, I think a speaker from their Figaro line would de right up your alley. It would be interesting too see how they compete against your British contenders.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@D1N02 thx for sharing 😊

[@morespinach9832]

Great to see these here. The lower end on ATCs leaves much to be desired. Even the active ones for those who want to avoid the cable spaghetti.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@morespinach9832 thx 😊

[@morespinach9832]

@ does that mean you agree :)

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

I think the SCM19s are great. They are the only model to feature an SL spec driver. Not as keen on the rest of the entry range 😊

[@morespinach9832]

@ wish they made bookshelf format active 19s with better bass. Many companies have managed that. One doesn’t need to be besotted with “midrange” alone.

[@GARYA-l8g]

Hello Tarun, Jolly good review and as I have had mine approximately a month I concur with your findings except the need for a subwoofer, Unless you’re into dub reggae etc. I am fortunate to have a dedicated listening room and the need for low listening levels is a moot point. They are extremely revealing of your recordings. Mine are all ripped AAD early pressings and sound wonderful. Cheers

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@GARYA-l8g thx for sharing 😊

[@sonusancti]

Hi Tarun. Great review as usual. While the concentric mid and woofer design is innovative a roll off at 50Hz is just unacceptable at this price. ATC should've aimed for at least 40Hz.

[@RennieAsh]

All their speakers are like this, bigger ones just go deeper. You can EQ them though if the deeper bass is needed and you don't max out speakers

[@beefsflat7426]

If you believe the laws of physics and acoustics and a design philosophy that stays true to them then it is acceptable. If you want more bass as i do then with these atc and a good subwoofer you will have a true high end and full range sound.

[@sonusancti]

@@beefsflat7426 Plenty of other great performers that also do bass for a lot less sorry.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

I would like to see 40Hz achieved as well by using a larger cabinet. There is something special about the midrange performance of these that very few speakers can match 😊

[@sonusancti]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 Perhaps Tarun, perhaps. You yourself praised the Revela. It may lose a smidgen in the mids but it will still win out from it's wider frequency performance ATC is expensive enough as it is, if I need to spend more on a sub, that takes your budget to a whole new set of sub-less options imo

[@dnns971]

I like your shirt, happy 2025

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@dnns971 thank you. Happy new year to you too 😊

[@johnshaw359]

Nice review. I thought ATC were a bit conspicuous by their complete absence in your end of '24 awards. Great speakers. "The lack of frivolity" comment I found very amusing.and yes they are very receptive to any system changes.I am unlikely to use any other speaker brand apart from maybe Kerr acoustics or similar studio grade monitors. p.s I hear they only change the scale not the actual frequency response across the ranges for consistency reasons.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thanks John 😊

[@BobbyBass-x6i]

Happy New Year! Love the picture of Mark Knopfler with an ATC studio monitor. I assume his music would sound great on these pair. To answer your question, I wish my Holo Audio Cyan 2 DAC had an input selector and remote so I could switch between inputs. Stream and run my CD player through the unit switching back and forth as needed. Hopefully their next version. I guess I’ve already started my 2025 audio wish list.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

You beat me to it. Cyan 2 review coming 😉

[@Scan_Speak]

Amazing speakers, but they struggle with low volume listening, need a subwoofer, and require a strong amp. Not for me. There are many other speaker choices that are close enough in performance and better fit my listening habits, gear, and room setup. Thanks again Tarun for this superb review that helps me make the right audio choices. Cheers.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@Scan_Speak thank you. You are most welcome 😊👍

[@JG-gg9wk]

Like what ??

[@LS-vy5om]

The way they sound very much depends on your amplifier, the rest of your system and your room. In my opinion these speakers themself have endless possibilities. These need a special care but if you do they can leave you speechless. I used these with ATC P2 and RME ADI-2 DAC FS with the special function "Loudness" carefully set up and turned on for the low lever listening, you'd never miss anything in that kind of setup. Now I have an active 20 which is another story.

[@ssspppify]

A speaker doesn't sing alone, it needs an amp. If you sense that a speaker struggles at low level listening, it's not the speaker fault. You are right, they require a strong amp, both wattage AND high current. Also, they need subwoofer only if the room is rather large. Otherwise, properly set in a small to medium room, they are enough.

