sim audio moon neo 430ha

whats the general consensus on this? Tyll seems to really like it, big circle jerk on head-fi about it, Jude said it's now his reference amp and even listed it on the buying guide despite them not being a sponsor

 

Interesting, ya the internals are nothing special, they are using talema transformers in a 3500 dollar product? Even the add on dac board for 800 is pretty cheap a 9018k2m

 

I haven't heard this yet, but based on what I've read I haven't seen anything better for use in a combined headphone / 2.0 speaker system if you want something that will perform preamp, headphone amp, and potentially DAC duties. (Note: I consider a remote control essential in this space.) Simaudio also has a 350P preamp that has similar headphone specs as their 230HAD unit they just released; the 350P just also happens to be a decent-looking preamp.

Happy to be proven wrong!

 

There has been little written about the 430HAD here but I see Tyll Hertsens added the 430HAD to the Wall of Fame. Does anyone have any updated impressions or thoughts about the $4300 price of admission?

 

Unlike others, I didn't find the 430HA was boring at all. I had a two hour audition with it at a local dealer when they had their Simaudio event and spoke with their rep as well. I brought in my own HE-6, plus used the shop's HD800 and the rep's Abyss. I used my own music as well.

I walked in to that audition fully expecting to think to myself "sure it sounds nice, but not for that price". I walked out of the audition thinking "I could save up for this..."

 

Did they have the 230 HAD at the event as well. If so, did you get to listen to it and how did it compare to the 430. Thanks.

 

No, the 230 wasn't out yet unfortunately.

 

I had this amp at home for about 2 weeks. Very smooth, perhaps to smooth as I think it lacks a bit of attack. Very similar amp to this is the audio Gd nfb one. Very similar in its presentation. I'd suggest anyone thinking about this amp at least consider the nfb1. Could save quite a bit of money

 

I just finished a loaner with the 230 HAD and will post impressions in that thread eventually. The way the 430 HA is described I suspect that the cheaper 230 HAD bears a strong family resemblance to the bigger brother. But I unfortunately have not compared the two.

 

The 430 is a very fine amplifier, I just think you can get that performance for quite a bit less.

 

Thank you for the feedback. Impressions on the 430HAD have wildly varied. However, the most seasoned and experienced listeners like Tyll Hertsens have almost all said the 430HAD is outstanding. There have also been several people who said Hugo TT is better than the 430HAD which is interesting considering the Hugo TT may be one of the most polarizing headphone DAC+amplifiers ever discussed on Changstar and SBAF. I will soon do an extended audition with the 430HAD in early June.

 

I just re-read the Innerfidelity review of the 430HA...

Actually I'm a bit sad that the Auralic Taurus Mk2 was
- not included in big sound
- not even mentioned a single time in @Tyll Hertsens ' 430HA review.
The Taurus was replaced by this 430HA, both in Tyll's own review setup as on the wall of fame. However, there is not a single direct comparison between the Taurus and it's successor. It almost looks like the decision to toss it aside had already been made before the listening part, as it wasn't included in big sound nor compared here.

I'm perfectly happy to read it being far worse or whatever, well argumented. But it somehow just got left out and it vanished all together. I suppose 430HA is better then... but better how?

 

I recently purchased the 430 HA after having extensive time with vintage HK receivers, Aurender Flow and various portable DAC/DAPs. I also have the HD800's and AKG3003. It takes at least 200 hours for the 430 to break in, so whatever sound you hear in a store is not going to be accurate, if the product is new. There is a big shift in the sound. This amp puts out just about the most power I have seen in a headphone amp, so slam it shouldn't be short on. This headphone amp is noted for being neutral and accurate, with an airy, detailed sound. All of that it is. It also has a 10 year warranty. For listeners wanting more of this or more of that, you can chase your tail for perfection, but in the end, neutral is the place to start. I occasionally tweak my sound through Audirvana. As for the DAC card, it is a modular addition. In a few years when it is upgraded, put in a new module. How would you do that with a Hugo? Sometimes we forget to listen to the music instead of the gear? I don't expect to replace this for a very long time. It was expensive, probably overly so, but so is all audio gear, from one perspective or another.