46 Years of High-End Audio Heritage
From Sima Electronics to MOON by Simaudio, discover the products, technologies, and milestones that shaped our reputation in high-end audio.
Electronics
Sima Electronics was founded in 1980 in Quebec by audio and music engineer Victor Sima. From the beginning, the company set out to offer an alternative to mass-market audio products, with a focus on high-performance music reproduction, engineering discipline, and long-term value.
The earliest products quickly earned recognition among audio enthusiasts and professionals. Although many were first aimed at professional use, their sonic qualities soon found a place in home listening environments.
This first chapter established the values that still guide MOON by Simaudio today: respect for music, precise engineering, and a belief that audio products should serve the performance rather than distract from it.
One of the early Sima Electronics products, the PW2000 reflected the company’s original ambition: deliver high-performance music reproduction with clarity, simplicity, and purpose.
In the 1990s, the Celeste series introduced a more recognizable design language and marked an important step in the evolution of Simaudio. The company was reorganized as Simaudio Ltd., and the original Renaissance amplification circuitry began to define a new technical direction.
With their distinctive oval-faced design and transparent sonic signature, Celeste products helped establish the company’s reputation among serious listeners and international reviewers.
The Celeste i-5080 integrated amplifier brought together technologies developed for Simaudio preamplifiers and power amplifiers. It reflected a growing confidence in integrated design, with careful attention to power supply, signal path, circuit symmetry, and long-term reliability.
After years of research and development, Simaudio introduced the MOON Series, a reference-grade line that would become central to the company’s identity. Built on the success of Celeste and supported by new in-house technologies, MOON represented a more ambitious expression of Simaudio engineering.
From this point forward, MOON became the name most closely associated with the brand’s highest standards of performance, design, and musical refinement.
The MOON i-5 integrated amplifier became one of the defining products of this period. It combined advanced amplification technology, a rigid chassis, careful component selection, and a design approach focused on preserving musical integrity.
The MOON W-5 power amplifier reinforced the company’s reputation for authority, control, and precision. Its balanced dual-mono architecture and robust power delivery helped position MOON as a serious name in high-end amplification.
As high-performance home-theater systems became more important, Simaudio extended its engineering expertise into multi-channel audio. The MOON Titan multi-channel amplifier marked the beginning of the MOON A/V Series and brought the company’s amplifier know-how into a new category.
The MOON ROCK monoblock amplifier pushed the limits of solid-state amplifier design at the time. Its high-current output, fully balanced architecture, and striking construction reflected a bold period of engineering and industrial design.
The MOON Attraction 7.1 expanded the original Attraction concept with fully balanced differential output channels, advanced surround processing, digital-to-analog conversion, and digital preamplification. It showed how Simaudio could bring high-end audio principles into demanding audio/video systems.
anniversary
To mark its 25th anniversary, Simaudio created a limited production run of special MOON models. These Limited Edition products recognized the success of the Nova and Eclipse disc players, P-5 preamplifier, W-5 power amplifier, and i-5 integrated amplifier.
Each model received circuit enhancements and distinctive cosmetic details, turning the series into a meaningful chapter in MOON history.
The MOON Calypso offered flexibility as either a DVD transport or DVD player, with optional audiophile-grade digital-to-analog conversion and analog audio stages. It represented Simaudio’s commitment to both audio and video performance during a period of rapid format evolution.
The introduction of a new MOON series made high-performance audio more accessible while preserving the company’s engineering standards. The “1” series brought the benefits of Simaudio research and development to a broader range of listeners, supported by manufacturing know-how in Boucherville, Quebec.
The MOON P5.3 preamplifier followed the legacy of the P-5 while incorporating technologies from the Evolution Series. With flexible inputs, optional phono capability, and careful circuit design, it reflected the continued refinement of MOON preamplification.
The SE version features an upgraded volume circuit with a greater range of volume steps (0 to 99) compared to the original version (0 thru 50). The SE version offers tighter matching and tolerances for certain critical electronic parts.
The MOON W5.3 power amplifier carried forward the company’s amplification expertise with strong output capability, balanced design principles, and a focus on musical control and reliability.
