Having owned ATC CM19 & CM40 passive speakers & been very happy with their performance I always wondered what the active speakers sounded like as ATC always said they offer a greater performance, so we booked a demonstration with Jack at the Audio Barn, & not only did Jack provide a demonstration of the CSM40a but also a passive pair of ATC40 driven by ATC amps exactly the same as we had a home a the time, the passive ATCs sounded just as we expected excellent, but when Jack installed the active versions it was a great step up in performance with fantastic tight controlled deep base & a greater insight into the music with the transparency of the wonderful midrange drivers almost on a par with the Quad ESL57s that l used to own but with the benefit of the superb bass, they reveal every detail of the recording, a pair of SCM40a speakers now have pride of place in our lounge thanks to Jack for his great unlimited time demonstration, and ATC for producing such a great set of speakers l cannot recommend them or the Audio Barn to highly. Ian Smith.