British loudspeaker specialist ATC has launched the SCM45A Pro, an all- new high-performance loudspeaker for studio monitoring.

While the SCM45A Pro is a new design, it shares many features with the smaller SCM25A Pro three-way, compact active loudspeaker. As a mid-size, three-way design that can be used in close- or mid-field positions, the SCM45A Pro fills a gap in ATC’s studio monitor range. It has high output and delivers extended low frequency for its size without compromising the balance for which ATC is known.

Like the SCM25A Pro, the SCM45A Pro is an active three-way design with a linear response across the critical midrange, as well as across the rest of the audible frequency range. In contrast to the SCM25A Pro, the SCM45A Pro features a second woofer for deeper bass response and increased SPL, as well as ATC’s new proprietary dual-suspension tweeter – the first to be designed and built by the company, and the result of six years of research and development by ATC MD Billy Woodman and R&D Engineer Richard Newman – for increased resolution in the top end.

‘Anybody who knows ATC will recognise that we very rarely release a completely new loudspeaker model,’ Newman says. ‘All of our products have a very long history, each evolving to become what they are today.

‘The SCM45A Pro is especially exciting since not only is it a completely new addition to the range, but it’s also the first ATC three-way professional monitor to incorporate our new high-performance SH25-76S dual-suspension tweeter. It also incorporates a new variant of our existing SB50-164 short-coil bass driver, which we designed and engineered specifically to operate in a parallel wired pair. Given that the efficiency of our three-way models is essentially set by the bass driver, the larger combined radiating area of the two 6.5-inch bass drivers increases system efficiency, putting less demand on each individual bass driver and reducing drive unit excursion for a given SPL and low-frequency response. This results in further reduced non-linear distortions in the bass drivers’ 20Hz to 380Hz operating band. With the addition of our renowned hand-built, soft dome midrange and the new SH25-76S dual-suspension tweeter, the drive units in the loudspeaker constitute a formidable trio.’

Those drive units are powered by ATC’s proprietary active Tri-AmpPack, a three-channel discrete Mosfet class-A/B design with 150W, 60W and 25W for the bass, mid, and high frequency ranges, respectively. The SCM45A Pro is physically symmetrical rather than mirror imaged, and is suitably sized for placement on or behind a console meter bridge. It is suited, therefore, to positioning as a centre speaker between other SCM45A Pros and also ATC’s SCM50ASL Pro three-way active loudspeakers.

‘Every aspect of the loudspeaker has been laboured over – from the drive units and amplifier design to the cabinet,’ concludes Newman. ’The result is a compact, yet high-performance professional monitor worthy of taking its place in our professional monitor range.’