Long-running favourites that still manage to impress
View online review whf.cm/SCM11
What can yousay about a product that’s won more What Hi-Fi?Awards than John McEnroe has Grand Slams?
Since the ATC SCM11s’ first incarnation in 2006, they have gone from strength to strength – and still make this round-up of our favourite standmount speakers in 2023.
For their current incarnation, as relaunched in 2013, the 15cm mid/bass driver has been transplanted into a new enclosure, which is curved for more rigidity and less internal resonance. There is also a new tweeter, a 25mm soft-dome unit, designed and built in-house – that’s rare for a relatively small manufacturer. ATC has also included a new crossover with higher-quality components.
The result? Great success. The new SCM11s make their already talented predecessors seem ordinary. Nearly everything we have come to love about the originals has received a remarkable boost. There is greater subtlety and resolution, which we immediately appreciate as they show their true colours on Rodriguez’s I Wonder. 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 bigger and more spacious than before, and there is a much higher level of rhythmic precision, helped by increased agility. Dynamics are stronger and further reaching. The sound is remarkably clean, and more transparent than ever.
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, however, is impressive bass texture, tonality and detail. We reckon a slight hit in outright quantity is worth it for the excellent control on hand.
These ATCs have the pep and pizzazz you
