Preamplifier MOON by Simaudio 791 2-Tone

MOON 791 – analogue preamplifier with network player, DAC and configurable phono stage in a single chassis

The MOON 791 is a network player and analogue preamplifier that combines a full-fledged DAC, a configurable MM/MC phono stage and a network player built on the MiND 2 platform in a single unit. It is conceived as the control centre of a system for listeners who want command over every source without altering the character of the signal. Volume is handled by the analogue M-VOL3 control, which maintains constant resolution even at low levels, with no increase in noise or channel imbalance.

The design is based on a dual-mono layout and fully balanced circuitry with separate power supplies for the individual sections. All circuits are isolated both physically and electrically, limiting interaction between the digital and analogue sections. The phono input offers gain of 40, 54, 60 and 66 dB, capacitive loading of 0, 100 or 470 pF and impedance matching of 10 Ω, 100 Ω, 1 kΩ and 47 kΩ, allowing precise setup for both MM and MC cartridges.

The digital section is formed by the MDE-2 module, which handles PCM up to 32 bit/384 kHz and DSD up to 11.2896 MHz (DSD256), both via USB Audio and via the MiND 2 network input. The unit is Roon Ready certified and supports Qobuz Connect, TIDAL Connect, Spotify Connect, AirPlay and Bluetooth. A signal-to-noise ratio of 120 dB in the analogue section, 125 dB dynamic range on the digital input, THD+N of 0.0004 % and crosstalk of –125 dB translate into legible microdynamics, stable imaging of instruments and a silent background from which even decaying notes emerge.

Connectivity includes three analogue inputs and seven digital inputs, among them USB Audio, HDMI ARC, AES/EBU, optical and coaxial interfaces. Outputs are balanced XLR as well as single-ended RCA with an output impedance of 50 Ω. A 4.3" colour display provides an overview of source, format and album artwork, while operation is handled by the intelligent BRM-1 remote control. Via the MOONLink interface, the 791 integrates with other MOON components into a uniformly controlled system.

Key features

• Analogue M-VOL3 volume control: Constant resolution even at low levels
• MDE-2 DAC module: PCM 32 bit/384 kHz and DSD256
• MM/MC phono stage: Adjustable gain, capacitance and impedance
• MiND 2 network player: Roon Ready, Qobuz, TIDAL, Spotify, AirPlay
• Dual-mono construction: Separate power supplies and isolated circuits