[longbowbbs]

I will be turning it in this weekend so I expect it will probably end up on the June or July Headphone.guru review schedule.

 

[Armaegis]

Hey guys, I met a Moon Audio rep a couple weeks back and asked him some technical questions via email. Figured I should share the responses...
 

 
- I get the transconductance thing... basically that's a voltage to current conversion, so how does the amp account for the impedance peaks found in dynamic headphones? (Sennheisers and Beyerdynamic are probably the worst culprits), because that usually leads to a voltage output which follows the impedance curve, resulting in a skewed frequency response
The amplifier operates using a proprietary topology where most of the gain is made in transconductance mode, but at the very end of the output stage it is converted back into a voltage output and thus avoids any weird behavior with load impedances as you were hinting at.  You might have noticed, we have never stated ‘current mode output’; you made this incorrect (although admittedly legitimate) assumption yourself.  
- is the transconductance accomplished via IC solution (if so, can you disclose the device?) or an in-house discrete design?
The transconductance section in the Nēo 430HA is an in-house discrete design optimized for the best audio performance.  We know that there are false advertisements or statements within our industry about various technical feats, and many plays on words are quickly made when electronic design is the topic. We proudly design our products without making the compromises that others are willing to do to save money.

 

- the optional dac add-on... is it based on an existing product? if so, which?
- regarding the DSD capabilities, is the decoding/filtering/etc done on a separate board from the pcm? what components are shared between them?
There is one DAC board in the Nēo 430HA, so all digital-to-analog conversion happens there.  Many parts are shared between the two working modes, but the DSD is processed natively and is not converted to PCM prior to analog conversion. This board is not based on any other MOON product.  This DAC engine will shortly be offered as an upgrade DAC option on other products too.

 
 

 - your ad-copy says fully balanced, but balanced in the headphone and hifi world is one of the most misused words in the industry (right up there with class-A). What makes the output balanced and not merely bridged? Is the actual amplification topology balanced throughout, or only converted at the inputs/outputs?
Let say you start with a digital audio source in the Nēo 430HA; the signal will be balanced right from the very beginning of its analog life, straight from the DAC + and - outputs, and stay balanced for the whole signal path, including volume control circuit, up until it reaches the XLR pins on the front panel.   Now for a deeper understanding there are the nuances between balanced differential as opposed to bridged configuration, and all of this is subject to debate.  However, based upon what I feel is your definition, the signal path is fully balanced differential up to the output stage where it then reaches a bridged configuration comprised of independent but identical circuits.  This is a whole lot better than pretty much everything else in the market.

 

[TonyNewman]

Interesting stuff. I won't pretend that I understand all the technical ins and outs above - I don't

 
I do understand how well the 430HA drives my HE6 and HD800 and how good the sound is combined with the Auralic Vega DAC.
 
This is a fantastic amp and one of my best audio purchases. My Taurus Mk2, as good as it is, is now sitting on a shelf as my solid state "back up amp" just in case of disaster, or the unlikely need for a second amp/preamp.

 

[longbowbbs]

 
This is a fantastic amp and one of my best audio purchases. My Taurus Mk2, as good as it is, is now sitting on a shelf as my solid state "back up amp" just in case of disaster, or the unlikely need for a second amp/preamp.

Hello ebay.....

 

[alec66]

   
 malarky! :¬)

where's the malarkey????

 

[TonyNewman]

  Hello ebay.....

 
Thought about it, but given my tendency towards misfortune with audio gear I might just hang onto it as a backup headamp / preamp - just in case. Call me paranoid, but I have had a lot of bad luck with gear in the past 18 months.

 

[alinto]

Another brief review in Hi-fi world.

 

[longbowbbs]

Did you see the new $15k USD DAC they annouced at Munich?

 

[Yoga]

  Another brief review in Hi-fi world.

 
Verdict?
 

Did you see the new $15k USD DAC they annouced at Munich?

 
Didn't see that, will be interesting to see how it fares!

 

[alinto]

They liked the amp section but did not think the dac was worth it. This is a british publication so the dac add on would be higher in price compared to north america.

 

[alec66]

after first 70 hours: lot of treble, small bass, bit nervous reproduction;
Hope all that schiit will stay away soon....

 

[alec66]

250 hours.....
 
 
 

 
 

 

[TonyNewman]

  250 hours.....
 
 
 

 
 

 
Very good 

 
Hope you enjoy the heck out of your 430HA - it's a great amp.

 

[Yoga]

  250 hours...
 

 
It will continue to get better :¬)
 
How is it with the 777SE? I have a Yggy on order but still tempted by it!

 

[alec66]

   
It will continue to get better :¬)
 
How is it with the 777SE? I have a Yggy on order but still tempted by it!

still in the burning area....too early to judge
While I'm really happy with 280D DSD (a real surprise!): really stunning price/ratio performance!
In combo with 430HA, we are really near an end game solution...
Or maybe I have just landed at a real end game solution!!!