So I’ve nearly sold my entire 552 based system. The time felt right to do this as it was a silly amount of money to have tied up in 8 boxes on Fraim and a TT. Although I loved it I have no regrets and the money can be more usefully used. I’m keeping the P10 and the Core and will audition a Uniti Atom HE with a pair of active stand mounts, starting with the PMC 2025 21i and the ATC Active 20s. I will also listen to the new Rega AOS phono stage. I note that the options on Active speakers seems relatively limited so if anyone has alternatives to these I’d be interested to learn of them as well as whether the atom he is a good fit for the ATCs.
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I would think the Atom HE and ATC active 20s would be a great match as would the PMC 21 actives. I have the Atom HE and ATC SCM40A in different systems but have had them playing together and it sounded great.
Other active speaker options are out there but some don’t adopt the same approach as ATC and PMC and build additional features into the speakers such as streaming or room correction, examples are Dynaudio Focus and Kii, both worth checking out.
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Our friend @Farthings-cat uses an HE with ATC 20As and is very happy with the combination. I have, as I’m sure you are aware, an HE with the PMC 21i. The HE is, when compared with a 222 without power supply, pretty much on a level and therefore represents something of a bargain. The sheer quality of sound you can get from the little HE and a pair of actives is really quite something, and I’m sure you’ll be delighted with it. I’ve had various bigger systems including 552 and other stuff and don’t miss it at all. The ATCs are a lot bigger than the PMCs and it’s really a matter of personal choice. The ATCs seem to be having their moment on the Forum sun, but do give the little PMCs a chance, they are really very good.
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Thanks. I look forward to hearing both combinations. Has anyone heard the new Rega AOS yet?
I have ATC 40 Actives. I recently sold my Chord Dave which I’d been using in Preamp/ Dac mode, For a T+A DAC 200.. It is shockingly good . Great DAC and better still is how amazing the analog Preamp is. It has an Analog input for say a phono and multiple digital inputs and both balanced and single ended outputs. Just my opinion
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I really shouldn’t subscribe but I will…..
I came close to the active 20s last year but on inspection (not yet demoed) they were too big for my snug…
Please let us know how your auditions go….
Looks nice. Interesting if it can be pared with a phono stage as I’m keen to restrict this to two boxes max including the phono stage. Assume you’d also need a separate streamer with the T&A?
I helped a friend into an Atom with PMC twenty5 22i. and was very surprised how good that combo was, so can imagine how good an Atom HE into active PMCs will be.
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I’m surprised at the popularity of ATCs as there are several reports of them being poor at low volumes. This seems to apply to both actives and passives.
I don’t find that at all with the active 20s.
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Thy are not poor at low volume; but the lack of compression and sheer clarity at higher volumes just encourages one to push them more than perhaps is ‘normal’ for domestic speakers?
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This is exactly what I found in a demo I had a week ago with the PMCs (Atom HE and 2025 23i). I was hoping the ATCs would not be lacklustre at low volume. With the PMC set up I had to turn the volume up to 65 to feel anything. Now, this may have been to do with the demo room but I was not particularly impressed. I’ll still listen to the 21i and I’d like to hear the 22i but apparently there are none of them available to demo which is odd…
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Perhaps listen to an atom HE / NSS222 and a NC250 with other speakers if choice is restricted with actives?
Or even a Nait 50… you might be surprised…..
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I do want to get away from multiple boxes and any ability to upgrade/ add boxes as I’ve done all that. I want simplicity provided it sounds ok. I know it won’t sound as spectacular as my previous 8 box rig and that’s fine.
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Correct it has one analog input for phono.
It’s interesting how unique the Atom HE seems to be in that it is streamer, pre amp with balanced XLR outputs for active speakers and accommodates a phono input for vinyl. All in a half size box. I can’t see any other equivalent products with all of those features.
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Thats new to me..
It accommodates one but doesn’t include one, which may be the source of confusion, ie you can connect a phono stage to the RCA inputs.
I’ve never heard ATC’s but it’s certainly true of many amp/speaker combinations that playing at low volume can lead to the sound becoming somewhat distant and lacking in presence and dynamics. The sound seems to collapse and recede into the speaker boxes. As one increases the volume there comes a distinct point where suddenly everything seems to spring into life. Active speakers tend to be less prone to this. But this is active in the sense of no passive crossover in the speakers and a power amp for each driver. These days the term ‘active’ refers usually to speakers having on-board power amplification, though the separate amp for each drive unit may still apply of course.
I don’t find ATCs “poor” at low volumes at all. It’s just that they perform that magical disappearing act at more realistic (but not high) volumes: the speakers just disappear and the illusion of musicians in the room becomes so convincing.
Actually I don’t find ATC, or PMC come to that, particularly unusual in that respect. My little Neat Iotas have the same characteristics. Indeed, every speakers I’ve heard that sounded good at low volumes became intolerable to my ears when the wick was turned up. It’s largely a consequence of how human hearing works at different volume levels.
Roger
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