Short answer: the Philharmonic BMR Monitor. It ranks #134 of 222 bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 3.6/5, at $2,200; the ATC SCM19 ranks #209, rated 2.4/5, and costs $3,750, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The Philharmonic BMR Monitor is the more accurate, deeper-bass pick. Three-way bookshelf speakers with premium drivers, a well-built cabinet and extremely wide dispersion for a broad soundstage. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 6.02 against 4.61 for the ATC SCM19. Its bass reaches about 47Hz before falling 3dB, against 60Hz for the ATC SCM19. The tradeoff: A 1-2dB bump around 2-3kHz creates a “glare” on vocals, guitars, and strings that the reviewer noticed consistently across many tracks.
Why pick the ATC SCM19: A heavy, sealed pro style ATC bookshelf speaker with a very dense cabinet and low distortion at high volume. The catch: Some stored energy resonance around 500-700Hz, 4dB bump around 700Hz.
Buy the Philharmonic BMR Monitor. It is rated higher for sound quality than the ATC SCM19 and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
Want more options? Browse the full Passive Home rankings.
Three-way bookshelf speakers with premium drivers, a well-built cabinet and extremely wide dispersion for a broad soundstage.
A heavy, sealed pro style ATC bookshelf speaker with a very dense cabinet and low distortion at high volume.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Philharmonic BMR Monitor | ATC SCM19 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2200 per pair | $3750 per pair |
| Ranked | #134 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #209 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 32Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 34Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 47Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 60Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Dimensions | 20”H x 8”W x 12.5”D (508 x 203.2 x 317.5 mm) | 17.2”H x 10.4”W x 11.8”D (436.9 x 264.2 x 299.7 mm) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (3 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) | 6 ohms |
| Drivers | 6” Ceramic woofer, Balanced Mode Radiator 2.5” midrange, RAAL 64-10X OEM tweeter | 5.9” Super Linear Magnet cone woofer, 1” soft dome tweeter |
| Sensitivity | 84dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 85dB (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Weight | 32 lbs (14.5 kg) each | 39.2 lbs (17.8 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | sealed |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.02 (spinorama.org) | 4.61 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.67 (spinorama.org) | 7.03 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
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