Moon 390
FOR Fluid and cohesive sound; range of features AGAINST App could be slicker; small, basic display
In the history of hi-fi, few components have had to adapt as much as the humble preamplifier. This control hub has become something of an electronic chameleon over the decades, remoulding itself on multiple occasions to match the changes in hi-fi fashion.
In the early days of analogue, stereo preamps had to have a phono stage, multiple tape loops, tone controls and various filters to optimise vinyl replay, if they were to be taken seriously. As CD rose to prominence, they became simplified line-level units and gained remote controls. In the age of network audio, we see an increasing number of products where streamer functionality is included, along with a range of facilities that move quality hi-fi into the realm of multi-room and convenience.
Moon’s 390 is a terrific example of this new breed. It’s packed with features. Alongside the network streaming, it has Tidal, Qobuz, Deezer and Tunein radio, as well a switchable MM/MC phonostage/ headphone output. It's Roon-ready too.
Alongside that is a terrific range of physical connectivity. Digitally, it has USB, optical, coaxial and AES/EBU. Unusually, there’s also HDMI, with four ins and a single output, so the 390 will integrate comfortably in a stereo AV set-up. It can connect to your network wirelessly, but we'd recommend a wired option for a more stable connection.
Analogue hasn’t been ignored. There are balanced XLR and single-ended line-level options for both input and output. That phonostage isn’t an afterthought either. It’s a configurable module, able to cope with a wide range of cartridges. Cartridge loading is adjusted through the Moon’s set-up menus where the gain, impedance and equalization curve can all be fine-tuned.
Simple face
Considering just how much is packed into the box, the 390 presents a simple face to the world. Its low button-count is possible thanks to most of the functions being easily accessible from Moon’s dedicated MIND app.
While a traditional remote is supplied, the app is the way to go. Still, despite being easy enough to use, it falls short of the slickness and logic displayed by software from the likes of Naim.
Generally, the 390’s build is as good as we’ve come to expect from the brand. It feels like a luxury item, and the controls, particularly the smooth-turning volume dial are a pleasure to use. It is available in three finishes – black, silver, or the two-tone option of our review sample.
The OLED display is small and can look cluttered, though. Unlike rival designs with full-colour screens, the 390 looks a little basic. Once again, the app comes to the rescue, offering the user a clearer view as to what the unit is doing.
Plumb centre
We plumb the Moon into our reference system, replacing our usual Gamut D3i preamplifier. Our sources are Naim’s NDS/555PS streamer combination and Rega’s Planar 8/Apheta 2 record player alongside the streaming services and network capability of the unit itself. We also try the 390’s Bluetooth input using an Apple iphone 6s Plus. For this test, the Moon feeds our reference Gamut D200i power amp and ATC SCM50 speaker combination.
We start by using it as an analogue preamp – and it sounds superb. With the line-level output of the Naim streamer (the 390 has a streamer built in, but we needed a high-quality line-level signal) it delivers a lovely, fluid sound that brims with detail and expression. The overall
“The Moon 390 is a terrific example of a product that moves quality hi-fi into the realm of multi-room and convenience”
presentation is exactly as we’d expect: refined and a bit on the rich side tonally. We listen to music from Trent Reznor’s
Social Network OST to Jay Z’s Black album, and this unit delivers enough drive and rhythmic cohesion to keep us happy. The 390 paints dynamic sweeps with confidence and, despite an overlaying sense of smoothness, has enough bite to really kick-on with tracks such as Jay Z’s Moment Of Clarity. The story remains much the same when using the internal DAC. We connect our Macbook to the USB input and the Moon has no issue skipping from DSD (up to DSD256) and 24-bit/192khz PCM (with an upper limit of 384khz) to MQA files. Stravinsky’s The Rite Of Spring comes through with its savagery intact. There’s a fine sense of organisation and a commendable level of composure when the piece gets demanding. The 390 never sounds flustered, allowing the listener to sit back and enjoy the music. The story is equally positive through the other digital inputs, though Bluetooth displays the expected shortfall in transparency.
We try the network streaming aspect, and the Moon still delivers a strong performance. It isn’t quite as expressive or driven as the best streamers around but will give most below the two grand mark a hard time. There’s a good amount of detail and that ability to organise it into a musical whole stays intact.
The additional convenience of built-in streaming services can’t be understated. Using Tidal, we get lost in the affecting
Re: member by Olafur Arnalds. Through it all, the 390 works with a well-oiled slickness that’s deeply impressive.
Pleasing the purists
Moon’s achievement shouldn’t be underestimated. It’s difficult for a small manufacturer to combine all these features into a product and make it sound good enough to please purists. Yet, that’s exactly what it has done.
Back to traditional hi-fi ground, we play Orff's Carmina Burana using Rega’s Planar 8. The deck is fitted with an Apheta 2 moving-coil cartridge and we take advantage of the 390’s configurable nature to fine-tune gain and impedance values. We’re impressed with the low noise levels and pleasing sense of clarity, but too much of the recording’s sparkle is lost. The result is listenable, but we know the record player is capable of better.
We’re much more positive about the headphone output. Having tried it with both the Grado RS1S and the T1s by Beyerdynamics, we’re happy to report that much of the good work we hear through the line outputs is preserved. It’s clear that this output isn’t an afterthought, as it so often can be. The Moon 390 has much to commend it. As a way of combining components in one neat box, it has few rivals. It’s a terrific analogue preamplifier and a good streamer and, with many storing music on portable devices, the inclusion of Bluetooth is sensible. It’s possible to build a superb system around this Moon. Such a set-up would sound lovely and offer the kind of uncluttered approach that’s rarely part of high-end hi-fi. For that, Moon deserves a pat on the back.