Integrated Amp Shootout At About $2k
It would be nice to get the top candidates lined up to do A/B comparisons, but it’s just not realistic. So how should you wisely shop for your new $2k ish integrated amp?
Spend a few minutes learning what is under the hood. Performance doesn’t come down to magic and potions. You absolutely, positively CAN make sense out of how an amp will sound by knowing about the nuts and bolts used in construction.
I can save the suspense and let you know the Atoll IN100 is the clear winner in this horse race!
Where Is It Built?
Atoll builds its products in its own house in France with 3 year warranty. They don’t have a vendor in China build it for them- just to slap their logo on the front.
Atoll builds with through hole parts and little running wire. The workmanship is exquisite. All the Chinese have flimsier designs with surface mount parts and spaghetti running adjacent and over components to generate RFI and noise.
Some audiophile reviewers say, they don’t care where a product is made. Oh?
Really? Well, I DO care where it’s made. I would much prefer to support a family operated company from N America or Europe- instead of a job house making dozens of brands under contract in China. Atoll builds in its own house with total control over QC. When you have a job house build for you under contract, it’s impossible to yield the same result. Mass production isn’t the friend of excellence.
Amp Classification
Atoll runs Class AB. It provides a warmer, more stout sound than Class D, or a derivative like Class G or H- which have additional rails to kick in when needed. Class D in particular provides a leaner, cooler sound. I much prefer Atoll’s heft and warmth.
Transformers
All things being equal, the bigger the better. The transformer is the heart of an amp and there is no substitute for having a muscular transformer OR TWO to create robust sound. Atoll has designed its own transformers and has them built in Spain.
The case is made of steel and there’s an internal resin to absorb vibration. Atoll not only beats the competition in SIZE, it delivers better quality as well. Nobody else for $2k is going to this effort.
Please notice that Atoll runs a PAIR of beefy 340VA transformers. All the other guys run a single and most of those are smaller than one Atoll. None of the others have Atoll’s construction quality.
Filter Capacitors
Ditto. The bigger the array of filter caps you have, the better to deliver dynamic, rich sound. Atoll designed its own caps and has them custom built by Nippon of Japan (not China). They are fast ESR caps and used in generous allotments. The cap value used by Atoll is more like what you’d expect from a stand alone power amp that runs the same price.
Starting with two big 340VA toroidal transformers and almost 32,000uF of power supply caps, puts Atoll a step above everyone else in this price strata.
Matched MOSFET Transistors
MOSFET output transistors are fast and clean. They handle high demands without breaking. Atoll uses MOSFETs because they’re superior in speed and power handling.
Atoll goes further than anyone else to give you the smoothest sound with their electronics. Atoll hand matches transistors. Every transistor that comes in the door is graphed for its fingerprint of operation. The transistors are then grouped in LIKE buckets. The transistors in your Atoll will be matched with others of all but identical fingerprints.
Think of a tuning fork that is supposed to play at middle C. In mass production some tuning forks don’t play at precisely middle C. Some have peculiar anomalies or buzzing artifacts. When you use 4 or more, as an amplifier requires with transistors, the DIFFERENCES among these produce a grainy or harsh sound. Atoll knows this and goes to great time/expense to match transistors.
Atoll has created their own test procedure to do this efficiently. None of the other guys do this so they can’t provide the argute detail and character of Atoll.
Features
Atoll builds its integrated amps in line stage configuration. You can add MM for $130. You can add a Burr Brown DAC module (with no negative feedback) for $300. I think this makes great sense. You can add these features if you want to. But you don’t have to pay for them if you don’t need them.
Atoll also has TWO sets of buffered preamp outputs! You can add a powered sub, or two. You can link to a GIGUNDO power amp if you want.
Let me wax on a bit about Atoll’s DAC option. Atoll runs Burr Brown DACs without negative feedback- to keep the sound musical instead of sterile. NOBODY else does this. Atoll prides itself on voicing the sound of its products. Running the DAC with no additional electronic processing gives them a smoother, less edgy sound, whether in integrated amps, CDs or streamers.
Atoll IN100, $2100 (100×2)
There’s no better value in an integrated at this price class than Atoll’s IN100. It sounds mellow and yet packs a sledge hammer. It’s simply a magnificent performer for the money. For a shopper watching his wallet, it would make good sense to start your system with IN100 and spend the lion’s share of your money on speakers. The advantage of going north on electronics from here will pay off less than doing so in speakers.
