Design
The Canadian-made Moon i-1 is a full-functioned integrated amplifier with remote control. It has six line-level inputs—including one front-…
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Fearless leader called me and asked if I'd be interested in reviewing the Simaudio Moon i-1 ($1500), the entry-level integrated amplifier in Simaudio's Classic line. Hmmm. I'd been very impressed by all of the more expensive Simaudio products I'd heard at Stereophile's Home Entertainment shows over the years, and the 50Wpc Moon i-1 would be an interesting match for the affordable speakers I've had in-house lately. Send it on, JA!
Sidebar 2: Associated Components
Analog Sources: VPI TNT IV, Rega Planar 3 turntables; Immedia, Syrinx PU-3 tonearms; Koetsu Urushi, Clearaudio Virtuoso Wood cartridges.
Digital Sources: Lector CDP-7T, Creek Destiny CD players.
Preamplification: Vendetta Research SCP-2D phono stage, Audio Valve Eclipse line stage.
Power Amplifier: Audio Research Reference 75.
Loudspeakers: Dynaudio Excite X12, Epos Elan 10.
Cables: Interconnect (all MIT): Magnum M3, MI-350 CVTwin Terminator, MI-330SG Terminator. Speaker: Accent Speaker Technology Blue Thunder. AC: manufacturers' own.…
Sidebar Contacts
AudioQuest, 2621 White Road, Irvine, CA 92614. Tel: (949) 585-0111. Web: www.audioquest.com
Baetis Audio, 428 Canyon Creek Road, Livingston, MT 59047. Tel: (514) 496-9933. Web: www.baetisaudio.com
exaSound Audio Design, 3219 Yonge Street, Suite 354, Toronto, Ontario M4N 3S1, Canada. Web: www.exasound.com
miniDSP Ltd., Unit 1204, Crown Industrial Building, 106 How Ming Street, Kwun Tong, Hong Kong. Tel: (852) 2358-2066. Web: www.minidsp.com
Salamander Designs Ltd., 811 Blue Hills Avenue, Bloomfield, CT 06002. Tel: (888) 650-5289, (860) 761-…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog Sources: VPI TNT IV, Rega Planar 3 turntables; Immedia, Syrinx PU-3 tonearms; Koetsu Urushi, Clearaudio Virtuoso Wood cartridges.
Digital Sources: Lector CDP-7T, Creek Destiny CD players.
Preamplification: Vendetta Research SCP-2D phono stage, Audio Valve Eklipse line stage.
Power Amplifier: Audio Research Reference 75.
Loudspeakers: Epos M16i, Monitor Audio Silver RS6, Nola Viper Reference III.
Cables: Interconnect (all MIT): Magnum M3, MI-350 CVTwin Terminator, MI-330SG Terminator. Speaker: Accent Speaker Technology Blue…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog Sources: Rega Planar 3, VPI TNT IV turntables; Immedia, Syrinx PU-3 tonearms; Clearaudio Virtuoso Wood, Koetsu Urushi cartridges.
Digital Sources: Creek Destiny, Lector CDP-7T CD players.
Preamplification: Vendetta Research SCP-2D phono stage, Audio Valve Eclipse line stage.
Power Amplifier: Audio Research Reference 75.
Loudspeakers: Dynaudio Excite X12, Epos Elan 10.
Cables: Interconnect (all MIT): Magnum M3, MI-330SG Terminator, MI-350 CVTwin Terminator. Speaker: Accent Speaker Technology Blue Thunder. AC: manufacturers' own.…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog source: Rega Planar 3 turntable, Syrinx PU-3 tonearm.
Integrated amplifier: Creek 5350SE.
Loudspeakers: Acarian Systems Alón Petite, NHT SB-3.
Cables: Speaker: Acarian Systems Black Orpheus.
Accessories: Various by ASC, Bright Star, Ringmat Developments, Salamander Designs, Simply Physics, Sound Anchor, VPI.—Robert J. Reina
I cadged a copy of the hot-off-the press February 2014 issue from the Stereophile room to read Bob Reina's enthusiastic review of the Epos Elan 10 loudspeaker, then headed over to Music Hall to find out what's new. The affable Roy Hall showed me some very new Epos speakers, the first ones designed under the leadership of Luke Creek. The bookshelf K1 ($795/pair, above) and the floorstanding K2 ($1750/pair) were striking in gloss white with exposed black drivers and a slotted port just beneath them. Compared to the more traditional Epos designs, these stood out visually but, although less…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog Sources: VPI TNT IV, Rega Planar 3 turntables; Immedia, Syrinx PU-3 tonearms; Koetsu Urushi, Clearaudio Virtuoso Wood cartridges.
Digital Sources: Lector CDP-7T, Creek Destiny CD players.
Preamplification: Audio Valve Eclipse, Audio Research Reference 5SE line stages; Vendetta Research SCP-2D phono stage.
Power Amplifiers: Audio Research Reference 110 & Reference 75.
Loudspeakers: Epos M16i, Monitor Audio Silver RX6, Nola Viper Reference III.
Cables: Interconnect (all MIT): Magnum M3, MI-350 CVTwin Terminator, MI-330SG…
Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment
Analog Sources: Rega Research Planar 3, VPI TNT IV turntables; Immedia, Syrinx PU-3 tonearms; Clearaudio Virtuoso Wood, Koetsu Urushi cartridges.
Digital Sources: Creek Destiny, Lector CDP-7T CD players.
Preamplification: Vendetta Research SCP-2D phono stage; Audio Research Reference 5 SE, Audio Valve Eclipse, Nagra Jazz line stages.
Power Amplifiers: Audio Research Reference 75 & Reference 110.
Loudspeakers: Epos M16i, Monitor Audio Silver RX6, Nola Viper Reference III.
Cables: Interconnect (all MIT): Magnum M3, MI-330SG Terminator…
How to define progress? Ask longtime locals about the state of their hometown and the moaning starts: “Whole Foods is corrupt.” “Austin’s lost what made it cool.” “South Congress is too crazy.” “The traffic here is nuts.” “My ex-girlfriend used to bartend there.” “They’re not using locally sourced Tomatillos.” Here, the historic building on Red River Street just north of Waller Creek that once held impromptu jam sessions during many SXSW’s long past—and should be saved but is now ominously boarded up—stands in very stark contrast to the non-descript, mirror and steel Fairmont Hotel being…