i hear sim audio amps are unreliable

Elizabeth is free to be whatever gender she/he wants to be.

Perfectcircle , Have you ever heard a dealer say that a manufacturer dropped them ??
If you didn't like the Sim sound why would you use your first post here to inquire about a product you neither like or own

I have owned I3-SE, I-5, and I-7 integrated amps; Equinox and Supernova cd players in the past. I never had a moment's trouble with any one of them.

Xti16, what Sim did you hear that was sterile and analytical? Is that the Evolution Series? I don't think the Moon series is sterile and analytical at all. I have had the W-3 for 10 years and it is one of the warmer solid state amps I have heard.

Kclone It was the W7 amp with P8 pre and Super Nova CD. My definition of sterile and analytical is the detail that is so pronounced that I listened to vocals and instruments. After an hour or so I realalized that was I exactly was hearing (on more than 1 occasion) - but not the music. To me that is fatiguing because I found myself 'concentrating' on too much of individual things. Don't get me wrong - there was a time when I thought that was ideal. Turns out it's not for me. I just want music. I'm sure there are many folks who love it. Just I'm not one of them. So maybe sterile and analytical isn't the best term I should have used. I felt the same way with Classe Omega series. For SS I like Burmester (can't afford it) Naim and Pass labs. But I'm a tube guy. I have an Octave V110 Integrated. What's great about the Octave if I want to go from warm and musical to more detailed all I have to do is swap some tubes. Don't have to buy a new amp - just tubes (they can be fairly pricey too but less than swapping out an amp or IA.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.