2. amps-preamps
  3. 185823-1604

SimAudio Moon North Collection

Anyone thinking about buying an amp from the North Collection?

I heard the 860A v1 and enjoyed it. With the new lineup there will be a some 860A v2’s coming up for sale. I am considering the older models and the North Collection. The 860A v1 was surprising good even with the sort of hot Paradigm Persona I demoed it with.

I was thinking at one time of buying 2 Benchmark AHB2 monos to drive the not so difficult to drive and slightly warm Yamaha NS5000’s. A neutral amp like the AHB2 would be great (I owned the AHB2 before) however, I think the 12-inch woofers will unfortunately not be best served by AHB2.

I am using my CODA #16 with the NS5000 right now and I can see where lots of power makes those woofers shine. So I am looking for another amp that is a bit more neutral to use with the NS5000. I can then move the CODA #16 to my Magnepan LRS+. I put these together temporarily in my office to keep the amp safe from my guests (kids). Unfortunately, I love this combo too much now to break it apart.

I am looking for some powerful and neutral sounding amps for the NS5000. I read up on the Classe Delta but that fan is a bit of a deterrent. I am testing out a Class D Peachtree GAN400 with it but it does not have that great bass like the CODA #16. Class D so far has not impressed me on the bottom end as Class A and AB amps I have owned.

So as of now, the SimAudio gear seems like to the top of the heap, and the price is already a bit over what I want to spend. I will just have to work a little longer.

Any other amps with a neutral signature that I should consider?

My preamps are Benchmark LA4 and Holo Serene. The LA4 will stay with the NS5000 system. Both do not seem to add to the signal. 

yyzsantabarbara
dpac996's avatar
dpac996
709 posts
 

I was so impressed with the 641/681 demo that I ordered the 791/761. I’ve had a few moon amps before, the 860av2, 760a, 330a. Loving the north combo. They really nailed this recipe! I’ll share some more thoughts as the gear develops more. 

merland100
12 posts
 

I own the Moon North 861 and 891 combination, and I am amazed at the sound, which is very three dimensional, high resolution, dynamic, fluid, airy high end without being etched or analytical, and with amazing bass.  This is relative to my previous Moon 700iV2 and 780dV2, both of which I liked very much.  I am using the same Moon 810LP phono pre-amp, GoldenEar Triton Reference speakers, AudioQuest Thunderbird speaker cables and interconnects, AudioQuest Hurricane power cables and Niagara 5000, and Rega Planar 10 (Apheta 3 cartridge).  I cannot imagine a better sound, even though there is more break-in to go on the North and the 810LP.  The 891 also has an excellent user interface and remote and works perfectly with Roon, and the 861 links easily through Moon Link with the 891.  Highly recommended and can listen fatigue free for hours on end.  The only limitation with this system is the recording itself.  This is a new technology from Moon and what they have done is a success.

zuesman
184 posts
 

ackerdo,

I don't know what you been listening to but the 761 is far superior to the 760A, I just upgraded to the 861 from my SIM audio w8, the 861 is so far better it's not even funny, this is on a whole different level now, I have no doubt that this amplifier at $22,000 will beat amplifiers in the 40 to $60,000 range from other companies, that MDCA circuitry is a game changer.

yyzsantabarbara OP
4,871 posts
 

Simaudio Moon 891 Streaming Preamplifier (soundstageultra.com)

merland100
12 posts
 

I am not sure what that review is telling me. It is very detailed and makes the premium 8 Series Moon North product sound like a value proposition relative to the older more expensive T&A comparison gear and roughly a draw on sound quality. I don’t think that is the intended positioning of this Moon product which is supposed to be at the leading edge and probably sounds best with its partner Moon 861 amp. 

More to discover