With its new Sonata series, just available in summer 2019, the French manufacturer Actinote presents a new generation of high-performance cables, well designed to cope with today’s highly polluted electromagnetic environment.
Without making a fuss but with a solid conviction, Actinote conti-nues to exercise his priesthood in terms of excellence in sound reproduction. The French tend towards neutrality and naturalness more than towards rhinestones and sequins. And it seems that he has rallied a good number of devotees, because his influence is gradually spreading. When technical solutions are lacking, Actinote innovates! To produce its products, Actinote takes into account all the electrical and mechanical parameters involved in a cable. The success of its Mezzo Evo lines and especially Aria Evo is not denied, but in each designer, a competitor is asleep, and the idea of doing better is present in his mind.
Sonata has already been present for a few years as a capsule collection, but this time at the dawn of the 2019 season, the complete range is released, with analog (modulation and loudspeaker), digital (AES/EBU and S/PDIF) and mains links. For this first draft, we tested digital and analog RCA interconnections. Where the Aria have an immaculate white livery, the Sonatas are all black. But not a black «Mezzo» in synthetic braid, but the very deep black that the new natural cotton sheath offers, and which, in addition to its elegance, provides a good vibration damping. The link of recognition is made by the catches. Excellent, they haven’t changed a bit! For digital and modulation cables, proprietary RCA connectors are designed to specifications. The wooden barrel is non-resonant. The conductive body is made of pure 24-carat gold-plated copper, the contact resistance is extremely low and the residual capacity is very low thanks to a balance of the metal masses between hot and cold point.
These new cables consist of several cotton sheaths and a large number of series of copper wires with a cross-section of 0.125 mm assembled in an unconventional manner. This is what makes Sonata so special. Actinote started from the observation that the «classic» twisted structure of a rope, in the form of a strand, produces a salt effect that sometimes produces undesirable effects. He has therefore devised a specific assembly that prevents this salt effect. But we won’t know any more, because like most independent cable manufacturers, Actinote protects its trade secrets… What we have learned is that the conductors have been cryogenically processed, and that the main characteristic of these cables is their low resistance. In addition, the assembly time is much longer than for an Aria, and requires proven dexterity.
THE SOUND Manufacturers may say that they are all moving towards neutrality, but we all, including them, have different ears and perceptions, and as a result the proposed results are all different. But where it becomes extremely interesting is in these various proposals for neutrality. And we must say that this new Sonata line has seduced us with a very successful degree of sound fluidity. That was the manufacturer’s stated goal, and we can confirm that he has succeeded! Indeed, rarely has a cable as much as this one can intersperse between the rest of the system and our ear. He seems almost absent. On the other hand, it allows a maximum of information to pass through, very well coordinated, with a very clear feeling of energy. In addition to its very good resolution level, Sonata has the ability to reduce background noise. The sound spectrum reproduced is superior to that of the Aria, with a deeper and more readable bass and a bright high-pitched note, and very well persistent. The tonal balance is very elegant, realistic, quite fruity, not at all matt, and without any artificial coloring. The stereophonic image is more accurate, and better distributed.
OUR CONCLUSION Actinote has never made no secret of its primary desire to let the system express itself. These Sonatas work wonders with any recording. The overall result is characterized by almost no background noise and no fatigue even on very long listening periods.
TECHNICAL SHEET
PRICE Sonata Evo digit RCA 83 : € 685 Sonata Evo RCA 83 : € 1.370 Sonata Evo RCA 130 : € 1.510
The electronics manufacturer from La Manche completes its 300 family of electronics with the new DAC300, a technical upgrade proposed by Atoll in view of the announced specifications in terms of dynamic range and distortion and noise levels. High performance figures resulting from the use of the latest Sabre ESS conversion chips combined with very specific proprietary clocks. In short, Atoll is once again proving that it is able to play in the big league, while remaining reasonable as far as consumer pricing is concerned.
We are very pleased to present you a preview of Atoll Electronique’s new high-end converter. The DAC300 is indeed a very well-made digital source with a large number of original technical specifications and an increasing flexibility: excessive connectivity and preamp section! To know everything, follow the guide! Until a little over two years ago, between the 200 series and the 400 series, a blank area naturally emerged. The team’s installation in new premises and the launch of the IN300 integrated system provided concrete answers. This integrated system launched the 300 series today with the PR300 Signature preamplifier and DAC300 converter.
