I owned m30.1's for 6 yrs and also found myself seeking a bit more incisiveness and dynamics.
Since I owned Focal Utopia headphones I was considering the Focal Electra 1007Be at the time. I took my Benchmark amp into the store and was planning to listen to both the Focal and the ATC SCM19mk2.
I actually ended up listening to the SCM19 first and was hooked, I did have a brief listen to the Focal but it just didn't impress after the ATCs. The ATCs appear quite workmanlike compared to the visually flashier Focal's, but the proof is in the listening.
The great thing about the ATCs is that I didn't give up the great midrange or tonal correctness of the Harbeth - in fact I find the ATCs more correct and dynamically lifelike over a greater range. The ATCs excel at voice and acoustic instruments and bass smokes the Harbeths.
I've gone on to get a bigger active pair of ATCs, so perhaps I'm a bit smitten and biased.
My only caveat is that ATCs (or Harbeths for that matter) will likely sound better when listening at near field distances - where their neutrality is less polluted by room sound. Listening 18ft from the speakers is probably not ideal - though in terms of max SPL the ATCs will play loud and stay very composed given enough power.
Since I owned Focal Utopia headphones I was considering the Focal Electra 1007Be at the time. I took my Benchmark amp into the store and was planning to listen to both the Focal and the ATC SCM19mk2.
I actually ended up listening to the SCM19 first and was hooked, I did have a brief listen to the Focal but it just didn't impress after the ATCs. The ATCs appear quite workmanlike compared to the visually flashier Focal's, but the proof is in the listening.
The great thing about the ATCs is that I didn't give up the great midrange or tonal correctness of the Harbeth - in fact I find the ATCs more correct and dynamically lifelike over a greater range. The ATCs excel at voice and acoustic instruments and bass smokes the Harbeths.
I've gone on to get a bigger active pair of ATCs, so perhaps I'm a bit smitten and biased.
My only caveat is that ATCs (or Harbeths for that matter) will likely sound better when listening at near field distances - where their neutrality is less polluted by room sound. Listening 18ft from the speakers is probably not ideal - though in terms of max SPL the ATCs will play loud and stay very composed given enough power.