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

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.

ATC 20 passive, ATC 19A, ATC 40A, ATC 50A.  What do you want to know?

20 is quite lovely, not as dynamic as the actives, needs lots of stable current and Sound Anchor massed stands.  19A is introductory, beginnings of where active gets interesting showing what a modest active 2-way is capable of.  They are quite good.

40A could be for many an endgame transducer.  Sealed cabinet limits some dynamics and reach below benefitting from a decent sub.  Bass quite articulate.

50A now my reference.  Surprisingly significant step beyond the 40A in dynamics, bass response and midrange with upgrade to 'S' Spec tweeter.

Everyone is welcome to an opinion, but real world experience should trump those simply rendering one.  Preamp is the ATC SCA 2 which drives the actives hard.  Not everyone's cup of tea as there is little romance here.  Take no prisoners.

Every aspect tends towards live performance.  Not listening fatigue live, but very dynamic with headroom available to 112db with the 50A.

After several years of active transducers, most everything else seems a bit muddled, slow of attack and smeared.  If there is a deficit, it is in listening to poorly recorded/mastered material which is treated mercilessly and therefore unlistenable.

I've nothing to defend here with ATC, no ego in the game.  ATC's reputation long cemented before I came along.  Not the only game in town, but a very good one. Good hunting.  Cheers