Note that this is a discontinued product. You may want to visit the brand's page here to browse their newer products.

What reviewers think

Magazine reviewers and YouTubers have tried this product—so we've summarized their strongest opinions below.

How useful are hifi reviews? We consider them useful for three things: (1) Surfacing new products you should demo in person at a dealer. (2) Learning which products reviewers unanimously praise as the best they've ever heard (this means they probably are legitimately great). (3) Identifying a product's unique attributes that satisfy your idiosyncratic needs and tastes. Beyond that, we  discount what reviewers say because they heap praise on everything—rarely being negative for fear of souring relationships with manufacturers. Further, they seldom have more than a couple products on-hand at once, relying on their imperfect memories to compare to past products.

Compared to their other products

We think it's helpful to understand how this product fits into the brand's full lineup (below). To learn more about these products, visit the brand's page.

SCM7 MK3

  • Positioning: The entry-level model in ATC's loudspeaker lineup.
  • Description: Features a compact design and precise sound, with a 25mm soft dome tweeter and a 125mm mid-bass driver. Compared to the SCM19, it offers a smaller footprint, making it ideal for small rooms or desktop setups, but it lacks the larger bass driver and higher sensitivity found in the SCM19.

SCM19

  • Positioning: A mid-range model in the Entry Series, offering a balance between performance and size.
  • Description: Features an "SL" spec bass driver and 75mm integral soft dome, providing excellent phase coherence and bass response. It offers a more robust soundstage than the SCM7 MK3.

SCM19A

  • Positioning: An active version of the SCM19, positioned as a higher-end option within the Entry Series.
  • Description: Includes an on-board 182-watt Class A/B bi-amplifier, delivering enhanced sound clarity and power. It uses active crossover filters, unlike the passive SCM19, which requires external amplification.

SCM40A

  • Positioning: The groundbreaking flagship model of the Entry Series, offering the most advanced features and performance.
  • Description: Equipped with a tri-amplifier system and a 164mm bass driver, providing exceptional sound quality and dynamic range. It surpasses the SCM19A with its additional mid-range driver and higher power output.
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Read the reviews

Manufacturer's notes

Formerly C3CA. Model changed to C4CA January 2020. Suitable substitution for C6CA centre channel in C6 systems where space is restricted.
Suitable substitution for C6CA centre channel in C6 systems where space is restricted. Twin ATC 150mm SL mid/bass drivers. Massive 9kg shielded motor assemblies. In-house, hand wound precision flat wire coils. ATC 250 Watt Class A (to 2/3 max power). Active filters and overload. 6 Year warranty. Any veneer to order. Featured veneer: Rosewood.
  • Drivers: HF 25mm Neodymium, Mid/LF150mm SL
  • Frequency Response (-6dB): 54Hz–22kHz
  • Max SPL: 108dB
  • Amplifier Output: HF 50 Watts, LF 200 Watts
  • Cabinet Dimensions (HxWxD): 278 x 650 x 405mm / 10.94 x 25.59 x 15.94″
  • Weight: 37kg
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Average Price
$5,001-$10,000
Used Products
40
 Available (Scroll Down)
Brand Popularity
45
 of 600+
Badges
Top 50 Brand
Top 250 Brand
Products
56
Founded
1974

Our take on the brand

ATC is distinguished by manufacturing all drivers in-house and using a unique dual-suspension system in their tweeters that enhances stability without ferro-fluid. The brand, widely used in recording studios, features sealed cabinet designs for tight bass control and a proprietary 75mm soft-dome midrange driver that delivers precise, uncolored sound.
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi
Brand Page
Most data on ExtremeHiFi is proprietary—researched and reviewed after thousands of hours of loving labor. We archive our site's data and its pages on Archive.org and take legal action against those repurposing the data. We also fingerprint data to know when text and numbers came from us first.
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What if you spend a bit more?

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What else competes at this price?

Special Edition DSP5200HC
10000
/
Released
Meridian
A perfect partner for the freestanding Special Edition DSP5200, the Special Edition DSP5200HC provides full-range playback in a horizontal centre-channel package. The DSP5200SE HC is designed for mounting under a large-screen TV, behind an acoustically-transparent projection screen and is ideal for partnering with other Meridian free-standing or in-wall loudspeakers.
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Meridian Audio pioneered digital surround-sound processing and Digital Signal Processing (DSP) in speakers, and developed the Meridian Lossless Packing technology that became the standard for DVD-Audio and Blu-ray formats. The brand's unique technologies include Enhanced Bass Alignment for time-aligned frequencies, SpeakerLink for simplified digital connections using Ethernet-style cables, and MQA for high-resolution audio streaming.
Expand Details

Our Summary

Product Strengths

  • Confident, solid, and real presentation
  • Beefy-solid sound with very good imaging and focus, and with much better layering front to back than anticipated
  • Tweeters have a near-perfect combination of articulation and musical purpose, and are absolutely never bright or in your face
  • Arguably, the strongest point is their solid and unwavering presentation regardless of volume level
  • Has a live-performance-like quality

Product Considerations

  • Overall resolution is good, but not spectacular, and perhaps less than one should reasonably expect at this price
  • Tonal balance, compared to Apogee speakers, is definitely on the dark side
  • Exact same toe in is needed, otherwise focus will tend to either side
  • Bass was initially thumb–but was resolved by placement

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

  • Compared to Apogee: DSP 5200's have a lower stage, also, tonal balance is darker
  • Compared to Kharma: Kharma's are more open-sounding–but can be ear-piercing, while the DSP 5200's are never aggressive or harsh

Takeaway: The DSP 5200 SE speakers deliver a confident and solid sound, that does not lack power, and performs well at all volume levels. They are great at filling the room with sound and creating a thrilling listening experience.

Video review

Our take on the brand

Meridian Audio pioneered digital surround-sound processing and Digital Signal Processing (DSP) in speakers, and developed the Meridian Lossless Packing technology that became the standard for DVD-Audio and Blu-ray formats. The brand's unique technologies include Enhanced Bass Alignment for time-aligned frequencies, SpeakerLink for simplified digital connections using Ethernet-style cables, and MQA for high-resolution audio streaming.
Julian Shapiro
ExtremeHiFi Writer
Visit
Special Edition DSP5200HC
Page
Product Page

Note that this is a discontinued product. You may want to visit the brand's page here to browse their newer products.

What reviewers think

Magazine reviewers and YouTubers have tried this product—so we've summarized their strongest opinions below.

How useful are hifi reviews? We consider them useful for three things: (1) Surfacing new products you should demo in person at a dealer. (2) Learning which products reviewers unanimously praise as the best they've ever heard (this means they probably are legitimately great). (3) Identifying a product's unique attributes that satisfy your idiosyncratic needs and tastes. Beyond that, we  discount what reviewers say because they heap praise on everything—rarely being negative for fear of souring relationships with manufacturers. Further, they seldom have more than a couple products on-hand at once, relying on their imperfect memories to compare to past products.

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