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The GT 1’s crossover benefits from experience accumulated during the development of previous models and extensive listening sessions. Atohm’s specific TCC™ or Time Coherent Crossover was optimized to match the treble and mid/woofer on phase, group delay and pulse mode. Contrary to conventional crossovers which only adjust phase so that the response remains linear, Atohm’s patented filtering focuses on time alignment. This technical solution is based on a specific delay line applied to the tweeter to create the same time origin as the midrange driver. This specific time shift of the tweeter accomplished inside the enclosure creates a noticeable improvement of phase. This special component also allows the use of a 1st-order 6dB/octave electrical filter for minimum phase shift and group delay at the crossover point. The TCC design is said to result in a more accurate and holographic soundstage and a more seamless driver blend. Final specs are 100/200w nominal/peak power handling, 89dB sensitivity and 45 – 30.000Hz response at –3dB.
The V38s subwoofer is fitted with a single front-firing 23cm woofer. Its powerful magnet is nearly as large as the membrane diameter. The specs indicate stunning excursion capabilities of +/-10mm in linear mode and +/-18mm on peaks. The 23cm cone maintains stiffness during such huge excursions through a series of proprietary Atohm technologies such as their specific spider and Low Diffraction Surrounding LDS suspension.


This driver’s bandwidth is 30 to 200Hz. The cabinet is a classic bass reflex design available in black or white satin with a rear firing laminar airflow port for quieter operation. The built-in amplifier is a typical B&O ICEpower™ module delivering a comfortably useful output of 300 watts into 4Ω.


Considering its low €890 price the V38s is rather versatile. First there’s an auto-start function which relies on signal sensing to turn itself on or off. The rear panel then offers many settings to fine-tune the response though EQ and room correction functions are omitted as is a high-pass to roll out the bass to small monitors. But there are three different active filters for various application. Closed mode invokes a 2nd-order low pass to extend the LF response. Vented mode inserts a 12dB/octave subsonic high-pass filter to limit excursions below 30Hz. Finally full mode provides linear gain across the useful bandwidth.


Having a closer look at the rear panel and moving from left to right along the top row, the various settings are direct input switch, active filter switch, slope switch (LFE 12dB or 24dB/octave), auto-start switch, low-pass filter control, phase (0–180°) and gain. In the second row one finds the low-level RCA input and a direct RCA input to bypass all internal filters. The third row includes the high-level inputs and a balanced direct input. The specs further include a 90dB S/N ratio (A weighted) and  0.02% of THD (1kHz/1w).


Sound. This kind of compact monitor occasionally provides completely unexpected sonic results and less frequently a big surprise. The Atohm GT1 belonged to this second category. Its most surprising features were extended bandwidth, linearity and phase coherence. This provided an impression of pleasing tonal richness without obvious limitations or emphasis and a wide holographic soundstage. Given its small size the GT1 also achieved decent bass without any resonance excitation. The GT1 performed like a very friendly and comfortable speaker that made it seem difficult to ever sound harsh or dull. I would not qualify its sonic signature as strictly a—recording studio—monitor even though its relative neutrality preserved sufficient truthfulness that made it very easy to hear specific recording engineer decisions on different recordings.


These small French monitors also exhibited a superlative and effortless sense of dynamics, making music always feel energetically liquid and emotionally involving. In addition they were able to handle realistic levels without apparent compression or distortion. But this did not imply that the Atohm GT1 had to be played loud to come on song or achieve tonal fullness. This monitor was quite stunning at remaining tonally stable regardless of volume setting.

From my point of view, what this speaker has achieved is quite the tour de force. It is amazingly coherent and fantastic on three-dimensional imaging, linearity and tonal balance. The overall level of transparency and detail were very decent if not comparable to the most ambitious of monitors. Clearly the GT1 are not analytical loudspeakers. Their most salient feature is exceptional respect of phase and time. It's what makes them truly distinctive in the overcrowded bookshelf speaker market. That would seem a common virtue of two-way monitors but trust me, relative to its precise implementation of timing the Atohm GT1 occupies one of the tallest seats in this price range. This also implies excellent placement flexibility without sacrificing overall outcome and soundstage accuracy.