MOON's North Collection is its first new range for quite some time which, along with the company's generous ten-year guarantee, just shows that the Canadian high-end hi-fi brand is not one for churning out annual iterations. Furthermore, this is an entirely new, from the ground-up series of products - no v2.0s here.

The North Collection offers six new in-house technologies, three new DACs, four new volume control systems and a newly designed phono stage.

Canada has strong links with the north and is often called "The Great White North". However, north is also the direction one looks for when navigating, so the firm felt this was the perfect name for the new collection.

The assembled press was told that this landmark range represents a culmination of years of research and development in the fields of audio, electronics, materials, and manufacturing processes. Although a new design, the strong MOON DNA makes the North Collection easily identifiable as MOON products, from the milled metal silver shoulders to the large volume control dial. However, the curved horizontal heatsinks and vents around the new large logo plate are nice fresh touches.

The six-piece North Collection - one integrated amp, two power amplifiers, a network player/ DAC and two network playing pre-amps - incorporates brand new MOON technologies—including the MOON Distortion Cancelling Amplifier (MDCA) circuit that reduces distortion and noise to previously unattainable levels, the MOON Damping Base (MDB) that raises the bar on mechanical isolation, and updated volume technologies for ultimate control.

While the hierarchical numbering system remains - 6xx, 7xx, 8xx; good, better, best - MOON is confident that the new offerings outperform higher-ranged existing products.

Etienne Gautier, MOON's CCO, and Product Manager Dominique Poupart introduced the new collection and kicked off the listening side by way of Zola Blood's Two Hearts. The demo system was a pair of Audiovector R6 Arreté and the 'sweet spot' products of the 761 and 791, which left the small gathering of selected journalists nodding their appreciation. After hearing a range of music, including releases from two of the bands I work with, it was evident that the North Collection offers a step-up in performance from the Quebec-based manufacturer.

The great news is that MOON will be taking the North Collection to Munich in just a couple of weeks, so visitors there can hear it for themselves. Prepare to be impressed!

MOON NORTH COLLECTION - 600 SERIES

The North Collection starts with the MOON 641 integrated amp with a dual-mono configuration rated at 125W @ 8 ohms/ 250W @ 4 ohms boasting MDCA (MOON Distortion-Cancelling Amplifier) design. This uses an independent circuit with precise signal correction to significantly lower noise and distortion (SNR = 109dB/ THD+N @ 125W = 0.003%). The integrated amp offers one balanced and three sets of RCA input.

Partnering the 641 is the 681 network player/ DAC featuring MDE1 re-clocking FPGA with "innovative" DAC implementation. This MiND2-equipped Roon Ready streamer also features MHV (MOON Hybrid Volume) technology that combines digital attenuation and analogue gain levels to allow for high-performance volume control when the 681 is not connected to a MOON preamplifier without compromising the audio signal in the digital domain. In addition, the 681 comes with the new BRM-1 remote, allowing volume control and much more.

MOON NORTH COLLECTION - 700 SERIES

The MOON 761 power amp pushes out 200W @ 8 ohms doubling to 400W at 4 ohms, and can be switched to mono mode to create 600W @ 8 ohms.

Meanwhile, the accompanying MOON 791 network player/ pre-amp features seven digital inputs (including HDMI ARC), three analogue inputs, and two outputs (independently configured for variable or fixed volume), and its MDE2—a re-clocking FPGA and flagship DAC supporting resolutions up to 32/384 and DSD256.

Additionally, the 791 can host a USB drive and features the Roon Ready MiND2 network player, supporting Bluetooth and AirPlay 2. Finally, the "super quiet" phono pre-amp supports moving-magnet and moving-coil cartridges with real-time configuration via the menu system. Needless to say, the digital and analogue realms are separated through galvanic isolation.

MOON NORTH COLLECTION - 800 SERIES

The 300W 861 power amp (600W @ 4 ohms/ 800W @ 8 ohms in mono) is the largest component in the range, weighing 58kg and measuring 21 x 48.1 x 60.9cm (HxWxD).

The MOON 891 is the new collection's flagship network player/ pre-amp promising to take full advantage of the MiND2 streaming platform and retrieve the finest details from digital music files. Local libraries and Internet streaming services are combined in the MiND Controller app for iOS and Android, with additional support for AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, and TIDAL Connect in a Roon Ready solution.

Its MDE3 digital engine exploits a dual-mono pair of eight top-of-the-line 32-bit converters with femtosecond clocking to expose the full potential of all two-channel digital audio formats, including PCM, MQA, and DSD through a myriad of digital inputs.

Furthermore, the 891 incorporates a high-performance moving-magnet and moving-coil phono preamplifier, which may be configured in real-time. Finally, the 891 benefits from the new MOON Damping Base - a mechanical system to suppress parasitic vibrations that cause microphonic noise featuring an aluminium base sat on a special gel - and the M-RAY2 volume control, featuring discrete tin film resistors at 0.1% quality tolerance and improved components.

MOON NORTH COLLECTION - FURTHER DETAILS

The intelligent Bluetooth-enabled MOON BRM-1 remote control comes with the 681, 791 and 891 and features the luxurious MOON volume knob, ground-breaking touch controls, visual feedback, and lavish refinement. It feels wonderfully well-made and is calibrated to deliver the celebrated MOON precision, ensuring perfect performance. Additionally, it doesn't need line-of-sight to control the

Gloriously clear OLED colour screens feature on four of the products in the North Collection. These displays showcase artist names, track listings, album cover art in brilliant detail, and full volume and setup menus. Combining the BRM-1 remote and the new OLED screen elevates the MOON experience to an exclusive tier.

Premium converters in the North Collection were designed and tuned by the MOON Digital Engine (MDE) to heighten every digital performance. In addition, intelligent MOONLink connectivity ensures the symbiotic interoperability of all the devices.

Every model in the North Collection boasts contoured vertical heatsinks and timeless MOON styling for improved performance. Furthermore, everything is designed and built in-house in Canada. Handcrafted details and the iconic MOON control knob ensure that the North Collection commands admiring glances wherever it is experienced.

MOON's North Collection prices start at $11,000 USD for the 641 integrated and $12,000 USD for the 681 network player/DAC. The 761 will cost $14,000 USD, and the 791, $16,000 USD. Although not confirmed, expect the 891 and 861 to cost around $25,000 USD each. The first products, the 761 and 791, are on sale from October 1st 2023.

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