any ATC experts here? Im considering SCM19's vs SCM20PSL Pro Mk2

Why would one spend $4000+ for these very basic ATC 2 way monitors? They sound alright, but, i highly doubt they are deserving of $4000+ ....There is nothing all that fancy or unique or anything about the cabinet, drivers or internals, a very basic box. I can’t see anywhere the money got spent for it to be priced at 4k+. It needs to be a lot lower.

Get a pair of of Yamaha HS8 active monitors for $700. They sound really good and will keep up with the ATC or more.

Or if you want a great piano finish, fancy zylon drivers, patented resonance management, etc, here’s a Yamaha NS-800A on sale at safeandsound for less than 4k.

Or if you want something to slap that ATC monitor around and not worried too much about WAF, you could try a Tekton Encore monitor at $3000, still a 1000 dollars less.

When one doesn’t hype himself/herself up too much about certain brand names (remains brand name agnostic), some brilliant sound or more bang for buck can be achieved at great prices. 

There is nothing all that fancy or unique or anything about the cabinet, drivers or internals, a very basic box. I can’t see anywhere the money got spent for it to be priced at 4k+. It needs to be a lot lower.

@deep_333  Have a look at the highly overbuilt mid/woof drivers for one thing — can’t always tell a book by its cover.  Have you heard ATC speakers?  They do offer something quite special.  For speakers with proprietary drivers made in house in the UK, while not cheap I don’t think they’re overpriced for what they offer. 

@deep_333 lol. I thought I was the only one who has never been impressed with ATC speakers.

I guess we exist

@audiocanada 

I’ve owned the SCM40s for 2 years, and I loved the sound of them.  In my room, the ATCs imaged beautifully, were very musical, and never seemed ’stressed’.  They handled everything with aplomb.

I have now moved to ATC SCM100A actives, and can confirm ATC’s assertion that actives are next level, sonically.  They have the dynamic punch of planar magnetics, and the headroom to play loudly without fatigue.

Between the 19s and the 20s you mentioned, I’d say either would be a solid entry point into the ATC lineup.  If you are on the west coast of Canada, there is a pair of 19A actives on Canuck for a reasonable price.

The other side benefit I’ve found moving to active speakers, is I was able to streamline my setup...and selling off my Benchmark AHB2, and the SCM40s, as well as speaker/interconnect cables, went a long way towards the step up in price to the active system.

There is a very good reason ATCs are in studios around the world.  If you see the actual drivers themselves, as @soix mentioned, they are truly special.

Best, JAMES.

SCM40s are the way to go if you can find a used pair at a decent price. In all respects, they’re a step up from the 19s and 20s in my opinion. I love mine.