Following on from the IN400evo presented in Munich in 2024, Atoll has renewed its CD400 in both form and substance.
With a design closer to that of the 300 series, the CD400 Évolution loses its curved lines to feature a 10 mm thick brushed anodized aluminum front panel (in silver or black finish). The monochrome LED display and six buttons maintain the functions of all other players from the Norman brand, but on this most high-end series, loading is always from the top. Integrated into a 2 mm-thick steel chassis with solid aluminum side radiators, the new mechanics developed by Atoll also use a platter designed in this material.
Integral double-mono, the CD400evo uses 10 VA toroidal transformers to power the Class A bi-polarized bipolar transistor audio stages. The independent DAC cards for each channel retain Atoll’s signature sound, with chips from Burr-Brown, in this case the excellent PCM1792A. Based on 192 kHz/24-bit frequencies, three coaxial, optical and USB-audio inputs (up to 32 bits) enable direct integration of the DAC with external streamers.
Based on 192 kHz/24-bit frequencies, three coaxial, optical and USB-audio inputs (this one up to 32 bits) enable direct integration of the DAC with external streamers. Conversely, three coaxial, optical and AES/EBU outputs enable digital output via the CD transport section only, for connection to an external converter. In the DR400evo pure transport version, only these outputs are available, while on the CD400evo, a pair of high-quality RCA and XLR terminals are provided for analog connection to a preamplifier.
Available since March 2025, the DR400evo is priced at 4 900 € and the CD400evo at 5 600 €.
03/27/2025
