The world of hi-fi technology today is in a very interesting position - and it’s not for nothing that I expressed myself ambiguously. Sound sources have become digital (the so-called vinyl revival remains a marginal phenomenon), but humans can only perceive a continuous sound wave. When is it more appropriate to switch from digital to analog? At the linear or strong signal stage?
This is perhaps the most pressing Hi-Fi issue of our days, and no one yet knows how the “interesting situation” of the audio industry will be resolved. As a result, the classic tandem of analogue pre and power feels, if not completely, then relatively safe. Interest in such components is by no means waning, especially if they are produced by an outstanding company.
Meet Atoll Electronique
The town of Bresse in Normandy might not be mistaken for the European equivalent of Silicon Valley, but Atoll Electronique, one of the most successful French hi-fi companies, has its headquarters located here. If there are family businesses, then Atoll, by analogy, will be called a fraternal enterprise: the company was founded almost 20 years ago by brothers Stéphane & Emmanuel Dubreuil - with the goal of developing and producing high-end audio equipment, and selling it at a reasonable price. Expecting to attract music lovers who do not have a deep wallet to High-End sound, the founders chose the most difficult path to the heart of an audiophile: through the creation of components with a high quality/price ratio, which is impossible without careful study of each engineering solution and comprehensive testing of finished equipment - processes expensive and time consuming. Read more in the article “Sterile Hi-Fi from the French Atoll Electronique: when everything was done correctly.”
Meanwhile, the first Atoll products appeared already in 1997, and among them was the PR 100 preamplifier. A year later, the AM100 “power amplifier” was presented to customers. I can already see the reader raising his eyebrows in bewilderment: “Are the heroes of today’s test really being produced for almost two decades? In the hi-fi world, this is retirement age!” Yes and no, I will answer. Indeed, the PR 100 and AM 100 products have been present in the Atoll line almost since the founding of the company, but these are not at all the same devices as they were at the end of the previous century.
To listen to “Atolls” we used Hi-Fi components from the German company T+A: CD player CD 1260R and floor-standing speakers Criterion TCD310S
Once again, we are faced with deliberate ambiguity: about ten years ago, the names of the components were supplemented with the SE index, which we want to understand in the generally accepted sense - Special Edition, i.e. "special edition". This is usually the name given to products produced in limited editions for a significant date in the history of their manufacturer. In this case, SE means Second Edition - second edition.
I would like to reproach the Dubreuil brothers for false modesty: by the second edition they mean a radical rethinking of all engineering solutions - a process to which the company devoted two years (2007-2008). In my opinion, it would be natural to add the abbreviation SG - Second Generation to the names of the updated components, i.e. "second generation".
Preliminary inspection
Of the four preamplifiers produced by the company, the PR 100 SE is the youngest. Are there any compromises in its design that are typical for such products? Yes, my charge does not look as exotic as the flagship of the PR 400 line, although for many this is rather an advantage: the PR 100 SE will visually harmonize with components from other manufacturers.
For adherents of classic design - I include myself among them - its all-metal body of ideal proportions makes the most favorable impression. The front panel is made of a relatively thin aluminum sheet and looks quite stylish and businesslike. The only purely decorative element is the company's vaulted logo, which fills the void in the left half of the façade (photo above).
However, French designers would be betraying themselves if they did not try to revive boring utilitarianism with notes of grace. Firstly, the volume control knob placed in the center is made round (it is not very convenient to turn it, however, there is no calculation for this - a high-quality motorized ALPS potentiometer is installed, which instantly responds to commands from the remote control). Secondly, the green LEDs of the active input indicators are located in a crescent shape. The only evidence that PR 100 belongs to inexpensive equipment is the absence of a rotary source switch (it is replaced by buttons) and a modest 3.5 mm headphone jack.
On the rear panel there is a traditional set of unbalanced audio ports: a pair of line outputs, five adjustable inputs (one with a through channel) and a fixed one, which ensures that the signal passes to the output bypassing the volume control (hence the name of the input - By-Pass). It will be useful if the preamplifier happens to work as part of a home theater, where the volume is controlled through an AV processor or in a multi-room system. The leftmost input, designated AUX, can be converted to work with a vinyl turntable - if you install an optional phono stage board (the company has an option for an MC or MM cartridge in its arsenal).
