
Moon 871 Amplifier. Moon 891 Source. Out of this world performance
April 21, 2026 文|Hurba Brothers 翻譯|Gemini 編輯、校對|巨禮小編
原文網址:https://soundnews.net/reviews/moon-871-amplifier-moon-891-source-out-of-this-world-performance/
We would like to begin with an insight into the company behind these otherworldly performers, and that is Simaudio. In 1980, in Quebec, Canada, Victor Sima laid the foundation for what would become one of the most respected names in high-end audio. A strong engineering culture, precise and careful manufacturing, and a constant pursuit of sonic refinement have shaped the company’s identity over the decades, and that philosophy is clearly reflected in components like these. Craftsmanship, refinement and attention to detail are sensed from the very first touch.
在探討這套表現超凡的器材之前,我們想先深入了解其背後的推手——Simaudio。1980 年,Victor Sima 於加拿大魁北克奠定了基礎,成就了日後在 High-End 音響界備受尊崇的品牌之一。數十年來,深厚的工程文化、嚴謹精密的製造工藝,以及對聲音細膩度的不懈追求,塑造了該公司的核心特質,而這樣的理念亦清晰體現在這些器材上。從初次觸碰的那一刻起,便能深刻感受到其精湛工藝、細膩質感與對細節的高度專注。
As the years move on, that original spark grew into a mature and highly recognizable identity. The nineties brought the Celeste line, a fresh company structure under Simaudio Ltd., and the arrival of the Renaissance amplification circuitry, products that quickly stood out through their elegant industrial design and transparent sonic signature. After years of further research, the MOON series emerges as the company’s reference direction, carrying forward the same engineering discipline while pushing deeper into the territory of statement-level performance, the same lineage that now leads us straight to the 861 and 891.
隨著歲月推移,當年的創業火花逐漸演變為成熟且極具辨識度的品牌風貌。1990 年代,Simaudio 推出了 Celeste 系列、確立了 Simaudio Ltd. 全新的公司架構,並導入 Renaissance 放大電路;這些產品憑藉優雅的工業設計與通透純淨的聲音特質迅速脫穎而出。經過多年的深入研發,MOON 系列應運而生,成為該公司的旗艦參考級指標。它傳承了一貫嚴謹的工程準則,同時更進一步跨入極致旗艦級(statement-level)的性能領域,而正是這脈相承的血統,引領我們迎來了如今的 861 與 891。

From the North Collection – The Sensational Moon 861
After first contact, the first thing that stood out about the MOON 861 is how everything feels exactly as it should in a statement amplifier of this caliber. The machining is exquisite, the chassis feels immensely solid, and every surface, corner, and control point carries that somewhat overbuilt character we always love finding in true high-end gear. It made us instantly slow down, just to take a closer look, touch, and feel every panel, appreciate the care that goes into its creation, with the same amazement as a child discovering a new toy. Even before a single note started playing, we felt the 861 already communicate refinement, confidence, and that unmistakable sense that we are dealing with a component conceived without shortcuts or cost savings in mind and brought to life with enormous pride.
初次接觸 MOON 861 時,最令人印象深刻的,莫過於這款旗艦級後級擴大機的一切觸感與細節皆恰如其分。精湛的機械加工、無比扎實的機箱結構,乃至每一個表面、邊角與操控介面,都散發著我們在頂級 Hi-End 器材上所熱愛的那種「不惜工本(overbuilt)」的扎實感。這讓我們不禁放慢步調,屏息細細審視、撫觸並感受每一塊面板,以如同孩童發現新玩具般的驚嘆,欣賞傾注其中的極致匠心。甚至在第一個音符響起之前,861 便已傳遞出洗鍊的優雅、無比的自信,以及一種明確的宣示:這是一部絕不妥協、不計成本打造,並帶著無比自豪所誕生的巔峰之作。

Once we move past the outer shell, the MOON 861 reveals a level of engineering that instantly earns our respect. This is a fully dual mono design, with separate low noise 1500 VA toroidal transformers for each channel and a massive 240,000 µF capacitor bank waiting behind them. Numbers alone do not tell the whole story, but they already paint the image of an amplifier built for stability, current delivery, and effortless drive and composure even under intense workloads. We always enjoy seeing this kind of serious power supply implementation, because so much of an amplifier’s final character begins right here, long before the signal reaches the speakers.
越過外觀結構,MOON 861 內部所展現的工程水準更是令人肅然起敬。這是一部完全雙單聲道(Dual Mono)設計的器材,每聲道各自配備獨立的低噪訊 1500 VA 環形變壓器,後方則搭載高達 240,000 µF 的龐大濾波電容群。雖然單純的數據無法道盡一切,但已勾勒出一款專為極致穩定性、強大電流輸出,以及在高負載下依然游刃有餘、從容掌控而生的擴大機輪廓。我們向來十分欣賞這種嚴謹的電源架構規劃,因為早在訊號傳送至喇叭之前,擴大機的音色基調與控制力便已在此奠定了核心基礎。
The actual amplifier topology is even more interesting. The 861 uses MDCA, MOON’s Distortion Cancelling Amplifier, together with a no global feedback design, proprietary MOON transistors, and a true dual mono layout. MOON explains that MDCA performs its error correction outside the audio signal path, compares input and output in real time, injects the correction directly into the output stage, lowers output impedance, and raises the damping factor. On paper, that philosophy leads to a very telling set of numbers: 31 dB of gain, 47 kΩ input impedance, bandwidth from 2 Hz to 100 kHz, vanishing crosstalk quoted at 119 dB below zero, and a damping factor of 900. This is the kind of technical foundation that usually translates into a presentation rich in control, separation, and low-level information.
其電路拓撲架構更具亮點。861 採用了 MOON 自主研發的 MDCA(失真消除放大技術,Distortion Cancelling Amplifier),結合無全域負回授(no global feedback)設計、專利客製 MOON 功率晶體,以及真正的全雙單聲道架構。MOON 說明,MDCA 是在音訊訊號路徑之外進行誤差修正,透過即時比對輸入與輸出訊號,並將校正訊號直接注入輸出級,藉此降低輸出阻抗並提升阻尼因數。從規格數據來看,這套設計理念帶來了極具說服力的成果:31 dB 的增益、47 kΩ 輸入阻抗、2 Hz 至 100 kHz 的頻寬、低至 -119 dB 的微弱串音,以及高達 900 的阻尼因數。這類紮實的技術基礎,往往能轉化為極具控制力、優異分離度與豐富微動態細節的聲音表現。


The rear panel also tells us that Simaudio thinks like a serious system builder. We get balanced XLR and single-ended RCA inputs, direct selection between them, an AC or DC coupling switch at the input, stereo or mono operation, trigger support, and MOONLink connectivity. The manual adds a detail we always appreciate, because it shows real engineering care: AC coupling is there to block DC coming from an upstream component, especially useful with older preamps or with designs that might pass a bit of DC at the output. In bridged mono mode, the amplifier uses the left channel input and the positive terminals of both channels for speaker connection, which turns the 861 into an even more formidable animal. It is a technical solution that feels like a cherry on top of that “endgame aura” surrounding the whole piece.
背板配置亦展現出 Simaudio 作為嚴謹系統構建者的深思熟慮。具備平衡 XLR 與非平衡 RCA 輸入端子、直覺的切換選擇、輸入端的 AC/DC 交連開關、立體聲或單聲道橋接模式設定、12V Trigger 連動觸發,以及 MOONLink 系統連動介面。原廠說明書更補充了一項令我們讚賞的細節,體現出真正的工程用心:AC 交連開關可用於阻隔來自前端器材的直流成分(DC),特別適用於老式前級或輸出端可能帶有微量直流漂移的器材。在單聲道橋接模式下,擴大機使用左聲道輸入端,並透過兩聲道正極端子連接喇叭,讓 861 瞬間化身為更具統御力的性能巨獸。這項技術配置無疑為整機散發的「終極旗艦氣場」增添了畫龍點睛之筆。

Another area that catches our attention is the way Simaudio handles signal integrity inside such a powerful machine. MOON talks about physically separated analog circuits, reinforced magnetic shielding, and an internal layout designed to reduce capacitive coupling, and all of that feels highly relevant in an amplifier of this stature. When huge amounts of current are available on demand, preserving the fragile low-level information becomes every bit as important as raw power delivery. Somehow, this is where the 861 starts feeling even more complete to us, because the engineering focus extends far beyond wattage figures and reaches deep into the quieter, finer aspects of musical reproduction.
另一項引人注目的特點,在於 Simaudio 如何在如此強大功率的機器內部維持訊號完整性。MOON 強調實體隔離的類比電路、強化的磁屏蔽,以及旨在降低電容耦合效應的內部佈局;對於此等級的後級而言,這些措施極為關鍵。當系統隨時具備充沛的強大電流時,保護脆弱的微細訊號細節與純粹的動態輸出同等重要。這正是 861 讓人倍感成熟完善之處,其工程焦點遠遠超出了單純的瓦數規格,而是深植於音樂重播中更純淨、更細膩的幽微之處。
We also appreciate how thoughtfully the protection logic is implemented. The multicolor status indicator communicates normal operation, startup behavior, firmware activity, and several protection states, including temperature, voltage, fuse, and DC-related events. That last one is especially important in a design like this, because the amplifier will shut down if it detects DC at the input, internally, or at the output. In that light, the AC coupling switch gains even more value, as it can block DC coming from an upstream component and add an extra layer of real-world safety.
我們亦十分欣賞其保護機制的嚴謹設計。多色狀態指示燈可清晰呈現正常運作、開機程序、韌體運作,以及包含溫度、電壓、保險絲與直流偵測在內的各項保護狀態。其中直流保護在此類頂級架構中尤為關鍵,一旦偵測到輸入端、內部電路或輸出端存在直流成分,擴大機便會立即啟動安全關機。從這個角度來看,前述的 AC 交連開關更具實用意義,能有效阻絕前端傳入的直流成分,為實際使用增添一層安全保障。
These are the kind of practical details we always enjoy discovering, because they show a mature product shaped by engineers who understand that reference-level performance must go hand in hand with long-term stability and everyday confidence.
這些實用細節正是我們樂於見到的,充分證明這是一款由深諳音響之道的工程師所打造的成熟之作——唯有長期運作的穩定度與日常使用的信賴感,才能真正成就參考級的巔峰性能。
And then there is the ecosystem thinking behind it, which fits perfectly with the wider North Collection philosophy. The 861 can be integrated through MOONLink, grouped with companion components, synchronized through 12V trigger connections, and left in one of two standby modes depending on whether the priority is quicker return to optimum operating conditions or lower energy use. MOON even recommends keeping it powered and using standby for regular operation, a detail that somehow fits the character of the amplifier itself. The 861 gives us the impression of a component designed to become a permanent fixture in a serious system, always ready, always composed, always waiting for the next listening session.
此外,其背後完整的生態系思維,亦與 North 系列的設計理念完美契合。861 能透過 MOONLink 與同系列器材整合連動,透過 12V 觸發端子同步開關,並提供兩種待機模式,讓使用者依據需求選擇「快速回到最佳運作工作溫度」或「低耗電節能」。MOON 甚至建議平時保持通電並以待機模式運作,這項建議與擴大機本身的沉穩特質不謀而合。861 給人的感覺,正是一部專為頂級參考系統量身打造、值得長相廝守的核心基石——隨時蓄勢待發、沉著內斂,靜候每一次音樂饗宴的開啟。
From the North Collection – The Impeccable Moon 891
If the 861 is the engine of the North Collection, the 891 is its command center, its memory, and its voice. Where the power amplifier speaks in watts and iron control, the 891 speaks in decisions: what plays, how loudly, from which source, and with what degree of fidelity. It is Simaudio’s most complete single chassis to date, a component that takes the concept of a reference preamplifier and expands it, without compromise and without apology, into the territory of a full reference front end. Streaming, digital conversion, phono amplification, analog preamplification, and system control all coexist here with the kind of engineering seriousness that a lesser company would reserve for a dedicated standalone product in each category.
如果說 861 是 North 系列的心臟引擎,那麼 891 便是其指揮中樞、大腦核心與發聲之源。後級擴大機以充沛瓦數與鐵腕控制力見長,而 891 則專注於所有決策環節:播放何種曲目、音量多大、訊源為何,以及達到何等精準的傳真度。這是 Simaudio 迄今為止最為完善的單機身一體化旗艦,將參考級前級擴大機的概念毫無妥協地拓展為全功能的參考級前端平台。串流播放、數位類比轉換、唱頭放大、類比前級與系統中控皆齊聚於此,每一項功能所傾注的工程嚴謹度,皆足以媲美其他品牌獨立分體式的專屬旗艦產品。

