ATC is delighted to introduce the EL50 Anniversary to audiophiles and music lovers seeking long-lasting high performance, design, and engineering quality. It’s the latest evolution of the legendary ATC 50 loudspeaker design, featuring discrete active tri-amp technology first deployed by the SCM70 in the 1990s and refined through the SCM50 Anniversary speaker in 2004 and the SE Series in 2014. Its industrial design draws from the EL150, released in 2006, the first ATC loudspeaker to employ an elliptical enclosure and designed by Billy Woodman. Leather detailing on the front face and beautiful hand-selected veneers further elevate the design.
New Discrete Active Amp-Pack
This advanced new model incorporates a new, proprietary 3-channel active ‘Amp-Pack’ featuring balanced input, user controls, active crossovers and three power amp channels, delivering 200W, 100W and 50W continuous power to the bass, mid and high-frequency channels, respectively. Within the first line level stages, new discrete gain blocks have been developed and implemented within a balanced instrumentation input and the fourth-order active crossovers to achieve a lower noise floor and reduce distortion. In addition, the power supply has been comprehensively re-designed and upgraded with individual toroidal transformers for each power amplifier channel, plus a separate transformer serving the low voltage supply. This topology improves headroom under demanding use and reduces intermodulation distortion between the channels to deliver greater clarity to the listener.
Cabinetry and Finishing
Building on previous development work, the EL50 Anniversary cabinet construction has been improved and updated via advanced in-house manufacturing technology to increase stiffness and internal damping, reducing cabinet-borne colouration in the upper-bass and mid-range. The bass driver is mounted into a precision turned aluminium ring, which is bolted into the cabinet face, further increasing cabinet integrity. A curved cabinet face and edges create a smooth transition from the driver output into the room, reducing edge diffraction and producing a more uniform on and off-axis frequency response for reduced linear distortion. Hand-selected and matched European walnut veneers cover the curved elements of the cabinet complemented by ebony inlays on the rear panel and finished with a high-gloss polyester lacquer. Upholstered napa leather panels around the mid and high-frequency drivers and the lower front section add a contrasting texture while integrating cleanly with the cabinet’s overall form.
Drive Units
The drive unit complement is built entirely in-house with a focus on low distortion and consistent performance at all playback levels with any source material. The SH25-76S ‘S-Spec’ tweeter uses a compact but exceptionally powerful neodymium motor, a dual-suspension system to precisely control the coil motion, and a coated fabric dome for smooth, uniform on and off-axis response. The critical mid-band is reproduced by ATC’s SM75-150S ‘Superdome’ mid-range driver, covering 380Hz to 3.5kHz. Its combination of high-power magnet drive system and large voice coil mated to a dome diaphragm results in a driver system that can resolve the smallest musical details while effortlessly handling the largest dynamic peaks found in complex recordings. Completing the system, the SB75-234SL bass driver features ATC’s Super Linear motor system for reduced 3rd harmonic distortion in the upper-bass/lower-midrange resulting in improved clarity and integration with the mid-range driver. At the lowest octaves, an optimised spider-roll-surround pairing allows large linear excursion for controlled low-frequency output.
The EL50 Anniversary launches as an exclusive run of 50 pairs, each supplied with a hardbound owner’s handbook. The book celebrates ATC’s journey from its origin as a drive unit specialist in 1974 to its status as one of the world’s most highly respected loudspeaker manufacturers, revered by music lovers and audiophiles, and trusted by hundreds of international recording and mastering studios.
The new EL50 Anniversary will make its global debut at The Bristol Hi Fi Show, Friday 20th – Sunday 22nd February 2026.
ACOUSTIC SPECIFICATIONS
Bass driver: SB75-234SL 8Ω
- Features:
- ATC’s Super Linear 250mm bass driver
- Super Linear Magnetic System for low distortion
- short coil/ long gap voicecoil system
- die-cast aluminum chassis, vented below spider
- huge optimised motor assembly
Super Linear technology:
This is in the form of rings of SLMM which replace the steel regions concentric with the voice coil. The effect of the rings is to reduce the third harmonic distortion by 10-15dB.
Reducing the level of distortion by such a dramatic amount has revealed another layer of information to the listener. Ambient sounds and low level effects that were previously masked are now clearly audible and provide an enhanced sense of realism.
