Arj always love new audio sites. Good time pass! Did you notice that this guy’s room was very reverberant? See the lingering sound after he finishes a sentence. It’s become a habit - I listen to rooms a lot (including clicking fingers in strangers houses - eeks.)
Vineetrad, one thing for sure is that I think ATC are speakers that can be sold second hand in decent quick time and generally good reviews except the aforementioned ASR. I think that too merits considerations. Proac too, but a google search will give decent amount of positive hits for SCM 19.
And as some may know from my past posts, go Harbeth go Spendor. And I think you hit the nail on the head - those speakers do better with naturally played and recorded instruments (vocals, orchestra and jazz) but don’t have that excitement with say electric guitars - and then comes the other set with trade offs. I have heard the ATCs and liked them, but not enough to buy yet.
Talk to Sidvee (or perhaps he can post here, let me nudge him) - including comments on upstream components- he has owned ATC and now the small Spendors.
To be honest I never noticed that and really kudos on catching it ! His reviews look really balanced and his knowledge seems to be apparently very good since he did have a piece on speaker placement as well hence would like to give him the benefit of the doubt and assume that he has set it up well !
I am personally never sure of speakers from just a couple of reviews or even having heard them since have seen Amplifier, room , placement and even "ear" preferences really give so many different opinions as a personal experience !
Harbeths, Spendor, ATC and Proac are classic British Hifi still quite different from each other , although it may be argued that Harbeth/Spendor more like each other but still different as harbeth is relatively more forgiving.
Personally have been exposed to each of these for a really long time in terms of knowing people who like these, reading about them and hering them occasionally as well that there could be an opinion that I do have formed over the many years but I do believe each of these are musical in their own way but needs to be paired setup accordingly as well
If i allowed to ramble albeit a bit more concisely, I would summarize them as below..and each of us may have different views as well
Harbeth: the most forgiving and very easy to drive but needs to be kept closer to the walls and in an open frame stand. can sound good with any amplifier or source but better the quality the better it sounds. Midrange is what this speaker is all about.
Spendor, a little more resolving in harmonics, needs slightly more careful placement and better partnered with neutral-warm sounding amps and at least a mid fi level source. Bass and midrange are their strengths.
Proac: Needs careful placement and a really heavy stand for the bass to really stand out and best with neutral amps. can be very musical and resolving . needs more power than the above 2 to really shine and the source needs to be good.
ATC: Perhaps the most resolving with a bass to die for but needs very careful placement and pairing with their own stands to really get it right. The actives are at a higher level since the crossover distortion is removed but need the right pre amp and a high quality source. if you dont get the source/amplification and placement right these can go the other way ! the most used in recording/mastering studios among the above.
I hate generalisations and have been guilty of the same above..and the above do vary as per their models as well so the above may be more relevant to the initial entry level models than the top of the line like the Harbeth monitors etc