The chassis is machined from a single billet of aluminum and arrives at close to 52 pounds (24 kg) before you account for its internal architecture. Nothing about the 891 feels assembled. It feels carved. The 5-inch color display sits centered on the front fascia with enough brightness and legibility to read album titles, volume levels, and track information from a comfortable listening distance without leaning forward. We managed to do it easily from 3 meters away. The front panel controls are minimal and purposeful. Every physical element carries a reason to exist, and the sum of those elements communicates the same overbuilt, unhurried confidence we found in the 861.
891 的機箱由整塊實心鋁合金厚料切削而成,內部電路尚未計入前,重量便已接近 52 磅(約 24 公斤)。整台機器完全沒有拼裝感,反倒宛如一件精工雕琢的藝術品。中央鑲嵌著 5 吋彩色螢幕,亮度與清晰度極佳,即便坐在聆聽位上無須前傾身子,也能輕鬆辨識專輯曲目、音量與曲目資訊;我們在 3 公尺的距離外皆能清晰閱覽。面板控制介面簡潔且目的明確,每個實體元件的存在皆具其功能意圖,整體散發出與 861 相同的不惜工本、從容不迫的奢華質感。
The BRM-1 remote deserves its own moment. Machined aluminum, satisfying weight distribution, and a volume dial that actually responds with the precision you expect from a component at this level. A small OLED screen sits at its center, Bluetooth operation removes the need for line-of-sight entirely, and a thoughtful internal channel design routes any accidentally spilled liquid away from the essential electronics. That last detail says something meaningful about Simaudio’s understanding of how these components are actually lived with, and we found it quietly endearing.
隨附的 BRM-1 遙控器同樣值得獨立讚賞。採用鋁合金削切製成,配重絕佳,音量旋鈕的阻尼與回饋精準度完全符合此級距產品的極致標準。遙控器中央配有小型 OLED 螢幕,透過藍牙傳輸完全免去了傳統紅外線必須對準器材的限制;其內部更具備貼心的導流槽結構,能防止意外潑濺的液體滲入核心電路。這項細節深刻體現了 Simaudio 對於用家實際生活情境的體貼洞察,令人倍感窩心。

Using the 891 every day also reveals something about how it was conceived. Input switching is instantaneous and completely silent. Volume changes in 0.1 dB increments feel proportional to what we heard in the room. The MiND2 streaming application is responsive and logically organized, with cover artwork appearing both in the app and on the front panel display simultaneously. Roon integration appeared immediately as a certified endpoint without any configuration beyond the initial network setup. These qualities are easy to overlook in a specification review, and they are precisely the qualities that determine whether a reference-level component becomes a daily pleasure or a daily negotiation. The 891 belongs unambiguously to the former category.
在日常使用中,亦能體會到 891 在人機互動上的周密考量。訊源切換迅捷且無任何雜音;以每檔 0.1 dB 遞進的音量調整,在空間中展現出極為平順線性的聽覺響應。MiND2 串流 App 反應靈敏、動線清晰,專輯封面能同步顯示於 App 與機身主螢幕上。在完成基本網路連線後,Roon 便能立即自動識別為官方認證的終端播放設備(Roon Ready),無需額外繁複設定。這些特質往往在規格表上容易被忽略,但卻是決定一部參考級器材究竟能成為「日常享受」還是「繁瑣負擔」的關鍵。891 無疑屬於帶來純粹享受的前者。
Core Design Concepts and Key Decisions of the 891
Simaudio’s guiding principle with the 891 can be stated plainly: every domain of this component deserves reference-level engineering, and each domain should receive the same degree of attention as the others. Digital conversion, analog preamplification, volume attenuation, streaming performance, and mechanical isolation are all treated as equally important, and the engineering choices that shape each one reflect that philosophy consistently from top to bottom.
Simaudio 打造 891 的指導原則十分明確:這部器材涵蓋的每個功能領域,都必須達到參考級的工程標準,且彼此享有同等高度的重視。數位轉換、類比前級放大、音量衰減控制、串流性能以及機械抑震隔離,皆被賦予同等關鍵的地位,貫徹於整體的電路設計與工藝之中。

We reached out to Dominique Poupart, the product director in charge at Simaudio, who worked on the 861 and 891. We will give you parts of the discussion relevant to the topic discussed in the review, so as to not to disturb the natural flow of reading.
我們特別採訪了主導 861 與 891 開發的 Simaudio 產品總監 Dominique Poupart。為了保持評測流暢度,我們將訪談中與核心架構相關的重點精選節錄如下。
“The MOON 891 is an outstanding product and one I thoroughly enjoyed working on. It is an exceptionally sophisticated, performance‑driven design in which no detail has been overlooked. Every aspect, from digital architecture, analog electronics, mechanical structure, and thermal management, was addressed with the singular goal of maximizing signal integrity and sonic attributes. Amongst many specific technologies employed within the 891, I can discuss two proprietary technologies unique to the 891 and central to achieving this level of performance: MDB (MOON Damping Base) and MDE‑3 (MOON Digital Engine).”
「MOON 891 是一部卓越非凡的產品,參與其研發過程令我深感自豪。這是一套極其精密的性能導向設計,任何微小細節皆未曾妥協。從數位架構、類比電路、機械結構到熱能管理,所有環節皆圍繞著同一個終極目標:實現訊號完整性與聲音表現的極大化。在 891 所採用的眾多專屬技術中,有兩項專為 891 打造、且是實現頂級性能核心的獨家技術:MDB(MOON 避震抑震底座,MOON Damping Base)以及 MDE-3(MOON 數位引擎,MOON Digital Engine)。」
The digital conversion engine is called MDE-3.
這套數位轉換核心即為 MDE-3。
“The MDE‑3 platform forms the digital core of the 891, integrating signal reception, clocking, and signal preparation to then get the very best digital‑to‑analog conversion from two dedicated DAC chipsets, each with 8 DACs working in collaboration to get the best sound. The clock is of femtosecond-level! It is engineered with an emphasis on minimizing jitter, phase noise, and other time‑domain errors, not relying on excessive processing or format‑driven complexity. Then the analog section is made carefully to sum the outputs of all the DACs with supreme accuracy.”
「MDE-3 平台構成了 891 的數位核心,整合了訊號接收、時脈生成與訊號重整,進而透過兩枚專屬 DAC 晶片實現極致的數類轉換——每枚晶片內部具備 8 聲道 DAC 協同運作,以榨出最佳聲音表現。時脈系統更達到了飛秒(femtosecond)級精度!其設計重點在於徹底抑制時基誤差(jitter)、相位噪訊及其他時域失真,而非依賴過度的數位處理或繁複的格式運算。隨後的類比端亦經過精心調校,能以極致的精確度整合所有 DAC 的輸出訊號。」
Simaudio’s reference converter is built around a pair of 32-bit ESS Sabre ES9038PRO. These are flagship 32-Bit HyperStream II 8-Channel Audio DAC chips operating in a fully differential configuration and, as Dominique said, clocked by a precision femtosecond oscillator. The dual mono implementation ensures that each channel has its own dedicated conversion hardware with no shared current paths between left and right. This has a direct and audible effect on channel separation and stereo image stability, and it is a level of engineering commitment that we commonly find in dedicated standalone DACs at this price. Femtosecond clocking addresses one of the most persistent sources of degradation in digital audio, which is jitter. Timing errors in the conversion process produce a subtle but pervasive smearing of low-level detail, a slight instability in image placement, and a reduction in the sense of air and space around instruments. Simaudio’s approach eliminates the problem at its source, without managing it downstream, and the results support that ambition. Signal-to-noise ratio reaches 125 dB, total harmonic distortion sits at 0.0003%, and the frequency response extends from 2 Hz all the way to 200 kHz before the first 3 dB point appears.
Simaudio 的參考級數類轉換核心採用了一對 32 位元 ESS Sabre ES9038PRO 旗艦晶片。這款具備 32-Bit HyperStream II 架構的 8 聲道晶片以全差動模式運作,並由精密的飛秒級主時鐘驅動。雙單聲道架構確保左右聲道擁有完全獨立的解碼硬體,迴路電流互不干擾,直接為聲道分離度與立體音場結像穩定度帶來了清晰可辨的優勢;這種不妥協的配置通常僅見於同價位的獨立分體式 DAC。飛秒級時脈徹底解決了數位音訊中最棘手的劣化根源——時基誤差。轉換過程中的時間軸偏差往往會導致微小細節模糊、音場定位漂移,並削弱樂器周圍的空氣感與空間感。Simaudio 選擇從源頭根絕問題而非在後端修飾,規格數據印證了這項決心:訊噪比高達 125 dB、總諧波失真低至 0.0003%,且在達到 -3 dB 衰減點前,頻率響應可從 2 Hz 一路延伸至 200 kHz。
The analog preamplifier section is a fully discrete dual mono architecture with zero integrated circuit chips anywhere in the signal path. Input impedance across both balanced and single-ended inputs is 22 kΩ. Maximum gain at line level is set at a conservative 10 dB, a figure chosen to optimize noise floor management in the context of a system designed around the 861 downstream. The entire analog path operates in a balanced configuration throughout, which provides common-mode noise rejection at every stage and is a primary contributor to the extraordinary quiet we experience during listening.
類比前級放大線路採用全分立元件(Discrete)的雙單聲道架構,訊號路徑上完全不使用任何積體電路(IC)晶片。平衡與非平衡輸入的輸入阻抗均為 22 kΩ;高電平最大增益設定在相對保守的 10 dB,這是為了配合後端的 861 後級,在系統整體噪訊底層管理上取得最佳平衡。整個類比路徑皆為全平衡架構,可在各級電路中提供優異的共模噪訊抑制能力,也是試聽時背景達到極致寧靜的核心關鍵。
The M-Ray2 volume control is an area of particular engineering pride, and justifiably so. It provides 620 discrete steps in 0.1 dB increments, implemented through a precisely matched array of discrete resistors switched by relay logic. There is no potentiometer here, and no chip-based attenuator. Channel tracking accuracy is exceptional at every level, which matters enormously in critical listening. A slight imbalance between left and right at low volumes pulls instruments gently off their intended positions and destabilizes the center image. We adjusted volume often during our sessions, sometimes in single steps, and the M-Ray2 responded every time with complete transparency and absolute silence.
M-Ray2 音量控制系統是另一項令人自豪的工程亮點。它透過精密配對的分立電阻陣列與繼電器邏輯切換,提供每檔 0.1 dB、共計 620 階的超精細調整。此處摒棄了傳統可變電阻與晶片型衰減器,使各音量段落的左右聲道一致性達到極致,這在嚴苛的發燒鑑聽中至關重要。微小的聲道不平衡會在小音量時拉偏樂器定位,破壞中央音像的凝聚力。在評測期間,我們頻繁微調音量,M-Ray2 每次皆以極致的純淨度與無聲切換完美回應。

