Should I Run An All In One Box?

Yes- but not the CD portion!

Streaming Integrated Amp

If you want a great streaming integrated amp, I’ll happily say YES to a one box solution because I love the Atolls. They’re made in France, not China. They have a 3 year warranty and run their own very friendly app. We’ve sold a few already and the feedback is quite positive. But when it comes to adding the CD player on the same chassis, I can’t condone that.

SDA200 Signature $4300 (120×2)

Two 340VA transformers, 65,800uF filter caps, Burr Brown DAC, Mundorf caps shielded, 8 Matched MOSFET output transistors.

SDA300 Signature $5500 (150×2)

Two 440VA transformers, 65,800uF filter caps, Burr Brown DAC, Mundorf caps shielded, 12 Matched MOSFET output transistors.

These two streaming integrateds suffer no compromise for having Atoll’s streaming module on board. You’re basically getting an IN200 Signature, or IN300 Signature, with built in DAC and streaming provision. These are simply fabulous pieces with big BEEFY sound that outperform anything we’ve seen from China- which is almost everything else by the way. To be fair, we have sold some budget NAD streaming integrateds. They stream fine. We’d like better power amp sections for sure- which Atoll solves with the above two options.

Side bar please: We have tried three brands of UK built streaming integrateds. They haven’t worked well. The streaming mechanism drops signal and buffers like mad. Despite updates and promises… THEY DON’T WORK. We’re not wasting our time trying again- despite the fine audiophile reputation of their amps and tables.

We have learned that streaming successfully requires not only a fine machine, but it has to be supported by companies with the persistence and capital to keep their systems up and running. Atoll checks these boxes. The UK guys have not.

Built in Disc Player?

Ummm, no. I love CD players but I don’t want one built in my integrated amp. If it ever goes south, you’re left with a streaming integrated and a mess. We’ll deal with that at the bottom of the page.

Stereophile just reviewed the T+A R2500R. It runs $19k,140×2, made in Germany. Stereophile gives it good marks.

Buttt… I did look at the photo of the inside of the box and I don’t like what I see. In addition to a lotta chips and a small Ecore transformer, there’s a mass of unshielded wire snaking around the piece just TRYING to attract RFI and hum. No thanks.

Compare the build quality of Atoll, which is more massive in power supply and less of a spaghetti bowl. On the Atolls you can even see the shielded mu-metal housings for the Mundorf caps. Atoll is just astonishingly well thought out and implemented!

CD Transport A La Carte

To complete the Atolls above with CD provision, just add one of their beautifully built CD Transports. Are these stunning or WHAT?! The only wire you see is a ribbon just to connect the readout. Just connect either with an OPT or Coax cable and you’re set. You’ll be all in for a third to one half the price of the T&A- for your Euro built Streaming Integrated Amp with CD player.

If you’ve heard people tell you that CDs are dead, please ignore them. Berkshire Record Outlet is one of the best places to buy classical music. In this month’s music listing they have 22,735 CDs and 12 LPs.