In this review, we will be comparing SCM7 and Menuet SE, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from ATC and DALI.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of ATC SCM7 and DALI Menuet SE first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | ATC SCM7 | DALI Menuet SE |
|---|
| Brand | ATC
United Kingdom · founded 1974 | DALI
Denmark · founded 1983 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 0.98" | 1.1" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 4.92" | 4.5" Wood fibre |
|---|
| Frequency response | 60-22k Hz | 59-25k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 84 dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 75 to 300 Watts watts | 20-100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 7.50kg / 16.5lbs | — |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 11.81" x 6.85" x 8.46"
300.0 x 174.0 x 215.0mm | 9.84" x 5.91" x 9.06"
250 x 150 x 230 mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both SCM7 and Menuet SE are 2-way speakers.
ATC SCM7DALI Menuet SE
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
ATC SCM7 |
DALI Menuet SE |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.98-inch
|
1.1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 4.92-inch
|
1 x 4.5-inch
|
SCM7 features a 0.98" Tweeter and 1 x 4.92" Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2.5kHz. On the other hand, the Menuet SE features a 1.1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4.5" Wood fibre Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3000Hz.
Frequency Response
SCM7 has a frequency range of 60-22k Hz whereas Menuet SE has a frequency range of 59-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 59Hz, the Menuet SE can go slightly deeper then the SCM7's min frequency of 60Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
SCM7 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the Menuet SE which has a nominal impedance of 4 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Menuet SE can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. SCM7 sensitivity is rated at 84 dB and the Menuet SE's is rated at 86 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the DALI Menuet SE a more sensitive speaker compared to ATC SCM7, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
SCM7 can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS, whereas Menuet SE has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 200 watts less than the SCM7.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
SCM7 features Binding post type posts and Menuet SE has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare ATC SCM7's and DALI Menuet SE's external dimensions. ATC SCM7 has external dimensions of 300.0 x 174.0 x 215.0mm (11.81 x 6.85 x 8.46inch) whereas DALI Menuet SE has external dimensions of 250 x 150 x 230 mm ().
DALI Menuet SE is 24mm narrower and 50mm shorter than ATC SCM7 but it is also 15mm deeper.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
ATC SCM7 needs about 8% more floor or shelf area. DALI Menuet SE is 15mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. ATC SCM7 is 50mm taller.
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the ATC SCM7 is approximately 374.1cm2 / 58.0inch2 and base area of the DALI Menuet SE is approximately 345.0cm2 / 53.5inch2. The SCM7 requires 8% more surface area than the Menuet SE which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.