Digital Processor Reviews

Moon 891 streaming preamplifier Associated Equipment

Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment

Digital sources: dCS Vivaldi APEX D/A processor, Vivaldi Upsampler Plus, Vivaldi Master Clock; EMM Labs DV2 Integrated DAC, Meitner MA3 Integrated DAC; Innuos Statement Next-Gen Music Server and PhoenixNET network switch; Small Green Computer Sonore optical Module Deluxe with Broadcom/Avago AFBR-5718PZ 1GB SX-SFP, Gen 5 Fiber Optic module (2); Nordost QNet switch and QSource linear power supply (2); Sonore Audiophile Linear Power Supply; Synology 5-bay 1019+ NAS with Ferrum Hypsos linear/switching hybrid power supply; Linksys MR9000 mesh router and Arris modem; Apple 2023 iPad Pro and 2017 MacBook Pro laptop with 2.8GHz Intel i7, SSD, 16GB RAM.
Preamplifier: Dan D'Agostino Relentless.
Power amplifiers: Dan D'Agostino Momentum M400 MxV monoblocks, Accuphase A-300 monoblocks, Moon 861 stereo amplifier (2) used as monoblocks.
Loudspeakers: Wilson Audio Specialties Alexia V with Wilson LōKē subwoofers.
Cables: Digital: Nordost Odin 1, Odin 2, and Valhalla 2 (USB and Ethernet), Frey 2 (USB adapter); AudioQuest WEL Signature; Wireworld Platinum Starlight Cat8 (Ethernet), OM1 62.5/125 multimode duplex (fiberoptic). Interconnects: (XLR): Nordost Odin 2 and Blue Heaven subwoofer, AudioQuest Dragon, Canare (subwoofers). Speaker cables: Nordost Odin 2, AudioQuest Dragon. AC: Nordost Odin 2, Valhalla 2, Valhalla 1; AudioQuest Dragon and Firebird; Kimber PK10 Palladian. Umbilical cords: Ghent Audio Canare on NAS; QSource Premium DC cables with Lemo terminations for QSources; SOtM sPS-500 umbilical cable for SOtM Master clock.
Accessories: Grand Prix Monza 8-shelf double rack and amp stands, 1.5" Formula platform; Symposium Ultra Platform; Nordost 20-amp QB8 Mark III, QKore 1 and 6; Titanium and Bronze Sort Kones, Sort Lifts; Stromtank S-4000 MK II XT power generator, SEQ-5 Audio Distribution Bar; AudioQuest Niagara 7000 and Niagara 5000 power conditioners, NRG Edison outlets; Environmental Potentials EP2050EE surge protector/filter; Wilson Audio Pedestals; A/V RoomService Polyflex Diffusers; Resolution Acoustics room treatment; Stillpoints Clouds (8); HRS DPX-14545 Damping Plates; Marigo Aida CD mat.
Dedicated music room: 20' L × 16'4" W × flattens at 9'4" H.—Jason Victor Serinus

COMPANY INFO
Simaudio Ltd.
1345 Newton Rd.
Boucherville, Quebec, J4B 5H2
Canada
(450) 449-2212
simaudio.com
ARTICLE CONTENTS

COMMENTS
PeterG's picture
Submitted by PeterG on January 3, 2025 - 8:50am

Great review, sounds like a super low real estate solution. Please advise on the QKore6--how do you allocate your 8 boxes across its 6 inputs? Thanks

Jason Victor Serinus's picture
Submitted by Jason Victor Serinus on January 3, 2025 - 2:23pm

The Nordost QKore, which comes in three iterations, is a passive grounding device. At this point, I only connect it to one of my components. But that may change down the line after I make modifications to my room treatment. Please check out the explanation on their website.

PeterG's picture
Submitted by PeterG on January 4, 2025 - 1:49pm

Thanks, Jason. I should have been more clear. I have a QKore 6 and a QBase already. They are terrific, but I am sometimes capacity constrained with the QKore able to handle only 5 components in addition to the QBase. As you mentioned 8 boxes and only one QKore, I was thinking you had a way to increase the single QKore capacity with Y cables or similar.

Of course, now I wonder why you have not plugged in 5 of the components, and why room treatments would change the value of passive grounding? I have not checked each of my components in isolation for QKore effect, and (due to spouse acceptance factor) I do not have room treatments. But a couple of times while reconfiguring wires in general, QKore wires have come undone and there was an immediate change in sound.

Cheers

Ortofan's picture
Submitted by Ortofan on January 3, 2025 - 12:47pm

... sufficient satisfaction listening to music via the $ 5,499 "superb" NAD M66, or would using the $25K "state-of-the-art" Moon 891 result in five times the enjoyment, even though the 891 lacks a room correction function?

https://www.stereophile.com/content/nad-m66-streaming-preamplifier

snowbuffalo's picture
Submitted by snowbuffalo on January 4, 2025 - 7:01pm

My thoughts precisely, as the similarly full-featured NAD measures well and has met with positive listening reviews. The room correction software would be the killer feature for me, as my listening space is less than perfect (as most people’s is). The Moon gear looks fantastic, but I have to think the NAD is within reach of many more readers without unlimited budgets.

JohnnyThunder2.0's picture
Submitted by JohnnyThunder2.0 on January 7, 2025 - 7:56pm

A/B vs. D. Moon 891 made in Canada vs. NAD Made in China. A 50 lb. Moon vs. a 16.7 lb NAD. I would say that the NAD may sound really nice FOR THE MONEY, but someone with Jason's ability to differentiate and hear nuance (in music as well as audio) would hear the difference. Build quality, quality of parts and amplifier technology. This is not a knock on NAD equipment which has always punched above its weight. Impossible to say whether it's worth 5x the amount. It is worth that to the person that wants it and can pay for it and hear the difference. I stand by the belief that Jason would feel it was worth it because one would sound better. Superb measurements are not the final arbiter as we all know.

Ortofan's picture
Submitted by Ortofan on January 8, 2025 - 2:50pm

... Moon preamp versus those in the NAD?
What percentage of the electronic components in the Moon preamp are made in Canada?

JohnnyThunder2.0's picture
Submitted by JohnnyThunder2.0 on January 8, 2025 - 3:04pm

But we are talking about Canadian labor and something that is not mass produced and an artisanal product. The MOON weighs 3 times as much so if you are paying by the pound it is worth it (joke.)Honestly I don’t have too much invested in this discussion but it does seem like one product is more robustly constructed. But then again, all the people who love their featherweight class D watt monsters would say that doesn’t matter. Everyone’s mileage may vary.

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