ATC SCM 11

“JUST WHEN YOU THINK A RIVAL IS REALLY GETTING TO THE CORE OF A VOCAL, THE ATCS PEEL AWAY ANOTHER LAYER. YOU CAN REALLY FEEL THE ACHING QUALITY OF RODRIGUEZ’S DELIVERY”

Since the ATC SCM11S’ first incarnation in 2006, they have not only ruled the roost at their price point, they have also gone from strength to strength. Each new iteration ensured these talented standmounters remained in the top rank of the mid-pricespeaker arena. But with so many firstclass rivals now on sale – not least KEF’S formidable R3s (see p32) – these standmounters have their work cut out to retain their status as class champs. The 25mm soft-dome tweeter unit was designed in-house – unusual for a relatively small manufacturer such as ATC – but otherwise there’s nothing particularly unorthodox about it or its bedfellow, the 15cm mid/bass driver. Much more noteworthy is the curved cabinet in which these drive units are housed. ATC has chosen this distinctive shape to increase rigidity and minimise internal resonance.

The result? Great success. The current SCM11S make their talented predecessors seem ordinary. Nearly everything we came to love about the originals received a remarkable boost when these boxes arrived on the scene.

Old hand meets new kid

We dive straight in with a direct comparison with the KEF R3s. A quick spin of Wyclef Jean’s effervescent Thug Angels reveals that the R3s have a crisper, puncher presentation.

They’re more explosive dynamically too, throwing their all into the track’s snappy beats and musical charisma. But the ATCS respond with a more understated but equally informative presentation, and show their true colours on Rodriguez’s I Wonder.

Just when you think a rival is really getting to the core of a vocal, the ATCS manage to peel away another layer. You can really feel the guttural, aching quality of Rodriguez’s delivery.

The SCM11S capture the subtle echo around each word and the rawness of the production, while remaining faithful to the recording. The sound is big and spacious and, while the KEFS outline the edges of notes more crisply, the ATCS counter with a fuller-bodied, more natural tonality and more fluid presentation.

In keeping with tradition, these SCM11S have a sealed-box design. That means the low frequencies aren’t quite delivered in the generous quantities of some ported rivals.

What you do get is impressive bass texture, tonality and detail. We reckon a slight hit in outright quantity is worth it for the excellent control on hand.

The ATCS may not be as caffeinated as other rivals, but they still have the pep and pizzazz you’d expect at this price. In fact, the whole frequency range is superbly controlled. Nothing we did during our test was able to wrong-foot these speakers, which remain composed no matter how hard you push. We go from Atoms For Peace to Massive Attack, via a spot of Eminem; at every turn the ATCS demonstrate a level of consitency and precision that’s impressive.

That precision extends to the focused stereo image as we switch to Jupiter from Holst’s The Planets suite. These ATCS make it easy to place the various parts of the orchestra on the wide-open soundstage.

It never gets too analytical, however. As easy as it is to pick out all the separate elements of a track, these speakers manage to knit everything into a cohesive, musical whole.

And the trait we liked the most about those original SCM11S – their natural, balanced sound – is still here, too. Whatever we feed the speakers, the sound comes out uncoloured and uncorrupted. That makes them hugely versatile, and an easy listen. It’s as easy to analyse everything about a song as it is just to sit back and enjoy it.

The flaws? It’s hard to think of anything. If we really had to nitpick, we’d point at the speaker grilles. We’re not entirely convinced a grey honeycomb mesh suits a cabinet with cherry wood or black ash veneer. Then again, the speakers were designed for optimum performance when uncovered. And they do look lovely on their own.

All bases covered

It’s hard not to be totally and utterly enamoured with the ATC SCM11S. For the money, they seem to do everything right – and they look good too.

Ultimately, the KEFS’ extra punch and authority help them reach the finishing tape with their nose in front, yet plenty of buyers will prefer the SCM11’S more natural tone and warm fluidity.