This Atoll DR100 CD drive is a brilliant addition to the French manufacturer's range, offering a more affordable price than the ATOLL DR200 EVO drive.
Atoll DR100 EVO: chassis and components
With the cover removed, we can see that the manufacturer has totally optimized this device to offer the highest-quality playback possible. All mechanical elements have been optimized to significantly reduce jitter.
Atoll has chosen TEAC's new pure-audio mechanics. This has been modified and treated with special damping materials. It is compatible with CD, CD-R, CD-RW and MP3, WMA and AAC formats.
The chassis, too, has been optimized and treated against mechanical vibration. The mechanics are powered by a high-capacity regulated power supply. Digital signals are processed by a 30 VA low-noise linear power supply.
Digital signal reformatting is entrusted to an LVDS circuit. It isolates digital signals via a 1:1 ratio transformer.
Atoll DR100 EVO: front panel
The magnificent thick front panel in natural or black brushed aluminum.
In the middle of the Atoll DR100 EVO is the loading drawer, with only 3 buttons on either side, covering the basic functions of a CD player.
Below the drawer is the low-power blue OLED display. The whole is very sober and makes a real impression of quality.
Atoll DR200 EVO: rear panel
At the rear, the DR100 EVO is equipped with a coaxial output on an RCA connector and an optical output in Toslink format.
There's also a master power switch, an IEC Male 10A socket and a Trigger Out socket.
Atoll DR100 EVO : accessories
A remote control is supplied as standard, enabling remote control of all Atoll products (integrated amplifiers, preamps, tuner, DAC).
What's more, it has all the basic functions, including programming, shuffle, repeat and more.
Atoll DR100 EVO: test and listening
This CD drive offers remarkable performance and musicality, whatever the associated DAC. The dynamics and transparency so dear to the French manufacturer are once again evident.
Compared with the DR200, the level of transparency and, above all, finesse and nuance is lower. However, it offers a clear improvement on all parameters compared with using a standard CD player connected to a converter.
Connected to an Atoll DAC 200, the results are surprising in more ways than one, and make you forget that this format is supposedly obsolete. On many tracks, it was difficult to tell the difference with a dematerialized file, even in 96Khz...
With this Atoll DR100 EVO CD drive, Atoll proves that the compact disc still has a bright future ahead of it!
A superb product, with excellent value for money ... Highly recommended!
FranckMechanicals: Teac Pur Audio
Compatibility: CD, CD-R, CD-R W and MP3, WMA AAC
Output level: 2.5 VRMS
CD signal-to-noise ratio: 123 dB
CD distortion rate: <0.0004%.
Power supplies: 10 x regulated power supplies
Transformers: 30 + 1.6 vA
Capacity: 15,000 uF
Display: low-power OLED
Disc type supported: CD, CD-R, CD-RW
Formats: MP3-WMA-AAC
Coaxial output: RCA
Optical output: Toslink
Dimensions: 440 x 280 x 95 mm
Weight: 6 kg
