ATC speakers / Monitors

[goat76]

Pity they never share any measurements of those rooms.
Keith

Everyone who have visited any of those Northward studio rooms have reported that they sound fantastic, and often the best they have heard.

What on earth is it you expect to see in the measurements that would contradict a flat response, a low level of interference from destructive reflections, and short decay times?

 

[Purité Audio]

Twenty years in hi-fi retail /distribution has taught me one thing, unsubstantiated testimonial and anecdote are completely worthless.
Jaundiced possibly but I can’t help believe they if a company can’t provide actual evidence then they have something to hide.
Keith

 

[caught gesture]

Pity they never share any measurements of those rooms.
Keith

I’m sure they do with their clients.

 

[EERecordist]

This topic has over 5000 comments. I don't have the money for ATC 3-ways with the magic 75mm mid-dome.

The link below is a long (31 minutes) rock/guitar recordist comparing speakers subjectively. The take home message is reference tracks to supplement measurements, translation, room treatment, and room tuning with Trinnov and others.

The person in the video has a conditioned room and was able to trial speakers in their room. The average home user nay not have those options.

My Grammy recording studio friend mixed on ProAc for many years. Then they added the ATC 25A, then upgraded to soffit-mount 45A. They told me they used the ATCs to find problems while the ProAc were their routine less fatiguing monitoring. They also had some classic Westlakes.

 

[Avp1]

This topic has over 5000 comments. I don't have the money for ATC 3-ways with the magic 75mm mid-dome.

The link below is a long (31 minutes) rock/guitar recordist comparing speakers subjectively. The take home message is reference tracks to supplement measurements, translation, room treatment, and room tuning with Trinnov and others.

The person in the video has a conditioned room and was able to trial speakers in their room. The average home user nay not have those options.

My Grammy recording studio friend mixed on ProAc for many years. Then they added the ATC 25A, then upgraded to soffit-mount 45A. They told me they used the ATCs to find problems while the ProAc were their routine less fatiguing monitoring. They also had some classic Westlakes.

Well, this guy is right: if there is something wrong with record, you will hear it through ATC speakers. If record sounds good through ATC, then it is good indeed. I only disagree about bass. 50 and even 100 model benefits from adding really powerful subwoofers. But they have to be very good (and likely expensive) subwoofers.

 

[d3l]

Running a loaner pair f ATC 25’s at the moment. I own a pair of PSI 25’s and bunch if Genelecs etc.
The ATC have to my ear the best, most detailed midds in the game. Its funny they almost sound a bit middle scooped even when they measure 1:1 to other monitors in the same room.
I prefer the PSI highs by a margin and obviously they go much louder.
One thing I dont’t get at all is the ’lack of bass’. Im my experience the bass is superb on the 25’s and im into very bass heavy types of music. IMO its a pwrfect example of a myth going round in forums.

 

[boxerfan88]

Interesting that you have access to ATC25 & PSI25. If you were to bring one home for casual home HiFi listening ... which one will you bring home?

 

[d3l]

For me personally I would say mayyybe ATC’s.B ut depends 100% what one prefers. The PSI are voiced a tad more analytical and especially the PSI25’s go so low that they really like to have a well treated room. But if the home has space and lets say wooden construction, they could work very well. I absolutely adore them at my studio and still havent heard better full range speaker to date.

 

[Purité Audio]

-6dB at 47Hz isn’t full-range, pity Robjohns never makes any measurements.

ATC SCM25A

These compact speakers from venerable UK manufacturers ATC aren’t cheap — but does the quality on offer justify the asking price?

www.soundonsound.com

-6dB at 32Hz, sadly again no measurements.

PSI Audio A25M

Swiss company PSI combine traditional and modern design practices to deliver a monitor that is both powerful and extremely revealing.

www.soundonsound.com

Keith

 

[Chrise36]

Running a loaner pair f ATC 25’s at the moment. I own a pair of PSI 25’s and bunch if Genelecs etc.
The ATC have to my ear the best, most detailed midds in the game. Its funny they almost sound a bit middle scooped even when they measure 1:1 to other monitors in the same room.
I prefer the PSI highs by a margin and obviously they go much louder.
One thing I dont’t get at all is the ’lack of bass’. Im my experience the bass is superb on the 25’s and im into very bass heavy types of music. IMO its a pwrfect example of a myth going round in forums.

How are the Genelecs? Models?

 

[d3l]

Genelecs are very very different to either PSI or ATC. I have 8341,51,61 pairs currently. All models are different also with different strengths.

 

[caught gesture]

Genelecs are very very different to either PSI or ATC. I have 8341,51,61 pairs currently. All models are different also with different strengths.

Why so many pairs of monitors? All in one room?

 

[d3l]

Why so many pairs of monitors? All in one room?

Not in one room. Larger facility with different monitors to cater different needs. ATC's are just on test as I wanted to know what the fuss is about.

 

[goat76]

Not in one room. Larger facility with different monitors to cater different needs. ATC's are just on test as I wanted to know what the fuss is about.

Is it the old SCM25A or the newer SCM25 mkII with ATCs in-house build tweeter you are testing?

The first thing I noticed when I did set up the ATC SCM40s in my room was the dry and clean-sounding bass, it's a very articulated bass sound, which I had never experienced before. It goes fairly deep in my room, but I use subwoofers just to get that last deepest bass extension they are missing.

The midrange is, of course, nothing but exceptional, and there is a three-dimensional quality to it that helps separate the layering between the sound objects in a crowded mix. ATCs in-house build tweeter also blends very well with the midrange; it never sounds “over the top” or lacking in energy. Just a good balanced non-fatiguing sound.

 

[d3l]

Is it the old SCM25A or the newer SCM25 mkII with ATCs in-house build tweeter you are testing?

The first thing I noticed when I did set up the ATC SCM40s in my room was the dry and clean-sounding bass, it's a very articulated bass sound, which I had never experienced before. It goes fairly deep in my room, but I use subwoofers just to get that last deepest bass extension they are missing.

The midrange is, of course, nothing but exceptional, and there is a three-dimensional quality to it that helps separate the layering between the sound objects in a crowded mix. ATCs in-house build tweeter also blends very well with the midrange; it never sounds “over the top” or lacking in energy. Just a good balanced non-fatiguing sound.

The MKII with the ATC tweeter.

 

[trapmstrk]

Genelecs are very very different to either PSI or ATC. I have 8341,51,61 pairs currently. All models are different also with different strengths.

I have a pair of 8351B and currently thinking about getting a second pair of speakers for casual listening. Could you share a bit more about how the ones compare to PSI and ATC? Thanks!

 

[Pearljam5000]

What's the logic behind installing the monitor in a glass wall?

 

[dfuller]

View attachment 457546View attachment 457547
What's the logic behind installing the monitor in a glass wall?

The 110s in a Northward room are my "true north" for sonics. It's really remarkable how good they sound.

 

[lowkeyoperations]

View attachment 457546View attachment 457547
What's the logic behind installing the monitor in a glass wall?

So you can see through it most likely.

 

[574stereo]

Studios tend to be pretty claustrophobic spaces, to the point where some artists/producers/engineers would rather work in an acoustically compromised space which feels right, at the expense of everything sounding right.

I admire Northward's efforts to change this, I must say...