ATC Launches Statement EL50 Anniversary Loudspeaker
The EL50 Anniversary active 3-way tower is the latest evolution of ATC’s winning design blueprint.
ATC is delighted to introduce the EL50 Anniversary to audiophiles and music lovers seeking long-lasting high performance, design and engineering quality. It’s the latest evolution of the legendary ATC 50 loudspeaker design, featuring discrete active tri-amp technology first deployed by the SCM70 in the 1990s and refined through the SCM50 Anniversary speaker in 2004 and the SE Series in 2014. Its industrial design draws from the EL150, released in 2006, the first ATC loudspeaker to employ an elliptical enclosure and designed by Billy Woodman. Leather detailing on the front face and beautiful hand-selected veneers further elevate the design.
New Discrete Active Amp-Pack
This advanced new model incorporates a new, proprietary 3-channel active ‘Amp-Pack’ featuring balanced input, user controls, active crossovers and three power amp channels, delivering 200W, 100W and 50W continuous power to the bass, mid and high-frequency channels, respectively. Within the first line level stages, new discrete gain blocks have been developed and implemented within a balanced instrumentation input and the fourth-order active crossovers to achieve a lower noise floor and reduce distortion. In addition, the power supply has been comprehensively re-designed and upgraded with individual toroidal transformers for each power amplifier channel, plus a separate transformer serving the low voltage supply. This topology improves headroom under demanding use and reduces intermodulation distortion between the channels to deliver greater clarity to the listener.
Cabinetry and Finishing
Building on previous development work, the EL50 Anniversary cabinet construction has been improved and updated via advanced in-house manufacturing technology to increase stiffness and internal damping, reducing cabinet-borne colouration in the upper-bass and mid-range. The bass driver is mounted into a precision turned aluminium ring which is bolted into the cabinet face, further increasing cabinet integrity. A curved cabinet face and edges create a smooth transition from the driver output into the room, reducing edge diffraction and producing a more uniform on and off-axis frequency response for reduced linear distortion. Hand-selected and matched European walnut veneers cover the curved elements of the cabinet complemented by ebony inlays on the rear panel and finished with a high-gloss polyester lacquer. Upholstered napa leather panels around the mid and high-frequency drivers and the lower front section add a contrasting texture while integrating cleanly with the cabinet’s overall form.
Drive Units
The drive unit complement is built entirely in-house with a focus on low distortion and consistent performance at all playback levels with any source material. The SH25-76S ‘S-Spec’ tweeter uses a compact but exceptionally powerful neodymium motor, a dual-suspension system to precisely control the coil motion, and a coated fabric dome for smooth, uniform on and off-axis response. The critical mid-band is reproduced by ATC’s SM75-150S ‘Superdome’ mid-range driver, covering 380Hz to 3.5kHz. Its combination of high-power magnet drive system and large voice coil mated to a dome diaphragm results in a driver system that can resolve the smallest musical details while effortlessly handling the largest dynamic peaks found in complex recordings. Completing the system, the SB75-234SL bass driver features ATC’s Super Linear motor system for reduced 3rd harmonic distortion in the upper-bass/lower-midrange resulting in improved clarity and integration with the mid-range driver. At the lowest octaves, an optimised spider-roll-surround pairing allows large linear excursion for controlled low frequency output.
The EL50 Anniversary launches as an exclusive run of 50 pairs, each supplied with a hardbound owner’s handbook. The book celebrates ATC’s journey from its origin as a drive unit specialist in 1974 to its status as one of the world’s most highly respected loudspeaker manufacturers, revered by music lovers and audiophiles, and trusted by hundreds of international recording and mastering studios.