Atoll Electronique PR400 Evolution
The Atoll Electronique PR400 Evolution delivers near-invisible transparency, letting sources and power amplifiers speak with striking honesty. Graig Neville found its presentation smooth, clean and dynamically articulate, with a superb lateral soundstage, silent backdrop and balanced XLR connectivity. This is a compelling high-end linestage for resolving systems that value natural tone over sonic embellishment.
WATT RECOMMENDS
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Deliciously Crispy
Sound Quality
92/100
Build Quality
86/100
Features Connectivity
87/100
Value for Money
94/100
Pros
Exceptionally transparent, neutral presentation that preserves the character of partnering components.
Clean micro-detail, convincing percussion attack and decay, plus superb left-to-right soundstage scale.
Versatile balanced and single-ended connectivity; the reviewer found it simple to set up and compatible with every amplifier tested.
Cons
Relatively high gain can leave limited usable volume-control range with sensitive speakers or certain amplifiers.
Front-to-back image depth was not the strongest the reviewer had heard.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 92/100
The reviewed PR400 Signature is described as remarkably unobtrusive, passing music with unusual clarity while avoiding either clinical dryness or added warmth. It combines strong left-to-right scale and clean detail with a small reservation over front-to-back image depth.
Transparency Resolution
96/100
The reviewer calls it the closest thing to a "wire with gain" experienced in the system, saying it does "nothing" exceedingly well. Its near-invisible character and direct path to the speakers point to exceptional clarity and low editorial character.
Tonal Balance Musicality
94/100
The PR400 is praised for landing in an especially natural middle ground: neither dry, wet, bright, clinical, nor boring. That even-handedness suggests a highly neutral presentation that remains musically engaging over extended listening.
Dynamics
89/100
Percussion is reported to have good attack and decay, and micro-details are presented cleanly and honestly. The review offers less direct commentary on large-scale dynamic swings, so its macro-dynamic performance is less fully documented.
Soundstage Imaging
91/100
The reviewer found convincing soundstage width and depth, with superb left-to-right spread. Front-to-back imaging was not the best heard, tempering what is otherwise a notably spacious and precise presentation.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
86/100
The PR400 is a substantial 15 kg solid-state preamplifier with separate linear supplies and a large capacitor reserve specified by Atoll. The reviewer also describes its tapered chassis as unconventional but elegant, though there is limited direct commentary on long-term durability or control quality.
Features Connectivity
87/100
Connectivity is comprehensive for an analogue line preamp, with five line inputs, two XLR inputs, and both balanced and single-ended outputs. An optional digital module adds USB, optical, coaxial, and Bluetooth, although it was not fitted to the reviewed unit.
Value for Money
94/100
At approximately $6,600-$7,000, this is a premium-priced linestage, but the reviewer considers it worth every penny and calls it a highly recommended audition. The unusually transparent performance is presented as a compelling return within its high-end price class.
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Specifications
- Analog power supply
- 2 x 10 VA linear
- Digital power supply
- 10 VA & 1.6 VA linear
- Total of capacitors
- 112 000 µF
- Number of inputs
- 5 lines + 2 XLR
- Input impedance
- 357 kΩ
- Sensitivity
- 4 V
- Signal-to-noise ratio
- 100 dB
- Distortion at 1 kHz
- 0.004%
- Bandwidth
- 0.5 Hz – 780 kHz
- Rising time
- 0.4 µs
- Dimensions
- 440 x 370 x 130 mm
- Weight
- 15 kg
Manufacturer's Description — Atoll Electronique
The PR400 EVO is the latest generation of our high-end preamplifier. The IN400 EVO inspires its design.
Its power supplies and electronics have been reworked to significantly improve audio performance. We’ve added the ability to rename the inputs and select the standby mode: Low Power or Preheat. It operates in dual mono (one low-noise linear transformer per channel) and pure balanced. The selection relays are also separate for the two channels. The coupling capacitors (high-end MKP) are shielded in independent enclosures to avoid radiation issues. Volume is controlled by two independent and perfectly synchronised ALPS motorised potentiometers. We use a proprietary servo system based on non-intrusive real-time audio measurement.
- 10 mm brushed, micro-blasted, and anodised aluminium front panel, with high-precision engraving.
- Machined aluminium heatsinks and knobs.
- 2 mm steel chassis.
- Four toroidal transformers: 2 x 10 VA (audio) + 10 VA & 1.6 VA (logic).
- High-quality shielded MKP coupling capacitors.
- Full dual-mono structure:
– Two toroidal transformers: One per channel.
– Four independent audio stages, perfectly symmetrical structure.
– Two motorised ALPS potentiometers: One per channel. - Bipolar transistor input stages.
- Bipolar transistor current sources and LEDs.
- Perfectly symmetrical audio stages with very low feedback.
- Precise balance adjustment.
- Input renaming is available.
- Sleep mode selection: Low power or preheating.
- Adjustable button backlighting.
- High-contrast OLED display: ON or OFF (after 5 seconds of inactivity).
- ATOLL global remote control is included as standard.
- The PR400 EVO can accommodate the following optional boards:
– DAC: DA100 and DA200.
CONNECTIVITY
Inputs
5 Line Inputs: AUX, CD, TUNER, DVD, TAPE.
2 Stereo XLR Inputs.
1 BY-PASS Input.
Outputs
1 TAPE Output.
2 XLR Outputs.
2 Stereo Line Outputs.
1 12V Trigger Output.
1 Ø 6,35 mm headphone jack output.
Various
Possibility of adding DA100 or DA200 digital boards (optional).
The discrete audio stages feature a purely symmetrical structure, with a circuit based on a dual-input differential pair and an original Class A biased circuit with very low feedback. This structure includes perfectly stabilised current generators based on transistors and LEDs, minimising overall and intermodulation distortion. When listening, this enhances the spatial and physical perception of the instruments. The display is a low-power OLED model chosen for its excellent contrast and low electromagnetic radiation. Furthermore, its power supply and control devices are entirely independent of the audio power supplies.
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- A Tube High Fidelity — online and in-store — Almere, Flevoland, Netherlands (website)
- Absolute Audio - Canada — in-store — Calgary, Alberta, Canada (website)
- Akustik Strauss — in-store — Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Bayern, Germany (website)
- Alpha High End — online and in-store — Brasschaat, Vlaams Gewest, Belgium (website)
- AM Audio Design — in-store — Beauvais, Hauts-de-France, France (website)
- Ambiance Concert — in-store — Angers, Pays de la Loire, France (website)
- Ars Antiqua Audio — online and in-store — Boadilla del Monte, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain (website)
- Art Sonique — France (website)
- Audio Alternative — online and in-store — Fort Collins, Colorado, United States (website)
- Audio Ark — online and in-store — Edmonton, Alberta, United States (website)
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