Product Strengths

• ATC designs and builds every drive unit in-house, including voice coils, crossovers, and active amplification, allowing for complete control over every loudspeaker design decision
• In the active version, a more clearly defined soundstage has clearer, more well-defined individual elements, where everything pops out more from the background
• The active version has more energy, drive, and a more vivid overall presentation, resulting in a more tactile, energetic, and higher resolution sound
• The SCM50's woofer has an enviable ability to resolve textures and timbral colors, capably rendering the skins of bass drums, the flutter of tom-toms, or the dark voicing of orchestral bass viols as bows are dragged across their strings
• The SCM50 has an almost eerie immediacy that seems to glean the intent of the musician before their bow touches the string or a note escapes their lips, making piano reproduction breathtaking
• Connectivity is limited to a single XLR input, which may require adapters for single-ended sources

Product Considerations

• The active version is heavier than the passive version
• The owner must manually turn each speaker on and off, as there is no trigger or auto startup circuit
• The active version may pose challenges for owners of subwoofers needing high-level wiring connections, although workarounds exist
• Careful attention must be paid to positioning a pair of SCM50s, as the full-bandwidth—ported design means that placing them too close to a boundary wall will result in bass bloom

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

• SCM50 wins hands down over PureAudioProject Duet 15s for resolution, clarity, and dynamic shading
• The active version excels over the passive in solidity of soundstage, neutrality, and ultimate detail retrieval

Takeaway: The ATC SCM50 offers exceptional sound quality, whether in its active or passive configuration, thanks to ATC's engineering and in-house design. The ATC SCM50 is a choice that will bring musical joy for years to come.

Product Strengths

• Improved phase or timing enhances stereo imaging and creates a clearer overall picture
• The active version removes a 'filter' between the listener and the original source, making music more intense, energetic—and vivid—resulting in higher resolution audio
• Vocals are presented bigger, taller, grander in scale, with more detail and insight—most impressively—how natural they sound
• Dynamics and micro-detail are impressive, expressed in ambient noises, breaths of singers—and fingernails of guitarists
• ATC monitors are designed to provide the best from both areas: detailed and accurate with limited dynamic range, and professional monitors with great dynamic range and fidelity

Product Considerations

• ATC speakers like to be played loudly, like the original event, and live music isn't created at volume levels for going to sleep; if you like to be lulled by your audio system, look elsewhere
• The speakers get quite a bit heavier with the amplifier packs in them
• You have to manually turn each speaker on and off, as there is no trigger system designed into them
• System organisation and cabling has to be considered because it might be quite different to how you have things wired now in a passive system, and this could mean extra cost on top
• If you don't have an amplifier to connect your high level wiring to, you would need to either use a preamplifier with an output you can use, or maybe use a splitter on the balanced cable

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

• Vs ATC SCM50 PSL (Passive): The active SCM50 ASL is more vivid overall, while the passive is more 'cuddly'
• Vs ATC SCM20: The 50s are more like the same person—only bigger

Takeaway: The SCM50 ASL offers a technically better and more vivid listening experience due to its active design, bringing listeners closer to the original sound. If one wants a speaker for serious listening and appreciate high-resolution audio, this could be a great choice.

Product Strengths

• Straightforward, direct, and honest sound
• Extremely listenable top end that's toned down a mite
• Solid and pleasing midrange
• Rock solid bass
• Exhibits a family sound between the models, making it difficult to distinguish between them, at least in this context

Product Considerations

• Price may be high compared to the UK price

Takeaway: The SCM100ASLT Active Driver Tower loudspeaker has an honest and pleasing sound with solid bass. It encourages you to get up and dance.

Product Strengths

• Houses everything needed to play digital music
• Equipped with DSP and room correction for a seamless room-filling fit
• Reproduces music with superb control and an expansive sound image
• Offers finely textured and richly saturated sound

Product Considerations

• Speakers that don't look like every other speaker can be polarizing

Takeaway: The Pearl Pelegrina is a wireless active loudspeaker that houses everything needed to play digital music, offering a seamless room-filling fit with superb control and finely textured sound. It could be worth buying for those seeking an all-in-one speaker solution with a unique design.

Product Strengths

• Very dynamic presentation, with quick stop and start speeds that leave little off the table
• Natural and even-handed tones from the wide array of drivers
• Cohesive structure with plenty of low-end support
• High efficiency (101 dB), allowing them to be driven by tubes

Product Considerations

• Build times are around 8 weeks

Takeaway: The Zu Audio Definition 6 offers a very dynamic and realistic listening experience with natural tones. They are also high efficiency, making them a great option for use with tubes.