I found that imaging and focus improved with deep toe-in (tweeters facing your ears). In a smallish room, the ~60Hz lower response is deceiving as the bass is surprisingly deep and full and has no added artifacts due to the sealed box design. I tried ATC 12 SCM with analogue source and all tube gear (45W/Channel 300B/805 SET) and got glorious mid range and very good response top to bottom with slight softening/roundness in the bottom end (not objectionable though). Personally I find most solid state amps to sound a bit dry and not as holographic and/or emotionally involving as some tube designs, especially compared to SET's and OTL's. What if you like push-pull tube amp amps, let alone SET amps? (A2 SET, not your flee powered ones). I wondered about ATC's philosophy re active Vs. Try all the free stuff like proper placement before spending money though. They're very similar to Totem Mani-2s in that they deceivingly need huge power behind them for such a small speaker. ATC's integrated amp is a perfect match if you can afford it. If you shove a rocket up their backside, the ATCs will come alive in a spooky way. Bringing my B60 into the shop for a demo saved me some money and aggravation. I thought they matched price wise and, and both had that studio honesty sound to them. I almost made the mistake of buying a pair of SCM11s to pair up with my Bryston B60. Then I heard them bi-amped with Naim monoblocks and totally got what they're all about. The first time I heard ATCs, all I thought was why does anyone like these things. If you use lesser amplification, they're flat, dull and boring. If you use an amp like the Bryston 4BSST, they'll sound magical. ATC's entry level speakers are deceiving in that they entice people to use budget amplification with them. The Maven is just not to their level IMO.
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