Small Ruark’s With a Big Heart
November 2, 2026
This project began in 2024 when a new client approached us seeking advice on creating a high-performance hi-fi and home cinema system within the large basement of their family home. Their initial interest centred on auditioning a pair of ATC SCM50ASL active loudspeakers partnered with the Naim NSS 333 music streamer and Naim NSC 332 preamplifier. Before making any recommendations, however, we felt it was important to visit the property and understand both the room and the client’s aspirations for the space. Only by experiencing the environment first-hand could we provide advice that was genuinely tailored to their needs.
During our initial visit, it quickly became apparent that while the basement offered tremendous potential, it also presented some significant acoustic challenges. As is often the case with large, sparsely furnished rooms, the space suffered from excessive reflectivity, creating a hard-edged and somewhat unforgiving character that affected every sound produced within it. In our experience, recommending equipment before the room itself was ready would have been premature and ultimately unfair to the customer. Instead, we advised waiting until the furnishings had been installed and the room acoustics had settled into a more representative state.
As the basement was intended to be a welcoming space for entertaining family and friends, extensive room treatment from Acustica Applicata was understandably not a desirable solution. A more practical and aesthetically pleasing approach was chosen. Slatwall panelling with an acoustic backing was installed from floor to ceiling across the entire width of both the front and rear walls. Whilst subtle in appearance, the addition did moderately improve the room’s overall acoustic behaviour, helping to soften some of its more aggressive characteristics while maintaining the intended look and feel of the space.
A few weeks later, the arrival of furniture, rugs and soft furnishings transformed the room both visually and acoustically. With the character of the space beginning to emerge, we were finally in a position to begin the home demonstration process.
From our earlier assessments, it was clear that the naturally lively character of the room would likely be exaggerated by the presentation of the Naim electronics. With this in mind, our first demonstration featured the highly respected Hegel H600 integrated amplifier partnered with ATC SCM50 passive loudspeakers. We specifically chose the passive version of the SCM50 as it gave us the flexibility to explore a variety of amplification options during subsequent demonstrations, ensuring that every stage of the process remained open-minded and customer-focused.
Ahead of the demonstration, we discussed the sheer scale of the room and the challenges posed by its generous dimensions of 7m x 9m x 3.5m. Our feeling was that whilst the SCM50s were exceptionally capable loudspeakers, achieving the effortless scale, authority and dynamic expression that such a large space demanded would ultimately require larger loudspeakers and, inevitably, a greater investment.
Even though the ATC SCM50s and Hegel H600 performed admirably during the demonstration, our customer agreed with our recommendation to explore the larger ATC SCM100PSL loudspeakers, partnered with Hegel’s exceptional P30A preamplifier and H30A power amplifier. As the P30A is a purely analogue preamplifier and does not include streaming capabilities, we selected the highly regarded Meitner MA3i DAC streamer to complete the system. The Meitner has long been admired for its musicality and emotional engagement, qualities that made it a particularly suitable partner for the ATC and Hegel combination.
Our next visit required two vehicles. The substantial wooden crates housing the ATC SCM100PSLs occupied significantly more space than their smaller siblings, and alongside the Hegel electronics and other demonstration equipment, transporting everything became a logistical exercise in itself.
Once installed, the benefits of the larger loudspeakers were immediately apparent. The increase in cabinet volume, driver size and available power brought a new level of scale, authority and ease to the music. Each genre of music was reproduced with greater texture and fluidity, dynamic contrasts became more realistic with more scale to the soundstage. Most importantly, our customer was able to experience these differences for themselves and arrive at a genuinely informed decision.
The result was an order for a pair of ATC SCM100PSL loudspeakers in the beautiful Pippy Oak finish, along with the newly updated Meitner MA3i DAC streamer. Both were delivered and installed within a few weeks.
With the loudspeakers and source components now in place, our attention turned towards finding an amplifier capable of extracting the very best from the ATCs while also offering seamless integration with the planned home cinema system. Continued listening with the Hegel pre-power combination highlighted its many strengths, but both we and the customer felt there was an opportunity to introduce greater warmth, texture and subtlety to the musical presentation within the large basement.
To explore these qualities further, we arranged demonstrations of two outstanding integrated amplifiers: the Accuphase E-5000 flagship (Class AB) and the Vitus Audio SIA-025, which offers user-selectable Class A and Class AB operation. Although the Vitus carried a significantly higher price tag, listening sessions quickly revealed why it enjoys such a formidable reputation. Music flowed with a greater sense of realism and emotional engagement, reproducing performances with a naturalness and refinement that ultimately justified the additional investment. Collectively, we agreed that the Vitus was the ideal partner for the ATC loudspeakers.
Home cinema integration had always been part of the original brief, and attention therefore shifted towards the visual and surround sound elements of the installation. A Sony 77-inch television was selected and wall-mounted at the front of the room, while SKY and an OPPO BDP-103D Universal Disc Player were chosen as the primary video sources. Both feed an Anthem MRX1140 AV receiver at the heart of the cinema system.