The MiND2 streaming platform supports Roon Ready, TIDAL Connect, Spotify Connect, AirPlay 2, Qobuz, Apple Music, and local library playback via iOS and Android applications. PCM is handled up to 384 kHz and DSD up to 22.6 MHz, which is DSD512, via USB audio input. The implementation feels mature in daily use. There were no dropouts, no hesitations on input switching, and no moments where the network interface reminded us of its presence by failing. We found the MiND2 app genuinely comfortable to use across extended listening sessions, with cover artwork, track metadata, and queue management all responding with the kind of speed and reliability that allows you to stay focused on the music. The integration between the app and the 891’s front panel display is seamless, with both showing the same information simultaneously so that you can navigate from either location without any inconsistency.
MiND2 串流平台支援 Roon Ready、TIDAL Connect、Spotify Connect、AirPlay 2、Qobuz、Apple Music,並可透過 iOS 與 Android App 讀取本地音樂庫。透過 USB Audio 輸入,PCM 最高支援至 384 kHz,DSD 則可支援至 22.6 MHz(即 DSD512)。實際操作成熟穩定,評測期間從未發生音訊斷斷續續、訊源切換延遲或網路連線異常等狀況。MiND2 App 在長時間聆聽下體驗極佳,專輯封面、曲目資訊與播放清單管理的反應迅速可靠,讓用家能完全沉浸於音樂中;App 與機身螢幕的同步無縫接軌,雙向顯示一致的曲目資訊,操作毫無隔閡。
One design decision that impressed us particularly is the MOON Damping Base, referred to internally as MDB.
另一項令人印象深刻的關鍵設計,是原廠稱為 MDB(MOON 避震底座,MOON Damping Base)的機械抑震系統。

“MDB is an integral, vibration control system that places the audio electronics on a tuned, suspended mass‑loaded base. Its function is to evacuate and dissipate micro‑vibrations away from sensitive digital and analog circuits, thereby annihilating microphonic noise and stabilizing the operating environment of the electronics. You may have noticed when connecting cables at the back that the connectors can move a little, this is a normal side effect of the MDB. Note: to benefit from MDB, the transport safety screws located on the underside of the unit must be removed during installation and reinstalled prior to shipping. The MDB uses a thick aluminum base on a gel suspension, on which sits a damping material between the base and the PCB. Aside from the main benefit of dissipating micro‑vibrations, it is also iso-thermal, in the sense that it keeps the thermal equilibrium of the electronics in the best way. In a sense, we have created the best electronics we could, and we placed it in an environment in which it can perform to the very best.”
「MDB 是一套整合式的震動控制系統,將核心音響電路置於經過精密調校的懸浮配重底座上。其主要功能是將微震動引導並消散,使其遠離敏感的數位與類比電路,藉此消除麥克風效應(Microphonic noise)並穩定電子元件的運作環境。在後方插拔線材時,您可能會注意到端子座略有浮動,這正是 MDB 懸浮機構運作的正常現象。請注意:為發揮 MDB 的效果,安裝時必須卸下機身底部的運輸固定螺絲,並在未來搬運或運送前重新鎖上。MDB 採用厚實的鋁合金底板搭配凝膠懸浮系統,且底座與電路板(PCB)之間亦夾有阻尼材料。除了消除微震動的主要優勢外,它還具備等溫(iso-thermal)特性,能使電子元件維持最佳的熱平衡狀態。換言之,我們不僅打造了頂尖的電路,更為其提供了一個能發揮極致潛能的運作環境。」
From what we could see, inside the unit, there appears to be a combination of gel pads that isolate the entire chassis from the surface it rests on, engineered to prevent parasitic vibrations from the environment reaching the sensitive analog and digital circuits inside. In a component that simultaneously handles femtosecond-clocked digital conversion and sub-microvolt analog signal paths, microphonic sensitivity is a real engineering concern, and Simaudio addresses it with a purpose-designed mechanical solution without accepting it as an inherent limitation of the chassis design.
從內部結構觀察,機內配置了特殊的避震凝膠墊,將敏感電路與外部接觸面隔離,防止環境中的諧振與寄生震動干擾內部的數位及微電壓類比電路。對於一部同時處理飛秒級數位轉換與微伏特(sub-microvolt)級類比訊號的旗艦器材而言,麥克風效應是客觀存在的物理挑戰,而 Simaudio 選擇透過專門開發的機械結構方案徹底解決,而非將其視為不可避免的物理限制。
Component-Level Details
Looking at the 891 more closely reveals a company that organizes integrated system design the way a watchmaker organizes complex movement: every subsystem has its own space, its own power supply, and its own reason for being exactly where it is. The physical separation between the digital and analog sections is enforced through dedicated shielding, with the MDE3 engine occupying its own protected area and drawing from its own regulated supply rails, kept entirely independent from the analog preamplifier boards. Switching noise from the network interface cannot reach the audio path here because the layout and the power architecture together prevent it.
深入審視 891,會發現 Simaudio 規劃內部系統的方式宛如製錶大師配置複雜機芯一般嚴謹:每個子系統皆擁有獨立空間、獨立供電,且每個配置皆具備嚴格的物理依據。數位與類比區域透過專屬的金屬屏蔽進行實體隔離,MDE3 數位引擎擁有獨立隔離槽與專屬穩壓供電軌,與類比前級電路板完全獨立。網路介面的高頻交換噪訊被電路佈局與供電架構徹底阻隔,絕不滲透至音訊路徑。

The power supply philosophy reflects the same thinking we found in the 861: each section of the component deserves its own clean supply, and there is no sharing between domains where sharing would create interaction. Multiple independently regulated rails feed the conversion engine, the analog preamplifier stage, the MiND2 module, the phono stage, the headphone output, and the control logic. Current demands from a high-resolution streaming session leave the noise floor of the analog path entirely undisturbed, because the two sections have no supply rail in common.
其電源設計理念與 861 如出一轍:每個電路區塊皆享有獨立純淨的電源供應,凡可能產生交互干擾的電路之間絕不共用供電。多組獨立穩壓電路分別為 DAC 引擎、類比前級放大級、MiND2 串流模組、唱頭放大級、耳機輸出級與系統控制邏輯供電。高解析串流運作時的突發電流需求,完全不會對類比路徑的噪訊底層產生絲毫擾動,因為兩者之間在供電層面已完全物理隔離。
The phono stage is fully configurable from the front panel menu, with gain settings at 40, 54, 60, and 66 dB, capacitance options at 0, 100, and 470 pF, and impedance choices spanning 10 Ω, 100 Ω, 1 kΩ, and 47 kΩ. This is a genuinely useful implementation covering MM and MC cartridges across a wide range of output levels and loading preferences. Its presence adds real system versatility without any audible cost to line-level performance, which speaks well of how carefully the supply isolation between phono and line stages has been managed.
內建的唱頭放大器可直接透過面板選單進行細部設定,提供 40、54、60 與 66 dB 的增益切換,容抗可選 0、100 與 470 pF,阻抗負載則涵蓋 10 Ω、100 Ω、1 kΩ 及 47 kΩ。這是一套極為實用且能廣泛對應各類 MM 與 MC 唱頭輸出規格的配置。它的加入大幅提升了系統彈性,且完全未對高電平線路輸入的純淨度造成任何負面影響,足見其在唱放與高電平電路之間的電源隔離做得多麼滴水不漏。
The headphone amplifier in its current form is rated at 1000 mW into 32 Ω, placing it in the territory of a serious dedicated headphone stage. We did not evaluate it in depth during this review, but its presence is further evidence that the 891 applies the same engineering standard consistently across every function it performs. Simaudio clearly treats every aspect of this component with the same level of intention and care.
內建的耳機擴大線路在 32 Ω 負載下具備 1000 mW 的輸出功率,已達到獨立耳擴的專業水準。雖然本次評測未對其進行深度測試,但這項配置再次證明了 891 在每一項功能上皆維持一致的極致工程標準。Simaudio 顯然以同等嚴苛的專注與工藝,對待這部器材的每個環節。
The rear panel communicates the full ambition of the design: two coaxial digital inputs, two optical inputs, one HDMI ARC, USB audio, three sets of balanced XLR and single-ended RCA analog inputs, a balanced XLR phono input, variable balanced XLR and single-ended RCA outputs, a dedicated subwoofer output, and MOONLink connectivity. Every connector is consistent with the rest of the build. Nothing here looks like a cost reduction or an afterthought.
背板豐富的端子充分彰顯了其全方位旗艦企圖心:2 組同軸數位輸入、2 組光纖輸入、1 組 HDMI ARC、USB Audio 輸入、3 組平衡 XLR 與非平衡 RCA 類比輸入、1 組平衡 XLR 唱頭輸入、可調輸出的平衡 XLR 與非平衡 RCA 前級輸出、專用超低音輸出,以及 MOONLink 系統介面。每個端子接頭的用料與做工皆與整體機身維持同等高規格,毫無妥協或附帶加裝的廉價感。
When MOONLink binds the 891 and 861 into a single system, the experience changes in ways that are easy to underestimate until you have lived with them for a while. Volume adjustments on the 891 propagate correctly throughout the system. Input selection coordinates across both components. Standby behavior and trigger logic are synchronized. The two components function as a single unified instrument, and that coherence is something you feel during every listening session as a subtle but persistent reduction in the distance between you and the music.
當透過 MOONLink 將 891 與 861 串聯為一體時,所帶來的系統體驗提升往往在親身長期使用後才能深刻體會。在 891 上的音量調整會精準同步至整體系統,訊源切換亦步調一致,待機與觸發邏輯更是完美協同。前後級兩部器材宛如化為單一樂器般流暢運作,這種高度的系統連貫性在每一次聆聽中皆能深刻感受,無形中拉近了聆聽者與音樂之間的距離。
Auditioning the 891 and 861 Together
The Monitor Audio Platinum PL300 3G is a speaker that presents electronics upstream with complete honesty, with no coloration whatsoever, meaning that every component change elicits a change in how sound is presented, easily highlighting the qualities or shortcomings of any electronics behind them. Its third-generation MPD III tweeter, developed originally for Monitor Audio’s 50th anniversary Hyphn loudspeaker and subsequently brought to the Platinum 3G range, is one of the most revealing high-frequency transducers we have had in this room. It extends with extraordinary uniformity well past 60 kHz and communicates the full character of whatever amplification chain is feeding it. Paired with a system that has something to hide, it will find it. Paired with a system that has nothing to hide, it simply shows you everything the recording contains.
Monitor Audio Platinum PL300 3G 是一對能極為忠實、毫無染色反映前端器材特質的喇叭。這意味著前端器材的任何變動,都會即時轉化為聲音風貌的改變,輕易照映出前端器材的優缺點。其搭載的第三代 MPD III 微氣動式高音單體,最初是為 Monitor Audio 50 週年旗艦 Hyphn 所研發,隨後下放至 Platinum 3G 系列,是我們在此試聽室中所聽過細節鑑析力最高的高音單體之一。它能極為均勻地延伸至 60 kHz 以上,完整傳遞後端放大鏈路的所有特性。若前端系統有所遮掩,它會毫不留情地揭露;若前端系統坦蕩純淨,它則會將錄音中的一切細節鉅細靡遺地還原於眼前。

