2. amps-preamps
  3. 166044-327

Older Moon W8 vs 860a

I am trying to get amp as an alternative amp to my SE833 monoblocks and do not want to spend too much. I like Moon, heard 860a at my home for couple of weeks and I realy liked it but it costs too much money. What dou you think about W8 which is 10 years old? Would the performance will be similar to 860a? Is there another adept in this price range? Gryphon integrated, Boulder 850 or etc? I have high sensitivity tannoy Westminster, very neutral source Pink faun and Mola Mola Tambaqui. thanks for your kind response.
128x128mikedimitrov
havocman
350 posts
 

the W8 is much better than the 860 A. I talked to Sim about the p8 and they told me it was much better than the 740p so I have no doubt that the w8 is way better than the 860A, and I don't like the direction Sim is going, their prices are getting way too crazy, your other problem is trying to find a w8 for sale, those amps are world class and there's not too many on the market used ever, I've got a p8 and a w8 and I'm never getting rid of them the sound is so good already I'm not chasing anything anymore.

zuesman
114 posts
 

here's an update I just listened to the SIM audio 861 amplifier and yes it is much better than my w8 so I guess I'll have to eat my words I definitely will be upgrading to the 861. anyone interested in my w8 please getting in touch with me.

rooze's avatar
rooze
635 posts
 

My impressions are the polar opposite of what a couple people have said above. I owned W10 monos for a few years and thought they were good but a little bit on the lean side. It felt as though Sim were trying to take on Krell at that time. Since then, I’ve heard the 860A both V1 and V2 and also owned the W5.3SE. I find newer SimAudio to be more fleshed out, a little warmer through the mids, less hard on the top end, and just altogether better than the older W10.

I can't talk to their preamps as I've never owned one.

To each his own.

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