What amplifier for ATC SCM20-2 ?

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Peregolese

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Hello everybody!
I'm looking for an amplifier for ATC SCM 20-2 (Passive), the ones with the tweeter SEaS excel1.

Have you ever heard those bookshelf speakers that require a lot of current?
With which amplifier?
Is it possible to associate them with a good amplifier for not too much money?
Is the amplifier SIA2-150 powerful enough for the SCM 20-2 ?

The listening room is about 25m².
My budget is around £1500

Thanks in advance for your answers!
 
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i listened them a couple of times. they work excellent (powerwise) with old krell classic amp KSA-100 but you have to be very careful about preamp to avoid sounding too lean and tad bright. you should try some valve amps according to your taste.
SIA2-150 is of course powerful enough, however i think it is wiser to buy active version than to match ATC passives with ATC amp if that's your goal. you pay less, you have less headache with cables and you have one (rather hot) box less in the house.
 
it is a matter of personal taste. some people like ATC's with warm sounding tube-like amps, others like them with a more clean sounding solid state amplifiers.

I'd suggest trying out a Belcanto and an Audio Research. That would give you a flavour of each type of topology.
 
I have the wooden box ATC SCM20 SL, not sure what tweeter is in them.

Best results have been obtained with the Tact/Lyngdorf SDAi2175 integrated or SDA2175 power amp. Pre-amp according to taste...

Also tried Bel Canto Evo 2i.... dull.

Currently using them with Graaf 5050 50W valve power amp which is surprisingly good , given that the ATCs do like lots of power.... but bass is slightly soggy. I may be returning to the Lyngdorf SDA or try the newer Bel Canto ICE power amps.

Positioning of these speakers can make big benefits, I now have mine 1.4m from rear wall, midrange and treble much improved but bass still superb thanks to sealed box design.
 
Thanks for your answers!
I don't really know Bel Canto...

What I'm looking for is something to make my ATC live.

I've tried 3 things:
One chinese tubes amp (Cayin 30) that surprised me as it seems to match well with the ATC but I didn't have the same density in music as with my Quad 606.
The old AVI S2000 would suit the ATC well but it's so rare on secondhand.

I prefer the ATC to the Proac D15 for their richer midrange but I have some problem to make them live and awake, even compared to the Proac.
 
Peregolese said:
Thanks for your answers!
I don't really know Bel Canto...

What I'm looking for is something to make my ATC live.

I've tried 3 things:
One chinese tubes amp (Cayin 30) that surprised me as it seems to match well with the ATC but I didn't have the same density in music as with my Quad 606.
The old AVI S2000 would suit the ATC well but it's so rare on secondhand.

I prefer the ATC to the Proac D15 for their richer midrange but I have some problem to make them live and awake, even compared to the Proac.
Click to expand...

that's a common problem even with active ATC's how to overcome them sounding lean and dry.

anyway, my friend who has an older version of passive 20 with a vifa tweeter and a different bass-mid driver to the current SL one is very enthusiastic about unison research unico hybrid amp, 80w version. you should try it if you can.
 
Peregolese said:
What I'm looking for is something to make my ATC live.
Click to expand...

They want a lot of power, they also only really wake up when the volume is turned up a bit, they're not an especially good low-level speaker IME. If you like the ATC sound, the easiest way to get results is to sell your passives and buy a pair of actives. ATC actives are far superior to the passives, IMO.

-- Ian
 

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