ATC launches compact C1 Sub Mk2 active subwoofer

ATC launches new compact subwoofer
(Image credit: ATC)

ATC's new C1 Sub Mk2 is a real wood veneered subwoofer, built to provide a dynamic, low-distortion bass foundation for ATC’s Entry Series speakers, its C1C and C3C centre speakers, HTS Series on-wall speakers and, according to the firm, "all but the largest satellite speaker systems". It incorporates a hand-built 12-inch (314mm) ATC bass driver and ATC 200W MOSFET power amplifier. 

Designed to replace the Mk1 version (found in the ATC C1 5.1 speaker package – which gained five stars from this publication) and for both music and cinema applications, the new C1 Sub's design includes reworked low-pass filter circuits. The Gloucester-based company promises this re-engineering facilitates the best possible integration with both ATC speakers and those from other manufacturers. And it is relatively compact, at 45cm high and less than half a metre square including the feet.

Controls on the new model include a continuously variable low pass filter, a continuously variable all-pass filter and polarity switch, speaker level L/R inputs, independent L/R RCA line inputs and a summed line output RCA connector to enable daisy-chaining with multiple subwoofers.

Under that real wood veneer, there's a hand-built, 12-inch ATC bass driver and 3-inch ribbon voice-coil – which is hand pressed and assembled. 

If you want to kit yourself out with a complete ATC setup, the company recommends that a single C1 sub partners speakers up to the SCM19 and HTS11, and that two subs partner the SCM40 and HTS40 – though that won't be essential for all room sizes. 

The C1 Sub Mk2 is available from November 2019 with a recommended retail price of £1650. It's available in four real wood finishes: Cherry, Black Ash, Satin Black, Satin White to match Entry Series speakers, centre speakers and HTS Series on-wall products. Oh, and you'll also get ATC’s standard six-year warranty.

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Becky has been a full-time staff writer at What Hi-Fi? since March 2019. Prior to gaining her MA in Journalism in 2018, she freelanced as an arts critic alongside a 20-year career as a professional dancer and aerialist – any love of dance is of course tethered to a love of music. Becky has previously contributed to Stuff, FourFourTwo, This is Cabaret and The Stage. When not writing, she dances, spins in the air, drinks coffee, watches football or surfs in Cornwall with her other half – a football writer whose talent knows no bounds.