Sim Audio Moon Evolution Series, - I-7

24phun, you are right on the money with your description of the 1-7, and it happens to be the same as with two previous MOON integrateds I once owned (one early, one late-generation of the i-5). Yeah, i'm a sucker for good looks. It least I WAS, but no longer.

I had my latest I-5 in a system with the wonderfull Verity Audio Parsifal speakers. These Moon units are very seductive, but ultimately sound dry, dark, with a one-dimension image. Where's the depth ?

After listening to the I-7, I find the same ''House sound''. If the new Moon series is developped and tuned by the same set of ears as the previous generation (and something tells me this is the case), all the self-proclaimed bragging and techno-talk jabble on Sim's website won't change a thing. These are sexy-looking, extremely attractive units - but sonically, at least for me - a major downer, and way overpriced as such.

Try something as inexpensive as the Cayin A 88-T and be amazed.

24phun and juadio:

did you get a chance to listen to sim's regular amps and preamps? I am curious to know if these separates exhibit the same sonic behavior as the integrated.

I have heard some of Sims new stuff at my local dealers and most recently at the Montreal audio show last month and it was some of the best gear available at the show, which I might add included some highly regarded tube stuff. It is FAR from one dimensional. The W8 with the Dynaudio C4 was out of this world ! UHF magazine bought the new W8 to use as their reference just recently. They have some good points about Sim stuff compared to other notable competators. Every Sim I have ever heard has more than impressed me. Maybe their integrated amps are their achilles heal product... have only heard (intensively) their seperates components so I can't really comment.

There is lots of great gear about that I'm sure compares and is no doubt as good or better then the I7. I suspect if you get good system synergy with the right speakers the I7 will compete with the best stuff out there. Never heard of Cayin, apparently another Chinese manufacturer with stuff that out performs many more expensive NA peices...as is alluded too. You can probably wipe your ass with any warranty they give you but at the 1-2K price point I guess if it breaks down no great loss. Nice looking stuff tho.

Arkio, you are probably right about your last sentence, but if your Chinese gear comes from a reputable US importer such as VAS audio for Cayin, then they do stand behind their products. I had a remote controlled that needed to be exchanged - no problems and no questions asked, and all with a smile.

As for Sim Audio, try to find my post in this Audiogon thread, under the name of juaudio:

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?cspkr&1144542394&read&keyw&zzdealer

Regretfully, you can probably wipe your's too with Sim's warranty, or at the very least, you should be in for a trying experience should you require any warranty - or respect, as I have, with no results. Beleive me, the fact that a manufacturer is located in North America should not to be taken as an automatic guarantee of good service, when in fact some manufacturers take our good patronage for granted, as Sim Audio did.

My experience is of course, an isolated event...or is it ?

I've had the I-7 in my system for over a month & it is the best sounding integrated amp I've ever heard. It has awakened my B&W nautilus 803s speakers & reinvigorated my interest in audio. The soundstage is absolutely huge , the bass is unbelieveable & the seperation between instruments is astonishing. Whether I spin vinyl or CD I'm delighted with everything I've heard so far. It does take lots of breakin & it runs very hot, but thats not a bad thing in Canada in the winter. You couldn't pry this amp from my cold dead hands.