[@milagroscaviglia5034]

Excelent review Tarun!! Time to review a Harbeth one??? Cheers from Argentina

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thx. Watch this space 😊

[@brown-eyedman4040]

Good stuff as always Tarun. I'm quite happy with the sound of my rig, but the one thing I would tweak would be the appearance of my CD transport. Think Kalista or Gryphon Ethos.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thx Gerald 😊

[@beefsflat7426]

All ATC's benefit from a sub as they prioritise linearity over boosted bass. I had the larger atc50 actives for 8 years along with a rel 812 sub. Sounded fantastic. I now have the very large scm150 asl and no sub. That said a good subwoofer will bring out even more from these wonderful speakers. The active atc scm20asl with a rel sub package they do is a sweet spot and gives true high end full range sound. I prefered the larger scale and dynamics of the 100 and 150's overall. Great review buddy.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you 👍

[@dougg1075]

Always wanted speakers from them.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Cool 😎

[@gg0297]

Happy New Year! Would love to see reviewed by you a pair of Alchris Audio TX 1 or TX 5! Made in UK.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

They are on my radar 😊

[@AtriGadhvi]

Happy New Year Tarun

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

HNY to you too 😊👍

[@selo8050]

Hello Tarun. If this message comes under your radar I would be interested to hear your opinion about the subject. A week ago I got the new Venus 15th DAC delivered and I couldn't be more pleased with the results. I was moderately happy living with my outgoing Venus 2 12th. too but the new Venus is a different beast IMO. Few months ago you compared Terminator 2 12th. to your Venus 2 and concluded that though the Terminator was a better DAC but the price difference wasn't justified or the difference wasn't big enough to give up on your Venus 2. But once you've heard the Venus 15th.( ex-Terminator 2 12th) you can't unhear it and the difference in price even then is still justifiable IMO. Since the new Venus 15th (ex Terminator 2 12th) is priced as just under 4000usd makes it a value king. Venus 15th. is a very good "analogue source" without the limitations of an analog source. I still think you and I have similar ears and I suspect(literally😂) you'll be reviewing the new line of Denafrips DAC's soon. I'll be curious about your opinion. My current system... Eversolo DMP A6 + Dark Cloud LPS Venus 15th DAC Bada DC222 hybrid amp (modified by Alex Peychev) ATC SCM 19

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@selo8050 thank you. It seems like the new Venus 15th is very close to the Terminator 12th. I shall investigate 😊

[@rndystubbs1]

I still hear the transition sound effect in my mind even though it's not in the video anymore. Lol 😄

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

It is actually still there just very quiet 😉

[@rogersharpe2490]

Happy New Year to you too Tarun. I would really like you to review the equivalent Tower version of this ATC product with the active amplification. Can you find time this year to review the SCM20 ASLT ? Regards

[@tellthemborissentyou]

I purchased SCM19s after watching your review in 2020. They are everything you said they were. I trued the H190 amp but opted for the the H390 because it really woke the speakers up. I can't imagine changing for quite some time but if I did I would probably go for the active SCM40s (or 50s if I win the lottery). The SCM20s have a much better grill. The SCM19 grills are as ugly as sin so I leave them in the boxes.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@tellthemborissentyou great 👍 nice system 😊

[@xstensl8823]

i have their SCM 7's would love to upgrade to these but i do not have the room for stands. not sure if they would work on the desk top. ATC speakers are great all rounders.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

The would work on shelves if properly isolated 😊

[@niknayak]

Hello Tarun, I have the SCM20s and they are one of the best speakers out there. One of the under appreciated characteristics of these speakers is how long you can listen to them without any fatigue. I listen to my music constantly and can tell you that there is zero listening fatigue with the 20s. Good luck and Happy New Year!

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@niknayak thank you for sharing 😊

[@wichiewichie]

Happy New Year, Tarun! Great review, as always! Do you think these ATCs would pair well with the Atoll IN300 you reviewed a while back? Thank you!

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you kindly. Certainly worth trying 😊👍

[@wichiewichie]

@ Tarun, thank you for the dedication and courtesy of answering the comments of your followers. It says a lot about you. All the best!

[@willmac5642]

Tweaking existing components. Good question. I was looking for a sealed MTM but cdnt find exactly what I wanted so currently building one with closely grouped high quality drivers. Crossover is obviously the most important part

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thx 😊

[@henryvaneyk3769]

ATC is part of a very small list of speaker manufacturers that I will trust with my money. Too many manufacturers are here today, gone tomorrow because they get found out eventually by consumers that got burned. My dream is to own a set of ATC SCM50 PSLT towers.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@henryvaneyk3769 thx for sharing 😊

[@MichaelIrons-d5v]

great vid mt loved it m.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

Thank you 😊👍

[@MichaelIrons-d5v]

@@abritishaudiophile7314 no problem mt.

[@roberts3889]

I considered these, but went with the PMC Twenty5 22i Active instead. It would be nice to see a direct comparison between the PMC (in passive guise) and the SCM20.

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@roberts3889 I may get the PMC Actives in for review 😊

[@justasimplefox]

Happy New Year and nice to see you back, I like the ATC brand and the esthetics but having to go through the hassle with a sub is a no go for me 😊 (also late night listening is high on my list). I think they would benefit from adding a passive radiator. For me this is now the golden standard in producing deep (enough) and thight bass, I will/can never go back to ported designs. Thanks for the great review 👌🏻

[@abritishaudiophile7314]

@@justasimplefox thank you for sharing and happy new year to you too 😊