The Montreal-based luxury home audio company Simaudio has been building high-performance home audio components for decades. Building on its legacy the Canadian company recently introduced its 791 Network Player/Preamplifier and 761 Amplifier.

Overview of the Moon by Simaudio 791 and 761 Units

Simaudio’s latest products are designed to balance the usage scenarios of modern media consumption with the ability to play legacy content without compromising sound quality. Like other Simaudio products, the 791 Network Player/Preamplifier and 761 Amplifier feature the company’s familiar contemporary industrial designs, and respected high levels of construction and craftsmanship.

Trying the new Moon by Simaudio products in my own system, I tried the components with speakers from Aerial Acoustics and GoldenEar using streaming content and LPs.

Starting with the 791 Network Player/Preamplifier, the company says this component provides users with more than just a preamplifier. According to Simaudio, the product combines traditional preamplifier functions, along with a built-in phono preamplifier, and a streaming DAC (digital-to-analog converter).

Outlining its options, the preamplifier provides a total of six digital inputs, including an HDMI with ARC connectivity to allow integrators to use the unit in a stereo-based AV system. The 791 Network Player/Preamplifier also provides a trio of analog inputs that include moving magnet (MM)/moving coil (MC) analog inputs.

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The 791 Network Player/Preamplifier also incorporates the company’s MiND2 digital content platform that allows users to stream and manage content stored digitally.

Other features the product offers includes a 4.3-inch color display, 12-volt triggers, and Simaudio’s unique BRM-1 Intelligent Remote Control.

Looking at the 761 amplifier, the Moon by Simaudio product, the company emphasizes the amp employs its MDCA circuit with no global feedback, and a dual-mono design configuration. The Moon by Simaudio 761 amplifier is rated to produce 200 watts into 8 ohms and 400 watts into 4 ohms.

The amp also offers a choice of RCA or XLR inputs, and bridged operation options in which the amp can produce 600 watts into 8 ohms.

Additional Features

• The 791 Network Player/Preamplifier offers a choice of six digital inputs, three analog inputs, and an HDMI input
• The 791 incorporates the company’s MiND2 technologies to support streaming and digital media support
• Simaudio’s new preamplifier product also provides 4.3-inch display and home control options for smart-home applications
• Simaudio’s stereo 791 amplifier utilizes a dual-mono architecture, as well as a no global feedback design
• The Moon by Simaudio 761 amplifier provides a choice of RCA and XLR inputs
• Simaudio rates the amplifier to produce 200 watts into 8 ohms and 400 watts into 4 ohms
• MSRP for the 791 Moon by Simaudio Network Player/Preamplifier is $16,000
• MSRP for the 761 Moon by Simaudio Preamplifier is $14,000

Moon by Simaudio 791 Preamplifier and 761 Amplifier Setup

Once I had unboxed the Simaudio products from their packaging—which I’ll point out is a much more stylish packaging solution than most home AV products—I began the physical setup of the amp and preamplifier.  

Starting with my restored Thorens TD-160 turntable, I ran its output cables to the phono inputs of the 791 Network Player/Preamplifier, I then ran an AudioQuest USB cable from the 791 to my MacBook Air computer, and I connected the 791 to the 761 amplifier using a pair of WireWorld XLR cables.

A look at the rear panel connections of the Moon by Simaudio 791 Network Player/Preamplifier inputs and outputs. Photo/Bob Archer

I finished the physical connections by running a pair of Straight Wire speaker cables from the amp to a pair of GoldenEar T66 loudspeakers, and I ran an Ethernet cable from my network to the 791 Network Player/Preamplifier.

Moving on to the configuration, I setup the Bluetooth connections to my iPhone 15, I setup the phono inputs for my turntable, which is fitted with an Audio-Technica 440ml MM phono cartridge, and I connected the BRM-1 Intelligent Remote control to the 791. One more thing I’d like to point out I also downloaded Simaudio’s MiND2 app, which I also used as a control solution with the system.

