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
Bloggers and YouTubers have tried this product—so we've summarized their strongest opinions below. Links to full reviews follow.
Product Strengths
- 'Ridiculous' detail and clarity allow the user to notice subtle elements in familiar recordings
- Easier to identify and isolate problems within a mix due to its clarity and detail across the frequency range
- Higher frequencies are airy, crystal clear, and pleasant, even at high monitoring levels, resulting in minimal ear fatigue
- Low end is tight and focused, even in the sub frequencies
- Stereo image is very wide with a tight focused center
Product Considerations
- A little light on the low end
- Heavy and require good stands
- Footprint is rather large for a nearfield speaker, so they may not integrate well into a small room
- One reviewer found that the mono center sounds very diffused
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs ATC SCM25A: The 45 makes room for a second 6.5' low-frequency driver, reducing non-linear distortion—and increasing total output by 3dB
Takeaway: The SCM45a provides amazing clarity and detail, making it easier to mix and master audio. They sound great across many genres, and make it easier to hear every part of your music.
What are hifi reviews useful for? (1) Identifying products you should demo in person at a dealer. (2) Learning which products reviewers unanimously praise as the best they've heard (this means they probably are legitimately great). (3) Identifying a product's attributes that satisfy your idiosyncratic needs and tastes. Beyond that, we often discount what reviewers say because they heap praise on most products—and are often apprehensive about publishing strong criticism or comparisons between products. Further, they seldom have more than a few products on-hand, often relying on their memories to compare past products. Always listen for yourself.
All
SCM45a Pro
reviews
[{"title":"The ATC SCM45A Pro Review","link":"https://www.wereviewelectronics.com/post/the-atc-scm45a-pro-review","source":"We Review Electronics","datePublished":"2019"},{"title":"My big studio upgrade: an ATC SCM45A Pro review","link":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YKP5qA7EMQ","source":"Ronan Chris Murphy","datePublished":"2024"},{"title":"Are ATC SCM 45A Pro The Best Monitors Ever?!","link":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67Lkc3WVUE4","source":"Illusia Productions","datePublished":"2024"},{"title":"A Review of ATC SCM45a Active Studio Monitors","link":"https://vintageking.com/blog/atc-scm45a-monitors/?srsltid=AfmBOoqCKTK-7OV-LQDbMeBrj8oi-0QBHLXm7j9KP6I_TgSIRzqtPgY-","source":"vintageking.com","datePublished":""}]
An excellent review of a great product
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Publisher
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3/1/2022
An excellent review of a great product
Publisher
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3/1/2022
Video Review
Manufacturer details
Features
Specifications
- Drivers: HF 1"/25mm Dual-Suspension 'S-Spec', Mid 3"/75mm Soft Dome, LF 6.5"/164mm short-coil carbon paper cone
- Amplitude Linearity (±2dB): 70Hz-17kHz
- Cut-off Frequencies (-6dB, free-standing): 42Hz-25kHz
- Dispersion: ±80° Coherent Horizontal, ±10° Coherent Vertical
- Max. Continuous SPL (1 metre): 112dB
- Audio Input: Rear panel mounted female xlr (pin 2 +)
- Input Sensitivity: 1V rms (ref. full output)
- Input Sensitivity Trim: 0dB to -6dB/1V – 2V
- Input Impedance: Balanced > 10kΩ
- Amplifier Output Power: Bass 150W rms, Mid 60W rms, High 25W rms
- Crossover Frequencies: 380Hz & 3.5Khz
- Crossover Filters: 4th order critically damped with phase compensations
- Low Frequency Boost: 0dB to +3dB at 40Hz
- Dimensions (HxWxD): 353 x 600 x 375mm (13.9˝ x 23.6˝ x 14.8˝)
- Weight: 36kg / 79.2lbs (per cabinet)
Description
Mid-size very high performance active 3-way studio monitor Ideally suited to: – critical near-field listening applications in all control rooms – LCR surround monitoring in medium control rooms – surround channels in medium-to-large contol rooms
Release Timeline
Manufacturer Site
Brand highlights
Taking a step back to look at reviewers' thoughts of the brand's entire lineup—not just this product—what stands out most is the following:
- ATC's commitment to in-house driver design and manufacturing allows for tight control over performance characteristics and seamless integration across their entire product line.
- They primarily use active designs with electronic crossovers and dedicated amplifiers for each driver, optimizing power delivery and minimizing distortion compared to passive crossovers.
- ATC speakers prioritize accuracy, neutrality, and wide dynamic range, resulting in a sound signature that may expose flaws in recordings or upstream components.
Select products
Select product comparisons
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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Avg. Product Price
$10,001-$20,000
Used For Sale
34
Available (Scroll Down)
Brand Popularity
68
of 900+
Badges
Top 50 Brand
Top 250 Brand
Products Listed
56
Founding Year
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.
Look inside the brand
Brand Page
Our interview with the brand
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What if you spend more?
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What competes at this price?
PMC
PMC8-2
15250
/
Released
2021
This three-way active studio monitor is designed to provide critical reference monitoring for the most demanding applications.
PMC is a hifi speaker brand known for its Advanced Transmission Line (ATL) technology, which enhances bass response and reduces distortion, and its LaminairX technology in the Prophecy series, which reduces turbulence and harmonic distortion by up to 3dB. Their active speakers are preferred by music and audio professionals for their tonal accuracy and dynamic range, with user reviews particularly praising their accurate midrange and detailed sound compared to brands like Dynaudio and B&W.
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Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Unparalleled clarity, definition, and utmost accuracy
- Excellent bass extension and clarity, as well as proper tonal balance at every volume
- Super wide dispersion, and thus a bigger sweet spot
Product Considerations
- It would be overkill in smaller rooms
- A pair is a significant investment, so it makes sense that it's geared toward large, professional recording environments
- They weigh nearly 100 pounds apiece
Takeaway: The PMC 8-2 is a wise investment for professional studios that delivers detailed and accurate monitoring, so it could very well be the only monitor needed It uses proprietary technology to deliver its signature sound
Video review
Our take on the brand
PMC is a hifi speaker brand known for its Advanced Transmission Line (ATL) technology, which enhances bass response and reduces distortion, and its LaminairX technology in the Prophecy series, which reduces turbulence and harmonic distortion by up to 3dB. Their active speakers are preferred by music and audio professionals for their tonal accuracy and dynamic range, with user reviews particularly praising their accurate midrange and detailed sound compared to brands like Dynaudio and B&W.
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