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MOON SERIES
350P Differential Preamplifier 		Updated: August 29, 2011    

 
 

 
 
The MOON 350P is a high-performance differential preamplifier. Using circuitry derived from the Evolution Series, the 350P is a modular design that accepts optional plug-in modules: (i) a 24-bit/192kHz high-performance D/A converter with USB, optical (TosLink)and RCA (S/PDIF) inputs, and (ii) a configurable MC/MM Phono stage. The MOON 350P’s wide bandwidth and excellent dynamic range allows it to effortlessly reproduce high-resolution audio. A well organized and thorough rear panel allows for connectivity to virtually any audio component.
 
 
Digital ... Analog ... or Both.

 
For the headphone enthusiast, the 350P is engineered with a discrete headphone amplifier stage, which allows it to effortlessly drive even the world’s finest headphones. An audiophile-grade product with a toroidal tranformer-based large power supply, military-spec passive and active components, and state-of-the-art surface-mount manufacturing techniques help make the MOON 350P the finest affordable MOON preamplifier to date.
 
 

 
 
  Significant Design Features:
 
· Optional internal digital-to-analog converter circuit for use with a PC, digital music server or
  external transport, etc
· Optional internal phono preamp circuit with adjustments for gain level as well as capacitance
  and resistance loading
· 7 line-level inputs (4 Single-ended & 2 balanced) including one front-mounted 1/8” mini-jack
  for personal media players
· Discrete headphone amplifier circuit with the output on ¼” TRS jack located on the front panel
· One single-ended input which functions as a “pass-through”, bypassing the gain stage to
  accommodate a component such as a home-theater processor, whose own volume control
  is used instead.
· A full-function monitor loop
· Fixed (single-ended) and Variable (balanced & single-ended) line level outputs
· An oversized power supply using 2 toroidal transformers in conjunction with 3 stages of DC
  voltage regulation
· IR input for external control and a 12 Volt Trigger Output
· RS-232 port for (i) full unsolicited bidirectional feedback and (ii) firmware updates
· SimLink controller port for 2-way communications with other compatible MOON components
· Optimized selection of very high quality electronic components
· Rigid chassis construction to minimize the effects of external vibrations
· Designed to be powered up at all times for optimal performance
· Includes CRM-2 remote control.

 
 

 
  
   
To view a larger image of the 350P preamplifier's internal circuitry, simply point-and-click your mouse over the image located to the left.
 

 
 
 
 
To view a larger image of the 350P preamplifier's rear panel, simply point-and-click your mouse over the image located to the right.
   
 

 

An important note about the USB input
 
The USB input on the MOON 350P accepts a digital audio signal of up to 16-bits/48kHz. This is the native specification of the USB input. However, if you require a higher sampling rate, there are ways to achieve this with the 350P.
 
Rather than including a USB input for sampling rates exceeeding 48kHz, we opted to provide the best possible power supply, D/A converter and analog stage in the MOON 350P at this price level. Also, keep in mind that USB wasn’t originally intended for use with hi-resolution audio; there are latency issues which compromise sound quality (i.e. jitter and phase errors, etc.). These could be minimized through dedicated costly circuitry, but this would significantly drive up the cost of the 350P without improving the sonic performance on any of the other inputs.
 
If you intend to use the MOON 350P’s USB input, it’s very likely that your computer is a data source for music. Today most computers with a built-in sound card will have either an S/PDIF (RCA connector) or Toslink (optical connector) digital audio output, thus eliminating the need for a USB input on the 350P. Furthermore, if you’re committed to getting the most out of the music stored on your computer, then in all likelihood you have installed an after-market soundcard in your computer. Virtually all of these soundcards have at least one S/PDIF, Optical or AES/EBU (XLR connector) digital output. At this point, USB connectivity becomes irrelevant. The USB input is there for convenience as opposed to performance.
 
In the event that you wish to use your computer’s USB connection with files greater than 48kHz, there are several relatively inexpensive after-market products; compact one-box USB-to-S/PDIF interfaces that will work with USB datastreams up to 24-bit, all the way up to 192kHz.