ATC 25s with sub or Barefoots

I respect Barefoot, it’s just not my personal sound so I’m more in the ATC family, while the ATC sub is neither cheap nor a deep bass diver it is very low distortion LF. Probably perfect for your room, but I’m also a deep LF guy so I would say ATC 25’s with a pair of what ever is the smaller Subwoofer pro’s boxes, and some DSP. What can I say I like 18hz.

Barefoot does have a sound, doesn’t it? I was happy when I switched from the mm35s to the ATC25s but I also missed the mm35s immediately after, especially for any bass heavy music. Two very different presentations both with great utility.

My work is always too bass heavy when heard elsewhere so I know I need to hear that region better.

Yeah maybe BF Footprints are the max I can expect this room to allow, and I keep the 25s and get Footprints too instead of adding a sub. Seems a bit extravagant/luxurious, but so is every other option.

Honestly, I would be very interested if someone did an ATC or Volt based D&D like speaker with a/ ab amps or a Quested dual 8 with an upgraded mid ( okay I have built a couple). For the modern small room these are probably the easiest tuneable solution, except as often as Sub drivers as close to the rest is the quick and damn good solution, often moving the subs is the answer.

Now as I’m replacing and reprogramming a bunch of old BSS Soundweb boxes, I’m dealing with the Achilles heal of DSP: orphand control software! Not saying it’s going to happen with your D&D’s but my friend the day they move on from what ever controls that software go buy the most modern computer or tablet that can run the software, heck grab 2. I keep selling refurbished Toughbooks like I’m a reseller.

What kind of issues did the mm35s develop? I always wondered why they were discontinued. Why won't the same happen to mm26s..

If I had the time and $$$$ Volt has a 6.5 that will go down to 35hz, and the 2in dome. I happen to have 2 of the 6.5 and a pair of really nice pair of Transducer labs carbon domes. They were purchased for a 2 way that just needed too much EQ, but the model runs on 3 different platforms for a 3 way looked sweet!
It’s just about time and money oh and amps plus DSP. I would really like to play with MiniDSP Diraclive 8ch AES box and some nice conversion.

Funny - I just compared the BF 02s to the Amphion One18s again. I did feel like the BF center image might have been better, but the overall tone is definitely not as “exciting.” Lots of bottom and low end. Both were using the Trinnov, so I feel like it was a pretty equal test.
What I really noticed is that mixes I had done on the Amphions/sub sounded pretty damn fantastic on the BFs. Maybe the vocals were a little loud - which makes me think maybe the phase with the sub isn’t quite as good on as the all-in-one Barefoots and I’m losing a little center volume because of it. That being said, I’m leaving well enough alone. The BF def had a better amp than my passive Amphions - louder. I’ve been in one of those “omg - how can I continue using this successful thing now that I’ve convinced myself it would be better with other thing” modes.
It would be nice to get that damn sub out of the way, though. But I much preferred the Amphion/sub combo.

I have ATC 25's and in my 3.5M x 4.5M room I don't need an ATC sub - thankfully! (they're not cheap)

If I had a much bigger room and the budget I'd get some ATC 150's.

I did some mixing a while back on 150's and oh my gosh .... mind blowing stuff - incredible!
Very grown up monitors the 150's, I simply cannot imagine anything sounding better.

ATC definitely get very, very fabulous when you get to the 150's!

There's a demo pair of Amphion One18 on Sweetwater for a discount.

Well umm DUH😁! Once you step to the 50’s you are talking deeper bass, SL LF driver and S mid, the 100’s add more efficiency and lower LF. The biggest problem, that big 100 liter cabinet and price!

Why not bigger ATCs instead of mm26s is a brilliant and fair question. I guess:

A) the space they take up, only the 45 might still fit reasonably in my space, anything further up the ATC line will be massive. MM26s on the other hand are pretty much similar in size to the 25A

B) the requirement to switch out my stands, as any bigger ATC monitor will mean a new Sound Anchor set but the mm26/27 can use my ADJ2 with just a $150 arm change

C) the price point really isn’t the same except for the 45 which is similar in price to the mm26 (and my dream monitor really, even over 50s) but still got to change out the stand

D) according to some even the 45 doesn’t have the same bass response as adding a sub to the 25s.

Trading in the 25s will get me what, 3K to 4K at most? I’m better off keeping them for use as surrounds when 45s become my mains with a sub - ha!

I do get to hear 300s at a studio near me (with 25s on the bridge) and I have a friend with 50s and another friend with 150s. I do wish my room could justifiably handle any of these.

Ah, 110s, be still my heart. At that price? Yeah I woulda done everything possible too to squeeze them in.

Ok yes I have decided to stick with the ATC comfort and add the 70 sub. Barefeet can happen some other day.

Thanks everyone for the guidance. It’s interesting to note it wasn’t unanimous at all.

Thanks Eric, that echoes what ATC aficionados (and my own experience when demoing) indicate, that 45s don’t really have a ton more bass than 25s. So if one thinks 25s are bass shy, they won’t feel too differently about 45s or 50s. Of course, not everybody agrees that 25s are indeed bass shy.