Listening to the ATC C4
Contents
What matters in the end, of course, is: how does the ATC C4 MK2 sound? That is still quite difficult to put into words properly. The reason, is that it’s more about feeling, rather than something you actually hear.
Of course you feel that the low end takes on a little more power. And of course we hear a little more happening below 50 Hz. But honestly, none of that is that exciting, because with the bulk of music, not that much happens below 50 Hz. We’re talking rock, singer songwriter, jazz, etc. Of course, this is different with Trip Hop and house, for example. Make no mistake in classical music where acoustics play a major role! There is quite a bit of low-frequency energy there too.
Scale
What is the biggest difference, however, is the scale. The system just seems to play bigger: wider, deeper and higher. And isn’t scale something we’re all constantly working on? Isn’t that what we’re doing with cables, power and all kinds of tweaks?
What’s nice is that, apart from the increase in scale, there’s not very much noticeable. Except, of course, that there’s a big subwoofer on the right side of the room. Anyway: we’ve already talked about that.
This “vanishing trick” seems obvious, but it’s not. Lots of subwoofers remain audible. That seems nice at first, but it definitely starts to bother. Especially if you constantly have to get up from the couch to adjust the volume or phase. A good subwoofer you adjust once and then you can stay away from it. Regardless of the song you put on or the source you are using.
The ATC C4 MK2 certainly knows how to do that. And frankly, you should expect that for 5260 Euros. That is simply a serious amount of money… Anyway: this sub also performs seriously well.
The elephant…
Let’s talk for a moment about the elephant in the room: no DSP. This has advantages and disadvantages. A DSP often causes some delay. That can cause a timing mismatch with the main speakers. This certainly used to be the case and the reason your author often avoided subwoofers.
One advantage is that a decently programmable subwoofer – provided everything goes well – is often a lot easier to get right, than a subwoofer that does not provide the option to be programmed. After all: you put the subwoofer where you want it, run through the set-up and usually everything sounds fine afterwards. It doesn’t get any easier.
ATC deliberately did not opt for a DSP solution. Purely due to the fact that it can cause timing problems. From a studio perspective, it simply cannot be used. Many studios are also acoustically treated, making it unnecessary. In many a living room it is necessary…. but that can be worked around! (Although your author didn’t need it)
Many preamplifiers with digital inputs also have a sub-output with crossover capabilities and sometimes also a piece of processing. NAD, for example, provides Dirac with some models. Anthem has processing, Lyngdorf idem. In short: there are now other ways to use DSP processing.
This ATC C4 MK2 subwoofer is fantastic! It delivers deep, powerful bass that enhances any audio setup. https://www.intrasonictechnology.com/speakers/sub-woofers/
Indeed!
I admit I have very little knowledge as to use of subwoofer. In your test set up pic of system I note the subwoofer is positioned away from the system at right angles, I don’t understand how the sound from the subwoofer can integrate with the ATC 40A speakers….? Would not the sound come away from one direction, or do subwoofers haves some magical way of integrating into the sound with out having to face the listener?
Low frequencies have no direction. Not like midrange or treble that can even form some sort of beam. Every room has an optimal position in terms of a subwoofer. This was a good spot in my room. In line with the speakers is – most of the time – optimal. But that was not possible in this case.
I have a couple of JL Audio e-110 subs that I used with the SCM40A and now the SCM50 ASLT’s. Because of my living room’s layout (and following one reviewer in TAS), I’ve stationed the subs alongside the mains. On the advice of ATC, I set the subs’ crossovers at ~48Hz and 40Hz, respectively and, like yours, Phase=0. I’ve also let the ATC’s run full range. One thing I found important for sound quality, at least with a wood foundation, was to get the subs off the floor, initially with short phenolic board platforms using AV Room Service EVP’s and now with custom 15″ cubic stands on Isoacoustic Gaia II’s. I found that sacrifices a bit of deep bass for greater overall clarity. The other (ironic) thing is that in the process of setting up the subs, I asked the advice of an ATC honcho, who while making the xover suggestions mentioned, was at the same time adamantly opposed to using subs with either model. He wrote that not only were subs unnecessary with these speakers, but also that he’d not heard a sub, including ATC’s own(!), which melded well with their speakers.
I have to agree that it is very hard to get a good sub with the ATC’s. The C1 didn’t work out at all… but this C4 is pretty nice! 🙂