Unlike the PR 100 SE, the AM 100 SE power amplifier (photo above) occupies a fairly high position in the Atoll hierarchy (second only to the flagship AM 200). It is noteworthy that its dimensions are exactly the same as those of the previous one, so the devices form a tandem of remarkable visual harmony if they are installed together (but not on top of each other, otherwise the component of the device located below will overheat, and the ventilation holes in its top cover will be locked).
Gold-plated power amplifier speaker terminals accept banana plugs
The layout of the AM 100 facade is extremely simple: only an LED indicating the operating mode; There isn't even an On/Off button. You can turn off the amplifier only using a toggle switch on the rear panel, which in our age of energy saving should be regarded as a disadvantage. On the opposite side of the toggle switch are the unbalanced stereo input and output, and the center rear panel features high-quality gold-plated speaker terminals. If necessary, the amplifier can be switched to bridge mode - turned into a monoblock with increased power.
Amplifier Atoll IN 100SE and acoustics Dali Opticon 5 (personal experience)
Greetings! Last summer I purchased 5 opticons and shared my impressions here. Now I want to share my impressions of changing the amplifier
Initially, I had the popular Denon PMA 720, I thought for a long time about what to replace it with, but I never came up with it. It turned out that I parted with the amplifier before buying a new one (I gave it to my father).
Then for a long time I looked closely at the Denon 1600, then at the Marantz 8005, at some point I decided that I didn’t want to spend more than 50 grand on an amplifier and began to look at the secondary one. I periodically look at the forum, since many owners of opticons asked a similar question at one time.
And then, one day, I saw a topic and then began to look for Atoll IN 100SE on the secondary market and found it. By the way, one of the sellers had it on the 6th opticons; according to his reviews, the sound was very good, but there was not enough power for the sixes. In general, after thinking a little, I decided to take it without wiretapping and I can say for sure that I was not mistaken
My seller took the 200, but said that he practically didn’t hear the difference...
And now about my impressions after receiving the package and the first day of listening.
1. The amplifier is really HEAVY, when you pick it up you immediately feel that this is a serious device
2. I really liked the screw clamps 5 squares (2*2.5 bi-wire) they clamp with a bang!
3. The first minutes after turning it on were a little incomprehensible, for some reason I was expecting a wow effect, but it didn’t happen and I was even a little upset, but a little later the sound changed. Someone wrote here. that the atoll needs to be warmed up for about 30 minutes before listening, it is possible that this is really true.
4. The dynamic range at low volume is amazing, the Denon produced this when turning the knob 20-30 percent stronger. Atoll, even during the day, there is no desire to spin for more than 9 hours.
5. In terms of sound, I agree with this statement “Atoll is very good! When you turn it on after 720, you immediately feel like the blanket has been removed from the speakers. The strings began to play more sharply, the drums became more articulate, and you could even hear the vibration of the drum membrane. There is more life and drive in the music. Everything began to play more transparently.”
By the way, on the Denon I added highs on the timbre block, although I prefer the direct mode, but it sounded too dull. Atoll sounds great without any adjustments.
Heat. I don’t know what needs to be done with the amplifier so that it is hot, drives all day and loudly and not very much, a little more than just warm. At 9 o'clock it's a little warm.
Now about the minuses, there is only one... I was expecting a significant increase in the volume and depth of the scene, but globally this did not happen, so - on the nuances. It’s possible that it’s a matter of the source, I have it in the form of a computer with an Asus Xonor STX...
Thank you for reading to the end, I hope that my experience will be useful to someone
If you have any questions, ask, I will answer with pleasure!
Under the hoods
Both components are assembled according to a “dual mono” circuit with a symmetrical circuit topology. The path of each AM 100 SE channel is powered by its own toroidal transformer. There are two of them, the total power is 660 VA, and the capacity of the battery of storage capacitors is 30,000 μF. As a result, the AM 100 SE produces 100 W/8 ohms or 140 W/4 ohms.