Evening wear The DAC300 has been installed in a very elegant, ultra-thin case, no thicker than the DAC200, which incorporates the brand’s new aesthetic codes. The front panel is made of brushed and silver or black anodized aluminum, and the identity of the device is engraved on it. Two wheels are located on either side of the central OLED low-power display. The one on the left selects the input source, the one on the right adjusts the volume level attenuation and the converter filter management. These commands are remotely taken over by the generic Atoll remote control that is delivered with the DAC300. The display shows the source in action and the sampling rate of the read signal. A 3.5 mm mini-jack will allow you to listen to the headphones. Note that the volume control also acts on the two analog outputs RCA and XLR, which makes it compatible with using the DAC300 directly with a power amplifier. However, it will be possible to disable this setting and switch to fixed level output if it is decided to insert a preamplifier between the DAC and the amplifier. The rear connection system is quite extensive and completed with the presence of a Bluetooth APTX antenna.
State-of-the-art technology The DAC300’s machinery uses innovative components and circuits. The heart of the conversion beats to the rhythm of an ESS9038PRO Sabre chip, the most powerful and efficient chip offered by the Californian company. It is based on the proprietary 32-bit HyperStreamDAC technology and its internal 8-channel configurable architec-ture makes it extremely flexible to use. In addition, its DSD to DoP decoding compatibility increases the range of supported formats. Given the internal configuration of the analog output stage, Atoll obviously opted for a stereo output in differential mode. In terms of processing, the incoming signals are not resampled but are resynchronized by clocks made by Atoll based on HMInternational oscillators of the SX7CJ series, one for USB decoding at the output of an XMOS receiver chip, two for S/PDIF and AES/EBU data depending on the sampling frequency 44.1 or 48 kHz, and one for Sabre chip timing. The output stages, entirely made of discrete components, are symmetrical and polarized in class A without any negative feedback loops.
A first stage at the output of the converter with two complementary bipolar pairs BC546 / BC556 per channel drives a pair of Clarity Cap link capacitors made to Atoll specifications. The latter then provide the balanced signal to the output buffer. The power supply based on three covered toroidal transformers, one for the digital stages, two for the analog stages with symmetrical voltages, has been the subject of particular care to avoid that its residual noise tarnishes the intrinsic performance of the conversion chip. About twenty chemical capacitors are used to distribute the filtering work before the required and compulsory passage through multiple voltage regulators. The layout of all these components is based on a printed circuit board that occupies the entire internal surface of the chassis, to which a second card placed on the back of the front panel is attached for the processing of the controls and the display.
The installation The DAC300 is a beautiful object that we will enjoy leaving uncovered. It is for us the most elegant of the range, and its visual (and sound) association with the DR400 transport has been most successful. We tried its fixed and variable output. The latter is more of an attenuator than a real volume control like the one found on a preamplifier, but it is very functional and offers good results. We tested it with three quite different power amps without any compatibility concerns. The DAC300 is very flexible as it has nine digital inputs, much more than most of us may need. We focused on the USB input and the AES/EBU input, respectively with a Macbook Pro and DR400se. But we also used the Blutooth input with a smartphone, and frankly, this possibility is not a gadget, and allows an efficient and musical streaming on a Sublime Qobuz signal. Finally, give the DAC300 good support and cords: it’s the least you can do for it!
The sound This very fine machine offers us a great sound with all the nuances. The DAC300 does not try to impress, but to make us discover on a large scale the naturalness and space contained on the disc, which it analyses scrupulously with an obvious realism. First of all, we will appreciate the sensation of air that he knows how to reproduce around the performers, and which owes nothing to an artificial emphasis on the high register. The latter knows how to remain precise without ever adding to the risk of becoming tiring. The tones are remarkably delicate and neutral, without bluster, but remarkably homogeneous. In this field, the DAC300 displays an analog character, and therefore offers a very unbounded reproduction of the sound message. We can feel it, for example, on the expressiveness of the voices, on its ability to make the cymbals sparkle, with a notion of very pleasant silkiness and a beautiful presence. At the other end of the spectrum, the double bass expresses itself with delicacy, but also with presence, and an unstoppable sense of rhythm. The bass instruments show a marked consistency without sacrificing the agility of this register.
The great paradox of the DAC300 lies in its ability to develop a beautiful energy, without sacrificing anything of its ability to modulate with subtlety. We are quite far from a sanitized listening that would favour transparency over density. This converter is able to enhance the music as a whole, without coloration or a feeling of compaction. Its silent operation provides it with a magnificent dynamic response to small signals and a perfect enhancement of the recording’s acoustics, even when the message is complex. This dynamic is at the service of the melody’s readability, but also of lightning accelerations on a large orchestral mass. The stability of the sound stage is a testament to the care taken to ensure phase quality, thanks to an ultra-precise clock circuit. The width and depth of the scene, the layering of the shots : all this contributes to more realism.
