ATC has introduced the new SCM20ASL Pro (V2) active and SCM20PSL Pro passive reference nearfield monitors. The active model replaces the previous-generation SCM20ASL Pro, while the passive model is all new, providing an entry point into ATC studio monitoring at a lower price point.
Both models incorporate ATC’s drive units, hand-built in its UK facility. The new SH-25-76S 1-inch soft dome tweeter is the first to be designed and built by ATC,the result of six years of research and development by managing director Billy Woodman and R&D engineer Richard Newman.
“The tweeter is designed and built with the same no-compromise philosophy as all other ATC drive units,” Newman notes. “The design takes notes from the highly-regarded ATC midrange dome by utilizing a dual-suspension design, negating the requirement for Ferro-fluid, and avoiding the detrimental effects of this drying out over time, a feature considered to be of utmost importance for longterm consistency.”
The large neodymium motor with heat-treated top plate is optimized to ensure an extended frequency response (-6 dB @ 26 kHz) and low non-linear distortion. The geometry of the waveguide is designed for optimum dispersion and made from a precision-machined alloy so that the entire structure is rigid and free from resonances.
The bass/mid driver used in both loudspeakers is a proprietary 6-inch device, constructed with a 3-inch voice coil and a short-coil, long-gap topology, it combines high power handling and low power compression. Unique to the drive unit is ATC’s Super Linear technology, which by employing specialist materials in the magnetic circuit, reduces third harmonic distortion in the lower midrange.
The electronics in the active design have also had considerable development time invested in them, resulting in reduced noise and distortion (a further -10 dB @ 10 kHz) and a reduced operating temperature for improved reliability. The amplifier design is a revised version of ATC’s discrete MOSFET Class A/B design with 200 watts and 50 watts continuous power available for the bass and high frequency sections, respectively.
The user controls have also been improved over the previous generation with more flexible input sensitivity controls and a revised low frequency shelf control to help achieve good balance in difficult acoustic conditions. The amplifier includes protection circuits for both DC offset and thermal overload.
The cabinet has been restyled to more closely follow the larger monitors in ATC’s professional range and is constructed from heavily-braced MDF. Highly damped, elastometric panels are bonded and stapled to the cabinet’s inner walls to suppress cabinet panel resonances, while the enclosure’s front panel is heavily radiused to reduce cabinet diffraction, improving the frequency response and imaging.
The loudspeaker can be wall mounted via a K&M 24120 Wall Mount (available separately). Note that the cabinet requires modification to accept the “top-hat” mount.
The SCM20PSL Pro passive high-performance loudspeakers carry a UK RRP of £2,083.00 GBP (plus VAT) per pair; the SCM20ASL Pro (V2) active high-performance loudspeakers carry a UK RRP of £3,647.00 GBP (plus VAT) per pair. Both are available worldwide from any authorised ATC stockist.