The SE version produces 175 watts into 8 ohms, 350 watts in to 4 ohms and 700 watts in bridged mono configuration. It also uses MOON Bipolar output transistors with unprecedented gain linearity resulting in improved bass response and even more accurate sonic reproduction. Also unique to the SE version are tighter matching and tolerances for certain critical electronic parts.
The MOON Evolution Series brought the brand into a new performance tier. These products expressed a more ambitious level of engineering, construction, and system integration, while reinforcing the company’s position in reference-level high-end audio.
The Evolution Series also extended MOON thinking into multi-channel applications, showing that the same standards of musical realism and build quality could apply across stereo and home-theater systems.
The MOON 750D became a major digital milestone for the company. As a fully balanced digital-to-analog converter with advanced jitter control and proprietary technologies, it reflected Simaudio’s growing expertise in digital playback and high-resolution audio.
The MOON CP-8 is a genuine flagship Surround Preamplifier / Processor, aimed at the uncompromising enthusiast without price constraints. Designed with sound quality first and foremost in mind, the CP-8 provides a previously unimagineable level of sonic purity and realism from an audio/video product. A monumental obstacle that has been overcome by our dedicated engineering staff was the successful implementation of the most recent advancements in both HD video and digital audio decoding technologies. Coupled with our state-of-the-art analog circuitry, the MOON CP-8 is foolproof yet simple to operate.
Nearly 2 years of research and development were invested into the design of the CP-8 by people who are passionate about, and inspired by, both film and music. The ultimate goal was to fully redefine the home-theater experience. The result can be best described as a flawless nerve center for the most sophisticated and high-performance audio/video systems, regardless of the source material. Each experience will leave you utterly breathless and yearning for your next home entertainment indulgence.
In 2010, Simaudio celebrated its 30th anniversary with limited-edition versions of the MOON 600i integrated amplifier and the MOON 750D CD transport / DAC. These models featured a distinctive high-gloss Ferrari red chassis, polished chrome details, and a special 30-year warranty.
The MOON 340i X integrated amplifier continued the company’s work in combining power, flexibility, and musical refinement in a single component. It strengthened MOON’s presence in integrated amplification for high-end home audio systems.
Like all Neo models, the Neo 350P borrows aesthetically and technologically from the flagship Evolution Series. When married to one of our Neo power amplifiers, the combination is a true step up from the integrated amplifiers, providing you with even more of everything: stunning musical realism, dynamics, harmonic richness and accuracy. If you are a headphone fanatic, you will appreciate the extremely-well executed, high-end discrete headphone amplifier section.
The Neo 350P is available with two options, which can be included at the time of purchase or added later on. A high-performance and very versatile DAC is offered for connectivity to your latest devices: a computer, DVD/Blu-Ray player or an iPod docking station. If you have a love for spinning your cherished collection of vinyl, a fully-configurable MC/MM phono stage is also available.
Of course, key features you’d expect in a MOON Neo Series product are present such as SimLink™, 12V trigger, RS-232 and IR ports for custom-install environments.
Extremely powerful, yet with a delicacy and articulation of the best amplifiers out there, the Neo 400M can take on virtually any loudspeaker you connect it to. Delivering a bottom-end slam, with authority and weight to the foundation of the music, it will transport you into a live concert environment. On the top end of the musical spectrum, the Neo 400M delivers finesse, detail and refinement that can challenge your perception of reality vs. recorded music.
When used in conjunction with the Neo 350P Preamplifier, the results are without equal. There isn’t a more refined combination at this price point. An ultimate combination for the discerning music lover, and for those who like to listen at higher sound levels.
Of course, key features you’d expect in a MOON Neo Series product are present such as 12V triggers and an RS-232 port for custom-install environments.
Simaudio introduced its first MOON network streamer, supported by MiND, the MOON intelligent Network Device. This marked a major step into network audio and reflected the changing way listeners access and manage music.
MiND brought streaming, library control, and system integration into the MOON ecosystem, while preserving the company’s focus on sound quality and ease of use.
The MOON 180 MiND allowed listeners to connect music libraries, network storage, and online music sources to a high-end audio system. It helped define the next phase of MOON digital audio and laid the groundwork for the network player architecture found in later products.
