£6000

Marantz SA-10

It has an understated presentation it takes a while to appreciate. Those looking for sonic fireworks will find them here only if they’re in the recording. This amplifier doesn’t spice things up for entertainment’s sake.

But this is an impressively detailed and insightful performer, one that’s capable of class-leading clarity. It recovers subtleties, even in the densest of recordings, and keeps them audible as arrangements become more demanding.

Dynamic swings are delivered with enthusiasm, the amplifier’s generous power output obvious in the punch and solidity of the presentation. There’s no shortage of drama in the sound, yet it’s all calmly composed and controlled.

It’s the kind of composure we’re used to hearing at What Hi-fi?, specifically when displayed by our reference stereo speakers, the ATC SCM50. Over the years these boxes have been connected to just about every piece of electronics that has passed through our test rooms, from budget microsystems all the way up to monster pre/powers. In all that time, they have never once let us down.

ATC’S focus is always on good solid engineering and a close look at the SCM50S makes that clear. The company’s background is firmly planted in the pro world, where reliability and high power handling are essentials. Its engineers value low distortion and dynamic ability and spent years developing the three drive units on show here.

Material concerns

The brand also has firm ideas about using hard cone materials such as aluminium

– it doesn’t like them because they ring – so it comes as no surprise to find that the 25mm tweeter and 7.5cm midrange unit both use well-damped fabric-dome diaphragms. A 23cm woofer with a stiff fibre-and-resin composite cone produces the lows and is tuned by a large, front facing port. Around the back are three sets of terminals, so it’s possible to tri-wire or, even better, tri-amp.

Every so often we come across rival speakers – usually of higher cost – that better these ATCS in some respect, but we haven’t found anything that’s as satisfying an all-rounder. Considering the SCM50 was originally introduced in the mid-80s, that’s quite some achievement. It seems great engineering doesn’t date.

None of these units is designed simply to wow at first meeting, but to live with you over decades. Gather a group of likeminded products such as this and you’ll never need to upgrade your system again.