MOON by SimAudio: A Champion of Digital Audio
Can Digital Audio Rival Physical Media? Yep, with the Right DAC.
Anyone who ever said “Audio quality doesn’t matter to me,” probably didn’t know what they’re talking about.
We don’t say that to be mean, but it’s most likely true— they have just never heard how damn good music can sound on a quality system. Once they do, they’ll realize there’s an entire world of music that they’ve been missing.
And sadly, a lot of music lovers today aren’t hearing half of the details in their favorite songs. They’re streaming low-quality files on services like Spotify and using sound systems that can’t provide accurate sound reproduction.
If you primarily listen to digital music but want to hear more detail and resolution with less distortion, you need to do two things:
- Start listening to higher-quality audio formats
- Upgrade your system with a better DAC (digital-to-analog converter)
There’s a whole range of quality DACs out there. But today, we’re going to focus on the crème de la crème: MOON by SimAudio.
Let’s see how good digital streaming can sound with MOON. Can it even rival CDs and vinyl?
SEE ALSO: The Best Tracks to Test Your 2-Channel Audio System
DACs: The Key to Great Digital Audio
DACs convert digital audio signals—those beep-boop zeroes and ones—into analog signals that speakers play and our ears hear. And maybe without realizing it, you already use DACs in your daily life. They’re in your TV, portable speakers, computers, and headphones.
However, most built-in DACs lack high-quality sound, because the technology isn’t a priority. Let’s use video games as an analogy. The most sophisticated games can’t be played on an iPhone; they need more processing power in a device like a PlayStation or XBox.
It’s the same with DACs. A tiny DAC in your laptop or earbuds is not sophisticated enough to replicate all the detail and texture within a soundwave. But a high-end DAC can.
The DAC You Choose Matters
A low-end or built-in DAC will produce less clear and detailed analog waveforms than a higher-quality model. It’s as simple as that.
A high-end DAC— like the new 681 Network Player/DAC from MOON by SimAudio—will deliver an incredibly accurate conversion process. This means digital and streamed audio will sound richer, fuller, more detailed, and just like the musician intended. If you’re only using digital sources, you don’t even need a preamp—plug the MOON 681 directly into your power amp.
Plus, the MOON 681 features a new MOON Hybrid Volume control, which removes any sonic degradation when adjusting the volume. You’ll still hear all of the quality with the attenuation you need.
And okay, earlier we put down built-in DACs. But MOON’s built-in DACs aren’t like those other built-ins. For example, the MOON 891 is an ultra-high performance preamplifier with a built-in DAC that is mind-meltingly impressive. It’s hard to write about; you just have to come and listen.
Can It Compare to Physical Media?
There’s no denying it: streaming is incredibly convenient. We recently wrote about the joys of building a physical media collection. And while we love CDs and vinyl as much as the next guy, when you have a DAC this good, your streaming playlists will sound just as high-quality.
High-end DACs like MOON’s can reproduce digital audio signals with extreme precision, potentially even surpassing vinyl in terms of accuracy and noise floor.
But if you want your digital music to sound just as good as physical media, the DAC is just one part of the chain. The audio file format, speakers, and amplifier all play a part in creating the audio experience.
Hear It for Yourself at HiFi Buys
Want to hear the difference a great DAC can make? Visit us in Atlanta, GA and test different components from MOON by SimAudio and other world-famous brands. Whatever you want to play, come on down and try it out with us.
Have a question? Contact us here—we’re always down to talk all things audio.