The SCM100SL is the passive three-way model of ATC's Classic Series, a large stand-mounted monitor built around the company's Super Linear bass driver and its soft dome midrange. ATC designed it for use with hi-fi electronics, supplies it per pair with dedicated stands, and also makes the same cabinet as the active SCM100ASL.
Key specs that matter
The drive units comprise a 25 mm tweeter, a 75 mm soft dome midrange and a 314 mm Super Linear woofer, divided by a passive crossover at 380 Hz and 3.5 kHz. Across 65 Hz to 17 kHz the amplitude stays within 2 dB either way, with the minus 6 dB points at 35 Hz and 22 kHz. Left and right speakers of each pair are matched within 0.5 dB. Sensitivity is 88 dB for 1 W at 1 m into a nominal 8 ohm load, and maximum continuous output is 115 dB SPL at 1 m. The cabinet measures 834 x 400 x 530 mm, height first, and the stands add 200 mm of height. Weight is 52.1 kg per speaker including the stand.
Engineering and use context
ATC specifies coherent dispersion of plus or minus 80 degrees horizontally and plus or minus 10 degrees vertically. The midrange is ATC's SM75-150S soft dome unit, which covers the midband on its own, and the same midrange is used in the smaller SCM50 ASL. The bass unit is a professional driver built with ATC's Super Linear Magnet technology, which gives the SL suffix of the model name. The enclosure is ported, and later revisions of the design brought an upgraded tweeter and a reworked port profile. ATC states that the passive version keeps broad and symmetrical dispersion with consistent amplitude and phase characteristics over the full frequency range. Signal enters through binding posts that take 4 mm banana plugs. Each pair ships with its stands, fabric-wrapped grilles, spikes and nuts. As standard, buyers choose from four real wood veneers, namely cherry, walnut, oak or black ash, or from satin paint in black or white. Rosewood, crown cut European walnut, pippy oak, burr magnolia, burr poplar and high gloss lacquers cost extra.
Pairing
ATC recommends a power amplifier rated between 100 and 1500 W for this speaker. Owners who would rather not select an amplifier can pick the active SCM100ASL, where each bass, mid and treble unit has its own individually matched MOSFET amplifier behind an electronically balanced active crossover input with high common mode rejection.
Alternatives
In the same Classic Series ATC also builds the compact SCM20 stand-mount.