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Hi,Have you heard about ATC ? Seems very serious. Some people say they manufacture the finest speakers available...
It seems the SCM150 (picture above) is quite similar to the B&W801D. (price is the same). Some friends of mine said it is much better.
Any input ?
Aurel.
Follow Ups:
I have heard both of these speakers, I prefer the ATC's, not quite as smooth as the 801's but more "alive" and involving.
at least when I heard it in the shop. plugged in the revel salon's and they were dynamic, transparent and all so smooth.before going into the hi fi shop I would have not figured that. maybe the SMC150's were not run in enuf, but they were enuf to turn me off ATC forever.
I've heard the 802 D's (albeit breifly) and I listen to ATC SCM 100 asl's regularly.
The price may be the same but the ATC's are active - so from a value for money point of view, the ATC wins hands down.As for the sound, I think the B&W goes out to impress a little in the treble (brilliant though it is) while the ATC is a more neutral (dare I say it, 'truthful') performer.
If I had to live with a pair, I'd choose the ATC's. And the bigger, the better - like the 150's or the 200's if I had the space and the cash. Once you've heard them, everything else is either coloured or lacks the ease that the ATC seems to posess.
And you can use the money you save on amps for some records !
Thanks a lot for your input. It is very welcome. But the price I gave for the 150 (the ones I am interested in) was for rhe passive version. I have just bought a wonderful Plinius SA-REFERENCE amp and I plan to use it :-) My initial plan was to buy BW801D but I'm not sure anymore ! Best regards
Gordon Holt owns ATC 50 powered professional(not exactly the home version) and believes them the closest thing to live sound(on symphony recordings he did himself) he ever heard.
I suspect you will find the ATC to be more forward and more dynamic than the B&W designs.
nt
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I think it is bad to put a 15" woofer with either a fixed suspension driver *or* a 3" dome. Too big and that means the lower mids/upper bass will not be as good as they could have been. I don't know if ATC has a different variation on that design with a bigger mid or smaller woofer(s), but the B&W 800 is a better speaker than 801 and most B&W fans tell me that the 802 is better as well.
nt
B&W 801D
Technical Specifications : 801D
Description 3-way vented-box system
Dimensions Height: 1192mm (46.9 in) (not including feet)
Width: 506mm (19.9 in)
Depth: 682mm (26.9 in)
Net Weight 118kg (260 lb)
Freq. Response 29Hz - 28kHz ±3dB on reference axis
Freq. Range -6dB at 23Hz and 33kHz
Sensitivity 90dB spl (2.83V, 1m)
Normal Impedance 8 ohms (minimum 3.5 ohms)
Power Handling 50W - 1000W into 8 ohms on unclipped programme
Drive Units Unit 1: 1x 25mm (1 in) diamond dome high-frequency
Unit 2: 1x 150mm (6 in) woven Kevlar® cone FST midrange
Unit 3: 1x 380mm (15 in) Rohacell® cone bass
Finish Cabinet: Real wood veneers of Cherrywood, Rosenut or Black Ash
Grille: Black cloth
Dispersion Description: Within 2dB of reference response
Horizontal: over 60º arc
Vertical: over 10º arc
Harmonic Distortion 2nd and 3rd harmonics (90dB, 1m)
<1% 40Hz - 100kHz
<0.5% 50Hz - 100kHz
Crossover Frequency 350Hz, 4kHz
Max. Recommended Cable Impedance 0.1 ohms
Bowers & Wilkins 2002
ATC SCM 150SPECIFICATIONS:
SCM150 SL (Passive)
Drivers HF 25mm (1")
Mid 75mm (3")
Bass 375mm (15") Super Linear
Amplitude Linearity ±2dB 60Hz - 17kHz
Frequency Response (-6dB free standing) 25Hz & 22kHz
Matched Response +/- 0.5dB
Dispersion D
Horizontal ±80° Coherent
Vertical ±10° Coherent
Sensitivity (sine wave) 91dB @ 1W @ 1metre
Max continuous SPL @ 1 metre 117dB SPL
Crossover Frequencies 380Hz and 3.5kHz
Recommended Power Amplifier 100-1500 watts
Nominal Impedance 8 OhmsVery close to call.
If a thing is worth doing it’s worth doing well
Although I've not compared the two speakers you mention, I do own the active ATC 20-2's. The ATC's are a VERY neutral speaker. Some will miss the romanticizing or other colorations other speakers add to the sound. Therefore, it's very important to listen carefully to understand your preferences. Also I've found the ATC actives to be superior to the passive versions. If one has unlimited financial resources, the SCM 50 Anniversary may be the best bet.Jim
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