The test setup
Contents
We combined the ATC C4 MK2 with the ATC SCM40A. These are your author’s “private speakers”. So the ATC C4 MK2 is simply taken along in our daily life. Watching TV, movies, series, music … everything comes along. So an excellent test to determine how this C4 behaves!
We determined the spot by walking around and seeing where the sub behaves best. The C4’s spot turned out to be similar to where we thought the C1 sounded best.
We played with the low-pass filter and ultimately found 60 Hz to work best with the ATC SCM40A. Which setting is best for you depends on acoustics and speakers. By the way, there is also an “off” setting for those working with external processing. More about that later.
We set the volume just below half. Phase remains at 0 degrees in our case.
This ATC C4 MK2 subwoofer is fantastic! It delivers deep, powerful bass that enhances any audio setup. https://www.intrasonictechnology.com/speakers/sub-woofers/
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?
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.