Thank you, here is the current configuration :
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Does the SPL preamp work well with the SCM40?
Yes otherwise I wouldn’t have it! 
it replaced a 272/xpsdr, the SPL is of a much better level and goes very well with the ATC, two identical philosophies both coming from the professional field.
Love the look of the SPL Director mk2.2, very cool!
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I’ve gone ahead and bought the Cardas Clear XLR, and Cardas Clear Sky RCA. The Clear XLR is for Chord Dave to the 40a’s The Clear Sky is to go from Dave’s RCA outs to my REL Subs. Chord says there’s no issue using both sets of outputs at the same time. Just waiting now for the speakers and cables, hope to have it up and running next week.
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I’ve now installed the demo 40s from my kindly dealer . I’ve been listening to them for the last 3 hours. I’m absolutely blown away by them. I was worried that they might be too bright or bass light but none that . They are absolutely brilliant , so balanced . So far I’ve listened to hard rock, techno, jazz and some acoustic stuff . It all sounds great. @JonathanG your review was spot on btw.
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In terms of positioning, does it matter how close to the wall the 40s are given they are closed speakers? Is it just a case of toe in?
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It does matter in my experience of them in two rooms. I would start with them about 30cm from the back wall, measuring from the middle to the back of the speaker to the wall. I moved them by 1 cm each time until I found the sweet spot of distance from wall and toe-in.
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Definitely worth experimenting with position regardless of them being sealed.
Gary
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And ALPS volume pots too!
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Yes, at least that’s my experience. I’ve found that they although they are definitely less fussy about positioning than the ported models I had previously, they do benefit from experimenting with placement.
When I first got mine they were installed firing across the room, but eventually moved them to firing down the room as that way they were further from the back wall. Since I started using a Linn Streamer with Space Optimisation, I moved them back to firing across and used the SO to “correct” for the new position.
Roger
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Hi PMC,
Sorry for the late reply - only just seen this - and thank-you for the kind words!
The SCM40’s are undoubtedly more accomodating of different positions than most ported speakers, however in my experience they do benefit from a little experimentation to get them really singing… Proximity to a wall allows you to tune the level of bass slam (too close they boom) while the correct amount of toe-in helps the imaging and transparency. The interesting thing is having lived with them for 4 years or so I always get really irritated when I move them to review other loudspeakers and then when I put them back into what I think is the original position I usually find they’re somehow not quite “on song”. It drives me nuts when I know I am only hearing them performing at 90% of what they are capable of…
It then usually takes me a couple of days of constant fettling to get them just right again!!
Quite honestly the frustration that this causes makes me very reluctant to ever review speakers lest I shall have to move them out of position again…
JonathanG
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You are right it is frustrating when you move them, in my case for spring cleaning and they don’t go back in exactly the right position.
Experience has taught me, that a tape measure and careful measuring of both sides of the speaker is my way of keeping them in the optimum position. And of course, you need to remember where you placed the measurements for safekeeping.
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What do you think of the wall mount 40s? I seem to recall a picture of you with them in the background.
Exact same problem I experience!
Gary
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Hi Snarfy,
I have never heard them so can’t comment although ATC assure me that sonically they are equivalent to standard 40’s. If you’ve seen me with them it must be my doppelganger!! My gut feel says though that you’re bound to lose image depth simply because all speakers do when placed up against a wall.
But I’d love a pair for rear channels in the home cinema!
JonathanG
One thing that I have done to mine nowadays is put them on Townshend Seismic platforms and at first I wasn’t sure I liked the way they reduced the tonal warmth, rendering poorly recorded albums less listanable. On the other hand the increased articulation and delineation was incredibly compelling on better recordings. There’s just zero overhang on those platforms - the ATC’s are incredibly fast anyway, but sound even faster on Seismic Podiums. I did have to move them back towards the wall though to slightly augment the bass (because on podiums they are no longer driving the floor). Certainly worth trying if you can do so on a sale or return basis. The podiums by eliminating the spikes also have the added benefit of making them much easier to move around for precise optimisation - you can literally drag them across the carpet (with care).
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Masking tape on the carpet pre move, jobs a good un.
I found the Audio-stack Auva’s performed better to my ears than the podiums I had and a little easier on the eye plus I have more room to accommodate my subs.
You can get them on a sale or return basis so a worthy experiment.
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