ATC, Harbeth, or Spendor?
- Thread starter maxhifi
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Art K.
The Voodoo You Do!
I have tried them all and currently own Harbeth and Spendor. I had the ATC SCM11’s. Lovely sounding speaker that required some power to get them off the ground. I have owned both the Harbeth C7 and P3. Both are fabulous sounding speakers. For a small room I prefer the P3. I really believe that the P3 is the purist expression of the Harbeth sound. From Spendor I’ve owned the A6R and I currently own the Classic 3/1. I’ve auditioned the LS3/5r2. In the end the A6R was too lively in the high end. I couldn’t shake it and they gave me a headache every time I listened for more than a few minutes. The bass was excellent. I really liked the ls3/5r2 but not more than the P3’s I owned. You can’t lose with either of those two speakers. Lastly the Classic 3/1 is the best of all worlds. Deep and articulate bass and refined high end. Midrange to die for. It really depends on which instrument is being reproduced which has better timbre between the Harbeth and Spendor. The Classic 3/1 is more open and clear than the Harbeth C7 with tighter bass. Great speaker which can work in nearly any size room.
That’s what I have. Any specific questions please feel free to ask.
That’s what I have. Any specific questions please feel free to ask.
Erik Tracy
Everyone's happy when the wizard walks by
I've owned the SCM11v2 and auditioned the P3ESR in home.
The P3ESR is a very nice sounding speaker - mostly neutral. I enjoyed it more when paired to SS than tubes (a bit too polite/rolled off).
The SCM11v2 is very fast & articulate. I agree with Art K. - it takes some power to wake it up as it can sound dull at lower volumes. Mid volume performance is pretty amazing though - detail retrieval (not brightness) is stellar.
Have not heard the Spendor.
The P3ESR is a very nice sounding speaker - mostly neutral. I enjoyed it more when paired to SS than tubes (a bit too polite/rolled off).
The SCM11v2 is very fast & articulate. I agree with Art K. - it takes some power to wake it up as it can sound dull at lower volumes. Mid volume performance is pretty amazing though - detail retrieval (not brightness) is stellar.
Have not heard the Spendor.
maxhifi
Addicted Member
I only just noticed these responses. Thank you both for the thoughtful responses!
I've got 140W Audio Research tube mono amps, which are almost comically large next to the P3ESRs, and do not suffer the usual tube amp flaws of soft bass or treble. This combo is definitely the best I've ever heard at home. The resolution at mid/low volume is out of this world.
Before I commit to anything though I really am curious about how ATC would sound, and it seems to me I should at least try them.
I've got 140W Audio Research tube mono amps, which are almost comically large next to the P3ESRs, and do not suffer the usual tube amp flaws of soft bass or treble. This combo is definitely the best I've ever heard at home. The resolution at mid/low volume is out of this world.
Before I commit to anything though I really am curious about how ATC would sound, and it seems to me I should at least try them.
Opinions.....everyone is different. 
I absolutely loved my ATC SCM11v2, used them for over a year by themselves, then added 2 REL T7i subs.
Never listen loud and ran them with 20 watts tube and 50-70 watts ss.
Only reason I sold was because of a change in circumstances and wanting to have less money in my system. Bye, bye, speakers, subs, and Belles Aria integrated.
I absolutely loved my ATC SCM11v2, used them for over a year by themselves, then added 2 REL T7i subs.
Never listen loud and ran them with 20 watts tube and 50-70 watts ss.
Only reason I sold was because of a change in circumstances and wanting to have less money in my system. Bye, bye, speakers, subs, and Belles Aria integrated.
Brad Lunde
New Member
Max Hi FI, I know that AR amp, Gosh Audio Research was a great company. So much better than anything else tube for so long....a labor of love I think, very difficult to make money doing it the way they did it. SP3A was a monster preamp too.
As the importer to the US for ATC, the one to try is the SCM 19, the most recent model. You'll need that 140W to light them up. This SCM 19 uses one of the lowest distortion drivers available, called a Super Linear, all hand built in house at ATC. Using a short coil/long gap type construction, it has very little coloration. The SCM19 is about twice the cost of the SCM11.
Brad
Lone Mountain Audio
As the importer to the US for ATC, the one to try is the SCM 19, the most recent model. You'll need that 140W to light them up. This SCM 19 uses one of the lowest distortion drivers available, called a Super Linear, all hand built in house at ATC. Using a short coil/long gap type construction, it has very little coloration. The SCM19 is about twice the cost of the SCM11.
Brad
Lone Mountain Audio
