moon 330A User manual

Owner’s Manual
Series
330A
Stereo Power Amplifier

330A Stereo Power Amplifier
Important Safety Instructions
1. Read these instructions.
2. Keep these instructions.
3. Heed all warnings.
4. Follow all instructions.
5. Do not use this apparatus near water.
6. Clean only with a dry cloth.
7. Do not block ventilation openings. Install in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
8. Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves or another apparatus that produces
heat.
9. Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or grounding type plug. A polarized plug has two blades with one
wider than the other. A grounding-type plug has two blades and a third grounding prong. The wide blade or the third
prong is provided for safety. If the provided plug does not fit into the outlet, consult an electrician for replacement of
the obsolete outlet.
10. Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched, particularly at plugs, convenience receptacles, and the
point where they exit from the apparatus. Unplug mains cord during transportation.
11. Only use attachments and accessories specified by the manufacturer.
12. Use only with the cart, stand, tripod, bracket, or table specified by the manufacturer or sold with the
apparatus. When a cart is used, use caution when moving the cart/apparatus combination to avoid injury
from tip over.
13. Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for long periods of time.
14. Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Servicing is required when the apparatus has been damaged in any
way, such as when the power cord or plug has been damaged; liquid has been spilled or objects have fallen into the
apparatus; or the apparatus has been exposed to rain or moisture, does not operate normally, or has been dropped.
15. No naked flame sources, such as candles, should be placed on the apparatus.
WARNING: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK,
DO NOT EXPOSE THIS APPLIANCE TO RAIN OR MOISTURE.
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330A Stereo Power Amplifier
Important Safety Instructions (cont’d)
The lightning flash with the arrowhead symbol, within an equilateral triangle, is
intended to alert the user to the presence of uninsulated “dangerous voltage” within
the product’s enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of
electric shock to persons.
The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to the
presence of important operating and maintenance (servicing) instructions in the
literature accompanying the appliance.
Marking by the “CE” symbol (shown left) indicates compliance of this device with the
EMC (Electromagnetic Compatibility) and LVD (Low Voltage Directive) standards of the
European Community
Please read all instructions and precautions carefully and completely before
operating your Simaudio MOON 330A Stereo Power Amplifier.
1. ALWAYS disconnect your entire system from the AC mains before connecting or disconnecting any cables,
or when cleaning any component. To completely disconnect this apparatus from the AC mains, disconnect
the power suppy cord plug from the AC receptacle.
2. The MOON 330A must be terminated with a three-conductor AC mains power cord which includes a
protective earthing connection. To prevent shock hazard, all three connections must ALWAYS be used.
Connect the MOON 330A only to an AC source of the proper voltage; Both the shipping box and rear panel
serial number label will indicate the correct voltage. Use of any other voltage will likely damage the unit and
void the warranty
3. AC extension cords are NOT recommended for use with this product. The mains plug of the power supply
cord shall remain readily accessible.
4. NEVER use flammable or combustible chemicals for cleaning audio components.
5. NEVER operate the MOON 330A with any covers removed. There are no user-serviceable parts inside. An
open unit, especially if it is still connected to an AC source, presents a potentially lethal shock hazard. Refer
all questions to authorized service personnel only.
6. NEVER wet the inside of the MOON 330A with any liquid. If a liquid substance does enter your MOON
330A, immediately disconnect it from AC mains and take it to your MOON dealer for a complete check-up.
7. NEVER expose the MOON 330A to dripping or splashing of liquids and no objects filled with liquids, such as
vases, shall be placed on top.
8. NEVER block air flow through ventilation slots or heatsinks.
9. NEVER bypass any fuse.
10. NEVER replace any fuse with a value or type other than those specified
11. NEVER attempt to repair the MOON 330A. If a problem occurs contact your MOON dealer.
12. NEVER expose the MOON 330A to extremely high or low temperatures.
13. NEVER operate the MOON 330A in an explosive atmosphere.
14. ALWAYS keep electrical equipment out of reach of children.
15. ALWAYS unplug sensitive electronic equipment during lightning storms.
16. WARNING: Do not expose batteries or battery pack to excessive heat such as sunshine, or fire or the like.
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330A Stereo Power Amplifier
Table of Contents
Introduction .................................................... 5
Unpacking ....................................................... 6
Installation & Placement ................................... 6
Rear Panel Layout ............................................ 7
Connecting the 330A ........................................ 8
Balanced Operation .......................................... 8
Bridged-Mono Operation ................................... 9
Operating the 330A ........................................ 10
Remote Operation .......................................... 10
Specifications ................................................ 11
www.simaudio.com
Simaudio Ltd., 1345 Newton Road
Boucherville, Quebec J4B 5H2 CANADA
Date Code: 20130402
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330A Stereo Power Amplifier
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Introduction
Thank you for selecting the MOON 330A Stereo Power Amplifier as a part of your hi-fi reproduction system. This power
amplifier has been designed to offer state-of-the-art high-end performance in an elegant package, while retaining all the sonic
hallmarks on which Simaudio has made its reputation. We have spared no effort to ensure that it is among the finest two-
channel amplifiers available. We have been building high-performance audio equipment for over 30 years, and the know-how
gained through our cumulative experience is an important reason why MOON amplifiers are so musically satisfying.
The performance of your 330A will continue to improve during the first 300 hours of listening. This is the result of a “break-
in” period required for the numerous high quality electronic parts used throughout this amplifier.
Before setting up your new MOON 330A, we encourage you to please read this manual thoroughly to properly acquaint
yourself with its features. We hope you enjoy listening to the MOON 330A Stereo Power Amplifier as much as the pride we
have taken in creating this fine audio product. We understand the power and emotion of music and build our products with
the goal of faithfully capturing these elusive qualities.
The information contained in this manual is subject to change without notice. The most current version
of this manual is available on our official website at http://www.simaudio.com/manuals.htm
Your MOON 330A Stereo Power Amplifier incorporates many significant design features to achieve its “world-class” level of
performance. This is an abbreviated list of the more important features:
Proprietary “Advanced Rennaisance” Technology which eliminates feedback. The results are: Real-time amplification,
more accurate musical reproduction and the elimination of transient intermodulation distortion.
Balanced differential circuitry.
Proprietary MOON Bipolar Output transistors with unprecedented gain linearity resulting in improved bass
response and even more accurate sonic reproduction
Class A output to 5 watts for greater efficiency.
An exceptionally short signal path for a faster transient response.
A high damping factor which yields superior musical dynamics, improved signal speed and refined timbre accuracy.
RS-232 port for i) full unsolicited bidirectional feedback in custom installation setups and ii) firmware updates
12 Volt Trigger input and output
Rigid chassis construction to minimize the effects of external vibrations.
Designed to be powered up at all times for optimal performance.
Low operating temperature for an ultra-long life expectancy.

