Well the quest is finally over - and the result surprised me!

After four days of exhaustive and exhausting listening, using the EMI audio check disc and the Linn HiFi test disc from HiFi Choice, together with a wide range of music discs from Shostakovich to Abba I have finally made my choice. It was not easy at all, as both the ATC SCM11 and PMC GB1 are very good speakers.

I started out with the subconscious expectation that I would probably plump for the GB1s as they had impressed me most when demoing them at the dealers alongside the Proac Studio 130 and Spendor S5e. However, the more I listened the more differences I began to hear. They were very subtle, at least to begin with, but as I listened I began to 'grow into' the ATCs. I thought that one of the GB1s main strengths was its imaging, but the more I listened the more I began to hear that the ATCs were actually stronger in that department. It was not initially apparent, as the ATCs are slightly warmer than the GB1s, so possibly not as impressive on first hearing. However, after a couple of days of listening I began to realise that this touch of warmth was actually making the speakers sound more 'musical', and certainly more satisfying to listen to over an extended period.

One genre that the ATCs are particularly strong in is large complex orchestral works. For instance in the finale of Mahler's 'Resurrection' symphony the various layers of the orchestra are clearly separated with plenty of 'air' around each sector. The image remains strong and focused throughout with a tightly controlled and crisp richness to the music, making the whole listening experience very enjoyable. The GB1s, by comparison, sounded a tad lean and with a rather flatter image than the ATCs. When switching from the GB1s to the ATCs, with the same piece of music, one is struck by the crisp richness and airy spaciousness of the ATCs One of the principal reasons for being initially predisposed towards the GB1s was that much play is made of the fact that, being a transmission line design, they can go down to 29Hz whereas the ATCs can only manage 56Hz. I have to say that, in practice, I heard very little difference between them, and on the odd occasion when I could detect a small difference it was more than compensated for by the ATCs other strengths. I suppose if I was a rockhead or heavy metal fan, I might be able to hear more, but to be honest I was surprised how very few occasions there were in the type of music I listen to where the GB1s would have had a significant and sustained advantage. That includes large scale orchestral. Really deep bass tends to occur fairly infrequently, and then momentarily, typically in the finale of symphonies etc, and not in a regular rhythmic and repetitive way, as in rock etc.

One tell tale sign was that toward the middle of the extended test, I found that jumping up to switch back to the GB1s was becoming a bit of a chore. I just wanted to sit and listen to the music (from the ATCs).

So, my choice is for the ATC SCM11s. An absolutely superb sound from a very solidly built and attractive box (and it's