Should I get the Moon 891 streamer/dac/preamp for my Moon 861 amp? Or separates?
I own a Moon Audio 861 amp. Right now I have a McIntosh mc12000 preamp and a eversolo A8 streamer. With Focal N1 Sopra speakers (that I am happy with). Obviously, with the streamer I am not getting the best sound I can from my Moon amp.
So, I decided I will sell my McIntosh M12000 pramp (it's so beautiful, it hurts to let go of it) and use the money for a dac/streamer/preamp.
I was thinking about the Moon 891 streamer/preamp/dac. It makes sense because I have the Moon 861 amp. But 25k is so much money, I was wondering... would it be better to use that money on a nice streamer and dac instead? Like a 10k on a streamer and 10k on a Chord dac? Or would it be best to stick with the Moon 891 for the synergy between that any my Moon amp? Looking to get the best sound I can from my amp.
Simaudio also has the 791 Pre/DAC/Streamer which is $16k vs $25k for the 891 so that might be another avenue to explore (I don't know what the differences are). I suspect that mating either of these with your 861 would produce detail in abundance and you would have a great two box solution. A nice side benefit is that the Sim integrates easily with TV with HMDI ARC.
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Quick question for you @mgrif104. You write: "If I were to do it over - I would pair their 800 series preamp/DAC with the 761 amp which I own already." Are you currently using the 791? Did you (or anyone else on this thread) ever compare the 891 to the 791, holding the 761 power amp fixed? Thanks. |
I am not currently using the 791 - I have the T+A SDV 3100 HV (with preamp) in system one, and SD 3100 HV (no preamp) in system 2. But, I’m using the Simaudio North 761 amp in system 1 and like it very much. I did audition the 761 amp vs the 861 amp directly. Yes, the 800 series is better, but they’re closer than many would suspect - the larger amp being more “effortless”. Unfortunately, I did not audition their 791 vs 891 preamp/DAC units directly. I’m sure there are differences, but to the magnitude of the differences I can’t speak. Nevertheless, I did hear the 791 with the 761 and thought it was very good on both an absolute and relative basis. As I stated earlier - yes you can do better. But it’ll cost you in time, effort and certainly in money. I like my DACs better, but they are also a price point up. (So I make sure I tell myself they’re better!). Sorry I can’t be more helpful. |
dman777 I'm in the separates camp, technology moves so fast on the digital side that I want that flexibility to replace a single component if I wish. Here's a sample of what you could do for $25,000 (1) Preamp - Aric Audio Motherlode II preamp $5,750 (RCA only) or Motherlode XL $6,875 (Upgraded parts - RCA and XLR), or Don Sachs/Lynn Olson Raven preamp $6,395, Backert Labs Rhumba Extreme 1.4 $8,500 (2) Streamer - Aurender N200 $6,700 or N20 $13,400, or Lumin U2 $6,000 (3) DAC - Denafrips Terminator 15th $6,100, T+A DAC200 $7,500, Berkeley Audio Design Alpha DAC Series 3 $11,000, Weiss DAC 204 $3,800, or Mola Mola Tambaqui $14,000 (4) Keep the Moon Audio 861 amplifier |
Moon 891 doesn’t use newer technology than Chord DAVE. It uses different technology. If you keep your McIntosh preamp adding Lumin/DAVE combo could actually give you good results. Using DAVE’s preamp section could be OK but I suspect it might be too direct sounding with 891 and Focals. Try it. |
