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In Reply to: Harbeth Compact 7es versus ATC SCM 10 and 20 posted by DkB on September 16, 2001 at 23:17:33:
Harbeth Compact 7es is NOT a 'studio monitor', it comes from the Hi Fi line. The studio monitor comparable to ATC is Monitor series (20 and 40).Between Compact 7 vs. ATC, SCM20 will have lower distortion, less box sound (the weight is nearly doubled), typical ATC high quality midrange (ATC SCM20 is a 3-way 2 drivers, with a real dome midrange integrated in the woofer assembly). Again, not fair considering that Compact 7 targets home use, and SCM20 is for studio.
SCM10 is not recommended due to 80dB efficiency. Unless you have a 300W/Ch amp to your disposal. The sound quality is equivalent, but majority of amp cannot drive it adequately.
The Harbeth Monitor series are equivalent to ATC, but it will be a close call and personal preference. ATC is heavier, still, but Harbeth Monitor series are not easier to drive, actually having a difficult impedance drop. Dome midrange in ATC may have a nicer dispersion vs. the Harbeth Radial midrange.
It is also easier to get a good deal on used ATC, but not many used Harbeth monitors around.
Follow Ups:
Nothing "boxy" about it. You seem to be pontificating here on the basis of assumptions about the designs. The Harbeths use a thin-walled lossy box cabinet. That doesnt give them a "boxy" sound. The notion that the Harbeth Monitor series is somehow better than the Compact 7 is silly. You have to listen to them to decide for yourself.DKB: I understand that the ATC's are outstanding, world class monitors (as are the Harbeth Compact 7's). Here's hoping someone who has heard both can answer you. If not, Alastair Gardner in the UK (www.uk.signals.com, I think) carries both brands and is a good source of info. If you think you might buy ATC's, email him for info.
Just curious if you have heard the Compact 7es, because boxiness is not a quality I associate with it. Likewise, your comment about the midrange.
Perhaps you haven't heard any ATC properly setup. The midrange is comparable to Quad 63 but with better disperson on my SCM50, then again, ATC can play 10x louder than Quad (which will arc and die at that volume).I am more familiar with Monitor 40, which is supposedly 'best' Harbeth. It has a much lighter box than ATC, which is 1" thick, 2" front baffle, both side veneered.
Everthing is relative of course....
I con cur with your thoughts.
However, SCM 10 can be driven sufficiently even with 100W stereo integrated in a small room.I used to drive 'em with JRDG Concentra as well as currently, they are driven by EAD's Powermaster ( 100w multi channel amp )
One more thing, i was told the SMC10 does not use their 'super linear' drivers.
Perhaps, that's one of the reasons, you get clearer midrange off the SCM20.
Indeed the smallest ATC with SL magnet is the 20, but SL is only affecting 300Hz and below. Between SL and non-SL, the SL sounded typically cleaner and more transparent in the bass. But non-SL actually sounded warmer and richer, perhaps aided by the harmonic distortion that complements the music.In my experience, the SCM-20 can be adquately driven by 200W Mark Levinson 23.5, given the efficiency of SCM-10 is only 80dB (4dB drop), I would assume that I need 300W to drive SCM-10! Certainly upgrading from 10 to 20 is cheaper than upgrading the ML power amp from 200W to 300W...
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