The North Collection told everything without overlooking a single note.
而 North 系列在這對喇叭上,展現了完整重現所有細節、不遺漏任何一個音符的絕對實力。
We used the 891 as the primary source throughout, streaming from TIDAL and Qobuz via MiND2, with additional sessions via USB from a locally stored high-resolution library. The 861 drove the PL300 3Gs directly, with Roboli HP8000 speaker cables and Roboli XLR 2100 interconnects between the components, the same reference wiring we use consistently across our system evaluations, just to have a baseline and to clearly discover the scaling of everything we test. All components were powered with Roboli Power5200 cables. MOONLink was active throughout, binding the 891 and 861 into a single coordinated system.
評測期間,我們全程以 891 作為主要訊源,透過 MiND2 串流播放 TIDAL 與 Qobuz,並搭配 USB 連接播放本地端高解析音樂庫。861 直接驅動 PL300 3G 喇叭,器材間採用 Roboli XLR 2100 訊號線與 Roboli HP8000 喇叭線——這是我們在器材評測中一貫使用的參考線材基準,以精準掌握測試器材的性能上限。所有器材均連接 Roboli Power5200 電源線,並全程啟用 MOONLink 連動,使 891 與 861 協同運作。

We opened the sessions with Nicholas Gunn’s Blossom, a recording we return to whenever we need a reliable reference point for spatial quality and midrange texture. Through the North Collection and the PL300 3G, the piece opened in all three dimensions simultaneously. Width came naturally, and depth was the more captivating dimension. The space between elements arrived with a completeness that only a profoundly quiet signal chain can produce, because it is the noise floor that either reveals or conceals the spaces between instruments. The flute in particular arrived with a combination of body, breath, and air behind the note that we find genuinely moving when a system is performing at its best, and the 891 and 861 together produced exactly that quality from the opening seconds.
試聽由 Nicholas Gunn 的《Blossom》揭開序幕,每當我們需要評估音場空間感與中頻質地時,這張錄音總是可靠的參考標準。透過 North 系列與 PL300 3G,樂曲在三維空間中瞬間展開。音場寬度自然開闊,而深度表現更是扣人心弦。各樂器元素之間的間距無比明確,唯有極致寧靜的訊號鏈路才能營造出如此純粹的空間感——因為正是極低的噪訊底層,決定了樂器間的空間是得以如實顯現還是被掩蓋。尤其是長笛的吹奏,凝聚出厚實的實體感、呼吸細節以及音符後方的空氣流動感,這種頂級系統的最佳狀態,在 891 與 861 的合奏下,從前幾秒便展露無遺。
Elliott Tordo’s Silent Moon followed, and the impression deepened. There is a stillness in that recording that can only communicate itself through a system that shares the same quietness. The PL300 3G’s tweeter and midrange combination showed us the full decay structure of every note in the piece, the long, gradual dissolution into the ambient character of the recording space, and the sense that the room itself was a musical participant. On this track, the MOONLink integration showed its value clearly as well. The system behaved as a single entity, with every volume adjustment feeling continuous and natural.
隨後播放 Elliott Tordo 的《Silent Moon》,整體的震撼感更進一步加深。該錄音中蘊含著一種靜謐感,唯有具備同等深沉寧靜度的系統方能完整傳遞。PL300 3G 的高音與中音配置清晰呈現出樂曲中每個音符的完整殘響消逝過程,那種悠長、緩慢融入錄音空間環境殘響的氛圍,讓人感覺整個空間本身亦化為音樂演奏的一部分。在此曲中,MOONLink 系統連動亦展現出極大價值,整套系統宛如單一有機體,每一次音量調整皆顯得無比平順自然。


On Tonebloom’s Violin, the 891 and 861 together revealed something that stayed with us across the entire listening period. This recording challenges electronics to preserve the tonal integrity of a bowed string across its full range, and the bow strokes arrive here with texture and dimension. The resonance of the body was distinguishable from the vibration of the string. The positions of each chord within the stereo field were stable and precisely defined throughout the performance. The 861’s MDCA circuit, operating entirely outside the audio signal path and injecting its corrections at the output stage without ever touching the signal itself, produces an amplifier that handles this instrument with a combination of control and naturalness that we rarely encountered in our tests.
在 Tonebloom 的《Violin》中,891 與 861 攜手展現出令我們在整個評測過程中難以忘懷的特質。這首錄音考驗著前端器材在寬廣頻段內維持擦弦音色完整度的能力,曲中的運弓動作呈現出豐富的紋理與實體立體感。琴身的木質共鳴與琴弦的震動界線分明,在立體聲場中每個和弦的定位皆極其穩定且邊界清晰。861 的 MDCA 電路在音訊路徑之外運作,並在輸出級進行補正而不污染原音訊號,使得這部後級在詮釋小提琴時展現出罕見的精準控制力與高度自然感。
We spent considerable time with Mahler’s Symphony No. 2, Resurrection, in the Telarc recording conducted by Benjamin Zander with the Philharmonia Orchestra, a work we also used extensively during our evaluation of the Aesthetix Mimas. This is a material that interrogates dynamic range behavior with complete seriousness, and it is a very demanding test that we discovered emphasises the relationship between an amplifier’s noise floor and its available headroom. The quietest passages were genuinely quiet, retaining the full spatial context of the recording at very low listening levels, with the ambience of the concert hall intact and the sense of distance between the microphones and the ensemble preserved as a spatial reality. The explosive tutti sections arrived with physical authority and with no audible compression anywhere in the spectrum, and with no suggestion at any point that the system was approaching a limit. The PL300 3G’s woofers were under complete and unhurried control throughout. The bass during the largest orchestral swells carried weight, pitch definition, and an ease of delivery that only a power supply built at the scale of the 861’s dual 1500 VA toroidal transformers and 240,000 µF capacitor bank can sustain across an extended orchestral performance. We were reminded during this session of why Simaudio recommends keeping the 861 powered and using standby for regular use. An amplifier of this magnitude and design takes time to reach its thermal stabilization in order to enact its true character. After trying it immediately after waking up, at first light, we could tell that it needs a little bit of time before it shows its true, smooth, detailed character. And on the Mahler, we could feel when it was performing as a settled amplifier should.
我們花了相當長的時間聆聽由 Benjamin Zander 指揮愛樂管弦樂團(Philharmonia Orchestra)、Telarc 出版的馬勒《第二號交響曲:復活》(Mahler: Symphony No. 2, Resurrection),這張名盤也是我們在評測 Aesthetix Mimas 時經常使用的參考軟體。這首曲目對動態範圍表現提出了極其嚴苛的考驗,突顯出擴大機低噪訊與動態餘裕度(Headroom)之間的緊密關聯。最微弱的樂段極為純淨深沉,即便在小音量下亦能保留完整的錄音空間資訊,音樂廳的堂音殘響完好無損,麥克風與樂團間的距離感化為真實的空間維度。而在爆發性的管弦樂齊奏(Tutti)樂段,龐大的能量帶著實體權威感撲面而來,全頻段毫無可聞的壓縮感,更絲毫不見系統接近極限的窘迫。PL300 3G 的低音單體全程處於極致且從容的掌控之中。在樂團最強烈的齊鳴下,低頻兼具重量感、音高辨識度與游刃有餘的從容度,唯有 861 搭載雙 1500 VA 環形變壓器與 240,000 µF 濾波電容這般規模的電源供應,方能在長篇管弦樂章中維持如此穩固的表現。這場試聽也讓我們理解了為何 Simaudio 建議平時保持通電並以待機模式運作——如此規模與架構的旗艦後級需要時間達到工作溫度與熱穩定,才能展現其圓潤、細膩的真正實力。在馬勒的樂章中,我們能清晰感受到進入最佳熱平衡狀態後的擴大機應有的沉穩與從容。


The Stravinsky Firebird Suite in the Reference Recordings release with Eiji Oue and the Minnesota Orchestra reinforced everything we had already heard. On this recording, the percussive attack of the opening sections carries a specificity of transient character that separates exceptional amplification from merely competent amplification. The 861 reproduced each impact with a leading edge that was fast, clean, and completely free of overhang. The decay following each percussive event dissolved into the acoustic of the recording venue in a way that gave the whole performance a physical and spatial conviction that we associate with live orchestral listening. We have heard this recording many times in this room. We have heard it very rarely with so much detail and so correct from a realist point of view.
由大植英次(Eiji Oue)指揮明尼蘇達管弦樂團、Reference Recordings 發行的史特拉汶斯基《火鳥組曲》(Stravinsky: Firebird Suite),再度印證了我們先前所聽到的特質。在這張錄音中,開頭樂段打擊樂器的瞬態衝擊力,正是區分頂尖擴大機與平庸器材的分水嶺。861 重現每一次打擊時,起音邊緣極其迅速、俐落且毫無拖泥帶水(overhang)。打擊過後的殘響消散於錄音空間的聲學環境中,帶給整場演奏如臨現場般的實體感與空間說服力。我們在此試聽室聽過這張錄音無數次,但極少能聽到如此豐富的細節,且在寫實還原度上表現得如此正確無誤。
Moving to more intimate territory, Danit’s Naturaleza brought forward a quality that deserves special attention. The guitar in that recording carries body and harmonic completeness that rewards a genuinely transparent system. Through the North Collection, each plucked string decayed with patience and resolution, the harmonics revealing themselves in separate sequence, not arriving as a single blended event. The hall ambience and the layered textures between guitar, voice, and space came through in their proper proportions, with the voice placed forward, the guitar somewhat more centered in the physical staging, and the room itself present as a third dimensionality.
轉向更為私密編制的曲目,Danit 的《Naturaleza》展現出一項值得特別關注的特質。該錄音中的吉他具備厚實的琴身形體感與完整的泛音結構,這對真正高解析通透的系統而言是一大獎賞。透過 North 系列,每次撥弦的殘響消退皆顯得從容而層次分明,泛音循序展現而非混雜一團。空間殘響以及吉他、人聲與空間之間的層次比例拿捏得恰到好處——人聲適度前移,吉他更居中凝聚於實體音場中,而空間本身的殘響則構築為第三個立體維度。


