FIRST TESTS FIRST TESTS EXCLUSIVE, IN-DEPTH VERDICTS ON THE LATEST KIT Moon 240i | Stereo amplifier | £1990 “An understated, yet terrifically talented amp” FOR Smooth and dynamic; AGAINST Some might prefer # # # # # looks and sounds much pricier a more forward presentation There’s something quite spellbinding The 240i is surprisingly revealing. What character is better at delivering the crunchy, about the Moon 240i. It may be its entry- we’re pleased by is how it doesn’t go about distorted guitars of Marilyn Manson’s level integrated stereo amplifier (though for making jazz hands about this fact. This is an Killing Strangers and has a bit more bite and a company such as Moon, entry-level is understated, yet terrifically talented attitude with songs that need it, such as almost £2000), but it has the performance amplifier, one that puts subtlety and Eminem’s The Way I Am. and looks of something far pricier. dynamism to the fore. The Moon has a smoother presentation, After running it in overnight, we start off From the metronomic ticking to the but it doesn’t sacrifice an ounce of detail in by playing Tom Waits’ Alice on vinyl, and twin-feeling of vast, echoey space and being so listenable. What it does best is are immediately drawn to the Moon’s claustrophobic tension in Hans Zimmer’s communicate the spirit of a song faithfully: talents. Waits’ characteristically raspy tone Coward, the Moon effortlessly lays bare the from the tongue-in-cheek fun of is packed with layers of detail, but it’s subtle noises and slow build-up of tension Macklemore's Thrift Shop to the wistfulness mixed with more delicacy and subtlety as the composition intensifies. of Elliott Smith’s Say Yes – even the spitting than we usually hear at this level. rage behind Eminem’s tracks – and so we Even his overly gruff singing in No One Nice crisp notes find ourselves drawn towards playing track Knows I’m Gone comes across as more We play some of our trickier test tracks, after track from our music library, simply refined through the Moon, without it including Radiohead’s 15 Steps and The enjoying the Moon’s captivating sound. sacrificing the solidity and depth in his Dead Weather’s 60 Feet Tall, and the Moon singing. The song sounds just a little more remains unflappable. Its sense of timing is Waking up the neighbours bittersweet as a result. agile and precise, and all instrumental What’s more, you don’t have to worry about strands are pulled taut while still remaining upsetting your neighbours to enjoy the Building the tension organised. The edges of notes are crisp and Moon at its fullest. It’s rare for an amplifier Elsewhere, the muted trumpet on Alice definite, silences are like chasms, and the to sound so engaging at low volume. sounds almost unearthly, and the bass solidity of each drum hit or guitar strum is Turning it up simply makes it louder – it notes have a twang to them that is often deeply satisfying. doesn’t change the sonic character, or overlooked by all bar the very best amps – If you favour all-out muscle and attack, harden it up. It doesn’t even sound too particularly those with a few more zeros on however, this may not be the amplifier for loud, showing just how clean and the price tag than this Moon. you. The £1600 Rega Elicit-R’s leaner distortion-free the Moon’s performance is. 8 www.whathifi .com FIRST TESTS IN DETAIL... KEY FEATURES 110101 1100101 110101 1100101 High-res There's a 3.5mm input for your Class A/B amplifier 50W per channel asynchronous DAC USB type B input smartphone and a 6.3mm jack too And apart from a slight leanness across The insides of the 240i aren’t too the digital inputs – the analogue inputs dissimilar to those of the Moon Neo Ace offer that bit more depth and layers – the streaming system we like so much. Moon’s character stays pretty much the Essentially, it's a class A/B design same across all its inputs. outputting 50W of power (into 8 ohms), with an asynchronous DAC that supports Works like a dream playback of high-resolution files up to an Although the Moon’s smooth, fluid impressive 32-bit/384kHz and DSD256 files, character makes it easy to pair with a so the option is there if you have a few number of products, to fully show off the albums in hi-res formats. 240i’s subtleties, you’ll need to partner it DSD and 32-bit audio files can be played The OLED display is crisp and clear, with some seriously capable kit. only through the amp’s USB type-B input; and you have the option to turn it off The refined and articulate Rega Planar 6 all other digital files (including 16- and (but with the MM Exact cartridge instead of 24-bit) can be played through the 240i’s the MC Ania) would work like a dream with other four digital inputs. the Moon 240i, as would the all-round excellent Clearaudio Concept. For speakers, Lots of versatility we’d recommend the expressive, agile It’s worth bearing in mind that the two talents of the Dynaudio Forty Special coaxials support up to 192kHz, while the standmounts or the Spendor A4 two optical inputs are limited to 96kHz – so floorstanders as perfect partners. plug in your sources accordingly. “It’s rare for an amplifi er to sound so engaging at low volume. Turning it up simply makes it louder – The remote control could be better it doesn’t change or harden the sonic character” designed, but is easy enough to use www.whathifi .com 9 FIRST TESTS IN DETAIL... 3 1 2 1 2 3 The analogue connections include two pairs of RCA There's a lot of versatility on the digital front too. The Moon 240i is equipped with just the one pair of inputs and a moving-magnet phono stage. The The Moon 240i has two optical inputs, two SPDIF speaker binding posts – quality items that will take phono input is for use with a turntable, while the inputs and a USB type-B connector, meaning you all manner of connector. second and third inputs are for analogue source can connect your laptop, CD player, a streamer or components such as a tuner or CD player. even a TV to the amplifi er. “There is something spellbinding about the Moon SYSTEM BUILDER ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 240i. We wouldn’t have batted an eyelid if you’d ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++This kit will get the best from your Moon ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ told us it was edging closer to three grand in price” ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The Moon offers a lot of versatility on the screen. Buttons are responsive, and the ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ digital front. You can connect your laptop, volume dial turns smoothly and has subtle ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ CD player, a streamer (such as Moon’s steps. The included remote – a flat, long ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++STEREO SPEAKERS ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++# # # # # excellent Neo MiND) and even a TV to the wand with flat buttons – could be better ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Dynaudio Special Forty £2500 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ amp. And that’s before you get to the designed and isn’t essential to using the ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++Partnered with suitably talented kit, these ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ analogue section: two pairs of RCA inputs, a amp, but it’s enough easy to use. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++superb standmounters will shine ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ moving magnet phono stage for turntables Delve into the set-up menu using the ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ and a 3.5mm input in front for hardwiring front-panel buttons, and you’ll find options ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ portable music players or your smartphone. to rename inputs, set volume levels, and ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ There’s a 6.3mm jack for