Atoll Electronique MS120
The Atoll Electronique MS120 brings direct, dynamic sound to a remarkably complete compact hub, pairing a refined midrange and controlled bass with broad, sharply focused imaging. The Ear praised its engaging musicality and intuitive control, while The Hans Beekhuyzen highlights its versatile streamer, DAC and preamp credentials. A high-value digital front end with serious connectivity.
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Nicely Roasted
Sound Quality
89/100
Build Quality
84/100
Features Usability
90/100
Value for Money
92/100
Pros
Engaging, musically coherent presentation with a refined midrange and powerful, well-controlled bass.
Wide, detailed stereo presentation with excellent imaging and notably clean sibilance reproduction.
Exceptional flexibility as a streamer, DAC and volume-controlled preamp, backed by extensive analogue, digital, network and USB connectivity.
Clear display and well-regarded app make streaming and internet radio especially easy to use.
Cons
Stereo image depth is good for the class but not especially deep.
Measured distortion products are somewhat higher than ideal, though the reviewer considered any audible warmth minor.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 89/100
Reviewers find the MS120 musical, controlled and consistently engaging, with particularly strong midrange integration and bass control. It also delivers a broad, well-focused stereo picture, though image depth is described as typical rather than exceptional for the price.
Tonal Balance Musicality
91/100
The Ear praised a sublime midrange in harmony with bass and treble, reporting emotion and poise without melodrama. Bass was described as powerful but well controlled, while Hans Beekhuyzen found the presentation upfront, direct and dynamic rather than soft or recessed.
Resolution Detail
88/100
The Ear heard a wide, detailed soundstage with superb imaging, and Hans Beekhuyzen found focusing unusually good at this level. Sibilants were reproduced with notable cleanliness, although he also noted that stereo depth was not especially pronounced.
Digital Performance
88/100
Hans Beekhuyzen measured excellent linearity down to very low levels and highlighted the attention paid to power-supply implementation and discrete audio circuitry. He noted some higher harmonic distortion products, but considered any resulting warmth minor rather than a meaningful flaw.
FEATURES USABILITY PERFORMANCE 90/100
This is a notably flexible compact network player, DAC and preamp, with comprehensive wired, network and local-media options. The improved Signature app, clear display and broad streaming support make it practical as a central digital source.
Streaming Software
89/100
The Ear found Atoll's revised Signature app much improved and regarded it as the sensible way to control the player. Wi-Fi and Ethernet networking, DLNA/UPnP operation, Qobuz, Tidal, Deezer, Spotify and Tidal Connect support provide a broad streaming platform, while Airable radio is clearly presented on both app and front display.
Features Connectivity
93/100
The MS120 can act as a streamer, DAC and volume-controlled preamp directly feeding a power amplifier. It accommodates analogue and digital sources, USB storage, coaxial and optical digital inputs and outputs, a preamp output, trigger connection and a front headphone socket; file support extends to 24-bit/192kHz PCM and DSD64/128.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
84/100
The MS120 uses an aluminium front panel and metal cabinet, and its audio output stages employ discrete Class A-biased circuitry without feedback. Reviewers say less about chassis rigidity, control feel, or long-term durability, but the reported construction is appropriate and purposeful.
Value for Money
92/100
At roughly €1,350 according to Hans Beekhuyzen, the MS120 was judged fairly priced for its extensive functionality. The Ear went further, calling it an audiophile streaming bargain, especially compelling for listeners wanting network playback, DAC facilities and preamp flexibility in one compact component.
Reviews & Sources
Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.
Online Reviews & Mentions
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Specifications
- Power supply
- 9 VA + 7,8 VA (audio)
- Total of capacitors
- 5 435 µF
- Output stages
- 2 discrete component stages, biased in class A with no feedback
- Dynamic
- 123 dB
- Output impedance
- 22 Ω
- Maximum input level
- 3,5 Vrms
- Output level
- 2,8 Vrms
- Signal/Noise ratio
- 123 dB
- Distortion at 1 kHz
- 0,0005%
- Bandwidth
- 5 Hz – 20 kHz
- Rising time
- 1,7 µs
- Digital/analogue converter
- BURR-BROWN PCM1796 24 bits/192 kHz – DSD128
- Dimensions
- 320×10×94 mm
- Weight
- 3 Kg
Manufacturer's Description — Atoll Electronique
STREAMER / DAC
Whether you’re listening to high-definition streaming music locally from your network, from a USB key, a hard drive, Bluetooth®, or your favourite internet radio stations, our mini network player MS120 is adapted to the current needs related to reading dematerialized music files. It embeds a high-performance converter and can be used as a pure source or preamplifier.
- 4 mm brushed aluminium front.
- 2 transformers 5 VA + 1×3.2 VA + 1×4.6 VA (audio stages).
- High-quality MKP technology link capacitors.
- BURR-BROWN PCM1796 converter:
– Dynamic: 123 dB.
– Signal/Noise ratio: 123 dB. - 5″ TFT LED colour graphic display (800*480).
- Discrete component audio stages without negative feedback in pure Class A.
- Analogue volume management (switched resistors) that can be bypassed.
- A specific power supply is dedicated to the audio stages.
- A specific power supply is dedicated to the digital audio line converter.
- Accepted resolutions: PCM up to 24 bits/192 kHz and DSD64 and DSD128.
- Playback of audio files on the network (DLNA and UPnP compatible)
in a wired RJ45 or Wi-Fi connection. - Display of names, tags, resolutions and album covers.
- “Gapless” system (no cut between pieces).
- Ability to create playlists.
- USB-A file systems: FAT32, NTFS, EXT2/3/4.
- ATOLL “streamer” remote control supplied as standard.
- “ATOLL Signature 2” App (Android and IOS).
CONNECTIVITY
Audio inputs
2 Stereo line inputs.
4 Digital inputs: 2 Coaxial, 2 Optical.
1 Bluetooth® 4,2 input.
2 USB-A inputs (1 front, 1 rear).
Audio outputs
1 Stereo line output.
2 Digital outputs: 1 Coaxial, 1 Optical Toslink.
Various
1 RJ45 input (network).
1 Trigger output (12V).
1 WIFI antenna (802.11b/g/n).
1 Bluetooth® antenna.
Verified Dealers
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Authorized dealers for Atoll Electronique MS120
- 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)
and 85 more verified dealers