MiND was created around a simple idea: music playback should be intuitive, organized, and deeply integrated into the listening experience. By turning a smartphone or tablet into the control center of a MOON system, MiND brought modern access to music without abandoning the standards of high-end audio.
MOON introduced the 888 power amplifier, one of the most ambitious products ever created by Simaudio. Designed as a reference-level monoblock amplifier, the 888 pushed MOON engineering into a new category of scale, power, and mechanical refinement.
Its massive aluminum construction, high-current output capability, and uncompromising approach to vibration control made it a defining product in the company’s history. The 888 became a statement of what MOON could achieve when every aspect of design, engineering, and manufacturing was taken to its highest expression.
The MOON 888 is a reference-level monoblock power amplifier and one of the most ambitious components ever created by Simaudio. Rated at 888 watts into 8 ohms, it was designed to drive demanding loudspeakers with authority, stability, and absolute signal integrity.
MOON expanded its international presence with the launch of MOON International, created to support the brand’s growth across Europe and Asia. With offices in France and the United Kingdom, and a distribution hub in the Netherlands, this new structure strengthened the way MOON serves its partners, dealers, and listeners around the world.
This milestone reflected the growing recognition of MOON beyond Canada, while preserving the same product philosophy: high-end audio components designed and built with long-term musical satisfaction in mind.
Read the announcement.
MOON took an important step with the introduction of the Voice 22 loudspeakers, paired with the ACE music player in a system recognized by EISA as High-End Stereo System 2022-2023.
The Voice 22 marked MOON’s first loudspeaker, extending the brand’s engineering approach beyond electronics while maintaining the same focus on musical coherence, build quality, and long-term value.
The Voice 22 is MOON’s first loudspeaker, created to complete a fully MOON listening experience. Designed for transparency, realism, and tonal balance, it pairs naturally with MOON electronics, including the ACE music player and 200 and 300 Series amplifiers.
The ACE music player pairs naturally with the Voice 22 to create a compact, complete MOON system. Together, the ACE and Voice 22 were recognized by EISA as High-End Stereo System 2022-2023.
MOON unveiled the North Collection, a landmark range representing years of research and development in audio, electronics, materials, and manufacturing processes.
Composed of six products — the 641 integrated amplifier, 681 network player / DAC, 761 power amplifier, 791 network player / preamplifier, 861 power amplifier, and 891 network player / preamplifier — North became the most ambitious expression of MOON engineering, design, and musical refinement.
With technologies such as MDCA, MDB, MDE, M-VOL3, and MOONLink, the North Collection established a new reference point for the brand and for complete high-end audio systems.
The MOON 641 is the entry point to the North Collection. It brings together a preamplifier and power amplifier in one refined integrated amplifier, combining MOON engineering, elegant industrial design, and advanced audio technologies.
The MOON 681 is a network player / DAC designed as a refined digital source for high-end audio systems. It pairs naturally with the 641 or can serve as a complete digital front end for an analog amplifier.
The MOON 761 is a power amplifier built for control, transparency, and finesse. It is designed to carry the signal from preamplifier to loudspeakers with precision, authority, and restraint.
The MOON 791 is a network player / preamplifier that brings together streaming, digital conversion, analog control, and a high-end phono stage. It is designed as a sophisticated control centre for demanding high-end audio systems.
The MOON 861 is a power amplifier shaped by the design philosophy of the North Collection and the legacy of the MOON 888. It brings scale, control, and refinement to systems built for serious musical performance.
The MOON 891 is the keystone of the North Collection. It combines network playback, digital conversion, analog control, advanced connectivity, and exceptional construction in a reference-level component.
MOON introduced the Compass Collection with the MOON 371 network player / amplifier. Designed as a new entry point into the MOON universe, the 371 brings together network playback, amplification, DAC, preamplifier, and phono stage in one carefully crafted component.
Compass was created to make premium MOON performance easier to access, easier to live with, and easier to integrate into modern listening spaces. It also creates a clear path toward North, connecting simplicity, performance, and long-term system evolution.
The MOON 371 is the first product in the Compass Collection. It combines network playback, amplification, DAC, preamplifier, and phono stage in a compact component designed to make premium MOON performance easier to access and live with.
