Over the Moon

[ReggieB]

After a bit of a journey, I think I may have found my streaming nirvana. I started with an old laptop, then moved on to a Marantz NA7004, spent a lot of time playing with Raspberry Pis before returning to a combination of a M2Tech Young DAC and the NA7004.

My latest purchase is a Simaudio 180 Moon Streamer (http://www.simaudio.com/en/product/61-streamer.html). It's probably a little behind the pointy end of streamers as it only goes up to 24-bit/192kHz and no DSD - 2014 tech!. But that matches my library perfectly at the moment. The streamer can be picked up at an affordable price at the moment if you hunt around.

The 180 Mind does not have it's own DAC, which suits me fine as I wanted a streamer to act as a digital source only. So for me that's network cable connection in and S/PDIF RCA out (unfortunately I have an early Young DAC so can't take advantage of the 180 Mind's AES/EBU output).

The sound is much more textured than before. Each instrument seems to be solid with its own texture - sometime rough, but in a realistic way. I'm loving everything I'm chucking at the Moon/Young combo. For those wanting a more detailed review, there's this (http://www.simaudio.com/DATA/TEXTEDOC/Hi-Fi-News-UK-201308-180MiND.pdf) - or look at the review tab on the Moon product page (http://www.simaudio.com/en/product/61-streamer.html)


https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/IKmyGo48iq6cl6RmFWihp-BZSkd0brvsvxkYulFWDlGlGFMHLQk2MzNpysFHoghm0qCyQBTl 45AWWA=w1600-h900-rw-no

[AlfaGTV]

Lovely! I have heard most people say nice things about the Mind streamers. I believe their app is quite useful too?
As i have had a Marantz NA-7004 myself i know that it also is an excellent streamer that really gelled with my system at the time.
The Marants UI wasnt the greatest though, but with a good sorting system on your UPnP server it was quite easy to select albums by just using the remote and the small display.
Cheers /Mike

[ReggieB]

The Marantz web interface works - but is just horrible. Also navigating via the remote and the Marantz's screen has become cumbersome as my digital library has grown.

I found the best way to control streaming to my Marantz NA7004 was via BubbleUPnP on an android tablet (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bubblesoft.android.bubbleupnp&hl=en_GB). And the same solutions works for the Moon 180 Mind!

My tablet is a very old Asus with a weird Intel chip set (https://www.asus.com/Phone/ASUS_Fonepad/) that the Simaudio Mind software does like it. A good excuse to treat myself to a new larger screened tablet :)

[Jimbo]

I have heard the Simaudio Moon streamer hooked up to an Innuos Zenith MK2 Server into a DAVE DAC recently -OMG!

However all you need is the Innuos Zen (£700) + Simaudio Moon 180 + a Hugo DAC and you will be in digital Nirvana.

http://www.innuos.com/en/catalog/go/music-servers-mk2

[ReggieB]

Innuos Zen (£700) + Simaudio Moon 180 + a Hugo DAC

That would be a splendid combination. I have a Chord Mojo which is excellent - and would quite fancy a Hugo. However, at the moment I think the next upgrade will be a new phono stage.

[ReggieB]

I've had David at MCRU make me up a PSU for the Moon Mind (http://www.mains-cables-r-us.co.uk/linear-power-supply-selector/525-regulated-linear-power-supply-selector.html#/189-colour-black/757-select_your_item-simaudio_mind_streamer). Just when you thought anything could get better .....

I'm currently listening to the Emily Barker And The Red Clay Halo album Despite the Snow, and Emily and the band are in the room with me. Well Emily's is near the back wall of my room, and the band behind and to either side of her. If I close my eyes - the back wall of my room disappears and it sounds as though the band are playing from the hallway behind. I can't get over how my system just seems to disappear with the Moon Mind / M2Tech Young DAC combination.

http://www.mains-cables-r-us.co.uk/1475-tm_large_default/regulated-linear-power-supply-selector.jpg

[Jimbo]

That would be a splendid combination. I have a Chord Mojo which is excellent - and would quite fancy a Hugo. However, at the moment I think the next upgrade will be a new phono stage.

I have heard Hugo 2 is coming out soon and may well be nearly up to DAVE quality audio.

