Simaudio Integrated Amps

JR30 -- Mon, 06/02/2008 - 18:40

Does anyone have any experience with Simaudio Integrated Amps? I just listened to the Moon I-5 and I-3 and thought they were excellent. They were driving Usher S 520s and Spendor 3/5 SEs. I have been looking for a good integrated and was wondering what other people's thoughts on these two were.

Are there other integrated options around this price point that people would compare them to or prefer over them? At this point I am willing to consider either a tube or solid-state amp. How do they compare to the integrateds in the Playback review?

Robert Harley -- Mon, 06/02/2008 - 21:25

I recently reviewed the Simaudio Moon I-7 (176) and many years ago, reviewed the I-5. I was greatly impressed by both products, both in features, build quality, cosmetics, feel, and most importantly, sound quality. The I-7 beats many separates, many costing much more. The I-7 is in a different league compared with the sub-$1500 amplifiers recently surveyed in Playback (at least in my experience).

Simaudio has a new line of entry-level products, including an integrated amplifier. We're working on a review right now.

You should also consider the Naim Nait 5i ($1625, reviewed in the next issue of TAS), and if you're interested in tubes, check out the PrimaLuna Dialogue Two ($2625, reviewed in Issue 175).

Robert Harley

neil.gader -- Tue, 06/24/2008 - 10:08

I've had nothing but great experiences with Simaudio products. I started reviewing them over ten years ago and they have been unfailingly musical and reliable. they have a consistently "fast" sound that really energizes music. another amp to consider near or slightly above this range might be the Plinius 9100-also a very quick powerful sound.

Neil Gader Associate Editor The Absolute Sound