ATC speakers build studio monitors in Great Britain. Those who claim they are the best speakers for Hip-Hop production miss out – on everything else! Why ATC are such great loudspeakers.
What does ATC stand for?
In case you are wondering, what “ATC” means: It is the abbreviation for “Acoustic Transducer Company” – as simple as that.
What are ATC studio monitors? And what is so special about them?
Other than most loudspeaker companies, ATC builds almost all drivers in-house . Only for the bass drivers of the biggest models, the company uses an external manufacturer who is able to fabricate a driver to their exact specifications. The development of the two in-house tweeters, ATC SH25-76 and SH25-76S, took ATC many years. The tweeters use two suspensions , allowing the stiff, but light membrane to perform a perfect piston movement.
But that's not all: All other components – and that includes electronics like amplification – are not only “designed” but entirely made in England . And talking about designing, it should be stressed ATC puts lot of effort in R&D. This means for example thorough researching in the field of materials and production process.
Are ATC studio monitors active or passive systems?
The speaker range consists of both powered loudspeakers and passive speakers. You can buy ATC's matching power amplifier or combine with others. Also, an active subwoofer is available, both for soffit-mounting (“in-wall”) and free-standing.
ATC loudspeakers overview
ATC offers a broad range of monitors, from very affordable passive two-way nearfields to full-blown main speakers. If you ask yourself How much are ATC studio monitors , then it's first of all a question of size. The small passive speakers are less expensive than you might think!
| Speaker | Ways | Cabinet | Active/Passive | Orientation | Typical use |
| SCM12 Pro | 2 | Closed | Passive | Vertical | Nearfield, surround Sound |
| SCM20 ASL | 2 | Closed | Active | Vertical | Nearfield, surround Sound |
| SCM25A | 3 | Ported | Active | Horizontal | Nearfield/Midfield |
| SCM45A | 3 | Ported | Active | Horizontal | Nearfield/Midfield |
| SCM50 ASL | 3 | Ported | Active | Variable | Midfield |
| SCM100 ASL | 3 | Ported | Active | Variable | Midfield |
| SCM110 ASL | 3 | Ported | Active | Horizontal | Main |
| SCM150ASL | 3 | Ported | Active | Variable | Main |
| SCM200ASL | 3, Twin Bass | Ported | Active | Vertical | Main |
| SCM300ASL | 3, Twin Bass | Ported | Active | Vertical | Main |
How do ATCs sound?
ATC studio loudspeakers can be described as sounding very transparently, with great, natural dynamics even at high volumes . The prominent mid-range-driver is definitely one of the best out there – ATCs are great for allowing to pinpointing the level of vocals in a mix. Who knows, maybe you could omit those “vocals up” and “vocals down” mixing alternatives in the future?
A subwoofer to fill the (very) bottom end
Equipped with a 12” long travel, in-house ade driver, the active subwoofer adds even lower end to ATC studio speakers. It is not ported , it is closed ! This results in a astonishingly dry and accurate reproduction, allowing you to most precisely control the microtiming and pitch even of the deepest bass lines!
What are the blind plates on SCM50ALS Pro's and SCM100ALS Pro's front panel for?
That's easy: If used horizontally instead of vertically, the tweeter should still be on top of the midrange speaker. This is necessary simply because a stereo image spreads horizontally and thus the sound source has to be more accurate in that dimension. And stereo imaging is one of ATCs specialities, trust us. So SCM50ALS Pro , SCM100ALS Pro and SCM150ALS Pro have a blind plate that can be swapped with the tweeter. And since design is less significant but still counts something: The logo plate can be turned 90 degrees, too!
Why are there wires on the front of the mid driver?
The 3” mid range soft dome, used in ATC SCM25A Pro , SCM45A Pro , SCM50ASL Pro and SCM100ASL Pro shows the copper leads on the front. This does not mean they are more fragile or the is a higher risk of hazard. It is just the ay the drivers are being constructed. Drivers should not be touched anyway.
KMR, ATC, 6yrs
If you are interested in buying ATCs, you will be delighted to hear KMR UK is ATC Dealer of the Year 2021! Oh, and by the way: ATC provides all products with a six-year warranty when registered.
ATC at a glance
Official ATC website : https://atc.audio/professional/