MOON North Collection 681 Network Player/DAC and 641 Integrated Amplifier

MOON’s new North Collection, launched last year, is their step forward in audio design, incorporating new technologies to improve performance. The North Collection 681 Network Player/DAC and 641 Integrated Amplifier are the ‘entry-level’ products in the North range, which includes a North Collection 761 power amplifier with an associated 791 network player/preamplifier and the the ultimate 861 power amplifier and 891 network player/preamplifier that draws on the electrifying Moon 888 power amplifier technologies.

Design

This review focuses on the North Collection 681 Network Player/DAC and 641 Integrated Amplifier. The 681 is a dedicated streaming digital-to-analogue unit with USB-B, 2 x optical, 2 x coaxial, and Bluetooth options, HDMI ARC, and an AES-EBU input function. It is Roon Ready and supports MQA and DSD, as well as the usual streaming services.  Outputs are analogue to XLR and RCA.

The 641 Integrated Amplifier is fully balanced and designed with the 681 in mind (MiND?). It is beautifully designed as analogue only, with no compromises on a cursory DAC to fulfil marketing needs. It features a single XLR input and four RCA inputs at the rear. There is an RCA line-out function if required.

The North Collection technology upgrades feature MOON’s Distortion-Cancelling Amplifier (MDCA) circuit, which MOON claims reduces distortion and noise to previously unattainable levels. They also feature MOON’s MOON Damping Base (MDB) technology, which improves mechanical isolation in the range. The MOON 681 Network Player/DAC contains the MOON Digital Engine (MDE), a re-clocking treatment designed by MOON around the DAC to heighten performance.

The North Collection also features MOONLink, a new inter-unit connectivity that ensures all the devices can interact seamlessly. This also allows the new rotary-style MOON BRM-1 remote control to interact across the units.

Finally, the MOON North Collection has a 4.3” LCD colour display that replaces the red LEDs of the previous generation of components.

Quality

As you would expect, these units are heavy, particularly the amplifier. Both units have contoured vertical heatsinks, and the 641 looks particularly aggressive. The timeless two-colour MOON styling will pass the partner’s eye test. The remote control has been re-imagined, with the BRM-1 rotary controller taking over. It is weighty, beautiful, and USB-C rechargeable.  On the top of both units is a solid-looking machined aluminium badge that sets the units off nicely.

The UK distributor, Rennaisance Audio, is here; The specifications are here.

The MOON North Collection 681 Network Player/DAC is priced £12000. The 641 Integrated Amplifier is £11000.

Performance

Review Equipment

I have been listening mainly with the 681 into 641 integrated amplifier with Atlas Mavros loudspeaker cables (with GRUN) to a pair of sparkling Kudos Titan 505 loudspeakers. I’ve also run the 681 into a Moor Amps Angel 6 power amplifier and a New Classic Naim Audio NAP 250 power amplifier with the same speaker layout.

Finally, I have bypassed MiND2 with a Melco N100 library running the Melco streaming App with an Atlas Mavros USB cable to the 681 DAC.

Physically

The first thing to say is these units are absolutely beautiful to the touch and to unbox; everything is in its right place. However, the MOON units are non-standard sizes and do not fit in either of my two HiFi racks. My cheap rack houses my Naim gear, so I thought I was going there, but there was no chance. In my Review room, I have just bought a SolidSteel Rack. However, I had to remove the plinths on which the equipment is isolated because the footprint of these units is too wide. This is not a big deal, just worth knowing. The second thing to note is the BRM-1 remote is THE best remote control ever made for HiFi equipment—end of story.

The BRM-1 is tactile, weighty, and singularly ergonomic. The rotary dial enables effective volume control and other simple functions that illicit wonderment and joy in listening. It is a talking point with everyone who sees it; they need to see and hear how it works.

The two units can communicate with each other using the new system called MOONLink. Like SimLink, MOONLink uses an Ethernet cable (rather than a 3.5mm cable) to share data between the units. It also enables the BRM-1 to control everything you need, be that volume in the 641 or sources with the 681. And it coordinates standby and power on with both units—wonderful.

All of this makes the MOON system as a whole very usable and extremely enjoyable; it just extends listening time in a good way.

Finally, on the user side, I feel I may need to reevaluate my thoughts on the MiND 2 OS as the more you use it, the more you realise it really does stand up with BluOS and Auralic’s Lightning DS. MiND 2 is on both iOS and Android, making it accessible at all points, especially for an Android user with an iPad that frequently disappears with kids around.

