Read the write up from the Awards Issue of the magazine in this PDF. Alternatively, read the detailed review from last year here in this PDF.
The 2020 Hi-Fi+ Awards Issue is available now. Please visit the Hi-Fi+ Website for details.
Concluding, Jay writes, “…you will be treated to textured low-frequencies delivered with conviction and realism, a midband of clarity and focus, and smooth yet mustard-keen tweeter. Overall then, whether you choose this system because of its size, build-quality, performance, and/or country of origin, you’ll not regret auditioning it one bit. Catch it if you can.”
Jay Garrett, Stereonet, March 2020
You can read the review in full via the Stereonet Website
In music, timing is everything. The same could be said about the making of the album “Songs I Love”. ATC founder, Billy Woodman, an accomplished pianist and arranger, originally from Australia knew his relative, Gemma Sherry was into Jazz but it wasn’t until recently that their musical lives coincided.
In his early 20’s Billy made his way to England from Australia as a pianist on a cruise ship. This was followed by many years of touring and performing with some of the biggest name vocalists in England. Gemma, who is from a small town in outback Australia, started off playing saxophone in numerous jazz bands. After being accepted into music school she moved to New York City to study Jazz singing.
Gemma and Billy’s first musical encounter was when she was a teenager and during one of Billy’s trips back to Australia to visit his family, however it would be another 10 years before they began discussing the idea of making an album together. The original concept was to capture all of the musical talent in the family by including Gemma’s brother Jacob Sherry, an accomplished bassist. However with the family split between Australia, the U.S. and the U.K. this was very difficult and it wasn’t until 2019 that Gemma was able to sit down with Billy and bass player, Mike Waite to record a full album at Yellow Shark Recording Studios in Cheltenham, England, with none other than award winning New Zealand born engineer Clint Murphy behind the mixing desk.
This inspiration for this album was to showcase some of the most beautiful jazz songs that have ever been written. Billy & Gemma both have the same approach in that they believe the songs should be allowed to speak for themselves. It’s the subtlety in the music that shines and you can hear that from both Billy’s playing and Gemma’s singing. Their treatment of the melody and chords is with care and thought. Billy’s arrangement of all the songs shows his deep love for piano voicings and getting them, ‘just right’. He is an absolute perfectionist and you can hear that. Even if you didn’t know they were related, it’s hard to miss the effortless musical connection between Billy and Gemma as you listen to the album. There is such an understanding between the both of them. It also helped that Billy and Mike Waite have been playing together for over 20 years, having weekly jam sessions and rehearsals.
With a wide range of influences including legends such as Bill Evans, Kenny Barron, Blossom Dearie and Astrud Gilberto, the album ”Songs I Love” is a treasure.
The album was mastered by Ryan Smith at the new Sterling Sound facility in Nashville, TN, USA who employ ATC monitoring throughout their new facilities.
The album is available now from Gemma’s Bandcamp page. If you would like information on upcoming gigs, please visit www.gemmasherry.com
Clint Murphy Productions. Yellow Shark Studios. Sterling Sound Mastering.
Rahiel Nasir, The Ear, December 2019.
Rear the review in full here on, The Ear Website.
Based in Glyfada in the South of Athens, Audio Soul Ultra is run by Anestis Koulis and George Kopsaftopoulos. Their shop features a spacious showroom and very well appointed demo rooms, suited to a wide range of systems and price points.
Audio Soul Ultra have a very wide range of ATC products available, from the compact SCM7 through to the mighty SCM100, active & passive and with ATC’s range of partnering electronics.
Audio Soul Ultra
5 Dousmani Str.,
Glyfada, 16675
Athens, Greece.
Phone: +30 2103839399
Email: info@audiosoulultra.gr
Website: audiosoulultra.gr
Faithful to the signal, a new C1 subwoofer design will generate deeper, cleaner bass in the sub-£2000 market.
Built to provide a dynamic low-distortion bass foundation for ATC’s Entry Series speakers, its C1C and C3C centre speakers, HTS Series on-wall speakers and all but the largest satellite speaker systems, the new C1 Sub Mk 2 is a compact real wood veneered design, incorporating a hand-built 12” (314mm) ATC bass driver and a fully discrete ATC 200W MOSFET power amplifier.
Designed for both music and cinema applications and replacing the Mk1 version, the new C1 Sub promises a quality of low frequency reproduction that belies its price point. The re-engineered design incorporates ATC’s customarily transparent circuits boosted by larger power supplies, the latest ATC grounded-source 200 watt Class A/B discrete MOSFET power module and improved overload protection circuitry (with front-panel indicator) for greater control at full output. The low-pass filter circuits have been comprehensively re-worked to facilitate the best possible integration with partnering speakers from ATC and other manufacturers.
Controls include a continuously variable low pass filter, a continuously variable all-pass filter and polarity switch, speaker level L/R inputs, independent L/R RCA line inputs and a summed line output RCA connector to facilitate the daisy-chaining of multiple subwoofers.
The C1 Sub is available now in four real wood finishes: Cherry, Black Ash, Satin Black, Satin White to match Entry Series speakers, centre speakers and HTS Series on-wall products. The recommended UK retail price is £1650 (inc. VAT).
