Moon’s Four New Babies

You learn it right here first. After aeons of confusion over the Canadian firm’s title—is it Moon, is it Simaudio, or is it Simaudio by Moon?—our associates to the North are poised to lastly resolve the difficulty. But earlier than their Moon launch, they’re launching their first new product vary in 10 years, the upper-echelon North Collection. Consisting of three merchandise, two within the 600 vary, two within the 700, and two within the 800, all are full balanced designs.

Costa Koulisakis (above), the extraordinarily educated and articulate public face of no matter they’re referred to as, started with the 641 all-analog, 125Wpc built-in amplifier ($11,000) and 681 streaming DAC ($12,000), which has fastened and variable outputs that does as much as 32/384 MQA and DSD256. At the following efficiency degree, there are the 791 streaming DAC/preamp with phono stage ($16,000) and all new 761 200Wpc, class-AB amplifier ($14,000). Finally, on high come the 891 streaming DAC/preamp with cellphone stage ($25,000) and 861 300Wpc stereo energy amplifier ($22,000) that may additionally function one half of a monoblock configuration that outputs 900Wpc into 8 ohms.

The 861, which replaces the 860A v2 stereo amplifier that I reviewed in monoblock configuration lower than a 12 months in the past, generates 150Wpc energy extra in monoblock mode than the older mannequin. “It represents a giant advance sonically,” Koulisakis claimed, “as a result of it accommodates our new MDCA Moon Distortion-Canceling Amplification circuit topology. It additionally makes use of no international suggestions; which means no suggestions loop of any variety, neither international nor native.” Koulisakis claims that the amp’s distortion is decrease, and that its bass is a bit bit tighter and extra correct. Given that the 860A v2 sounded mighty superb, each in my listening room at exhibits, I’m keen to find how the 861 monoblocks sound.

Moon additionally incorporates MDCA expertise into its 761 and 641 amplifiers. All quantity controls have developed and now make the most of increased precision semi-conductors. Nor is the corporate stopping there. In 2024, Moon plans to reinforce the North Collection with a stand-alone phono stage and outpower provide improve for its DACs and streaming preamps.