BRM-1

Without hyperbole…the BRM-1 remote control is the single most beautiful remote in HiFi history

Without hyperbole, as I have already alluded to, the BRM-1 remote control is the single most beautiful remote in HiFi history. It is a rechargeable unit that uses USB-C to charge. There is even a nook in the rubber contact base, so it charges flush to the surface. I’m unclear how you know the remaining charge, but I have only charged it to ensure it works.

Coupled with the MOONLink system, you can use the remote to adjust the volume on the 641 or sources, and play, pause, skip, etc, on the 681. The unit is intuitive and seems to know what you want to do.  This is little scary.

MOON 681 to MOON 641 Integrated Amplifier

The MOON experience is certainly about ease of use and long listening, and this is as good as it gets

The 641 integrated amplifier is rather nicely thought out at the rear, with left and right inputs and outputs on either side of the unit, making access easy and intuitive. As a Naim Fanboy my views on MOON versus Naim are pretty clear in my other reviews.  At the end of the day, though, both MOON and Naim systems are exceptional to listen to, and it is a question of just sitting there and letting the music wash over you. Of note is the basic idea of focusing the unit on pure performance; there is no compromise DAC here to cover off bases, which some other manufacturers do when they launch an integrated amplifier, and other separates in a range.  The 641 is a no-compromise amplifier solution whose perfect partner is the 681 Network Player/DAC.

There are comparisons to be made with the new Naim 200 Series, and I did allude to the new Naim NAP 250 sound signature moving more towards the more favourable MOON smoothness than the old school Naim PrAT. However, I feel as if I’m getting to the stage where I need to forget about perfection and enjoy the more prolonged listening, and that is the outcome here.  The MOON experience is certainly about ease of use and long listening, and this is as good as it gets.

MOON 681 streaming DAC to Moor Angel 6 and Naim Audio NAP 250

…fluency and synergy between the two units (and being able to use the BRM-1) immediately puts you at ease and back to further extended listening

I thought I should take the XLR output from the streaming 681 to the Moor Amps Angel 6 power amplifier, my reference amplifier, and see where I’m left.

As soon as you switch to the 681 streaming DAC, you lose the synergy between the units. You must turn the fixed output off, so you rely on the 681 to perform preamplification duties. The BRM-1 still manages the volume within the preamplifier section of the 681.

It is unlikely you would buy a 681 and pair it with an Angel 6 for the simple reason that, aesthetically, the beauty and synergy of the MOON North Collection units are lost. With all respect to Moor Amps, for all its undoubted power and control, the Angel 6 does look like a container next to the MOON equipment!

Nevertheless, for me, the Moor delivers the detail and sonic beauty of tracks like Lady Blackbird’s Slave to the Rhythm (Qobuz 192kHz, 24-bit) with perfection. As I might expect, I prefer the Moor to the New Naim Audio NAP 250, though the new 200 Series 250 is a more rounded experience to live with versus my Old Classic Naim 250.2. I feel the variable preamplifier output from the 681 seems to lose a fraction of the presence in the soundstage with the Moor and the Naim, which is probably a function of it being variable versus fixed output to the integrated 641 amplifier.

I used the passive Moor Amps Pre preamplifier with the 681 fixed output, which somewhat improved the picture, though it felt like a mess cable-wise. The 681 network streamer in this configuration performed very nicely, but returning the 681 DAC fixed output to the MOON 641 integrated amplifier is very satisfying. That fluency and synergy between the two units immediately puts you at ease and back to further extended listening. It illustrates that you shouldn’t try too hard with this exciting equipment, and synergy matters.

Melco Library USB Audio to 681

Switching the 681 from MiND 2 to USB Audio from a Melco N100 source with the PlixiR power supply offered me a perception of a lower noise floor and greater clarity from the source. The Melco library DSD copy of Dave Brubeck’s Time Out album (DSF 1-bit, 2.82MHz) was crisp, lively and delivered with verve. I was able to play this Melco source through MiND 2 to no perceptible gain. The Qobuz Time Out (FLAC 24 bit, 44.1kHz, Remastered, not Legacy) version in MiND 2 was also bristling with energy and vitality. However, the value in the Melco library was proven, which is very satisfying but is also a massive credit to the DAC performance in the 681.

Musical Interlude

In extended listening, here are the playlists I ended up with: I started with the Naim 200 Series playlist, my Reference playlist and finally, this HF&MS x MOON North playlist

Overall

…with MOON of tightness and grip and of utmost high-end quality

From the box to the rack to the binding posts, there is a feeling with MOON of tightness and grip and of utmost high-end quality.  If we are all on an audiophile journey, this North Collection could be a starting point and a destination!

Specification

Full details are on the company’s site.