Deya Dova’s Grandmother Tree & The Feathered Serpent moved us into a very different kind of listening, one less concerned with conventional hi-fi fireworks and far more revealing of a system’s ability to preserve atmosphere, layering, and the fragile continuity of a recording built from voices, bells, water, birds, and spacious organic textures. Through the 891 and 861 driving the PL300 3G, the track unfolded as a fully formed environment. Vocal layers floated at different depths, clearly defined in the 3d space, in which we became part of. With an almost ritualistic stability, each line occupied its own pocket of air while remaining tied to the larger field. Although the width of the presentation was very impressive, the way the system preserved 3d spatiality, differentiated the distance, and allowed the ambient sounds around the voices to feel naturally embedded in the scene, not superimposed upon, was what truly left us speechless. The small bell-like accents arrived with delicacy and shimmer, but never with the etched or overlit quality that lesser electronics often mistake for detail. Water textures and bird calls emerged from a black enough background to sound decorative, alive, as though the recording space had expanded beyond the walls of the room and into something more open, more natural. We could feel the elemental nature of the chants. The North Collection kept the entire piece coherent and breathing while maintaining the soft gradations that give this recording its hypnotic and sacred character.
Deya Dova 的《Grandmother Tree & The Feathered Serpent》帶領我們進入了截然不同的聆聽體驗。這首曲目不追求傳統 Hi-Fi 的音效炫技,而是著重於檢驗系統能否保留由人聲、鈴聲、水聲、鳥鳴以及開闊有機質地所構築的氛圍、層次感與細膩連貫性。透過 891 與 861 驅動 PL300 3G,整首曲目宛如展開為一個具體而微的完整世界。人聲層次漂浮於不同的音場深度中,在三維空間內輪廓分明,令人彷彿身歷其境。每個聲部帶著近乎儀式般的穩定感,各自佔據獨立的空間包圍感,同時又與整體音場緊密相連。雖然寬廣的音場寬度極具視覺感,但系統對 3D 空間立體感的維持、距離深淺的層次劃分,以及讓圍繞人聲的環境音自然融入場景而非生硬疊加的手法,真正令我們為之屏息。微小鈴聲的點綴精緻而泛著微光,卻絲毫沒有次級器材常誤當作細節的刻鑿感或過度明亮感。水流質感與鳥鳴聲從極為深邃黝黑的背景中浮現,生動靈動,宛如錄音空間穿透了試聽室的牆壁,延伸至更為開闊自然的真實天地。我們能深切感受到吟唱中原始純粹的本質。North 系列讓整首曲目保持高度的一致性與呼吸感,同時維繫著賦予這張錄音催眠與神聖氛圍的柔和層次階調。
There was also something especially convincing in the way the 861 controlled the timing registers beneath all that air and ritual texture. This track carries a totemic rhythmic foundation and a cinematic sense of movement, and the amplifier preserved both without thickening the atmosphere or giving an illusory slowing of the pace. We could feel the foundation take shape like a grounding force. The 891 – 861 combo allowed the track to keep its trance-like flow while still giving each sound a defined contour and location in space, which is why the emotional pull of the piece came through so strongly. Make no mistake, this track can sound spacious on all systems, but here, we could actually feel that spaciousness in an entirely natural way. And that, to us, is one of the clearest signs that a system is doing justice to music. This is where a genuine hi-fi experience rises above a studio presentation, turning music into something that feels like a complete, living, sonic landscape. After all, this is the true audiophile dream: to experience the living pulse of the music, to feel the emotion the composer intended to pass on, to understand it, and to merge with its soul.
此外,861 在掌控飄逸空氣感與儀式感背後的節奏時序方面,展現出極具說服力的表現。這首曲目具備圖騰般的節奏基底與電影般的動態推進,擴大機在精準保留兩者的同時,既未讓背景變得濃稠,亦未產生拖泥帶水、節奏放緩的錯覺。我們能感受到低頻基底如大地引力般扎實成形。891 與 861 的組合讓樂曲維持如夢似幻的流動感,同時賦予每個音效清晰的輪廓與立體定位,這正是該曲的情緒張力能如此強烈打動人心的原因。誠然,這首曲目在任何系統上都能聽出開闊感,但在這裡,我們是以極其自然的方式「感受」到了那份空間感。對我們而言,這正是衡量一套系統是否忠實還原音樂最明確的標誌之一。在此,真正的 Hi-End 體驗超越了單純的錄音室監聽呈現,將音樂昇華為一個有血有肉、生機盎然的完整聲音景致。畢竟,這正是音響發燒友的終極夢想:感受音樂鮮活跳動的脈搏,體會作曲家欲傳遞的情感,進而理解並與樂曲靈魂融為一體。
Diana Krall’s Temptation gave us another revealing moment. We had a lot of these moments with this combo. Her voice carried that particular combination of intimacy and scale that the best recordings of her work achieve, and the 891 and 861 together reproduced it with complete faithfulness to what the recording contained. The harmonic complexity that makes her voice recognizable and emotionally affecting was fully present, with no smoothing and no emphasis. Percussion on this track arrived with excellent transient snap. The kick drum had both weight and attack in proper proportion, and the leading edge carried the kind of speed and definition that an amplifier topology built around real-time output-stage correction and zero global feedback can deliver with consistency. The comparison to our experience with the Mimas on this same track was illuminating: where the Mimas brought tonal richness and a slightly more organic weight to the percussion, the North Collection also came with speed and precision, each approach reflecting a genuinely different engineering philosophy and a genuinely different character. We spent considerable time on this track specifically because of how clearly it illustrated the distance between these two totally different amplifiers. Both were compelling. The MOON’s version of this track felt more truthful, more directly connected to the actual sound of the instruments in the recording, and more revealing of the production decisions that went into making it, while the Mimas drew us into the sheer richness of tone, emphasising them, surrounding us with a denser, more saturated beauty that we could lose ourselves in. Although the MOON combo preserved that same tonal richness, it presented it through a cleaner, faster, better-focused, blacker lens, so the beauty of the music felt less romanticized and more illuminated from within, less cluttered, more intelligible, and closer to the truth.
Diana Krall 的《Temptation》帶來了另一個令人大開眼界的時刻。這套組合在試聽中不斷帶給我們這樣的驚喜。她的人聲兼具親密感與大格局形體,展現出其頂級錄音應有的水準,而 891 與 861 則以對錄音本質的高度忠實完整還原。賦予其嗓音高度辨識度與感染力的複雜泛音完全保留,毫無人為修飾或刻意渲染。曲中的打擊樂器具備優異的瞬態衝擊脆度;大鼓的重量感與起音速度比例恰到好處,其前導波展現出唯有無全域負回授與輸出級即時補正架構才能穩定輸出的速度與輪廓清晰度。與先前在同曲目上聆聽 Mimas 的經驗相比極具啟發性:Mimas 為打擊樂器帶來更濃郁的音色與更具肉感的重量感,而 North 系列則展現了極致的速度與精準,兩種取向各自體現了截然不同的工程哲學與聲音特質。我們特別花時間反覆聆聽此曲,正是因為它清晰對比出這兩款擴大機的本質差異。兩者皆極具吸引力:MOON 的詮釋更顯純真客觀,更直接連結到錄音中樂器的真實樣貌,並忠實反映出後製混音的細節編排;而 Mimas 則以極致豐富濃郁的音色引人入勝,以更緊密飽滿的美感包圍聆聽者。儘管 MOON 組合亦保有豐富的音色細節,但它是透過一個更純淨、更快速、聚焦更精準、背景更黝黑的視角來呈現,使得音樂的美感少了浪漫化的修飾,多了由內而外散發的透亮,更加澄澈、清晰,且更接近音樂的原貌。


Pink Floyd’s Time from The Dark Side of the Moon is a track we consider essential in any serious listening evaluation, because it tests every aspect of system performance simultaneously with a recording of extraordinary spatial intelligence. The opening sequence of clocks and alarm bells, spread across what feels like a full 180-degree soundstage, arrived through the North Collection with a precision of placement and a physicality of impact that left us sitting still for a long time after the track finished. Each clock occupied a distinct and stable position in space. The transition into the main track was seamless and fully coherent. By the time the track reached its full energy, we had stopped taking notes and just lived through the experience.
選自《The Dark Side of the Moon》中 Pink Floyd 的《Time》,是我們在進行嚴苛評測時不可或缺的曲目,因為這張具備非凡空間智慧的錄音能同時檢驗系統的全方位性能。開頭由各類時鐘與鬧鈴聲交織的段落,在宛如 180 度展開的寬廣音場中鳴響;透過 North 系列的演繹,其定位精確度與實體撞擊感讓人在樂曲結束後仍久久靜坐沉思。每座鐘聲在空間中皆擁有明確且穩固的位置,過渡至主題樂段的銜接天衣無縫、一氣呵成。當樂曲能量完全爆發時,我們甚至放下了記錄筆,完全沉浸於這場純粹的震撼體驗中。
Nils Frahm’s All Melody showed the combination in perhaps its most complete character. This is a piece that moves from whisper to near-overwhelm within a single performance, and it asks an amplifier to make those transitions feel effortless and inevitable. The 861 handled every dynamic shift in the same style we had observed throughout the earlier sessions. The contrast between the track’s most delicate moments and its largest swells was preserved completely, with each transition feeling continuous and organic. The spatial quality of the recording, the particular acoustics of the church in Berlin where Frahm recorded it, remained audible and convincing at every listening level, and the sense of the room as a musical instrument in its own right, which is one of the recording’s most distinctive qualities, came through fully, easily recognisable, intact. We have used this track with many amplifiers over the years, and few have handled the slower, more gradual dynamic passages as well as the 861 did here. Some amplifiers manage the explosive peaks with authority but lose the intimate character of the quietest moments. Others preserve the delicacy but compress slightly when the full energy of the performance arrives. The 861 maintained both ends of the spectrum with equal composure, and the 891 passed the recording to it with the completeness and accuracy that allowed the power amplifier to perform at its best throughout.
Nils Frahm 的《All Melody》或許展現了這套組合最為全面的特質。這首曲目在單一演奏中從耳語般的極弱音漸進至近乎滅頂的強奏,考驗著擴大機能否將這些動態起伏化為從容且自然的流動。861 處理每個動態轉折時,延續了我們在先前試聽中所見的沉穩風格。最幽微精緻之處與最強烈膨脹之際的強烈對比被完整保留,每個過渡皆顯得綿延而具生命力。錄音的空間感、Frahm 在柏林教堂錄音時獨特的聲學環境,在任何音量下皆清晰可辨且具說服力;而將空間本身視為獨立樂器的獨特氛圍——這張錄音最顯著的特質之一——被完整無缺地還原出來。多年來我們在無數擴大機上播放過此曲,極少有器材能像 861 這樣完美處理緩慢漸進的動態樂段。某些擴大機能以強大能量應付爆發頂峰,卻失去了微弱段落的親密感;另一些則能維持細膩,卻在龐大能量湧現時略顯壓縮。861 在動態光譜的兩端皆維持了同等的高雅從容,而 891 則以極致的完整性與精準度將訊號傳送給後級,讓後級得以全程發揮最佳水準。


Infected Mushroom’s Guitarmass was our test for how the combination handles dense, high-energy electronic material at demanding listening levels. Some amplifiers compress subtly at the upper end of their comfortable operating range, losing a small degree of definition and spatial separation without failing outright. The 861 showed no such behavior. The soundstage held its width and depth. The tonal character of the recording held its shape. The 861 behaved, at the loudest levels we sustained during our sessions, exactly as it had behaved at moderate ones. That consistency is the result of the engineering behind the power supply, but we occasionally missed that last degree of kick bass violence, that chest thumping physical impact that turns a strong low end into a truly visceral one. Even so, the MOON never sounded soft or undernourished, don’t get us wrong. Its bass remained fast, structured, and exceptionally clean, but we missed that very last degree of kick thump. Still, we believe MOON’s approach remained deeply convincing because it traded a very small measure of raw punch for superior discipline, cleanliness, and control, keeping the entire presentation articulate even at demanding levels.
Infected Mushroom 的《Guitarmass》是我們用來測試系統在極端大音量下處理高密度、高能量電子舞曲的嚴酷考驗。部分擴大機在接近其舒適運作區間的極限時會產生微幅壓縮,在未完全失真崩潰的情況下略微損失解析力與空間分離度。861 完全沒有出現此類現象。音場寬度與深度依然穩如泰山,錄音的音色特質未見變形。在我們所測試的最大音量下,861 的表現與在中等音量時如出一轍。這種高度的一致性歸功於其強大的電源工程;不過,我們偶爾仍會期盼能多一分重擊低音(kick bass)的狂暴衝擊感——那種能直擊胸膛、將強勁低頻轉化為純粹感官震撼的肉體衝擊。即便如此,請別誤會,MOON 絕無軟弱無力或低頻貧弱之感,其低頻依舊迅捷、富結構感且極其乾淨,只是少了最後那麼一絲極致的重擊力道。儘管如此,我們認為 MOON 的取向依然極具說服力,因為它以極少量的原始蠻力,換取了卓越的自律性、純淨度與控制力,使整個聲音在大音量下依然清晰俐落。
On Pernille Rosendahl’s Feet on the Ground, the synth sweeping from left to right gave us a slight dizzying sensation. This is exactly what we expected. This track’s bass has an entrancing rhythm and helps ground the entire presentation, giving it its footing and momentum. But what makes it exceptionally revealing is that it carries a base note around 25 Hz layered over another around 65 Hz. That means both amplifier and speakers need to combine these frequencies without muddying them and deliver them with real control and finesse. We have heard this track on million-dollar systems, so we know how it should sound, and we also know that the same level is achievable with far more modest equipment when the synergy is right. The MOON combo made us behave exactly as the lyrics suggested, spinning all around while keeping our feet on the ground. What she sings, we could actually feel. The bass keeps everything anchored while the synth swirls around and creates that intoxicating effect, all while her voice remains perfectly centered. This kind of presentation is only possible with very good electronics. You can understand the principle easily on headphones, but reproducing those effects correctly in a living room is far more difficult. Here, the soundstaged presentation felt complete. We felt the bass lacked a very small degree of the percussive kick that we know this track can deliver. At the 2:40 mark, the swirling intensifies, and the 891 and 861 intensified that hypnotic lateral motion with excellent continuity. The first time we listened to this track, on this combo, after it ended, we were actually dizzy from it. Wonderful experience.
在 Pernille Rosendahl 的《Feet on the Ground》中,由左至右橫掃的合成器音效帶來了微微的眩暈感,這正是我們所期待的表現。這首曲目的低頻具備令人著迷的節奏律動,為整體音樂提供了扎實的基底與推進力。而讓它成為極佳測試曲目的原因,在於它在約 25 Hz 的極低頻上疊加了約 65 Hz 的低頻基音。這意味著擴大機與喇叭必須在不混濁的情況下完美融合這些頻段,並以真正的控制力與細膩度加以傳遞。我們曾於數百萬級別的頂級系統上聆聽過此曲,深知其理想樣貌,也清楚只要系統搭配得宜,即便規模較小的器材亦能達到同等境界。MOON 組合的演繹正如歌詞所描述那般,讓人感覺天旋地轉,卻又腳踏實地。她所歌唱的情境,我們能真切感受:低頻穩固地錨定住全場,合成音效在周圍盤旋營造出令人陶醉的效果,而她的人聲則始終穩定凝聚於正中央。這種層次的表現唯有極為優秀的器材才能達成;在耳機上或許容易理解這種效應,但在實際居家客廳中要精準重現則困難得多。在此,音場的完整度無懈可擊。雖然我們仍覺得低頻在打擊重擊感上略微保留了一點點,但當曲目進行至 2 分 40 秒盤旋效果加劇時,891 與 861 以優異的連貫性強化了那種催眠般的橫向移動感。首次在這套組合上聽完此曲時,我們甚至感到一陣真實的眩暈,這是極為美妙的聆聽體驗。


