All their active speakers use balanced XLR inputs. I think that might have been one factor influencing Naim’s switch to balanced XLR outputs of their preamps in the New Classic boxes.
Roger
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I’m not doubting that, but I can’t find any mention of it in the detailed timeline on their website. It’s interesting that the passive SCM20s were introduced as long ago as 1989. The actives came 5 years later, but they were the tower versions.
Roger
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Let’s hope they bring them back.
Last year I listened to the SCM20s back to back with the SCM40s when auditioning speakers (on the end of an NDX2/282/250 set up)
The room was not large which may have been a great leveller, but I actually preferred the 20s. They seemed a touch more transparent and didn’t really lose scale in comparison to the floorstanders. I walked away ordering the SCM40s because stand mounts were red carded.
Would love a pair of the SE Blue ones (passive) to go with my set up if I can ever get round the issue.
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A new red finish?
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I doubt that naim changed their preamps to benefit an atc product specifically, but yes for suiting the majority of active speakers, as long runs would be likely in such setups and XLR balanced connection certainly are the best way to go here.
I was thinking of active speakers generally, not specifically ATC ones when I made that comment. But I do recall a very positive post by a Naim staffer on the Atom HE thread about his experiences using the HE with active SCM50s!
Roger
It’s a limited edition (150 pairs IIRC) and all active.
Roger
Nice to seem them in the context of a home setup, they look really nice. I would love to try a pair of the SCM20 …and the ATC C4 Mk2 subwoofer (then maybe add some HTS7s for AV duties). Random question but may I ask where the room treatments are from? (GIK?)
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Correct, they are from GIK, visit their website, answer a few questions and they will make recommendations. I found it was the sum of the parts (corners, behind me, first reflection points on wall / ceiling. It’s a dedicated room so no negotiating required with my wife! I find them quite subtle in this beige colour…
I never tried the ATC subs, didn’t have access to them at the time but impressed with the rels, they add more depth to the overall sound, certainly not being about a bass monster!
Gary
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I have active 50’s on demo now, just setting them up and playing around with positioning, they seem to enjoy a little more distance apart than my 40As or the demo 20’s I had.
Great service from Basically Sound as always and I will report back on how they are doing. Plan is see how they compare to the 20’s (active towers) and then make a decision. I like the ATC sound and I know the 50’s are superior but it’s a case of room matching…
Their weight is testing the capacity of the podiums they sit on but just within tolerance…
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Looking good @Farthings-cat . I’m still home demoing some 50’s (when I typed ‘demoing’ autocorrect wanted to suggest demolishing and I almost felt I should accept the substitution 
).
I was surprised that ATC’s recommendation for placement was an equilateral triangle between your ears and the speakers with the speakers firing straight at your face at 30 degree angles. I tried it and it sounded ok, but I’m preferring to be a bit further back/speakers a bit closer together and firing at my shoulders.
I’m pretty sure that I’m not going to buy the passive version despite hearing a lot of things I really like, I’m finding them a bit dry and matter of fact. They are closeish, but no cigar.
However, they are being converted to active on Friday and I look forward to seeing if that can retain what I like and improve what I don’t. Fingers crossed!
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Thanks KJC, I really like the active versions and certainly with the 40’s I found the passives a bit “meh” and they were driven by 300dr and full super lumina loom. The actives by comparison were wow.
My dealer, (Tony at Basically Sound) had some active 20 towers on loan from ATC and we gave them a spin in my system and I preferred them to the 40’s, hence this journey started!
Interestingly I really liked the passive 20 stand mounts driven by 250nc but my room can cope with floor stands so they old adage of “have floor standers if you can and stand mounts if you cant” is true in my room - the physics of a bigger cabinet just give more weight to the sound.
I find ATC gives a lot of information of what’s on the record which I really like without being over analytical or “too much”
Gary
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Standmounts vs floorstanders…!
That is pretty normal I think, or rather an equilateral triangle thie apex just in front of listening spot. However best toe angle varies by room. Certainly PMC’s guidance is much the same, at least for the speakers I’ve had.
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Do those Podiums actually make a worthwhile difference with the 50s? They rather spoil the look.
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Yes HH I agree re visual impacts of the podiums, they made a credible difference with my 40’s but will evaluate both podiums and subs with 50’s.
Annoyingly Mrs FC made the same observation about their looks!
Gary
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I think my caveat of “within my room” should keep me out of jail! No doubt in some rooms stand mounts can be a better option……
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I meant those 50s are standmounts not the towers, vs the 20s being floorstanders, the unexpected way round.
Yes, good point well made! They are so big I wasn’t viewing them as stand mounts!
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