Atoll DAC200 Signature DAC

The Atoll DAC200 Signature DAC is the mid-range model from the French manufacturer. It takes up the aesthetic and finish of the “Signature” products of the manufacturer Atoll.

ATOLL DAC200 SIGNATURE: FRONT PANEL

The DAC200 Signature is dressed with a black or natural brushed aluminium front panel, with curved edges.

In the middle of this one, there is a low-power OLED screen. It gives source information, and the sampling frequency of the listened track as well.

On the right and left of the front panel, there is an on/off selector, a source selector, an access to the menu and a volume adjusting.

ATOLL DAC200 SIGNATURE: BACK PANEL

The back of the DAC200 Signature is completely similar to its big brother, the Atoll DAC300 DAC.

The connection offer is impressive on a product of this range! There are 9 digital outputs: 3 SPDIF in RCA format, 3 optical Toslink, 1 USB, 1 AES/EBU in XLR and 1 Bluetooth.

The RCA asymmetrical outputs are doubled by XLR symmetrical ones.

Atoll added to this 2 coaxial digital optical outputs! Hard to miss an input!

ATOLL DAC200 SIGNATURE: TECHNOLOGY

Once the cover is removed, there is in this DAC a N/A conversion chip of a professional origin: the SABRE ES9028 (32 bits/768 kHz). This is the version just below the one used in the DAC300. Its technical characteristics are very close to the Sabre ES9038. It is able to deal with information in PCM up to 768 kHz! It is associated with a ultra-high precision low Jitter clock.

Note that the SPDIF inputs can support the PCM up to 192 kHz and the USB-B can convert the PCM up to 768 kHz, and the DSD 64, 128, 256 and 512!

The power supply uses 12 independent voltage controls, outputs stages polarized in class “A”, with discrete components and no feedback.

All of the connecting capacitors are of MKP technology and the high frequencies capacitors are silver Mica technology.

ATOLL DAC200 SIGNATURE: TEST AND LISTENING

We connected it to the CD transport of the manufacturer, the Atoll DR200 Signature, and to the small Bluesound Node 2i network player.

As expected, the restitution is relatively close to the Atoll DAC300. We find its transparency and definition, with a little less evidence on the background and on some complex parts.

The dynamic is less evident, even if the low end of the spectrum, however nice, does not reach the articulation obtained by its big “brother”!

To be honest, it does more or less the same things as the DAC300, less well everywhere... If you prefer, the Atoll DAC300 does the same as the DAC200 Signature, but better!

The Atoll DAC200 Signature DAC is an excellent surprise! At this price, it is highly recommended!