Idrissa Soumaoro’s Cherie, a track we had specifically noted during our evaluation of the Mimas for its extension into ultrasonic information and its ability to reveal how open or polite the very top octave of a system truly is. Here, the 891 and 861 working together produced a top end that we felt was genuinely freed from all the electronic shackles. Present without calling attention to itself, natural, as it should be. Extended without any hint of brightness in sight. Resolved without any trace of hardness or sterility. Where we had noted a slight softness in the absolute top octave that we attributed to the tweeter, that softness was absent here. The air, sparkle, and realism with which the PL300 3G’s MPD III tweeter delivers sound is wonderful.
Idrissa Soumaoro 的《Cherie》是我們在評測 Mimas 時特別關注的曲目,因其具備豐富的超高頻延伸資訊,能清晰檢驗系統在極高頻頻段究竟是開闊無拘還是過於保守。在此,891 與 861 攜手重現的高頻表現,令人感覺徹底擺脫了電子器材的束縛。高音清晰自然地存在,毫不刻意搶鏡;延伸極佳,絲毫不見任何刺眼火氣;解析極高,卻無任何生硬或乾澀感。先前我們曾注意到極高頻端有一絲歸因於高音單體的柔化現象,在此完全不復見。PL300 3G 的 MPD III 高音單體所展現的空氣感、光澤度與真實感令人讚嘆。
Jan Garbarek and the Hilliard Ensemble’s Officium, specifically the opening track Parce mihi Domine, served as one of our spatial references in this evaluation. This recording was made in Stiklestad church in Norway, and the acoustics of that space is itself a primary musical element. The way reverberation develops and decays in that particular environment tells you immediately whether the system you are listening through is truly retrieving low-level information from the recording. Through the MOON combo, the chapel opened up behind the speakers in a way that felt genuinely architectural and three-dimensional. The four male voices of the Hilliard Ensemble were positioned with a stability and convincingness that we found remarkable, each voice occupying a distinct and stable position in the reverberant field. Garbarek’s saxophone arrived from slightly behind and above the vocal quartet, exactly as the recording intends, and its harmonics interacted with the reverberation of the space in a way that becomes fully audible only when the system beneath it is quiet enough to let each decay resolve completely before the next phrase begins. The music itself is built as much from silence as from sound, which is why we believe this track reveals the value of a system’s black background more clearly than others. The track’s dynamic shadings are beautiful, the contrast between the language of the voices that we felt was inward and restrained, intimate, controlled, almost fragile in the way they rise and fall, compared to the saxophone that opens outward with almost cosmic freedom. The saxophone seems to breathe according to an entirely different emotional scale. It expands more freely, with a larger, more radiant dynamic envelope, as though it’s entering from another universe altogether. Through the 891 and 861, that difference was preserved with all its strangeness and beauty, making the performance feel larger, deeper, and far more emotionally complex. If that contrast is softened or flattened, the whole emotional structure collapses.
Jan Garbarek 與 Hilliard 樂團合作的《Officium》,特別是開場曲《Parce mihi Domine》,是本次評測中的空間感參考標準。該錄音於挪威斯蒂克萊斯塔德(Stiklestad)教堂進行,該空間的聲學特性本身即是核心的音樂元素。殘響在該環境中擴散與消逝的方式,能立即告訴你當前系統是否真正還原了錄音中的微細弱音細節。透過 MOON 組合,教堂的立體維度在喇叭後方展開,展現出真實的建築空間架構與 3D 立體感。Hilliard 樂團四位男聲的定位極具說服力且無比穩固,每位演唱者在殘響音場中皆佔據明確而穩定的位置。Garbarek 的薩克斯風則如錄音原本所設定的那般,從四重唱稍後方且略高的位置傳來;薩克斯風的泛音與空間殘響交織激盪,唯有當系統底層足夠寧靜、能讓每個音符的殘響在下一個樂句開始前完整消散時,這種美感才能完整呈現。這首音樂本身由聲音與「沉寂」共同構築,因此更能比其他曲目凸顯出系統背景黑度的真正價值。樂曲中的微動態層次極為優美,人聲內斂、克制、私密且帶著一絲脆弱的起伏,與薩克斯風向外無限擴展、近乎宇宙般的自由形成了鮮明對比。薩克斯風彷彿依循著完全不同的情感維度在呼吸,以更自由、更宏大且更璀璨的動態包絡線綻放,宛如來自另一個維度的訪客。透過 891 與 861,這份對比的奇異與絕美被完整保留,使整場演奏顯得更宏大、更深邃,且情感層次更為複雜。若這層對比被柔化或抹平,整首曲目的情感架構將隨之瓦解。


Cristal Cave by Seaman, a track found on the Stellar Serenity album by Eguana, was one of those tracks that immediately justified the “silence” of the MOON pairing. It is a piece that awes through atmosphere, through the slow and deliberate organization of layers, through the sense that sounds are not merely placed in space but suspended inside it through spectacle. Through the 891 and 861, the track felt beautifully stratified. The darker ambient floor stayed clean, low, and stable, while the upper textures seemed to hover above it with a crystalline presence that suited the title perfectly. We enjoyed how the image remained whole, but every strand inside it was easy to follow. This track can sound muddy on lesser electronics, and it is a good test just for that in itself. Here, the track did not feel fatiguing or annoying at all, it retained its misty presentation. The blur that we often heard in the past with other equipment was absent. It conveyed calmness, immersiveness, and quietness, without any trace of hardness or sterility or annoyance.
收錄於 Eguana《Stellar Serenity》專輯中的 Seaman 作品《Cristal Cave》,是立即印證 MOON 組合「背景寧靜度」的曲目之一。這是一首以氛圍取勝的樂曲,透過緩慢而深思熟慮的層次堆疊,讓聲音不僅是落在空間中,而是如奇景般懸浮於其中。透過 891 與 861,樂曲展現出優美的層次分明感。深沉的環境低頻基底純淨、下潛且穩定,而上方的高頻紋理則如水晶般懸浮其上,完美契合曲名意境。我們非常欣賞其音像在保持整體連貫的同時,內部的每道細微線條皆清晰可尋。這首曲目在等級較低的器材上容易顯得混濁,本身即是一大嚴格考驗;但在這裡,音樂毫無疲勞或令人煩躁之感,依然保留了如薄霧般的空靈感。過往在其他器材上常聽到的模糊感蕩然無存,取而代之的是沉靜、沉浸與安詳,且絲毫未帶生硬、乾冷或刺耳的不適。
As for Stellar Serenity as a whole, the album came across through the MOON as exactly what its tags and surrounding context suggest: it is a psychill and downtempo journey built more on atmosphere, pacing, and layered space. The 891 and 861 suited that approach extremely well. We were totally engulfed in Eguana’s world, and the adjacent worlds around him on this compilation. Because the music is inherently “muddy”, this chill album plays very well through proper black background capable electronics, it emphasizes the ability to let soft textures remain soft without turning vague, and on the ability to keep rhythmic undercurrents alive without pushing them in your face. That balance is where the MOON combination proved especially convincing. It gave the album a calm presentation. It feels weird saying that about a chill album, but if you try listening to it and it just comes across as annoying, then you begin to understand. It made the deeper foundation of the music stay grounded and coherent, while the floating textures above it opened with enough air to let the compilation breathe as a natural sequence of interconnected nocturnal spaces. More than anything, it made this album feel organized from within, clarifying it. Very interesting experience.
就《Stellar Serenity》整張專輯而言,透過 MOON 系統播放,完美呼應了其標籤所代表的意境:這是一段由氛圍、節奏與層次空間構築的 Psychill 與 Downtempo 音樂旅程。891 與 861 極度契合這種風格,讓我們完全沉浸於 Eguana 及其合輯所營造的世界中。由於這類音樂本質上帶有迷濛特質,因此在背景真正深沉的器材上播放時表現尤佳;它考驗著系統能否讓柔軟的質地維持柔和而不致潰散模糊,並在不具侵略性的前提下保持節奏暗湧的生命力。MOON 組合在此展現了極具說服力的平衡,賦予專輯沉著安定的特質。對一張 Chill 風格的專輯給出「沉著」的評價看似奇特,但若曾在不當系統上聽過其變得煩躁混亂,便能體會箇中差異。它讓深層的音樂基底保持扎實連貫,同時上方飄浮的音效擁有足夠的空氣感,使整張合輯如同一系列自然相連的夜間空間般自由呼吸。最重要的是,它由內而外梳理了整張專輯,帶來清晰明辨的聽感,是段非常有趣的體驗。