[ReggieB]

I do fancy trying a Hugo - but I have to admit I'm really happy with the current digital side of my system. So a new DAC is not on the horizon at the moment.

I think the next item in line for upgrade is the phono amp. I'm curious to try an alternative to my Dino/Dino+ combo.

[mikeyb]

After a bit of a journey, I think I may have found my streaming nirvana. I started with an old laptop, then moved on to a Marantz NA7004, spent a lot of time playing with Raspberry Pis before returning to a combination of a M2Tech Young DAC and the NA7004.

My latest purchase is a Simaudio 180 Moon Streamer (http://www.simaudio.com/en/product/61-streamer.html). It's probably a little behind the pointy end of streamers as it only goes up to 24-bit/192kHz and no DSD - 2014 tech!. But that matches my library perfectly at the moment. The streamer can be picked up at an affordable price at the moment if you hunt around.

The 180 Mind does not have it's own DAC, which suits me fine as I wanted a streamer to act as a digital source only. So for me that's network cable connection in and S/PDIF RCA out (unfortunately I have an early Young DAC so can't take advantage of the 180 Mind's AES/EBU output).

The sound is much more textured than before. Each instrument seems to be solid with its own texture - sometime rough, but in a realistic way. I'm loving everything I'm chucking at the Moon/Young combo. For those wanting a more detailed review, there's this (http://www.simaudio.com/DATA/TEXTEDOC/Hi-Fi-News-UK-201308-180MiND.pdf) - or look at the review tab on the Moon product page (http://www.simaudio.com/en/product/61-streamer.html)


https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/IKmyGo48iq6cl6RmFWihp-BZSkd0brvsvxkYulFWDlGlGFMHLQk2MzNpysFHoghm0qCyQBTl 45AWWA=w1600-h900-rw-no
Reminds me of this

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170120/1204732a9c187fccc41e9754a139695d.jpg

Lol

Joking aside the Moon 180 has been on my radar for a good while now, SimAudio seem to keep their older products going as well rather than just force them into obsolescence with new models.

I'll be keeping an eye for out for one even more now.

[ReggieB]

A small update to my Simaudio Mind 180 story: I've moved the connection between the Mind and my M2Tech Young DAC from RCA to balanced AES/EBU connection on XLR, with good results. The sound seems to have filled out, with voices and instruments having more solidity and there being a little more clarity. When I was considering getting the Mind, I noticed some reviews mentioning that the output was better via XLR (http://www.soundstagehifi.com/index.php/equipment-reviews/779-simaudio-moon-180-mind-music-streamer), but I'd got it into my head that I didn't have a matching input on my DAC. Then a couple of days ago I had the DAC out and realised it does have an XLR input - I wonder about myself sometimes.

So an even happier Mind 180 owner.

[Jimbo]

A small update to my Simaudio Mind 180 story: I've moved the connection between the Mind and my M2Tech Young DAC from RCA to balanced AES/EBU connection on XLR, with good results. The sound seems to have filled out, with voices and instruments having more solidity and there being a little more clarity. When I was considering getting the Mind, I noticed some reviews mentioning that the output was better via XLR (http://www.soundstagehifi.com/index.php/equipment-reviews/779-simaudio-moon-180-mind-music-streamer), but I'd got it into my head that I didn't have a matching input on my DAC. Then a couple of days ago I had the DAC out and realised it does have an XLR input - I wonder about myself sometimes.

So an even happier Mind 180 owner.

XLR only works well really when everything is connected XLR throughout.

[Gazjam]

Have an M2Tech Young myself and spent a lot of time (and money!) looking formthe best digital hookup from my Logitech Transporter (2006 tech!) to the Young.

AES was noticably better than the rest, and its worth noting I tried a few different XLR digital cables and from direct experience with the same Dac, dont let anyone tell you they all sound the same.

Hear what Jim's saying about balanced/unbalanced connections, but for a digital cable you'll be fine.

Go for XLR if you can...and you can! :)

[ReggieB]

Thanks Gazjam. I'm just about to order a XLR cable from David at MCRU. I'll see if that improves the sound over the cheap one I bought on the bay of E, to see if it would work.