Intro
Contents
French audio brand Atoll has a distinct signature: somewhat dark in timbre and muscular. The Atoll DAC200 is surprising, it defies that signature.
The Atoll DAC200 Signature extracts heaps of detail out of the music and produces a big soundstage. But that is expected for a DAC at this price point; it is not distinctive. What is distinctive is how the music is conveyed, and that is what much of the review will be about. But let’s start with the technology .
No shortage of connections on the Atoll DAC200 Signature
The Atoll DAC200 Signature is richly equipped with incoming digital connections:
3 times TOSLink, 3 times coax RCA, 1 time USB asynchronous, 1 time AES EBU and also a Bluetooth receiver. Your reviewer tried to think of all the devices needed to use all the connections, but failed to come up with so many different audio sources.
Outgoing is an RCA jack for connection to an amplifier. We have learned from the great interlink test that cables matter in terms of imaging. So it is good to know that the Atoll also has balanced out over XLR. A balanced connector neutralizes this influence a little more, provided the amplifier is also built balanced. Oddly enough, the INT200 from the same Atoll line does not have XLR in, you need the INT300 from Atoll for balanced in.
Additionally, a TOSLink out and an RCA coax is provided on the back, but I cannot think of a useful purpose. After all, this is a DAC, a device you buy specifically to convert the digital signal into an analog signal.
For headphone listeners, a 3.5mm jack is added on the front.
Controls of the Atoll DAC200 Signature
Operation is straightforward with pushbuttons on the front, or with a generic Atoll remote control included with the DAC. It is self-explanatory.
Upon unpacking, there are two options best set up right away. The first one is to set your preferred digital filter in the menu. Listen and choose your favorite setting. Do not be tempted by “digital filter nervosia”. Alpha Audio believes it is best for the manufacturer to choose a filter, but we understand that manufacturers are more or less forced by the endless techno chatter on audio forums, which scores a lack of this kind of feature as a minus. Note that the default setting is simply the topmost filter in the drop-down menu, and to your reviewer’s ears that is not a happy choice.
The Atoll DAC200 has a volume control, but it is a digital control. Atoll recommends in the included manual that you set the output to fixed and use the amplifier’s volume control, which we heartily endorse. Out of the box, the volume control is activated. Disabling the volume control has an immediate audible positive effect on sound quality.
Hi Martijn,
Thanks for the comprehensive answer! After reading your review of the ST200 and your favorable assessment of the ST200’s integrated DAC, I actually compared it with the standalone DAC200. And for me the latter is noticeably better…
I will disconnect the Bluetooth module in the DAC200 as you recommended. But is it possible that the Bluetooth module is defective in some units and OK in others?
The ST200 also has a Bluetooth module as I recall. Does this negatively affect the sound of the streamer?
Appreciate your advice!
Regards,
Oleg
Hello Oleg. We haven’t measured the ST200, so we cannot tell if the Bluetooth model has the same impact. If you don’t use Bluetooth, and the menu allows it, just turn it off (just like WiFi if you do not use a WiFi connection).
Thank you for your advice and your reviews!
Hello Martijn,
Thank you for the review!
I have this very DAC and, in fact, all my components (DR200, ST200 Sign, in400SE and DAC200) were made by ATOLL.
You mentioned the questionable measurements of this model. And you are not alone in this. I found another reviewer who came to similar (or worse!) conclusions:
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/atoll-dac200-signature-review-measurements-dac.44288/
Do you think it’s acceptable for this kind of product to measure so badly? And what could that mean? Does ATOLL tune its products by ear only? How much does it affect the sound? What to do with the jitter?!
Best,
Oleg
Measurements don’t say all, but the fact that the Bluetooth module introduces so much jitter is for this type of product is quite frankly unacceptable. It must have been oversight by Atoll, since they actually create very nice equipment with a distinct sound signature. But I don’t have to tell you that 🙂
Jitter has a nasty effect which we hear the best in the high notes. The Atoll DAC200 shows it. At the same time, the DAC is capable of projecting sound in a very convincing way, so the unease you read in my review is due to jitter. Take that away with disconnecting the bluetooth module and you probably end up with a DAC that is far more enjoyable.
If you dare, open the case and disconnect the bluetooth module, or ask your dealer to do it for you. But in this specific case, that’s the solution.
Your ST200 has a DAC as well. I would recommend to listen and compare with the DAC and decide which one you prefer. Don’t assume that the DAC200 is better, just try to listen carefully.
How to do this? Don’t switch like a madman. Create a playlist of about 3 to 4 songs with music that you listen to regularly, that you know and that you enjoy. Make sure you take the time, put away any other distractions and that you are not feeling tired. Just listen to the playlist on one device. Then listen to the same playlist in reverse order on the other device. And be honest with yourself: which one do you enjoy more.
Hello Martijn, thank you for the feedback.
I would have never considered touching the filter setting without you having mentioned it in your review.
I set my DAC300 to “slow min”.
All the best to you, and the Alpha Audio team.
Regards,
Brian
Hello Martijn, excellent review on the Atoll DAC.
I still have my DAC200 Signature, but I ultimately upgraded to the DAC300.
I’ve always used the default filter without any issue.
Your article doesn’t mention it, but can you please share your insights on the filters and what was your choice in the end, what filter worked best for you?
Brian
Hello Brian,
I haven’t mentioned it in the review, because it is a taste preference.
I prefer the ‘slow minimum phase’ filter, as with all ESS Pro Dac’s. I don’t have the Atoll present anymore, so I cannot tell you what differences I heard. All I remember is that this is the filter I settled on, and I did not compare any further.
As usual, I use Mammal Hands ‘Three Good Things’ for this kind of “tuning”, since that songs gives me already a clue at the first two notes of the piano and the reverb.