The Atoll ST300 Signature is the brand’s latest network player. We’ve known for some months that it was in the making, and we’ve obviously respected our confidentiality agreements with the Norman manufacturer. But the wait is always long for the enthusiast. Now it’s here, and we have no regrets about having been patient. Because the ST300 Signature is a marvellous digital source. Here’s an in-depth review.
The front panel of the Atoll ST300 Signature is identical to that of its little brother, the 200. Apart from the model name, it’s all the same. There’s the same attractive, delicately brushed metal front panel and the brand’s beautiful engraving under the screen. This player is equipped with a 5-inch TFT colour graphic display with a resolution of 800 x 480 pixels. Atoll is one of the few manufacturers to equip its network players with such a display, which is extremely practical for everyday use. It is also one of the few manufacturers to have developed a proprietary control application. These are commendable efforts that deserve a mention. Operation can therefore be carried out from the front, using the basic controls, or via the very comprehensive remote control supplied as standard.
On the other hand, the rear panel of the ST300 Signature is completely different. Not only is it more voluminous, but it also boasts better quality connectors, revealing much higher ambitions. These differences only materialise in the analogue section at output and input level. The six RCA sockets are massive models in gold-plated, Teflon-insulated pure copper. Finally, the unbalanced analogue outputs are doubled by a pair of balanced outputs.
Connections include two USB-A inputs (one front and one rear), four S/PDIF digital inputs (two coaxial and two optical), a Bluetooth receiver, two analogue inputs, an RJ45 network socket, a wi-fi antenna (802.11b/g/n), two S/PDIF digital outputs (one coaxial and one optical), a pair of RCA analogue outputs, a 12 V trigger and a mini-jack headphone output on the front panel.
The Atoll ST300 Signature can play DSF, PCM, FLAC, ALAC, AIFF, WMA, OGG, WAV, AAC and MP3 audio files in PCM at up to 24 bit/192 kHz, as well as DSD 64 & 128 formats. The Atoll streamer is connected using the UPnP/DLNA protocol and can access Internet radio via the Airable service. Streaming on platforms includes access to Qobuz, Deezer, Tidal, Tidal Connect, Spotify, Amazon Music…
In short, you’re spoilt for choice.
On a purely technical level, the Atoll ST300 Signature has a rational internal organisation. It is made up of several sections. The pure Class A analogue volume control with no feedback operates via a switched resistor array and is configurable. If you decide to use it in conjunction with an integrated amplifier, the ST300 Signature can be set to fixed output. However, the unit also offers a variable configuration, allowing it to be coupled directly to a power amplifier.
The power supply section is divided into three linear power supplies of 10 V, 10 V and 30 V. The choice of voltage filtering is based on a capacitive assembly that reaches the coquettish value of 69,000 μF. This imposing multi-capacitor filtering provides much greater dynamic range.
Digital information is transferred via a Cirrus Logic CS8416, a digital audio receiver that supports sampling frequencies of up to 192 kHz. It features a very low jitter clock recovery mechanism that produces a very clean signal from the incoming audio stream.
Digital-to-analogue conversion is performed by a dual Texas Instruments/Burr Brown PCM1792 circuit, one per channel. By using a configuration that operates in parallel, twice as much current is obtained, which is ideal for a converter that works with current. The signal-to-noise ratio reaches a remarkable 132 dB.
As always, it’s the attention to detail that makes the difference, such as this ‘double’ conversion. But also the filtering of the DAC part by the large red Clarity Cap capacitors carefully selected by Atoll. In the end, the Atoll ST300 Signature is a high-level digital source that the development team feels is very close to the excellent CD400 player – that’s all there is to it!
The set up
Nothing too complicated. Especially if you use the Ethernet link. The Atoll ST300 Signature is then immediately recognised by the network. You can control it using the proprietary application, which is the simplest and most natural option, in every sense of the word. You can also use Audirvana Studio or Bubble UPNP, which is what we did. As far as the analogue output is concerned, if you have the option, we advise you to opt for balanced mode. Finally, pay attention to the correct mains phase. Naturally, we recommend that you choose a well-made cable to enhance the performance of this excellent network player.
The sound
Something special happens immediately with the Atoll ST300 Signature. We can’t tell you whether we have a particularly strong connection with Burr Brown converters, but the fact remains that this device imposes itself on our ears in an extremely natural and, above all, completely obvious way. In a way, you can’t help thinking ‘this is it’, ‘everything’s perfectly set up, there’s nothing more to touch’! This feeling of having achieved a more than satisfactory sound balance is a real joy. Clearly, the ST300 Signature isn’t the best network player in the world, but the great thing about it is that it lets us enjoy recorded music without question. In fact, with it, we’re at a stage where we’re not even looking for something extra. Not a little more bass, not a little more treble, not a little more dynamic range, nothing. Just enjoy the music, that’s all.
The sound reproduction of this device is particularly marked by density. The sound is full, thick, grainy and full of substance. You could almost make the analogy with a fine silver photograph. And yet, it is capable of demonstrating a magnificent level of precision and outstanding sharpness. It cleverly combines the best virtues of digital and analogue. This excellent material makes it possible to recreate a three-dimensional image with astonishing substance and materiality. The stage develops very naturally along the three axes (width, depth, height). It’s easy to follow the movements of the musicians on stage. The ST300 Signature produces warm, dense sounds that make listening to it surprisingly credible. We re-listened to the various Dire Straits albums on it, as part of our Zoom feature in this issue. And there is undeniably a wonderful complicity between the band’s records and the sound reproduction of this player: a presence that is simply exceptional.
Our conclusion
We’ve loved and respected Atoll Electronique from the outset, first and foremost because the company knows how to design and manufacture high-quality products at very competitive prices. For over twenty years, it has had ample opportunity to prove this through its many talented creations. But it’s also a company that knows how to take risks, and that’s much less common, especially in the world of audio SMEs. We well remember that Atoll was the first French manufacturer to launch an accessible and high-performance home cinema preamplifier/processor, the PR5.1. Now, with the ST300 Signature, Atoll is offering its third and best network player at a price that remains particularly affordable compared to the competition. Above all, for €2,800, the Atoll ST300 Signature is as complete as you could wish for. Because it also combines a whole host of other features! That’s why we recommend this device, which for us is a clear landmark in the hierarchy of network players available today. A product that’s essential for us!
Author: Laurent Thorin
Technical sheet: ATOLL ST300 Signature
- Origin: France
- Price: €2,800
- Dimensions: 440 x 90 x 250 mm
- Weight: 7 kg
- Dynamic range: 132 dB
- Output impedance: 5.6 ohms
- Output level: 2.6 V
- Signal-to-noise ratio: 132 dB
- Distortion rate at 1 kHz: 0.0004
- Bandwidth: 5 Hz to 20 kHz
- Rise time: 1.5 microseconds
