MOON
North Assortment 791 Pre & 761 Energy Amp
£16,000/ £14,000 RRPrespectively
Some could also be stunned to find that Simaudio – the corporate behind the MOON model – has been round for over forty years. It first appeared as Sima Electronics in 1980, beneath founder, audio and music engineer Victor Sima. Nonetheless, had been there ever to be a MOON museum, it would not be full of myriad elements displaying new variations launched yearly or two. Reasonably, the Canadian model has at all times supposed its merchandise to seek out long-lasting, loving stays with its house owners marked in durations of a number of years, not months.
The lengthy interval between new merchandise underlines the corporate’s philosophy, so when one really comes alongside, it is fairly a significant second within the nice hi-fi scheme of issues. This time spherical, nevertheless, MOON has excelled itself and launched a complete new household of separates – the six-strong North Assortment.
HIT THE NORTH
The North Assortment covers 600, 700 and 800 collection elements and sits atop the Montreal-based firm’s product household tree. This places the brand new MOON 791 streaming DAC preamplifier and 761 200W stereo energy amplifier proper within the centre of the brand new vary, bookended by the 125W 641 built-in amplifier and 681 community participant, and flagship 891 streaming DAC preamplifier and 300W 861 stereo energy amplifier.
It has been greater than only a case of tweaking a number of issues on the earlier choices, giving the six models a catchy collective identify, and ready for the cash to roll in. As an alternative, MOON has consolidated its product vary, making it much less baffling for potential purchasers, in addition to including lashings of latest expertise and garnishing it with some very tasty industrial design.
My urge for food had already been whetted at an unique listening session (above) earlier than the system was flown out for the Munich Excessive Finish Present earlier within the yr. The themes of this overview are what MOON considers its ‘candy spot’ pairing of the 791 and 761, a streaming preamplifier and stereo energy amplifier. Nonetheless, there may be, after all, a noticeably robust household resemblance throughout the brand new North Assortment…
NEW MOON ON MONDAY
The 2 most blatant exterior variations within the new vary are a contemporary cupboard design and the introduction of 4.3-inch full-colour graphic shows as an alternative of the pink dot matrix-style LEDs. I nonetheless have a comfortable spot for the latter on my 680D as it’s so legible, however I perceive that the fashionable world is looking the 791. I’m a digital immigrant in a world of digital natives who’ve been raised on hi-res touchscreens. They’re the type of folks who, ought to they ever come throughout a 3.5-inch floppy disk, will routinely assume that somebody has cutely 3D-printed a save icon. So that is MOON addressing the following era of listeners, in addition to upgrading the remainder of us to a twenty-first century means of doing issues!
Fortunately, having the ability to learn the display screen from throughout the room is now not a difficulty, because the streaming preamp comes bundled with one of many sexiest distant controls I’ve ever held – and I personal Gryphon merchandise! The Bluetooth-connected, USB-recharged BRM-1 handset sports activities an OLED display screen, relaying necessary data proper to the palm of your hand. To say MOON is fanatical about issues is an understatement. The fellows and gals in Montreal additionally like a drink, it appears, because the BRM-1 has a neat trick of having the ability to channel any spilt liquid safely away from its essential elements – this makes me surprise what number of beverage-based accidents occurred in the course of the testing section that warranted this specific facet of its design?
Whereas talking with members of the MOON crew, it quickly grew to become clear that this obsessive curiosity in quantity controlling is greater than a passing fancy. Most engineers take into account the quantity a spot the place compromises have to be made or face the bean-counter’s wrath. Nonetheless, I am informed that the Canadian firm began from scratch, utilizing an optical encoder that sends quantity place information to an analogue circuit on the preferrred level within the sign path for attenuation. I’m reliably knowledgeable that this method ends in a claimed error of lower than 0.1dB between channels and quantity steps.
The North vary sees a whole cupboard redesign, with the one color choice supplied being the two-tone black with silver shoulders – so the all-silver and all-black choices at the moment are gone, as are the MOON aluminium bridges for stacking elements. The brand new elements have been designed to be sat individually on cabinets with the brand new giant emblem on the highest plate performing because the centre of a cooling vent. This redesign additionally ends in the highest of the 791, as an illustration, being fully screwless, including to the general premium end of the brand new collection.
The facet cooling fins have additionally been aesthetically enhanced and gently curve vertically for an additional premium contact. Nonetheless, it quickly grew to become obvious that, after transferring the preamp and partnering energy amp from the doorway into my listening space, MOON has but to enter the sector of weight-saving. With the preamp weighing 18kg and the ability amp a hernia-taunting 35kg, it is a bit of a wrestle to maneuver. Fortunately, although, MOON’s nifty packaging helps considerably within the set up.
By way of the digital design, the 791 makes use of the corporate’s new Moon Distortion Cancelling Amplifier circuit, which is claimed to scale back distortion to ‘beforehand unattainable’ ranges, no much less. Whole harmonic distortion and noise is listed as 0.0004%, and intermodulation distortion is alleged to be 0.0003%. The signal-to-noise ratio on the analogue preamplifier facet is put at 120dB. When you take note of tech specs, you will need to agree that that is spectacular stuff.
