carlsson

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
3.67 of 5, 3.00 votes

Price Paid:  $550.00

Summary:
Best sounding solid state integrate i had... (but not the best made - material/quality/design).

It sounds better than both ss king integrates i had, 1st is the Simaudio I-5, and 2nd would be YBA Integrat. Sound wise, this is the better player, if you are die hard to audiphile nirvana.

How does it sounds like?

Think Coral, just like their name "Atoll"
The sound i would say, so much like the corals under the quiet carribean sea with vivid gorgeous sunlights.

It sounds more warm, colorful, accurate and quiet than Classe - as quiet as YBA, and more real presentation. The music is so much like art pieces by Monet. So real but vivid. The sound is just so unique, unlike any other French made amps.

Why do i say its better than SimAudio and Yba?

This IN50 does everything so good that with only one thing to trade off - power/speed. But hey, even the Simaudio/YBA has more trade off! Although Simaudio has the best dynamics and speed here. Its not the one that has the best soundstage and realness of presentation. The YBA also lack the bass reproduction and dynamics like the I-5, it also sound thin compare to both Simaudio and Atoll.

Some people complains the quality/finish of the unit... its not that bad actually. This amp is just $550 EU... merely $600 USD. What do you expected? Plus the philosophy of Atoll is "simple the best". The one i had have has no remote and phono option, just a standard unit, sounds superb!

Currently i'm using IN100, it has strong power than most integrate amps but it traded off 80% of strengths on this IN50, which in comparison the IN50 have all strengths so much pronouced than speed/power on the IN100. Anyone want to trade my IN100? Although the Sterophile writer claims the 100 System is more than good enuf to mate with his $32000 USD speakers.

So buy this IN50 if you ever come across, not much were sold in North America, or do the owners want to sell it? Since only experienced phile people will try the Atoll brand.

Strengths:
colorful, quiet, vivid, real voice/instrument presentation, warm & accurate, front row live soundstage.

PRICE! You won't find any better sounding machine under $1000, including the Taiwan/YBA made Audio Refinement, its close though. This IN50 is good enough to direct compare with the best bunch of solid state amps, for merely $550 EU!

It all so has TWIN (2) PRE-OUTS!, what other integrates has two pairs? Easy for mono power amp setup or other configuration.

Weaknesses:
It does all category perfect, except it lacks power. Which i think it worth to sacrify. The only complaint i would have isn't the quality and finish of the amp (Better than Audio Refinement and some UKs amp at least), but i would point out that Atoll didn't do much marketing in North America. Atoll became a rare item on used market...

Similar Products Used:
Simaudio, Classe, YBA, Kr Audio, Proceed, Krell, Cayin, Cary, Sophia Electric...etc.

View Comments (1)

Would you like to Comment?
Join audioReview for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.

E.L.R.

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
4.88 of 5, 8.00 votes

Price Paid:  $0.00 from Sydney

Summary:
This review is for the Atoll IN50 integrated amplifier. A unique French design that seems to fill a product gap between the mass market Rotel and NAD integrateds and the much more expensive North American MacIntosh and Classe designs and the British equivalents. Recently I was on the search for a simple cost effective solid state integrated amplifier that didn't cost the earth, but had some real audiophile potential. I started with the less expensive Rotel and NAD integrateds, then moved up to the better quality Marantz, Rega and even Creek products. All had some good and bad points. Some had good sound, but poor build quality, or average sound and great build quality. It seems at this price range, it is difficult to get both. I was getting discouraged and started thinking of moving into a pre-power combo, when I was introduced to the Atoll range. Now Atoll has been around since the mid to late 1990's. I had heard of them, but never listened to them. In fact I was put off by a 2001 TNT Audio review which stated that the sound was great but the build quality sucked! Well how wrong this reviewer was. Maybe he had a pre-production sample. Because the integrated amplifier range I checked out was simply superb in build. The IN50 is the least expensive product in Atoll's range. But it still featured Alps volume control and switch gear, two pre-outs, 4 line level inputs, and a simply stunning aluminium face plate. The power rating is 50 watts per channel rising to 70 watts under a 4 ohm load. The rear of the amplifier is well constructed and features solid metal binding posts (no plastic here!), a rear mounted on/off switch, and detachable mains lead. The front panel has a standby power on switch - the amplifier is designed to be left on all the time. To keep things simple lets compare it directly with the Rotel RA1062. Similar price and power output. The Rotel build quality was ok but the Atoll trumped it in both style and construction. The tactile feel of the Atoll's volume and switching controls were a pleasure. The Rotel was again ok but felt a little cheap in comparison. The Rotel featured a remote which the Atoll didn't. But who cares when the controls feel so good to use. What about sound? Well the Rotel was pretty good. It surprised me in fact. Much more clarity than the NAD equivalents. Good bass and great stereo soundstage. Now the Atoll. I can't say honestly it was chalk and (French) cheese. But I can say the Atoll was a distinct and audible improvement on the Rotel. The soundstage opened right up with the Atoll, and little things you missed with the Rotel, became apparent with the little French guy. The Rotel sounded good to listen to, but the Atoll allowed you to listen much deeper into the recording. Each note was more defined and there was more space around the vocalists. Just an overall sense of completeness when listening to good recordings. And it's not all about brightness. Some amps do that. The manufacturers boost the mids and highs to give an artificial sense of detail and information retrieval. Unlike the others the Atoll is exceptionally smooth and natural in it's presentation while telling yon everything you need to know about the recording.. While the Rotel and other competitors, had more facilities, the Atoll IN50 sells itself to anyone half interested in accurate reproduction of their music. So I bought it. I've had it hooked up at home now for a few weeks through some respectable Klipsch KLF10's. If any amplifier is going to come undone, then this is the time with these speakers. No such luck. Drives then wonderfully and no hidden vices have popped up. Dare I say it? Almost tube like but with decent bass. By the way, I opened the amplifier up to look inside. Very nicely laid out, and very high quality components used in the construction. Looks like it was assembled by a Swiss (and not French) watchmaker! There's a strong argument that carefully designed relatively low output solid state amplifiers can give you the best sound. Look at the British DNM manufacturer for example. As soon as you factor in more power, then compromises have to be made, unless you want to spend big $$$$$$$. So there it is. Worth hunting down if you can You won't be disappointed.

Strengths:
Wide bandwidth. Neutral. Smooth. Outstanding information retrieval. Good power.

Weaknesses:
Remote is extra. Limited facilities.

Similar Products Used:
Rotel. NAD. Creek.

Price Paid:  $350.00 from Illel.fr

Summary:
Nice aplifier. Works very well with Cabasse speakers. I tried them with Rotel amplifier and I didn't like the sound.
I also tried this aplifier with B&W speakers and I didn't
like the result either. So I guess it works well with
certain speakers. Very solid build quality! Very handsome
design. Well.. it doesn't have a remote!

Strengths:
Live and somewhat warm sound. Strong! Good design!

Weaknesses:
No remote control