Having extensive experience with Anthem products, we felt the MRX1140 represented the ideal solution for processing and powering the surround channels. Meanwhile, the Vitus SIA-025 continued its role driving the front left and right ATC SCM100PSL’s for both music and cinema duties. Thanks to the Vitus’ home theatre bypass function, the Anthem assumes volume control duties whenever cinema mode is selected, providing seamless integration across all eleven channels and subwoofer LFE outputs.
For the remaining surround sound channels, an ATC HTS-40C on-wall centre speaker was selected alongside 4 x ATC HTS-11 on-wall speakers for the surround and surround back channels. Dolby Atmos height channel duties were handled by Bowers & Wilkins 4 x CCM684 in-ceiling loudspeakers, carefully positioned to create an immersive overhead 3D soundfield.
As many of our customers know, we are strong advocates of REL Acoustics subwoofers within hi-fi systems. Equally, a truly compelling home cinema experience is incomplete without the low-frequency impact that only a properly integrated subwoofer can deliver. To explore the possibilities, we arranged a demonstration of a single REL Acoustics Carbon Special subwoofer.
Using both its high-level and low-level inputs allowed simultaneous connection to the Vitus SIA-025 and Anthem MRX1140. Like many REL designs, the Carbon Special provides independent input gain controls for each connection type, along with crossover and phase adjustment for the high level input, allowing extremely fine integration into both music and cinema systems.
The effect was remarkable. Beyond simply extending bass response, the Carbon Special added greater depth, dimensionality and authority throughout the entire frequency range. Soundstage became larger and more convincing, while instruments gained a natural weight and presence.
Given the sheer air volume of the room, we were also aware of the benefits that a second Carbon Special could bring. After experiencing the improvements delivered by a single subwoofer, our customer chose to add a second REL Carbon Special to the system. Once properly integrated, the pair delivered even greater scale, consistency and control throughout the listening space. As many REL owners will attest, once you’ve experienced the benefits of a correctly integrated stereo pair, there is often little desire to go back.
Roughly a year after the installation was completed, our customer contacted us once again, this time to explore whether mains conditioning might offer further improvements to both the hi-fi and cinema systems. In our experience, the quality of the electricity supply can vary considerably between locations and can sometimes have a surprisingly significant influence on system performance. As with any upgrade, the only meaningful way to assess the benefits is within the customer’s home.
The timing coincided perfectly with the release of the new ISOL-8 Substation F5 Axis mains conditioner. With advanced circuitry designed to reduce both electromagnetic and radio-frequency interference, alongside integrated DC blocking technology, it appeared to be an ideal candidate.
The Substation F5 Axis was installed to supply the system’s source and amplification components, while an ISOL-8 Powerline Ultra six-way in-line block was used to provide dedicated high-current outlets for the two REL Carbon Special subwoofers, with the remaining sockets serving various low-current devices within the system.
Listening comparisons were conducted over several sessions, repeatedly removing and reinstating the power conditioning products to establish their effect. In this particular household, the improvements were immediately apparent. Recordings exhibited greater spaciousness and scale, while low-frequency performance became more articulate and impactful. A particularly memorable example was the opening section of The Cure’s A Forest, where the guitar and drum separation was presented with more realism and with a darker atmosphere within the background from the introduction of the ISOL-8 products.
Although the project has been evolving for over two and a half years, the journey is almost complete. One of the greatest pleasures for music lovers with high quality hi-fi systems is that there is often something new to explore, and our customer continues to enjoy discovering what is possible. Looking ahead, further improvements may include upgrading the network switch and the addition of further REL Acoustics subwoofers integrated into the surround channels.
What began as a simple enquiry has developed into a carefully considered music and cinema system, shaped through patience, collaboration and a shared enthusiasm for achieving the very best performance from the room. It has been a hugely enjoyable project for everyone involved, and we look forward to seeing where the next chapter of the journey leads.
Special thanks to the guys at Fusion AV for their assistance with the cinema installation.
Installed Products
- 1 x Anthem MRX1140 AV Receiver
- 1pr × ATC SCM100PSL front speakers
- 1 × ATC HTS40C centre speaker
- 4 × ATC HTS11 for rear surround and surround back channels
- 4 × B&W CCM684 in-ceiling speakers for height channels
- 1 x ISOL-8 Teknologies Substation F5 Axis mains conditioner
- 1 x ISOL-8 Teknologies Powerline Ultra 6-way mains conditioner
- 1 x Meitner Audio MA3i DAC streamer
- 1 x Oppo BDP-103D Universal Disc Player (existing product)
- 1 x Quadraspire SV2T equipment furniture 3 shelves
- 2 x REL Acoustics Carbon Special active subwoofers
- 2 x REL Acoustics Airship wireless transmitters
- 1 x Sony K77XR80PU 77″ OLED TV
- 1 x Vitus Audio SIA-025 MkII integrated amplifier
System value – £95,000
