1. Home
  2. speakers
  3. 185232-142030

Active ATC vs Spendor / Pass Labs

I had a lovely demo. of a Pass INT 60/ Spendor D9.2.

Had all the musical flow, engagement at all volume levels that I could ever want. A truly impressive demo.

 

But……. I have always wanted an active ATC SCM50A is what I always dreamed of owning with say a Benchmark LA4 Pre. about the same $$$ where I am for either combo.

 

I have heard the ATC - different room and gear. But I didn’t do the all listening levels demo. like I did with the Pass / Spendor. Just at a medium / loud level and was so very impressed. I can’t demo the ATC again, my dealer only orders them as someone wants one from ATC direct due to the current economical environment.

So… will I be unimpressed ordering the ATC at all level listening levels or will it not have the Pass / Spendor engagement factor that we quite frankly very addictive ?

I am really at a crossroad as which way to go.

rfc
lonemountain
509 posts
 

@celtic66 Well Im so sorry to jump to the wrong conclusion. Im glad you like them!

brad 

rfc OP
35 posts
 

Thanks Brad.

Budget is a major factor in my choice.

Is the Benchmark LA4 preamp a good choice for the 50A ?

Or another option was getting a used Chord Hugo TT2 and use that with no preamp. direct into the speakers.

vinylvalet
949 posts
 

You will only know in your room. I would first purchase an active ATC speaker. Run it in for several hundred hours. Then audition what would proceed them. Your best best for synergy would be the ATC CDA2mkII (includes DAC and CD transport) or ATC CA2mkII (preamp only). Several folks I know use the Weiss DAC501 much like you would use the Hugo TT2 and are very happy. I have no experience with the Benchmark LA4. I'm currently using Audio Note DAC 4.1x DAC and L5 Mentor preamp with a highly optimized streaming system.

jjss49's avatar
jjss49
6,920 posts
 

my two sets of active atc’s are somewhat older models but i doubt the company has significantly altered the tonality of their speakers

when i was using those speakers, my trying any top solid state pre made the atc’s too biting in the treble and thinned out the midrange a touch too much to my ears --  so i found happiness in time with the lovely audio research reference 3 balanced tube linestage... it was one of the very best at the time, now surpassed by successor models in the arc reference line

as such, i personally would advise against using benchmark or chord tt2 (which i have currently) to drive active atc’s, as i think this would most likely result in ’negative synergy’ in all but the most dead listening rooms

audioconnection
1,271 posts
 

Greetings, Yes the ARC pre amps are superb as a way more affordable pairing. we are running Swiss Made Merason Frerot Dac a Rotel S14 as the Pre amp to the ATC SCM 40 As from a musical standpoint I would not want to change a thing Jethro Tull Aqualung sounds incredibly satisfying Try Steve Wilsons Album To the Bone when these speakers have been properly placed the power response timber and clarity are addictive and great at all volumes.

JohnnyR ATC dealer NJ

 

More to discover