Our conclusion Transparent, open, free of any artificial effect, the DAC300 provides a real pleasure to listen to on a daily basis. This musicality is the result of a high level of legibility and a perfect integration of the different registers. Impeccably manufactured by lovers of well-done work, the DAC300 features an architecture that takes care of its performance through an omnipresent attention to detail. An excellent machine that confirms Atoll’s expertise in electronics, and has the good taste to be offered at a price that remains extremely competitive.
TECHNICAL SHEET
PRICE € 2.500 DIMENSIONS 440 x 60 x 60 x 280 mm WEIGHT Approx. 4 kg DYNAMIC RANGE More than 137 dB DISTORTION AND NOISE RATE Less than -122 dB DIGITAL INPUTS 3 S/PDIF RCA (PCM 24/192), 3 S/PDIF Toslink optical (PCM 24/192), 1 AES/EBU XLR (PCM 24/192), 1 USB-B asynchronous (PCM 32/768 and DSD512), 1 Bluetooth DIGITAL OUTPUTS 1 S/PDIF RCA, 1 S/PDIF optical Tolink
Although prolific, the Norman manufacturer never releases a product lightly. If he does, it is because he has good reasons, and especially within the range, this new achievement will bring an obvious advantage. Launched almost 20 years ago, the 100 series is now available in Signature mode. All the new products, the three integrated amplifiers and the three CD players, have a regenerated, elegant look and, above all, a very enviable flexibility, made possible by the use of optional boards for both amplifiers and players. As we like historical little winks, we opted for the two 80 models that when they were released nearly 20 years ago had made the headlines for their insolent price-quality ratio.
The new Atoll Signature 100 series are available for the same price in black or silver. The quality of construction does not suffer criticism, especially since we are here on a product 100% made in France. Atoll has intelligently modernized both its devices by changing the silkscreen printing, the position of the controls, and the position of the logo. No more small windows, but welcome to the pretty asymmetrical curve that highlights the front face from left to right and that can be found on the higher-end models. As always with our Norman, no frills but a real attention to the small details that make the difference in everyday life. Thus the pretty potentiometer is curved to make the handling more smooth, and the integral remote control allows you to control all the functions of both devices without moving from your chair. The two «80» are delivered on request in standard version, or with a set of options that we will detail as we go through this article. This vision is intelligent and pragmatic and allows the user to adapt his product to his constraints.
Inside the new Atoll drive is equipped with a Teac 5020 mechanism fully compliant with the Red book, which implies that it reads CDs, CD-ROMs and everything they contain. The converter is a Burr Brown PCM 1793 with a differential voltage output flow; this allowed the Norman manufacturer to design a discrete components home output stage but above all to ensure that this output stage is totally free of any link capacitor. Compared to the previous generation, in addition to the coaxial S/PDIF output, there is an optical output on a toslink connector. It should be noted that the new display is of the oled type, which implies that it consumes only 5 V. This has great advantages, as less voltage is equivalent to less radiation disturbing the fragile audio stages. On the old 24 V displays, the management of excessive voltages was not always easy to understand. The CD player can be optionally equipped with a DAC card to accommodate three digital streams, one on coaxial plug, one on optical plug, and the last on USB. This card will be charged 200 €. The new IN80, like all the other new models in the Signature range (IN50 and IN100), was designed from the outset to include several optional boards. The idea is to offer a fully customizable product. On our test model, we were able to have a DAC card of excellent quality, the same as the one on the IN200 and IN300, which is charged 300 €. In the same vein, our IN80 had a phono P100 card worth 100 € on board. Consumers wishing to opt for less expensive options can choose the «small» DAC card with all coaxial and optical S/PDF inputs but without USB or Bluetooth for only 150 €. Same for the phono, the P50 card is still available at a much lower price (60 €).
On the IN80, the audio stages have evolved. They are now equipped with Vishay link capacitors and Nippon Chimicon filter capacitors. The settings of the scheme have been revised except for the rest currents, which have not changed. Thus the level of counter-reaction has decreased. There are now pairs of IFRP 9140 and 140 complementary transistors instead of IFRP 9140 and 150. The structure of the schematic is always based on bipolar transistors used as input and driver, and MosFet transistors as output. A simple push-pull per channel is used to develop power. The power supply is always based on a toroidal transformer built to specifications with a value of 340 VA. The 10 additional VA observed compared to the previous generation are devoted to the logic and motor of the potentiometer. The general printed circuit board is placed lower in the chassis, so the designer was able to use higher heat sinks, thus improving the dissipation of excess calories. He also decided to use a thermal sensor that automatically lowers the power to counter the runaway in the event of an excessive increase in temperature within the chassis.
