Short answer: the SVS Prime Bookshelf. It ranks #150 of 222 bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 3.5/5, at $599; the ATC SCM19 ranks #209, rated 2.4/5, and costs $3,750, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
The SVS Prime Bookshelf is the more accurate choice. Affordable bookshelf speakers with a sealed woofer compartment, wide even dispersion and reasonable sensitivity. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 5.17 against 4.61 for the ATC SCM19. The catch: A scooped mid-range paired with a boosted upper mid-range creates an audibly uneven tonal balance, and there’s an additional dip in the treble around 4-5kHz that reads as slightly tinny relative to the recessed mid-range.
The ATC SCM19 is the deeper-bass choice. A heavy, sealed pro style ATC bookshelf speaker with a very dense cabinet and low distortion at high volume. Its bass reaches about 60Hz before falling 3dB, against 72Hz for the SVS Prime Bookshelf. The tradeoff: Some stored energy resonance around 500-700Hz, 4dB bump around 700Hz.
Buy the SVS Prime Bookshelf. 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.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Affordable bookshelf speakers with a sealed woofer compartment, wide even dispersion and reasonable sensitivity.
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
| SVS Prime Bookshelf | ATC SCM19 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $599.00 per pair | $3750 per pair |
| Ranked | #150 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #209 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Drivers | 6.5” polypropylene cone woofer with aluminum shorting ring (sealed sub-compartment), 1” aluminum dome tweeter | 5.9” Super Linear Magnet cone woofer, 1” soft dome tweeter |
| Weight | 15.5 lbs (7.03 kg) each | 39.2 lbs (17.8 kg) each |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal, 3.9 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 6 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 87dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 85dB (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 72Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 60Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 49Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 34Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Frequency Response | 48Hz - 25kHz ±3dB (manufacturer specified) | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.17 | 4.61 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.78 | 7.03 |
| Dimensions | 13.2”H x 8”W x 10.2”D (335.3 x 203.2 x 259.1 mm) | 17.2”H x 10.4”W x 11.8”D (436.9 x 264.2 x 299.7 mm) |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Woofer Cabinet | - | sealed |
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