Our movie night with the North Collection also told us something important about the 891 and 861. War Machine showed just how much atmosphere and spatial intensity a truly capable two-channel system can still deliver. Although we were not listening through a 5.1 layout, the sense of scale, air, and lateral expansion made the effects feel vivid, more so than we usually expect from a stereo system on its own. The soundstage reached well beyond the speakers, giving explosions, distant activity, and ambient tension a physical presence that made the whole presentation feel vibrant and intensely dynamic. It didn’t feel like a fake kind of spaciousness, or an artificial widening trick, but a believable sense of acoustic scale. The 891 and 861 gave the soundtrack room to breathe, and that extra space made every effect feel more intense because it had somewhere to develop. Even in two channels, the presentation carried a cinematic openness that drew us much deeper into the film, more than a conventional stereo setup usually can.
使用 North 系列進行電影之夜的體驗,同樣揭示了 891 與 861 的重要特質。觀看電影《War Machine》時,展現了一套真正頂級的兩聲道系統所能傳遞的宏大氛圍與空間張力。儘管我們並非使用 5.1 聲道配置,但其規模感、空氣流動感與橫向開展度,讓音效顯得栩栩如生,遠超我們對一般純兩聲道系統的預期。音場大幅跨越喇叭的實體邊界,賦予爆炸場面、遠處動態與環境張力極佳的實體感,讓整體音效生動且極具動態衝擊。這並非虛假或刻意營造的空間擴展特效,而是極具說服力的真實聲學規模感。891 與 861 賦予電影配樂充分的呼吸餘裕,而這份空間感讓每道音效得以完整伸展,進而更具張力。即便在兩聲道架構下,其開闊的電影感亦能引領我們深度融入電影情節中。
Why did we choose to write about this cinematic experience, you ask? Because at one point, during a powerful explosion, the amplifier shut down with the LED blinking a faint yellow light. A quick search through the user manual helped us find out that the DC protection was triggered. This experience deepened our respect for the 861. The amplifier showed that behind its power and composure lies a serious commitment to protection, stability, and a true engineering discipline. And perhaps the greatest irony is that the very explosion that triggered the safeguard also served as proof of how immense, forceful, and involving the presentation had become. Intense stuff. Even in stereo mode, it seems the North Collection delivered a level of scale and intensity that almost made the moment feel real. Imagine what two of these beasts in bridged mode would do.
或許您會好奇,為何我們要特別記錄這段觀影體驗?因為在一段劇烈的爆炸場景中,後級擴大機啟動了保護機制關機,面板 LED 燈閃爍著微弱黃光。查閱說明書後得知,這是直流保護(DC Protection)被觸發。這次經歷反而加深了我們對 861 的敬意:它證明了在強大動力與從容姿態背後,蘊含著對保護機制、穩定度與工程嚴謹度的極致堅持。最具戲劇性的是,觸發保護的強烈爆炸音效,恰恰證明了該系統所呈現的規模感、衝擊力與臨場感是多麼龐大逼真。即便僅在兩聲道立體聲模式下,North 系列展現的規模與張力已讓人難分虛實;難以想像若以兩台如此巨獸進行單聲道橋接,將會是何等震撼的場面。
Closing Thoughts
After extended time with the MOON 891 and 861, and after living with the combination long enough that it stopped being a test and simply became how our system sounded, we arrive at a conclusion that feels clear and earned. Simaudio has built something genuinely exceptional here, across the full span of what a reference-level electronics system is asked to do.
在與 MOON 891 及 861 深度相處、且這套組合已不再被視為測試器材而是徹底融入我們系統的日常發聲之後,我們得出了一個清晰且深具說服力的結論:在參考級音響系統所追求的全方位標準上,Simaudio 確實打造出了真正出類拔萃的非凡傑作。
The 861 is one of the most authoritative and composed power amplifiers we have evaluated in this room. Its topology, dual mono architecture, and the scale of its power supply implementation produce an amplifier that governs speakers, not just merely driving them. The control is the kind that allows every dynamic event to happen with its full intended character, because nothing in the signal chain is adding distortion, restricting current delivery, or asking the output stage to work harder than the signal requires. At high listening levels with complex, demanding material, it sounds the same as it does at moderate or lower levels. That consistency is extraordinary and rare, especially from behemoths of this size.
861 是我們在此試聽室中評測過最具統御力與沉穩氣度的後級擴大機之一。其電路架構、全雙單聲道配置與龐大的電源供應規模,造就了一部不僅是「驅動」喇叭,而是能絕對「掌控」喇叭的擴大機。這種掌控力讓每個動態細節皆能以錄音原貌完整綻放,因為訊號鏈路中沒有任何環節會引入失真、限制電流輸出或迫使輸出級超載運作。在大音量播放複雜苛刻的曲目時,其聲音特質與在中、小音量下完全一致。這種高度的一致性在如此體積的重量級後級中實屬罕見且卓越。
The 891 approaches the same standard from the opposite direction. Its MDE3 conversion engine, M-Ray2 volume control, and fully discrete dual mono analog stage together produce a front end of uncommon cleanliness and transparency. It passes the signal to the 861 with a fidelity that allows the power amplifier to perform exactly as intended. The recording presents its character, and it is the responsibility of the 861 to deliver that character intact. And that’s what it does.
891 則從訊源與前級端貫徹了相同的頂級標準。其 MDE3 轉換引擎、M-Ray2 音量控制與全分立雙單聲道類比放大級,共同構築出具備極致純淨度與通透感的前端。它以無比的傳真度將訊號傳遞至 861,讓後級擴大機能完全發揮預期水準。錄音展現其本色,而 861 則負責將這份特質原汁原味地還原——而這正是它所完美達成的任務。
We should note that listeners who prioritize an explicitly warm or organically colored presentation will find the North Collection oriented toward precision and truth, detail, and speed. This is a matter of engineering philosophy. Some components add their own personality to every recording, shaping the tonal balance toward a more immediately welcoming character. The 891 and 861 together take a different position entirely. They pass through whatever the recording contains, and that approach rewards recordings of high quality with a listening experience of remarkable depth and satisfaction. It also means that the character of the system scales directly with the quality of the material you feed it. On the finest recordings in our library, the North Collection produced listening experiences we will remember for a long time. On ordinary recordings, it was still engaging and musical. It never punished the listener for choosing less than perfect material, but it made the distance between excellent recordings and ordinary ones more audible than any other electronics we have had in our room in recent memory.
必須說明的是,若閣下偏好明顯溫暖或帶有特定音染的聲音走向,會發現 North 系列更傾向於精準、真實、細節與速度感。這純粹是工程哲學的取向差異。部分器材會在每張錄音中加入自身個性,將音色修飾得更具親和力;而 891 與 861 則採取截然不同的立場,它們如實直通錄音中的一切資訊,而這種特質在播放優質錄音時,能回饋以極具深度與滿足感的聆聽體驗。這也意味著系統的表現直接取決於輸入訊源的品質。播放我們曲庫中最頂級的錄音時,North 系列營造出令人難以忘懷的非凡體驗;而在播放普通錄音時,它依然保持動聽與音樂性,絕不會苛待非完美錄音,但它確實比我們近期測試過的任何器材,都更清晰地拉開了頂級錄音與普通錄音之間的鑑別度。
The pairing of 891 and 861 as an intentional system also revealed its value gradually and convincingly across the listening period. When MOONLink is active, and both components behave as a single unit, the coordination between them produces a quality of ease that mixed-brand combinations rarely achieve or do so with increased difficulty, regardless of how excellent the individual components might be. Simaudio built these two products to work together, and that intention is audible and felt in everyday use in a way that goes beyond what any specification or measured result could communicate. Every hour of listening confirmed it. We would encourage anyone who arrives at the 861 or 891 through a different route, perhaps already owning one and considering the other, to make every effort to evaluate them together before settling on any alternative combination. The system they form is meaningfully greater than the sum of its parts.
891 與 861 作為一套精心規劃的西裝系統,在長時間試聽中展現出無可爭辯的合璧價值。啟用 MOONLink 後,兩部器材化為單一有機體協同運作,帶來跨品牌混搭器材極難企及的從容與和諧——無論混搭的個別單機有多麼優秀。Simaudio 開發這兩款產品的初衷正是讓它們完美搭配,這份用心在日常使用中清晰可聞、真切可感,遠非單純規格或測試數據所能囊括。每一小時的聆聽皆印證了這一點。若您已擁有其中一款並正考慮另一款,我們強烈建議在定案前務必將它們搭配合體試聽;這套組合所發揮的綜效,絕對遠大於個別部件的單純加總。
We would also like to acknowledge the role that the Roboli cabling played in allowing the North Collection to show its full character. The HP8000 speaker cables, XLR 2100 interconnects, and Power5200 power cables are the reference wiring we have used consistently across our system evaluations, and they bring a quality of tonal balance and spatial honesty to the system that suits the MOON philosophy very well. As we have noted in previous reviews, the right cabling allows a component to communicate its own voice without interference, and in this case, the Roboli pairing allowed the 891 and 861 to speak with complete clarity.
我們亦要肯定 Roboli 線材在協助 North 系列全面釋放潛能方面所扮演的角色。HP8000 喇叭線、XLR 2100 訊號線與 Power5200 電源線是我們評測中一貫採用的參考線材基準,它們為系統帶來了中性平衡的音色與真實的空間感,極度契合 MOON 的調音哲學。正如我們過往評測所提,合適的線材能讓器材不受干擾地展現自身真本色,而在此次搭配中,Roboli 線材讓 891 與 861 展現出極致純淨的透明度。
For anyone building a serious reference system that demands a complete, coherent digital and analog front end, the MOON 891 and 861 represent one of the most considered and fully realized proposals in high-end audio today. The North Collection points in exactly the direction its name suggests.
對於正在尋求建構一套完整、協調且具備極致數位與類比前端的頂級參考系統的發燒友而言,MOON 891 與 861 代表了當今 High-End 音響界思慮最周詳、完成度最高的方案之一。North 系列正如其名,確立了指引方向的旗艦指標。
Summary
Across our listening sessions with the Monitor Audio Platinum PL300 3G, driven by the MOON 891 and 861 through Roboli HP8000 speaker cables, Roboli XLR 2100 interconnects, and Roboli Power5200 power cables, the North Collection consistently demonstrated the following:
在搭配 Monitor Audio Platinum PL300 3G 喇叭,並透過 Roboli HP8000 喇叭線、Roboli XLR 2100 訊號線與 Roboli Power5200 電源線進行的各階段試聽中,North 系列始終展現出以下核心特質:
In terms of musical satisfaction, long-term usability, system coherence, and the particular pleasure of living with components whose engineering ambition and sonic results are aligned, the MOON 891 and 861 together represent among the very best we have experienced at their respective price points.
就音樂感染力、長期耐用性、系統連貫性,以及器材在工程實踐與聲音成果上的完美統一而言,MOON 891 與 861 的合璧,無疑是同價位級距中我們所體驗過最頂尖的代表作之一。
In the end, it seemed as if The North Collection left the arguments behind and allowed the music to “speak”.
最終,North 系列放下了所有技術爭論,讓音樂自己「發聲」。
Pros
A surprising combination of natural and musical presentation with remarkably revealing resolution
令人驚豔的自然度與音樂性,同時兼具極為敏銳的高解析鑑析力
Exceptional black background, so deep it gives recordings true dimensional life
極致深邃黝黑的寧靜背景,賦予錄音真實的三維生命力
