Transporter and ATC SCM150 Anniversary

[Tim-Ann]

Hi there,

Has anyone any experience of using the ATC SCM150 Anniversary’s with a Transporter connected direct balanced?

Any thoughts or experiences would interesting.

Many thanks, Tim.

[cliveb]

Has anyone any experience of using the ATC SCM150 Anniversary’s with a Transporter connected direct balanced?

Not sure if anyone around here has the 150's, but a few of us run Transporters direct into other ATCs. My setup is TP balanced direct into SM100A's (via 13dB passive attenuators). It's certainly the best sound I've ever had at home.

In my case, removing the preamp from the signal path was the big gain. (And it's not like it was a bad preamp - a Nakamichi CA7, which was the best preamp Nak ever made, back in the days when they were a genuine high-end company. It cost £2500 back in 1990).

[Tim-Ann]

Hi there,

Can I ask what the attenuators do is it to get the full volume levels that you would get from using a pre-amp?

Next question would be will I need different attenuators for the 150's.

Many thanks, Tim.

[cliveb]

Can I ask what the attenuators do is it to get the full volume levels that you would get from using a pre-amp?

The attenuators are installed to limit the maximum level that goes to the ATC power amps. As you are no doubt aware, ATC monitors can get frighteningly loud, so in a normal domestic situation you never use their full capabilities. If you fed a Transporter direct to the ATCs, you'd have to turn its volume down a lot to get into a normal listening range. And doing this sacrifices a bit of S/N ratio. Therefore the idea is to install passive attenuators that allow you to run the Transporter's volume control up near the top of its range.

It is unlikely but possible that you might find that running a Transporter direct into ATCs doesn't go loud enough. For example, you might have an enormous listening room, or you might like to listen at ear-splitting levels. In that case you'd need an active preamp to increase the levels available.

Next question would be will I need different attenuators for the 150's.

Quite possibly. The way to work it out is this:

1. Connect TP direct to ATCs.
2. Turn volume right down on TP before switching on!
3. Start playing something, and slowly increase the volume on the TP until it's as loud as you'll ever want to listen.
4. The TP's display will show how much attenuation you've got - this is pretty much the amount of passive attenuation you need. The exact amount required will vary based on the listening room and the listener's preferences.

[Tim-Ann]

Hi there,

Many thanks for that information I've tried running a Transporter balanced direct into a Meridian G57 and I don't think at times it goes loud enough for me, I've also used the TP through a Meridian 800 V3 Pre-Amp section and that had far more volume.

So I'm not sure what to expect running the TP direct into the ATC 150's. I was hoping to avoid a Pre-Amp but will have to try and if it doesn’t go loud enough for me put a Pre-Amp in between.

Again many thanks for your help and info, Tim.

[Tim-Ann]

Hi there,

cliveb can I ask are your passive attenuators used on your balanced outputs of the Transporter and where could I get some from here in the UK?

Many thanks, Tim.

[cliveb]

cliveb can I ask are your passive attenuators used on your balanced outputs of the Transporter and where could I get some from here in the UK?

The passive attenuation I use is done with resistors in the XLR plugs at the speaker end of the interconnects. I installed them myself, so the total cost was under a pound. See http://wiki.slimdevices.com/index.ph...iveAttenuation for more info.

If you don't feel confident about doing it yourself, you'll need to buy some balanced attenuators ready-made. Unfortunately they are not cheap. There's a list of suppliers here: http://wiki.slimdevices.com/index.ph...al_Attenuators

[Tim-Ann]

Hi there,

You are a star I will buy ready made up ones are they all the same 13dB or do I need something different. Thank you ever so much for the very informative links, excellent.

What I think I will do is once the ATC 150's arrive I will try the Transporter direct first if there is plenty of volume then I'll buy some attenuators if not I have a SCA2 Pre-Amp to play with whist I decide how best to proceed. Hopefully unlike the Krell & Meridian amplifiers there will be plenty of volume.

Again many, many thanks, Tim.

[cliveb]

You are a star I will buy ready made up ones are they all the same 13dB or do I need something different.

Sorry, obviously I didn't make it clear that the 13dB attenuation I use happens to be what I installed in my own XLR plugs. The amount of attenuation you will need depends on your own circumstances (size of room and preferred listening level).

Ready-made attenuators are typically about 10dB. You might find other values available, but 13dB is pretty unlikely (and in any case it's not likely to be the exact amount you'll need).

What I think I will do is once the ATC 150's arrive I will try the Transporter direct first if there is plenty of volume then I'll buy some attenuators

Good plan. By connecting direct to start with, you can measure how much attenuation is required.

if not I have a SCA2 Pre-Amp to play with whist I decide how best to proceed.

I find the idea of someone apparently having one of the finest preamps on the planet lying about for casual experimentation quite amusing :-)

[Tim-Ann]

Hi there,

Glad I’ve amused you having spent a fair bit on the ATC 150’s I was hoping to be able to use the Transporter direct but having found with other amps that there wasn’t enough volume I decided I might need a Pre-Amp after all if it is so good it will always sell if I don’t need it.

Again many thanks for all you informative comments and pointers let’s hope I can get the volume I want from a direct connection if not then I do have a good Pre-Amp to use.

Tim.