*Made in France with 3 year warranty
*Class AB
*Two 340VA toroidal transformers, made in Spain to Atoll’s design
*31,474uF of low ESR power supply caps, made in Japan to Atoll’s specs
*Matched MOSFET output transistors
*Phono & DAC boards optional
*Two sets of buffered preamp outs to add subs or a power amp
Musical Fidelity A1, $1800 (25×2)
The A1 gets decent marks for smooth sound. But it runs hotter than Hades which is a reliability nightmare. Owners of older units even mention how the plastic insulators around the binding posts have MELTED over the years. A piece that runs uber hot and is made in China- makes no sense to buy.
*Made in China with 2 year warranty
*Class AB despite claiming class A
*Single 300VA toroidal transformer
*30,000uF of filter capacitance
*Unmatched bipolar output transistors with chassis top plate as heat sink
*Has Phono
*One set preamp outputs
Rotel A14II, $1700 (80×2)
Rotel is made in China with a lot of features. But the money that goes into the extended features comes right out of larger and superior GUTS. Atoll produces a weightier, smoother sound. Rotel is on about its fourth importer in a decade. Your service is only as good as the new guy.
*Made in China, 3 year warranty
*Class AB
*One 300VA toroidal transformer
*20,000uF of power supply caps
*Unmatched bipolar output transistors
*Has MM, DAC & Bluetooth built in
*Has pre out
Naim Nait 5si, $2300 (60×2)
The Nait is basically a power amp with inputs. There’s some switching belching, no option for phono, a DAC, and no preamp output so you can’t add a sub or larger amp. While it sounds good, Atoll is better and much more flexible to build a system around.
*Made in UK with 2 year warranty
*Class AB
*One 400VA toroidal transformer
*30,000uF of power supply caps
*Unmatched bipolar output transistors
*No phono or DAC board options
*No preamp outs to add a sub or larger power amp
Rogue Sphinx Magnum, $2000 (100×2)
The Sphinx is mostly interesting in its implementation of tubes in the preamp. The amp consists of Hypex D modules. I like it second best in our survey due to nice spatiality, but it doesn’t have the weight and octane of Atoll.
*Made in US with 2 year warranty
*Class D
*One 300VA toroidal transformer
*20,000uF of power supply caps
*Class D Hypex modules
*Has phono, no DAC options
*Has preamp outs
NAD C399, $2500 (180×2)
C399 is a class D amp made in China. It plays clean and loud, but sounds more lean and sterile than the Atoll. C399 cannot deliver the solid bass of Atoll. If you have speakers capable of prodigious bass like Brystons, Atoll pays off in spades. The NAD is clean, but not as full and warm.
*Made in China with 2 year warranty
*Class D
*One 250VA toroidal transformer
*20,000uF of power supply caps
*Uses Hypex D module, not discrete transistors
*Has MM, DAC & Bluetooth built in
*Has pre out & sub out
Arcam A25, $1500 (100×2)
Arcam is made in China and is a relative lightweight. At least the price is fairly low. However, if you want to spend less than IN100’s $2100, consider Atoll’s IN80 for $1700. It runs one 340VA transformer and over 31,000uF of caps. Yet I’d muscle up to IN100 because it’s worth the little bit extra.
*Made in China, 3 year warranty
*Class AB
*One 250VA toroidal transformer
*20,000uF of power supply caps
*Unmatched bipolar output transistors
*Has MM, DAC & Bluetooth built in
*Has pre out
Choco Sound Emei, $2250 (138×2)
This little guy is getting some web attention. It’s made by a Chinese company that is known for streaming and cable TV boxes. The transformer is good sized- but barely above HALF of what Atoll provides. This unit doesn’t offer phono or a DAC, which you can buy outboard. But with no preamp out put, you can’t add a sub or larger power amp, so it’s a non starter.
*Made in China, 2 year warranty
*Class AB
*One 400VA toroidal transformer
*24,000uF of power supply caps
*Unmatched bipolar output transistors
*Has 3 analog inputs, no options for phono or DAC
*No preamp output!
Marantz Model 50, $1800 (70×2)
M50 is made in Viet Nam, yuk. Marantz gives a long warranty to try to convince you that’s OK. It isn’t. While it has a decent transformer and caps, it’s not in Atoll’s league.
*Made in V Nam, 5 year warranty
*Class AB
*One 350VA toroidal transformer
*22,000uF of power supply caps
*Unmatched bipolar output transistors
*MM phono, No DAC option
*Has pre and sub outs