Moon 861 - POWER AMPLIFIER

It is unusual to begin a review with a detailed discussion of setup. But setup protocol for the Moon 861 power amplifier ($22,000 each), the top-level amplifier in the North Collection from Moon, which I reviewed bridged in mono, proved crucial to its sound.

- JASON VICTOR SERINUS

The setup saga began when Moon co-owner Costa Koulisakis traveled to Port Townsend from Quebec to help remove two 861 amplifiers from their sturdy flight cases and set them up. (We also set up the Moon 891 Network Player/DAC, which I'll review next month, with and without the 861s.) First, he noted that Moon designed the 861s to rest on amp stands, supported by the amps' specially designed feet, which contain a suspension system composed of O-rings, a poron damping pad of specific density, and a contact point composed of dense ABS (like Legos). "Besides absorbing some external and internal vibration, these new footers also help level the amplifier when it is placed on an uneven surface," he said. "Each foot will compress a different amount to prevent the amplifier from rocking in any direction."

Koulisakis explained that Moon voiced the 861 three different ways: on HRS amp stands, on a granite surface, and directly on the floor of their main listening room, which has very low-pile carpet glued directly to a concrete floor. "The HRS stand works best, but the 861's elaborate footing system already does a portion of the work that a good amp stand will do."

Koulisakis lamented that my Grand Prix Monza amp stands were too small to accommodate the 861s. Not because the 861 is gargantuan; far from it. Rather, my amp stands are smaller than the norm to enable them to fit in tight spaces. In addition, each stand's four support pillars extend higher than their bamboo shelves and are situated more or less where the Moon 861's support feet would make contact. No way, José.