Setup of the should not 791 Network Player/Preamplifier and 761 Amplifier is easy and anyone setting up the components should not have a problem with the physical connections or the configuration through the 791’s user interface.

The Moon by Simaudio 761 Amplifier provides a choice of setup options, including XLR or RCA inputs. Photo/Bob Archer

Performance and Final Thoughts

Historically, Simaudio has designed and manufactured reference-quality components and the 791 Network Player/Preamplifier and 761 Amplifier continue the company’s legacy.

The amplifier delivers effortless power and the combination of the amp with the 791 provides high levels of transparency, finesse and dynamics. Summing up how the Simaudio components paired with the Aerial Acoustics Model 6 and GoldenEar T66. I thought with the T66s the electronics sounded open with true and extended top air, tight mid-bass and a high level of image dimension.

The Aerial Model 6 loudspeakers were a bit more reserved, but they also sounded nice with the Simaudio components. The Aerials weren’t quite as airy, but the speakers did offer a little more warmth than the GoldenEar products.

Getting deeper into the performance details of the 791 Network Player/Preamplifier and 761 Amplifier, one thing that had caught my ear listening the components with a Bluesound NANO NODE unit and the GoldenEar speakers, was how “black” the noise floor was with the Simaudio components. The blackness of the noise floor allowed me to hear fine low-level detail that some components simply can’t produce.

Listening to a Queensryche playlist I could clearly hear a chorus effect on the guitar during the song, Take Hold of the Flame. Listening to Tool using the same setup, I found Adam Jones’ guitar to have quite a bit of low-end power and Danny Carey’s drums to have a lot of space within the mix. Later, while listening to Let’s Dance by David Bowie I thought the keyboards were more upfront that I had remembered.

Swapping the GoldenEar T66s for the Aerial Model 6 loudspeakers, I could hear more air with the 791 Network Player/Preamplifier and 761 Amplifier than with my usual Bryston components. Listening to the differences between Pandora and Bluetooth with the Simaudio gear, I found the Bluetooth to have more weight. Regardless of what speakers I was using I thought the Simaudio products delivered an open top end, a detailed midrange and well-defined mid-bass.

As a smart-home solution, the Simaudio components also work well. As I already noted, I had no issues with the download of the Simaudio MiND2 app. Navigation of the app was easy to allow me to find streaming services such as TuneIn, as well as sources, including my turntable, Apple AirPlay, and Bluetooth.

Maybe the only negative with the MiND2 platform is that I found myself having to reconnect to the 791 Network Player/Preamplifier, and while it took only a few seconds to reconnect, it was still a delay to switch sources, control the volume or power the system down until the system reconnected. The other small user nitpick, I’ll throw out there is that while unique, I did not understand how to use the BRM-1 Intelligent Remote. Realistically, given the price point of the products I think dealers will be combining the Simaudio products with a Crestron system or say for example a single-room URC control solution.

The Moon by Simaudio’s proprietary MiND2 audio platform offers features such as Apple AirPlay 2 streaming capabilities. (photo credit: Bob Archer CE Pro)

Those little things aside, the 791 Network Player/Preamplifier and 761 Amplifier are as good as it gets in the world of home audio. The products exude quality and precision, and their performance matches the visual elegance the components highlight through their build quality and industrial design.

The new Moon by Simaudio components are more than worthy of any audiophile smart home system installation that requires the highest level luxury audio components.

Moon by Simaudio 791 and 761: CE Pros and Cons

Pros:

• The Moon by Simaudio components provide all the flexibility necessary to mix the latest digital and analog formats without compromising performance
• The components setup and install easily, and the amplifier can drive just about any loudspeaker available
• The Moon by Simaudio products provide an effortless listening experience highlighted by high levels of transparency and detail

Cons:

• The MiND 2 digital platform is easy to use, and it works reliably, but it’s not the smoothest user experience because the app will disconnect connections and it must reconnect to the 791 if a user wants to say for example, adjust the volume or pause their stream. It’s not a big deal but it’s a different experience than using BluOS or the Sonos app.

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