Enhanced by ATC’s traditionally robust engineering and scrupulous attention to detail, the new C1 Sub Mk2 active subwoofer will generate a reliably accurate performance over a very long life, backed by ATC’s standard six year warranty.
C1 Sub Mk2 Specifications
Driver 12” / 314mm LF Cut Off (-6dB) 25Hz Max SPL 103dB Amplifier output 200W User Controls Gain, Low Pass Frequency, Polarity, Phase Inputs Stereo High Level Binding Posts & Stereo Line Level RCA/Phono Outputs Mono Summed Line Level RCA/Phono Dimensions (HxWxD) 450 x 360 x 400 mm / 17.72" x 14.17" x 15.75" (inc. feet and heatsink) Weight 26.2kg / 57.64lbs
Just like the passive version, the SCM50ASL has been awarded a coveted, ‘Hi-Fi Critic Audio Excellence’ award.
“Like the ATC SCM 50 PL passive version reviewed last year, the SCM50 ASL also squarely hits the HIFICRITIC Audio Excellence level for sheer all round ability, and not least on grounds of a that truly massive dynamic range delivered by this active version.”
Martin Colloms, Hi-Fi Critic, September 2019
You can read the review in full or download the PDF here: ATC SCM50ASL Review Hi-Fi Critic
To find out more about Hi-Fi Critic, the UK’s only advert free, independent audio review magazine, visit the Hi-Fi Critic Website
Reviewer, Andrew Everard writes:
“Above all, it’s the integration of this set-up that’s its most appealing aspect. The drivers in the SCM7 work together seamlessly, the amplifier has more than enough power, control and definition to ensure they behave themselves without holding back on musical flow and even the CD player makes a very strong case for the continued existence of the silver disc.”
“Buy it for its solidity, its style or even the ‘all made in Britain’ thing: however you look at this ATC system, it’s remarkable value for money.”
Read the review in full on, Gramophone Website
Located on Bridge St, just of Deansgate in the city centre, the shop is close to parking, Salford Central Station and the tram. The shop stocks a wide range of products covering both Hi-Fi and Home Cinema and also offers installation. As well as a large showroom, there are two comfortable listening rooms on the 2nd floor where you can listen in a relaxed environment.
Pop in to see Dave, Munir & Mike and see hear what ATC can bring to your system!
Audio T Manchester, 63 Bridge Street, Manchester, M3 3BQ.
Tel: 0161 839 8869
Email: manchester@audio-t.co.uk
The brand’s speakers and drive units continue to be made in the UK under the watchful eye of Australian born Billy Woodman and his son William Woodman alongside a very experienced technical, design and management team all based in Gloucestershire, two hours west of London.
Warwick Freemantle, Managing Director of Pure Music Group: “Pure Music Group has long admired the ATC products and brand based on their no-nonsense design ethos focussed on pure engineering excellence and impeccable craftsmanship of every important element of a great loudspeaker”.
ATC has a strong presence in recording studios globally, including reference monitor duties in the premier rooms and mastering suites such as the brand new Sterling Sound Mastering facilities in New York and Nashville.
Warwick continued: “In a time when high-end audio is seeing more and more boutique products on the market with increasingly high price tags, we are thrilled to be partnering with a manufacturer who’s ultimate goal remains first-class sound, but delivering products at real-world prices within reach of any dedicated music lover, without sacrificing on quality or craftsmanship.”
Pure Music Group plans to appoint several key dealers across Australia and reinvigorate the ATC brand locally.
For further info:
Pure Music Group, Unit 32, 461 St. Kilda Rd, Melbourne 3004, Australia.
Email: info@puremusicgroup.com
Phone: 0409 504 805
Web: https://www.puremusicgroup.com/
Acoustic Streams are Cornwall’s premier Hi-Fi retailer and specialise in high quality British products. Their product range has been very carefully put together over the past ten years and they only sell equipment that is of the highest quality whether it be top of the range or entry level, performance and build quality is paramount.
Their showroom, just off the A30 at Crowlas, features full demo facilities; designed to replicate the home environment allowing our customers to get hands-on with products before making any decisions. The shop boasts onsite parking and a welcoming atmosphere.
Acoustic Streams, 3 Pensans, Rospeath Lane, Crowlas, Penzance, Cornwall, TR20 8DU
T: 01736 741580
E: info@acousticstreams.com
W: www.acousticstreams.com
ATC will be providing SCM100SE active loudspeakers for the event and ATC technical staff will be on hand to answer any questions you have.
The system on demonstration on the day will be.
For more information please visit The Audiobarn website.
ATC are delighted to announce that Tom Tom Audio have added ATC to their stable of iconic British Hi-Fi manufacturers with a full range of ATC models available for demonstration at their facility in St Albans, Hertfordshire.For further information or to arrange a demonstration, please contact James or Henry.
Tom Tom Audio ‘Purveyors of iconic British Hi-Fi’
Tel: 01727 810047 | email: tunes@tomtomaudio.co.uk | Tom Tom Audio Website