THE SET UP As always, Atoll devices are very «user friendly» and to continue on an Anglicism, totally «Plug and Play». The connection system is simple but of excellent quality. The cabinets are perfectly rigid and well ventilated. In daily use, Atoll are totally forgotten. Depending on the optional cards you have chosen, the modularity of your devices will range from simple to sophisticated. We will appreciate the very quiet phono input, the headphone output that can work with many models, and really powerful DAC cards. The IN80 is a powerful amplifier that can power pretty speakers in a 25 to 30 m² room.
THE SOUND In the more than 20 years that Atoll has been in business, its sound personality has evolved in continuity from an essentially neutral musicality to a linearity that places greater emphasis on spontaneity, balance and fluidity. This very subtle evolution has always been in the right direction and each new generation contributes to the building by offering more binder, softness and intensity. To tell you the truth, we are quite struck by the level of performance delivered by this new pair of 80 Signature. Associated with Dali Opticon 2 speakers, but also with DP 77 Diptyque panels that are much more difficult to power, the 80 have delighted us with their cocktail of musical fluidity. Compared to the previous generation, the listener seems much more involved in musical reproduction. There is a more exacerbated sense of dramatic intensity. In this new series, neutrality does not exclude sensuality. Typically, on stringed instruments, on voices, or on percussion, the sensations are more physical, the sound is palpable. The reproduction of these two devices has a textured side that we did not necessarily expect to find on devices at such a reasonable price. In addition, this player and amplifier complement each other admirably. The first search at the bottom of the microcuvettes of the compact discs to obtain as much information as possible without distorting them, only by respecting them scrupulously. The second faithfully exploits this signal and applies gain to it without adding its color, but without ever impoverishing it either. We are therefore witnessing a reproduction that remains very human, that does not seek to have an effect, but that knows how to enhance the sound recordings with great honesty. So of course. This desire not to tamper with sound does not help recordings of poorer quality. Even more now than in the past, Atoll devices will allow you to sort through your discotheque. It’s sometimes cruel, but it’s a very good sign. It is a sign of maturity, and integrity. With this new 80 series, the music reveals itself even more, in all its subtlety, and its many small components without which emotion would not be there. We deliberately omitted to talk to you about its products in purely «characteristic» terms, because we felt that their designers were obviously looking for sound coherence and when a listening focuses more on the «everything» than the «parts», the bet is won. One more time!
OUR CONCLUSION This duo CD80 and IN80 Signature is the most obvious proof that you can compose an extremely musical system for a very reasonable price. For our part, we have succeeded in doing so by combining these two products with a pair of Dali Opticon 2, a complete series of Esprit Alpha cables, and an Actinote Mezzo power strip for a complete price well below 4.000 €. This is just one example, of course, and many other excellent combinations will certainly be offered by your favorite reseller. But the important thing is the potential of his products and the way they present recorded music without any frustration, deeply respecting the musicians’ intentions. And believe us, at that price it’s a small miracle.
TECHNICAL SHEET CD 80
PRICE € 900 DIMENSIONS 440 x 90 x 280 mm WEIGHT 5 kg RISE TIME 2 µs RAPPORT S/B 113 dB
TECHNICAL SHEET IN 80
PRICE € 900 DIMENSIONS 440 x 90 x 280 mm WEIGHT 8 kg RISE TIME 2 µs EFFICIENT POWER 80 W /canal /8 Ω120 W /canal /4 Ω
Since the company’s creation in 2009, the Norman crew has never rested on their laurels. Between the five ranges of analog audio cables and the different models of power cords with a power strip, the beginner audiophile with measured budget and the experienced music lover with comfortable finances will find the perfect fit. The UL-TIM range is located near the manufacturer’s technological peaks just before the Tim-Reference summit. Some optimizations have been made and it seemed interesting to us to share them with you by rediscovering two models, the XLR balanced modulation cable and the loudspeaker cable.
The first contact with an Absolue Creations cable is visually and tactically positive. The flexibility and handling of a UL-TIM is a quite enjoyable experience, the extremely pleasant touch of the outer sheath provides a silky feel that removes any mechanical or even technical feeling with the object. As for the substantial weight of the cable, which houses a serious know-how carefully kept, it adds to the feeling of being in the presence of a top-of-the-range model.