Preamplifier with toroidal transformer in the power supply and motorized volume control! For inexpensive technology, such uncompromising solutions are very rare.
The output stage is assembled using MOSFET transistors, which are so fast that the upper operating frequency reaches 200 kHz (hence, the potential of high-resolution recordings will be revealed). The preamplifier is not inferior to the “power amplifier” in terms of equipment quality. The power supply contains a 160 VA toroidal transformer, the total capacity of the storage capacitors is 15,000 μF.
The power amplifier is assembled according to the “full dual mono” circuit. Each amplification channel is powered by its own toroidal transformer
In short, such parameters could be the envy of many terminals. However, this is not an excess to show off the buyer, but an urgent necessity: the PR 100 SE operates in pure class A and is assembled exclusively from discrete elements, which, of course, increases the requirements for the power source. The operating frequency range also extends to 200 kHz, and the signal path is reduced to a minimum - the same as that of the “power”. The circuit uses only high-quality components, selected based on the results of careful listening - in particular, MKR polypropylene capacitors.
Buy a reverse osmosis system Atoll
If you do not have the opportunity to analyze the source water and identify hidden problems, then the best option is to install an Atoll reverse osmosis filter.
We invite owners of apartments and summer houses to consider the compact model atoll A-450m STD Compact. 4-stage cleaning ensures reliable filtration from chlorine, hardness salts and other impurities. The quality of purification will be high, regardless of the composition of the source water. The semi-permeable membrane allows only water and air molecules to pass through, providing up to 99.9 percent purification. The owner of the A-450m STD will receive not only safe, but also tasty and healthy water thanks to the mineralizer. The storage tank volume is 8 liters, which is enough for a family of 3-4 people.
If you need a larger volume of drinking water for your family, we recommend paying attention to the atoll A-550m STD (A-560Em) purification system with a mineralizer and a useful storage tank volume of 12 liters. We offer the most popular models of reverse osmosis filters at affordable prices, as well as connection and maintenance services.
By choosing an Atoll reverse osmosis filter, you can rest assured that the water will be safe, tasty and healthy. You can order the most effective filtration system at a competitive price and with fast delivery not only in Moscow, but throughout the country in our online store. Call us and we will help you choose the best option for your family.
Listened and decided
For relatively inexpensive devices, our players showed, in my opinion, an extremely open and relaxed sound. I did not find in it the slightest sign of tightness, which is primarily characteristic of power amplifiers in this price category. Even when connected to the “tight” T+A floorstanders (this decision was made deliberately to tighten the listening conditions), the tandem worked calmly, without noticeable tension. Barely noticeable limitations (it was felt that the powerhouse was operating at the limit of its capabilities) arose when playing P.I.’s fantasy overture at a realistic (quite high) volume. Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet is a work characterized by an extremely wide dynamic range.
Universal remote control that comes with the pre-amplifier. An elegant toy, but it takes a while to get used to it
But with what accuracy the sound of an acoustic guitar was conveyed! Folk rock fans will be delighted. For example, Cat Stevens' album "Teaser And The Firecat", extremely rich in high frequencies, played by a low-end amplifier would invariably hurt the ear, while "Atolls" soulfully, in detail, reproduced both the singer's cracked voice and the crystal chime of guitar strings, creating a multi-level sound picture.
I monitored the sound quality of the low-frequency register by listening to one of my favorite test tracks, “The Poem of Chinese Drums” by Yim Hock-Man. The bass was flexible and well controlled; Some comments were caused by the development of the lowest frequencies, but this can be eliminated by careful selection of speaker systems.
In general, devices developed 20 years ago and “rethought” a decade later work (by the standards of equipment in their price range, of course) flawlessly. To paraphrase the classic: there cannot be sturgeon of the second freshness, but an amplifier of the second generation of quality has every right to exist.
Advantages: presence of design solutions usually used in equipment of a higher price category, careful study of sound nuances
Disadvantages: power amplifier cannot be turned off from the front panel, no 12V relay inputs/outputs
Official website: Atoll PR 100 SE, Atoll AM 100 SE
Price: Atoll PR 100 SE - 56,100 rubles, Atoll AM 100 SE - 68,850 rubles
