For listeners who are looking for high-quality bookshelf speakers with award-winning sonic performances, the ATC SCM11 is one of the top choices to go for. They are sanely priced stand-mounters and also highly praised solid performers, able to satisfy even the discerning critics. As remarkable as the ATC SCM11 bookshelf speakers are, they do have their own limitations.
The SCM11 recommended amplifier power is up to 300 Watts which is really high for a bookshelf speaker at this price point. Feeding these stand-mounters with high-powered and matching amplifiers will be recommended so as to unlock their full potential. Not to mention, the ATC SCM11 has very low speaker sensitivity, it is at 85dB and you will need the power to drive them to certain volume levels. These are amazing bookshelf speakers with incredible agility and transparency. ATC SCM11 could easily bring out the emotion and a massive amount of details from the music with impeccable timing.
There is energy in its music delivery but the speakers lack punch and this is due to the sealed cabinet design. This does affect the impact of the crescendo and the prominence of deep bass reproductions. Even though the bass is not as pronounced and deep as some other ported design bookshelf speakers in the same price range, the ATC SCM11 low-end accuracy is still top-notch. The bass delivery has details, texture, and tautness. These worked really well with the upper registers and the overall sound reproduction is seamless where the lower frequencies don’t overwhelm the higher frequencies in any way.
If you prefer your stereo system to have higher bass output and be capable of digging deep into the subsonic bass region then perhaps adding an active subwoofer will be a good idea. By integrating a powered subwoofer, it will help supplement the overall bass performance of your stereo sound system and deliver the subsonic bass frequencies which the ATC SCM11 speakers are not really capable of. Finding a matching sub is important and so are your subwoofer requirements.
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Your Subwoofer Requirements
For ATC SCM11, we highly recommend going with sealed subwoofers as they are more agile and articulate enough to keep pace with these sealed stand-mounters. Sealed cabinet subwoofers are capable of producing bass more accurately than ported subs in the same price range. We will also suggest going with subwoofer brands that specialize in designing high-quality subwoofers and you might want to start working on your budget. If you are having tight budget constraints currently, maybe you would like to take some more time to save up so as to get a high-performance subwoofer instead of a sub that compromises the bass quality.
You will need a larger and more powerful subwoofer if you are trying to fill a medium to large size listening room. This will usually cost more and use up more of your space. If room space is a luxury, you can go for a compact sealed subwoofer and still able to deliver amazing bass performance but such subs would be costlier though. For listeners who also use ATC SCM11 to watch movies and only require a subwoofer for HT use, a ported subwoofer will be a better option due to its higher bass output and max SPL which will provide its users a more exhilarating home cinematic experience.
The potential subwoofer will take up a permanent spot in your listening/HT room, you might want to take some time to find out if you need the space for other kinds of stuff like your furniture, HiFi audio components, etc. You may want to discuss this with your loved ones who are living together with you. These are just some of the usual subwoofer requirements to seriously consider, and you should find out more on your own too. When you are ready, please check out the best subwoofers to match with the ATC SCM11 stand-mounters below.
Best Subwoofers to match with ATC SCM11
The Rythmik Audio F12SE is an award-winning sealed subwoofer and is one of the top choices to go for. This 12″ sealed subwoofer is designed and made for audiophiles who want high bass quality. The low-end delivery is agile and articulate, keeping pace nicely with the ATC SCM11 bookshelf speakers. It is also fast and powerful, able to dig deep into the bass extension of down to 14Hz (-2dB), bringing out the subterranean low frequencies with control and finesse. This is a well-matched sealed subwoofer for your ATC SCM11 speakers.
If you are looking for a compact subwoofer without compromise, the high-end JL Audio Fathom f110v2 is an ideal choice for you. This is a 10″ sealed subwoofer with a beautiful black gloss finish and will pair nicely with the ATC SCM11. The JL Audio Fathom f110v2 has a peak power output of 1100 Watts and can dig down to 19Hz (-10dB) which is really impressive for a subwoofer of this size. The very deep bass reproductions are prominent and have weight but don’t lose control and are tightly delivered as well.
The Ken Kreisel DXD-808 will be another amazing subwoofer for listeners who are facing space constraints. The slim design of the DXD-808 will enable you to fit it into tight places. It may have a small footprint but inside the sealed cabinet, the Ken Kreisel DXD-808 has two 8″ drivers. The dual drivers are able to deliver down to 15Hz bass frequencies with finesse, precision, and speed. Making the ATC SCM11 sound like a full-range speaker. The nimble bass reproductions are well-textured and accurate too.
ATC C1 Sub Mk2 is one of the best subwoofers to match with the ATC SCM11 stand-mounters. Not only they are made by the same company, but the ATC C1 Sub Mk2 is also designed to be an ideal subwoofer partner for the SCM11 speakers. They have similar sound signatures, providing us with seamless overall sound reproduction. The C1 Sub Mk2 uses a Class A/B amplifier which drives up to 200 Watts of power into the 12″ driver. It could reach down to 25Hz (-6dB) and if you are an ATC fan, this sub will certainly be worth your time to audition.
For listeners who can’t decide to go for a ported or sealed model, the SVS PB-2000 Pro will be a great option for you and your ATC SCM11. This is a highly-rated ported subwoofer and comes with a powerful built-in Sledge STA-550D amplifier which provides a peak power of up to 1500+ Watts. The 12″ ported sub has a frequency response of 16Hz-290Hz (+/-3dB) and when in “Sealed” mode, the frequency response is 17Hz-290Hz (+/-3dB). For such a high-performance sub, the SVS PB-2000 Pro is sanely priced and is worth every penny invested.
More Information at Amazon – SVS PB-2000 Pro Ported Subwoofer
Rythmik Audio E22 will be an excellent choice for listeners who need to fill a bigger listening room with immense sonic energy but don’t want the subwoofer to take up too much floor space. The E22 is a dual 12″ driver sealed audiophile subwoofer where both drivers are front-firing. It may have two subwoofer drivers but the Rythmik Audio E22 is still able to keep up with the ATC SCM11 speakers, thanks to their Direct Servo technology. This sealed subwoofer has 800 Watts of RMS power and has an outstanding frequency response of 14Hz-200Hz (-2dB).
To Sum It Up
If you prefer ported subwoofers but do not want to compromise the accuracy and precision, we will suggest checking out studio-grade powered subs. Going with the sealed cabinet subwoofers which are listed here will be ideal enough and we recommend that you audition them together with your ATC SCM11 stand-mounters first. By auditioning the potential subwoofer, you will be able to find out if the bass performance and quality are what you are looking for.
