Sim Audio Moon W5 vs Electrocompaniet Amp

Sweet sounding? Sim is not sweet sounding at all. At times the treble is harsh, and lean. Nice bottom end and accurate midrange but warm???? Uh uh. I have owned both Sim gear (the I5 integrated) and the Electrocompaniet gear. I enjoyed both but felt the EC kit was alot more fun and less fatiguing to listen to. The statement "Sonically, it should blow the doors off of any Electrocompaniet equipment" is really innacurate. They are two very different house sounds. If you like a more etched sound, SIM is your bag. If you like a nice toe tapping musical presentation, the EC is your bag. Opinions are like..well you get the drift. Listen for yourself and find out which makers sound fits your ear.

First, we're not talking about the SimAudio I-5 and the I-5 is most likely in a different (lesser) league than the W-5. Secondly, I've listened to Electro's best $15k monoblock pair amps and, yes, if you like lifeless elevator music with flattened dynamics, rolled off highs, and the overall coloration that the Electro's offer, then by all means go with Electrocompaniet. Yes, you can listen to elevator music your entire life without ever being fatigued because that type of sound reproduction generally never wakes one up.

However, if you want most/all of the information on your cd's to be reproduced in a more accurate fashion, then try the Moon W-5.

-John

Elevator music from the Nemos? Thanks for giving us all such an "accurate" view of a dealer demo. Not suprising since you said in your original statement that Sim gear is "warm" which is way off the mark. Not to many people will ever accuse Sim of being warm kit. Analytical, yes, warm, no way. They are two very distinct sounds. Don't buy the Sim and don't buy the EC if you plan on getting the Talon audio speakers (saw in a post you were asking about the Ravens). They sound excellent with the Bel Canto EVo's with a solid state pre amplifier ( you already have that piece to the puzzle). Real synergy there at a great price point. Good luck.

Not sure where celery got the 'warm' from. But I should expect such an ignorant response from one who thinks the I-5 would be the sonic equivalent of the W-5. Celery obviously never listened to a W-5. That's like saying celery's older bottom of the line Electro amp and pre-amp that he is now selling is as good as Electro's top of the line. I'm sure he believes this too.

But I did mention the W-5 adds a certain sweetness to the sound. In fact, International Audio Review's Peter Moncrief listed the W-5 tied as the 3rd best solid state amp in 1999.

An excerpt from that review "... . The Moon W-5 hits almost ideally the best possible compromise for a no-feedback design. It's sound features a relaxed, easy quality that almost let you forget that you're listening through solid state equipment. Yet it's sound is also very clean and clear, close to the best solid state amps that do use loop feedback. ... . The Moon offers a wonderful balance between the clean articulation typical of solid state and the sweet relaxation typical of tube sound. ..."

Celery, do your homework before spouting off sarcastic remarks.

-John

Nice to know you think so highly of reviewers and base your own thoughts on their opinions. You are an enlightened person. Your comments utilizing professional viewers quotes to prove your points certainly makes a lasting impression with me. Thank you for setting me straight. Peter Mocriefs views will influence my thoughts and hearing experiences as well as your dealer demo opinions on stereo equipment. Are you actually quoting as gospel the same Peter Moncrief who said the Verity Audio Parisfals are terrible speakers? Yet, Stereophile said the Fidelios, the smaller version of the Parisfals (which have about 70% of the parisfal's capabilities) were one of the better speakers they had heard at any price and gave them a class A rating. I believe these same Parisfals have been awarded several Best in Show awards by every major audio magazine. Hmmm......what is going on here? Is everyone else in the high end community insane and Peter is the lone voice of reason? How can it be??? Perhaps we should look to your idea of "homework" which in your opinion are quite clearly "professional" reviews for the answers that perplex us in this hobby. What do we do when we have one reviewer, who in your case you quote as gospel disagreeing with everyone else in the high end audio press? Is he a lone Martin Luther with just cause or could it be that he is wrong yet again. If he says Sim is warm and the Parisfals are bad he needs a hearing aid of the highest order and you need a new prophet to base your listening "opinions" on. Please refrain from regurgitated copyrighted review quotes and your "in-depth" dealer demo observations. Do your own "homework", that is listen to equipment in your own home to form an opinion. At least then it will be your own opinion, not Peter Moncrief's.
Electrocompaniet only manufactures one pre-amplifier model at a time. There is no "bottom of the line" pre amplifier in their line up. Thanks for your thoughts on gear you have demonstrated very clearly you know nothing about. Perhaps you can come back with a witty, hostile rebutle quoting even more copyrighted material from the audio press. Your "opinions" are wonderful.