The free processing is solid and sturdy. The connectors are gold-plated. The keys have a clear pressure point. A remote control or digital display in vain. You can switch on the front panel between the inputs, the device offers a total of 7 ports that can be connected individually (3 * Toslink, 3 S / PDIF and USB 1). I had the atoll in use on my 20 years old, Technics MASH CD player, on the X-Box and a Macbook Pro. The three Toslink inputs were a key purchasing criterion for me.
I was skeptical at first whether a current DAC actually can bring much change. If you connect the CD player's analog outputs directly in parallel to the amplifier, so you can very well do A / B testing. So optical DIGITALOUT from CD players to the DAC, the DAC in the amplifier and the CD player AuxIn parallel to the CD input. Then the remote condition I could go with one touch between the outputs. The difference was clearly to recognize the atoll, the music clearly represents, spatial information and depth - with the concepts I could not do anything before - suddenly had a different meaning, as if someone had previously had pillows on the speakers. In combination with the Macbook I've tried Hires files - up to 24bit / 96kHz. The ultimate, however, is in my ears (and with my system) already achieved with the CD player on the DAC, ie at 16bit / 44Khz. Higher resolutions cost primary storage. I have my CDs now ripped all lossless and play them on the Macbook and discover even new old issues.
Weak points for me are: No headphone output, no Fernbedinung, very puristic equipped.
My conclusion: A great and versatile device at a reasonable price, that the world opened in the new digital world. CDs hear clearer and cleaner itself. Even Hires audio is possible, but requires obviously a corresponding system.