A DNA FOR EACH FAMILY Each Absolue Créations family of cables incorporates a certain degree of technical expertise, the complexity and musicality of which increases with the move upmarket. Therefore, the technical processes used and on which the manufacturer delibe-rately remains silent are used on all cables, but they are adapted according to the final application. It will be understood that a modulation cable does not have the same requirements as a loudspeaker cable and vice versa. The stranded conductors of UL-TIMs are made of pure silver-tinned copper. Each strand of extremely thin diameter is covered with a thin layer of silver to prevent any risk of oxidation and improve conductivity. Each balanced modulation cable consists of three twisted conductors in a wide helix, while each of the four independent cables, two per channel, of the speaker model, integrates two conductors for obvious reasons of current capacity. The internal insulation of each conductor is made of Teflon, and their length and each additional unit of length is defined on the basis of quantifiable and measurable criteria such as group propagation time, for example, whose influence on distortion, crosstalk and offset between frequency registers is essential.
It is obviously preferable that the funda-mental frequency and its harmonics be sent with the greatest consistency throughout the cable. Layers of silicone and cotton insulation coat the whole thing to keep the conductors tight and avoid vibration transmission problems. Finally, a tightly woven cotton sheath finishes the large outer diameter cables. Manufacturing is entirely carried out by hand at the manufacturer’s premises and each UL-TIM cable is now assigned a unique serial number.
UNIQUE TECHNIQUES The connectors used, XLR Neutrik for modulation, forks or banana plugs for loudspeaker cables, are not soldered but crimped to avoid any additional metal junction by adding metal such as solder. XLRs with internal silicon insulation are then pressed into sleeves made of specific insulating material with stable electrical and mechanical properties. They also serve to break the circulation of vibrations. The forks and banana plugs are covered with a heat-shrinkable sheath with indication of the signal flow direction. Each end of a loudspeaker cable ends in a sleeve filled with damping silicone from which a pair of slightly twisted conductors opens, which are then crimped at the end.
In addition to a very careful cabling work, Absolue Créations implements processes that are not found in any other cable manufacturer. Proprietary technologies of flow concentration by internal passive polarization on the one hand and AFCM anti-flow technologies on the other hand are implemented in a more efficient version than on more affordable cable ranges. Each step of the manufacturing process is controlled with electrical measurements and mechanical tests. Factory tested cables pre-routed for 24 hours are sold with a 5-year warranty.
THE SET UP For this test, we opted for a complete «analog» line, which includes two sets of balanced modulation cables, between converter and preamp, then between preamp and power amp. And finally, HP cables. Although Ul-Tim cords look like nice boas constrictors, they remain surprisingly flexible and bend (as it were) to the curvature requirements of their owners. They will therefore be very easy to install, no doubt about it! The «double mono» side of the HP cables allows a real physical separation between the two polarities; a plus that is not a gadget. In addition, although imposing, its cords do not weigh a ton. And if the speaker connectors of your speakers are placed in height, there will be no inappropriate mechanical stress that could damage your equipment. Finally, the connectors have been carefully selected: Furutech for HP and Neutrik for XLR connectors in modulation link.
THE SOUND Installed in a system that we know by heart, the «analog» Ul-Tim line very quickly revealed its profound nature. The very first sensation is indeed that of great beauty. The sound is magnificent, pure, devilishly elegant. The top of the spectrum, first of all, of a chiselled without hardness, even at very high levels, merges without any hindrance with the medium, all with a perfect tonal coherence. On voices or on large formations, each performer, each desk remains perfectly readable, no matter how complex the piece may be. The lower part of the spectrum shows an extension and a holding in the last octaves that illustrate the work done on these products. All this contributes to giving the stereo image an uncommon depth and foundation. The stage opens to fill the room with great simplicity. No blurring, no hesitation when it comes to putting the instruments in context. What characterizes this Ul-Tim line is the ease with which it manages the dynamics! We always have the impression that music is free to express itself without theoretical constraints, as if the system were freeing itself. As a result, the latter only provides the required energy with precision and control. And if the watts are perfectly distributed over the entire spectrum, the subtlety of the message, with all its nuances, is there.
OUR CONCLUSION The final touch to a beautiful system is inevitably good cables. We know this and experience it every day. The Ul-Tim line is a total success and will allow noble links to express themselves without constraint or hindrance. They will hide nothing, and let the material offer an elegant and sleek reproduction that will guarantee long hours of sound pleasure. Slowly but surely, the French manufacturer Absolue Créations is establishing itself as a major player in France and increasingly in the export market. We can only be de-lighted!
TECHNICAL SHEET PRICE € 2.790 (XLR module, 1 m), € 3.980 (HP, 2 x 1 m)