Superb control, composure, and stability at all listening levels with outstanding dynamic range
在各種音量下皆展現出卓越的控制力、沉穩度、穩定性與出色的動態範圍
Three-dimensional staging with a scale that expands beyond the speaker’s physical presence
超越喇叭實體邊界的宏大 3D 立體音場
Midrange realism and textural completeness
寫實的中頻表現與完整的質地層次
Treble that breathes freely without ever turning sharp
自由呼吸、自然延伸且絕無刺耳火氣的高頻
Superb build quality and mechanical execution
極致卓越的造工品質與機械抑震結構
Seamless synergy between the 891 and 861 891 與 861
之間無縫完美的西裝協同綜效
Stable, refined, easy-to-use streaming and system integration
穩定、細膩且直覺易用的串流與系統連動整合
Can be easily considered an ultimate audio solution
堪稱當代音響系統的終極旗艦解決方案
Cons
Bass reached deep and stayed articulate, yet the final layer of percussive attack felt slightly restrained
低頻下潛極深且清晰明辨,但在最極致的打擊重擊衝擊力上略顯內斂
No integrated parametric EQ or room correction options
未內建參數化等化器(Parametric EQ)或空間校正功能
Mercilessly revealing of recording quality
對錄音品質具備毫不留情的極高鑑別力
Its full magic asks for a competing system (speakers, cables, etc) of equal seriousness
需搭配同等嚴謹的周邊系統(喇叭、線材等)方能完全釋放潛能
Needs careful system matching to show its full ability
需細心進行系統搭配以展現其全部實力
Financially out of reach for most listeners
對多數愛樂者而言身價不菲,門檻較高
Scoring
We would like to mention that these scores reflect the exact system configuration used during our listening sessions. The 871 and 891 combination is extraordinarily transparent and revealing, meaning that every upstream and downstream component leaves a clearly audible fingerprint on the final result. Source quality, power delivery, cabling, loudspeaker pairing and especially room treatment all influence the presentation to a surprisingly large degree.
在此特別說明,以下評分完全反映本次試聽所採用的特定系統配置。871(即 861 後級)與 891 組合具備極致的通透度與鑑別力,意味著所有前端與後端器材皆會對最終聲音留下清晰可辨的印記。訊源品質、電源供應、線材配置、喇叭搭配,尤其是空間聲學處理,皆會對聲音表現產生顯著影響。
It is our feeling that this level of transparency becomes both a strength and a responsibility, because the system exposes improvements with remarkable honesty. During our testing, even relatively small changes in positioning, isolation and cabling produced clearly audible shifts in soundstage scale, tonal density and low frequency articulation.
我們認為,這種極致的透明度既是優勢亦是一項考驗,因為系統能極為忠實地反映周邊調整帶來的變化。在測試過程中,即使是擺位、避震抑震與線材配置上的微小變動,亦會轉化為音場規模、音色密度與低頻清晰度上的明確差異。
As such, these scores should be viewed as a reflection of this exact system synergy and setup, because the 871 and 891 are fully capable of scaling even further in carefully optimized environments.
因此,這些評分應被視為本套特定系統搭配與調校下的綜效成果;在經過精細優化的聲學環境中,871 與 891 完全具備進一步向上突破的無限潛能。
① Low Frequencies|低頻表現 105 / 120 Evaluates everything below the midrange: extension, body, impact and the ability to articulate bass notes with precision and control. 評估中頻以下的所有環節:下潛延伸、形體感、衝擊力,以及精準掌控並清晰交代低音音符的能力。
Sub bass|極低頻:108 Extension below 50 Hz feels deep, powerful and fully controlled, with real physical pressure when the recording asks for it. 50 Hz 以下的延伸深邃、強勁且完全受控,在錄音需要時能展現真實的形體物理聲壓。
Kick bass|重擊低音:107 Punch and body from 50 to 150 Hz: explosive, fast and highly disciplined, with the kind of kick that feels immediate and effortless. 50 至 150 Hz 的衝擊力與形體:具爆發力、迅捷且高度自律,重擊感俐落且游刃有餘。
② Clarity and Resolution|清晰度與解析力 110.6 / 120 Measures how much fine grained musical information the component retrieves, how cleanly it separates events, and how silent the backdrop behind instruments feels. 衡量器材擷取細微音樂資訊的豐富度、分離樂音的俐落度,以及樂器後方背景的寧靜深邃度。
Weight|重量感:104 Overall bass body and fullness: substantial and authoritative, but never slow, thick or overblown. 整體低頻形體與飽滿度:扎實且具權威感,但絕不拖沓、濃稠或過度膨脹。
Impact|衝擊力:105 Highlight: the system delivers thunderous bass hits and explosive drum work while keeping absolute composure. 亮點:系統在重現如雷鳴般的低頻衝擊與爆發性鼓聲時,依然維持絕對的沉著自若。
Articulation|清晰度與層次:101 Bass notes start and stop with amazing precision, making complex low frequency passages easy to follow. 低音音符的起落收放極其精準,使複雜的低頻樂段層次分明、清晰易辨。
★ Bass Character|低頻特質 Weighty ─── Tight(厚重 ─── 緊實) Almost perfectly balanced, powerful, controlled and tight 近乎完美的平衡,強勁、受控且緊實。
Air|空氣感:111 Separation and openness are exceptional, with instruments surrounded by clean space and a strong sense of scale. 分離度與開闊度極其出眾,樂器周圍環繞著純淨的空間感,格局宏大。
Transparency|通透度:108 Very low…almost 0 haze between the listener and the recording, with voices and instruments cutting through the music with startling clarity. 聆聽者與錄音之間的霧氣極低、幾近於零,人聲與樂器以令人驚嘆的清晰度穿透音樂直達耳際。
Inter Note Silence|音符間的寧靜度:111 Highlight: notes breathe naturally, pauses are always clean, and dynamic transitions feel effortless. 亮點:音符自然呼吸,樂句休止乾淨俐落,動態過渡從容流暢。
Background Cleanliness|背景純淨度:111 Highlight: the background feels dark, clean and pure, allowing even the smallest spatial cues to appear without effort. 亮點:背景深邃、乾淨且純粹,使最微小的空間微動態細節皆能毫不費力地自然浮現。
③ Tonal Fidelity|音色傳真度 108.5 / 120 Captures how truthfully the component reproduces tonal colour, harmonic richness and dynamic contrast in the midrange. 評估器材在中頻段還原音色純度、泛音豐富度與動態對比的真實程度。
Harmonic Richness|泛音豐富度:103 Harmonic density is present and believable, but the system stays clean and controlled with very little romance or saturation. 泛音密度充足且具說服力,但系統維持純淨受控,幾乎不帶人為浪漫修飾或過度飽和感。
Tonal Accuracy|音色準確度:108 Instruments and voices sound extremely correct, clean and proportioned, with very little tonal editorializing. 樂器與人聲聽來極其正確、純淨且比例精準,極少有人為的音色渲染或修飾。
Micro dynamics|微動態:109 Small inflections, vocal pressure changes and inner phrasing are rendered with exceptional sensitivity. 以極高的靈敏度細膩刻畫微小的音調起伏、人聲強弱變化與深層樂句細節。
Macro dynamics|大動態:114 Highlight: large scale dynamics are delivered with excellent authority, speed and stability, moving from quiet passages to near overwhelming peaks with tremendous ease. 亮點:以出色的權威感、速度與穩定度重現大編制動態,在幽微弱音至排山倒海的頂峰之間游刃有餘。
★ Tonal Character|音色走向 Clinical ─── Warm(冷冽鑑聽 ─── 溫暖濃郁) Neutral, but leans towards precise and slightly technical 中性平衡,但略偏向精準與客觀技術鑑聽感。
④ High Freq. Reproduction|高頻重播表現 109.6 / 120 Dedicated assessment of the top octaves: sparkle, finesse, transient precision and fatigue resistance. 專門評估極高頻段:光澤感、細膩度、瞬態精準度以及耐聽度(抗疲勞感)。
Dynamics|高頻動態:109 Treble energy has excellent attack and scale, staying clean even when the music becomes intense. 高頻能量具備優異的起音速度與動態規模,即便樂曲轉為激昂依然保持純淨。
Micro dynamics|高頻微動態:108 Fine shimmer, tiny cymbal variations and upper harmonic changes are easy to follow. 細微的光澤、鈸聲的微妙變化與高階泛音起伏皆清晰可辨。
Sparkle|光澤感:109 The upper frequency range has brilliance and energy, and also manages to avoid becoming sharp or artificially lit. 高頻段具備明亮光澤與充沛能量,同時亦避免了生硬尖銳或人為過度提亮的不適。
Air|高頻空氣感:110 Top octave extension gives the whole stage height, openness and a strong sense of acoustic space. 極高頻延伸賦予整個音場優異的高度、開闊度與強烈的聲學空間感。
Articulation|高頻清晰度:112 High frequency transients are fast, precise and very clean, with excellent edge definition. 高頻瞬態反應迅捷、精準且極為乾淨,線條邊界輪廓清晰分明。
⑤ Soundstage and Imaging|音場與結像定位 103.2 / 120 How well the component constructs a three dimensional acoustic space and how precisely it places each element within it. 評估器材建構三維立體聲學空間的能力,以及在其中精準定位各音樂元素的水準。
Width|音場寬度:104 The soundstage reaches well beyond the speakers, creating a nice lateral spread and a near cinematic sense of scale. 音場寬度大幅超越喇叭兩側,營造出優異的橫向開展度與近乎電影般的宏大格局。
Depth|音場深度:104 Front to back layering is very good, with distant activity, ambience and spatial tension placed convincingly behind the main event. 前後縱深層次極佳,遠處動態、空間殘響與氛圍張力皆具說服力地凝聚於主體音像後方。
Focus|結像聚焦:101 Images are sharply locked in place, stable and easy to locate inside the soundstage. 音像線條清晰凝結,在音場中定位穩固且易於辨識。
Positional Precision|定位精準度:104 Highlight: placement accuracy is very good, with voices, guitars, effects and ambient cues occupying precise, well defined positions. 亮點:定位精確度極高,人聲、吉他、音效與環境細節皆佔據明確清晰的立體座標。
⑥ Listening Pleasure|聆聽樂趣與耐聽度 106 / 120 Tests musical engagement across listening levels and over time: whether the component invites long sessions or causes fatigue. 評估不同音量下與長時間聆聽的音樂感染力:器材是否能引人長久聆賞或容易造成聽覺疲勞。
Low Volume Engagement|小音量吸引力:103 Even during low volume listening, the system keeps body, clarity and emotional involvement intact. 即便在小音量下,系統依然能完整維持形體感、清晰度與情感投入度。
High Volume Authority|大音量統御力:105 Even at high SPL the system remains composed, explosive and effortless, with no sense of compression or strain. 即便在高音壓(SPL)下,系統依然沉著自若、爆發力充沛且游刃有餘,毫無壓縮或緊繃感。
Long Term Listenability|長時間耐聽度:110 Despite its immense resolution and power, the presentation stays controlled, clean and an absolute pleasure to enjoy for long sessions. 儘管具備龐大的解析力與充沛能量,整體聲音依然受控純淨,長時間聆聽極具享受感。
⑦ Build and Design|做工與工業設計 102.3 / 120 Physical craftsmanship, visual presence and daily usability. 實體工藝質感、視覺氣場與日常使用體驗。
Chassis quality|機箱品質:104 Statement level construction, massive solidity and the kind of mechanical confidence expected from the North Collection. 旗艦級結構用料,無比扎實沉穩,展現出 North 系列應有的機械工藝信心。
Visual design|視覺設計:101 Elegant, futuristic and unmistakably high end, with a visual identity that matches the sonic ambition. 優雅、富未來感且散發純粹的頂級 High-End 氣質,視覺風貌與其聲音企圖心完美呼應。
Ease of use|操作便利性:102 The 891 side brings excellent usability, display readability, remote operation and system integration. 891 端帶來出色的操作體驗、極佳的螢幕辨識度、順手的遙控介面與完善的系統連動。
⑧ Features and Value|功能性與價值評估 94 / 120 How well the component serves its price point, how easily it integrates into real systems and how much room it leaves for future upgrades. 器材在該身價下的價值體現、融入實際系統的容易度,以及為未來升級預留的彈性空間。
Price Performance|性價比表現:80 The price is clearly statement level, so value should be judged by performance density and not necessarily affordability. 定價無疑屬於頂級旗艦範疇,因此其價值應從性能含金量而非單純價格親民度來衡量。
System Matching|系統契合度:108 As a complete amplifier and source combination, it integrates at the highest level when paired with loudspeakers and rooms that can reveal its speed, control and resolution. 作為一套完整的擴大機與訊源西裝組合,當搭配能完全發揮其速度、控制力與解析度的喇