Mid driver: SM75-150S 16Ω
- Features:
- ATC’s highly linear 75mm “Super Dome” midrange driver
- short coil/ long gap voicecoil system
- huge optimised motor assembly
- dual suspension system
The use of the Super Dome mid results in excellent clarity and wide, even dispersion, resulting in excellent stereo imaging.
There are few engineering developments in any field that have effected change to the extent that ATC’s Soft Dome Midrange has on the monitoring of sound and particularly of music and voice. First produced in 1976 ATC’s soft dome represents the very best of midrange loudspeaker design and performance, combining a smooth response from 350Hz to 3.5KHz, exceptionally low colouration, high power handling capacity, low power compression, and high output level.
High Frequency Driver: SH25-76S 6Ω
- Features:
- 1″ complex geometry soft-domed diaphragm
- ‘S-Spec’ short coil/ long gap voicecoil system, dual suspension system, no ferrofluid
- 2.0 tesla (20,000 Gauss) huge neodymium magnet
- black heat-treated top plate
- precision-machined 5.5mm rigid alloy special waveguide designed for optimum dispersion and an extended on-axis frequency response
The SH25-76S is ATC’s premium 25mm Dual Suspension ‘S-Spec’ tweeter, designed and built with the same no compromise philosophy as all other ATC drive units and to perfectly complement the renowned SM75-150S Super Dome midrange driver.
Unlike almost any other 25mm tweeter on the market the SH25-76S is a dual suspension design which ensures pistonic motion, suppressing anharmonic rocking modes, even at high drive levels, and enables the use of narrower magnetic gaps. This, along with a short coil, long gap configuration, ensures unparalleled linearity and incredibly low distortion throughout its intended operating band.
The soft dome diaphragm is based on a complex geometry which maximises power transfer from the former, extending the high frequency response and giving a smooth off-axis response.
The geometry of the waveguide is designed for optimum dispersion and an extended on-axis frequency response. It is made from a precision machined alloy so that the entire structure is extremely rigid and free from resonances. The motor topology and moving assembly design negate the requirement for ferrofluid.
Low Frequency Cut-off: 32Hz (-6dB anechoic)
High Frequency Cut-off: 25kHz (-6dB)
Matched Response: +/-0.5dB
Crossover Point: 380Hz & 3.5kHz
MaxSPL: 112dB (per pair, IEC Weighted Pink Noise, 1m, anechoic)
Sensitivity: -17.5dBu (85dBC, @1m, pink noise, per speaker, anechoic)
ELECTRONIC SPECIFICATIONS
Balanced Input: Rear panel mounted female XLR, pin 2 +ve
Input Impedance: 20kΩ
Input CMRR: >80dB (20Hz- 10kHz)
Input Sensitivity: 2.2dBu/1V or 8.2dBu/2V (switched, ref. full output)
Crossover Filters: 4th Order Linkwitz Riley
Amplifier type: Grounded Source MOSFET, class A/B, convection cooled (fan-less)
Output Power:
Bass: 200W (8Ω, continuous average, 0.1%THD)
Mid: 100W (16Ω, continuous average, 0.1%THD)
HF: 50W (8Ω, continuous average, 0.1%THD)
THD+N: 0.0015% / -96dB (1kHz, 1dB below rated power, 90kHz BW)
Frequency Response: 8Hz-190kHz
Limiter: FET momentary gain reduction, all channels
Electronic amp protection: Amplifier d.c. offset and over-temperature (both indicated by rear panel LED)
Mains Input: 220-230V / 110-115V factory set. Please observe panel markings and labels!
Power Trigger Input/Link: 2 x rear panel mounted, Switchcraft L712RA
Power Consumption: Idle 77W / 105VA, 1/8th Power 240W / 315VA, Full Power 600W / 730VA
Heat Output: Idle 77W / 263BTU, 1/8th Power 184W / 628BTU, Full Power 250W / 853BTU
PHYSICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Net Weight: 63kg / 139lbs
Dimensions: HxWxD 1421x459x352mm 5515/16” x 181/16” x 13 7/8”
Typical UK Retail Prices:
£49,500.00 (per pair inc. VAT)
U.S. Retail Pricing
$99,999 USD per pair
Source: ATC Website
