ATC SCM40A - Unlocking the active speaker advantage, The Ear > Best Buy
Active or powered loudspeakers seem to be gaining ground in the wireless world that so many music lovers choose. The sort of powered speakers that are making headway tend to be more about keeping costs down and features up, but that is changing; there are now some respectable speaker makers building wireless and sometimes genuinely active speakers for a market with limited space and a fear of cables. ATC have been making active loudspeakers for almost as long as they have been in business, which started in the seventies with drive units and progressed to full loudspeakers of the pro variety in the following decade. They are very strong in the studio world and have equipped facilities around the world with active systems large and very large but occasionally almost manageable.
Conclusion
The ATC SCM40A is a lot of loudspeaker and electronics for the money. The price might look high for a speaker alone but when you consider that each offers a combined power of close to 250W from three separate amplifiers, then add in the electronic crossover, it’s clear that on the value front they have plenty to offer. But it’s what they can do for your music that’s more interesting. If you want to hear right into every track, to feel the bass and enjoy real depth of three dimensional image, this is a very hard act to beat. The SCM40As make a very strong case for active loudspeakers indeed. They may require a couple of wires but that’s a small price to pay for home entertainment of this calibre. Audition at your own risk, your regular system might well sound a bit inhibited in comparison.