The 791 provides six digital inputs, together with AES-EBU, S/PDIF, optical and USB Audio, an HDMI ARC port, and one set of the 2 RCA pairs goes to an MM/MC phono stage alongside a balanced XLR set. There are additionally RCA and XLR outputs. Though the 791 community participant and preamp combines loads in its beautiful single casement, there is no provision for headphones, so my 430HAD can relaxation simple for now. The newest MOONLink is onboard and permits extra clever management between MOON merchandise.
Consumer-friendliness has additional been boosted because of the corporate’s MiND app. Though the 791 is Roon Prepared, utilizing MiND 2 for streaming playback and its partnering cellular app proved seamless and bug-free throughout numerous streaming providers and my NAS digital library.
THE LISTENING
The 791 and 761 pre/energy amplifiers each go about their jobs fully with out fanfare. There is no such thing as a leaping up and down, basking within the limelight, and no showy try to grandstand when making music. As an alternative, you get an especially high-resolution sound that is all about what’s on the unique recording fairly than what the replay gear is or is not doing. What’s so spectacular in regards to the 791 and 761 pairings is the evenhandedness, nearly nonchalance, of this high-end two-box streaming system.
It’s immediately evident what MOON engineers had been aiming at when listening to North Pole Orchestra‘s tackle Bizarre Fishes as a part of its Radiohead, A Jazz Symphony album. The 42-piece jazz large band with extra strings and woodwind provides this sometimes melancholic and introspective piece an nearly lounge vibe. Nonetheless, there isn’t a mistaking that the MOON combo is working its magic, as heaps of element are handed to the listener regardless of the laid-back nature of the music being performed. Equally, you discover the extremely low noise flooring and excellent spatial separation between the devices within the well-ordered soundstaging. These are all facets which have been improved over the 680D, and to my ears, it even betters the likes of Linn’s Selekt DSM Version Hub. Nonetheless, the MOON would not have the choice of a DSP encompass improve for Dolby Digital TrueHD and DTS-HD Grasp Audio just like the Linn has if that could be a deal-breaker.
Comparability between MOON 791 (high) and MOON 680D (backside) rear panels
The MOON pairing actually has a knack with vocals, too. The articulate supply of The World Is Wanting For You by Aldous Harding is brittle however in all the best delicately spine-tingling methods. Streaming the monitor through Qobuz, the 791 imparted the soul-baring intimacy of the singer and acoustic guitar. Moreover, none of this was misplaced throughout a late-night listening session with the quantity turned down – one thing that not all amplifiers are proud of, particularly ones that like to rock.
Talking of which, utilizing an Aidas Malachite Silver transferring coil cartridge on the enterprise finish of a VPI Prime turntable to analyze the grooves of TOOL‘s Worry Inoculum album, there isn’t a scarcity of energy from the 761 while enjoying Pneuma at ranges that my mum nonetheless thinks is a part of a section I’m going via.
There is a beautiful smoothness to the ability being delivered to my Audiovector R 6 Arreté loudspeakers, nonetheless with spectacular punch and transient response. Nonetheless, with the 791 plugged into my Gryphon Essence energy amp, I really feel there may be extra grip and urgency from the identical monitor in case you are ready to attend for the Class A Gryphon to heat up some time. The 761, while nonetheless getting heat, would not appear to achieve the room-roasting temperatures of the Gryphon. The MOON does have some intelligent tech onboard, which permits it to run as effectively as doable whereas nonetheless supplying you with excellent efficiency.
Taking part in vinyl via the 791 and out via the Essence demonstrated simply how clear this preamplifier is, which additionally provides some rationale as to why MOON has included a streaming DAC and phono stage into this fully-featured preamp. It’s because if something in your supply chain is not as much as scratch, then this pre/energy mixture will let you know all about it – in its politely self-effacing Canadian means, after all.
Band On The Run by Wings in hi-res reveals how the MOON amplification can choose its means via numerous musical kinds and shine a light-weight on them equally. It is very deft within the dynamics division, going from quiet to loud and again once more on the drop of a hat. The quiet sections draw the listener in, whereas the extra raucous elements are relayed joyfully. But that is accomplished with consummate smoothness and effortlessness, with seemingly infinite quantities of energy accessible on faucet. What’s to not love?
It is a formidable pairing, then. But, for all its accuracy and forensic element retrieval, this combo by no means loses sight of what it is actually right here to do – which is to make music magic. It will possibly unpick probably the most gossamer threads of a musical work and let the listener marvel on the manufacturing, however as Irving Mills as soon as so correctly wrote, it doesn’t suggest a factor if it ain’t acquired that swing. The MOON mixture by no means forgets this.
THE VERDICT
MOON’s new 791 is really a North star, and is greater than ably backed up by its 761 stablemate. The latter delivers punch and energy while sustaining composure and management because of intelligent tech. Nonetheless, for me, the community streaming preamplifier shines as the perfect at its value level after which some. When corporations bundle a phono stage and a streamer right into a preamp, you typically get the sensation that compromises have been made for industrial expedience. Not so right here, nevertheless.
The MOON pairing provides a seminal mixture of efficiency, performance, construct and end. A lot in order that, to my thoughts, it is a discount even at its elevated value. Strive discovering three separate bins that match the standard and functionality of this method at or close to the value. It might be costly, however you are shopping for your self years of musical enjoyment – and hi-fi that will not grow to be out of date for a really very long time.
