I’m an admitted fan of the streaming DAC. Ethernet in, analog out.
Of course I also want that analog output to make music sound engaging and rich and resolving and it used to be the case that this was a lot to ask of any streaming DAC regardless of price. Thankfully, times have changed.
You can scroll through my list of Favorite Digital to see some but here and now I want to shine a more focused light on the recently reviewed Atoll Electronique MS120 Streaming DAC (review) because it makes music sound engaging, rich, and resolving. The HiFi Bargain part comes with the Atoll’s asking price of $1599 which, in my experience, is a nice price to pay for this level of performance.
Here’s part of what I concluded about the MS120:
To my way of hearing, the Atoll’s big selling point is one of balance where its accumulated strengths outweigh any concern over what it’s not doing unless we bring in some much more expensive competition. All of this praise heaped on a streaming DAC that can also act as a preamp and headphone amp that costs a dollar shy of $1600 adds up to a true hifi bargain in my book.
See? I gave away the HiFi Bargain bit right there in the review. If you add in, up?, all of the MS120’s features along with its performance, my math says the Atoll MS120 Streaming DAC is a genuine HiFi Bargain.
Atoll MS120 Streaming DAC | Review
Price: $1599
Company Website: Atoll Electronique
US Distributor Website: Audio Excellent
Connectivity
Audio Inputs
2 Stereo line inputs
4 Digital inputs: 2 Coaxial, 2 Optical
1 Bluetooth® 4,2 input
2 USB-A inputs (1 front, 1 rear)
Audio Outputs
1 Stereo line output
2 Digital outputs: 1 Coaxial, 1 Optical Toslink
Various
1 RJ45 input (network)
1 Trigger output (12V)
1 WIFI antenna (802.11b/g/n)
1 Bluetooth® antenna
Technical Data
Power supply: 9 VA + 7,8 VA (audio)
Total of capacitors: 5 435 µF
Output stages: 2 discrete component stages, biased in class A with no feedback
Dynamic: 123 dB
Output impedance: 22 Ω
Maximum input level: 3,5 Vrms
Output level: 2,8 Vrms
Signal/Noise ratio: 123 dB
Distortion at 1 kHz: 0,0005%
Bandwidth: 5 Hz – 20 kHz
Rising time: 1,7 µs
Digital/analogue converter: BURR-BROWN PCM1796 24 bits/192 kHz – DSD128
Dimensions: 320×210×94 mm
Weight: 3 Kg