330A Stereo Power Amplifier
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Unpacking
The MOON 330A Stereo Power Amplifier is heavy component and should be removed from its box with care. We strongly
advise that you seek another person to help lift the amplifier out of its box, and place it in its final location.
The following accessories should be included inside the box with your amplifier:
9 AC power cable
9 This owner’s manual
9 Warranty and product registration information (USA and Canada only)
Once the MOON 330A is unpacked, inspect it thoroughly and report any damage to your dealer immediately. We suggest
that you keep all of the original packaging, storing it in a safe, dry place in case you’re required to transport this product. The
customized packaging is specially designed to protect the 330A from any potential damage during transit.
Please write the serial number of your new Simaudio MOON 330A in the space provided below for future reference.
Serial No.: ________________
Installation & Placement
The MOON 330A Stereo Power Amplifier is both powerful and heavy. It requires reasonable ventilation to maintain an
optimum and consistent operating temperature, especially since it will radiate heat when driven hard. Consequently, it should
be placed in a location with empty space around it for proper heat dissipation. You should never place another component on
top of this amplifier. As well, the amplifier should be placed on a solid level surface. You should avoid placing it near a heat
source or inside a closed cabinet that is not well ventilated as this could compromise the amplifier’s performance and
reliability. The 330A uses a large toroidal transformer in its power supply; even though it is well shielded, you should not
place this amplifier too close to source components sensitive to EMI, such as turntables, phono preamplifiers and CD Players.

330A Stereo Power Amplifier
Rear Panel Layout
Figure 1: Rear panel of Moon 330A Stereo Amplifier
The rear panel will look similar to Figure 1 (above). Each channel has one balanced (differential) input on an XLR connector
and one unbalanced (single-ended) input on a RCA connector. There is no switch to toggle from balanced mode to single-
ended mode. You may operate the amplifier in either mode, but only one mode at one time. When you’re using the balanced
XLR inputs, you must first remove the factory installed “dummy” XLR jumpers (see figure 2 below) from the back
panel XLR connectors and store them in a safe place. This jumper is required ONLY when using the single-ended RCA inputs.
When you decide to switch to single-ended input mode, you must reinstall the XLR jumpers (between pins 1 and 3) exactly as
shown below:
Figure 2: XLR connector without and with jumper accessory
The left side of the rear panel has a pair of 12 Volt triggers, each on a 1/8” mini-jack; one input and one output, the latter for
use if you need to “daisy chain” a second power amplifier on the same trigger circuit. Immediately to the right of these 12V
triggers is an RS-232 input on a DB9 connector.
In the middle of the rear panel you will find a two (2) pairs of heavy duty gold-plated speaker binding posts – one pair each
for the left and right channels.
On the far right side, you will find (from top to bottom); The power “main switch”; The “AC Fuse” socket cover and the “AC
in” IEC receptacle for the power cord.
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330A Stereo Power Amplifier
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Connecting the 330A
Prior to making any connections or removing the XLR jumpers, the power amplifier must be turned off and the AC cable
disconnected for at least 1 minute.
1. Connect the input cables running from your preamplifier’s outputs, whether balanced or single-ended, to the amplifier’ s
XLR or RCA inputs, respectively. We highly recommend that you use the balanced XLR inputs (provided that your
preamplifier has balanced outputs) to take full advantage of MOON 330A Stereo Power Amplifier’s capabilities. Please
refer to the next section, “Balanced Operation” on for further information.
Do not connect cables to both the XLR and RCA inputs at the same time. Damage to both the 330A and the
connected equipment can result that is not covered by warranty.
Don’t hesitate to use high quality interconnect cables*. Poor quality interconnect cables can degrade the overall sonic
performance of your system. It is recommended, though not mandatory, to use balanced interconnects between your
preamplifier and the 330A when using long cable runs (i.e. more than 3 meters in length).
2. Connect your speakers, with the cables of your choice, to the 330A’s speaker binding posts. Take care to respect the
polarity (“+” , “-” ) of the outputs. Once again, don’t hesitate to use high quality speaker cables*. Poor quality speaker
cables can degrade the overall sonic performance of your system.
3. Connect the supplied AC power cable to the IEC receptacle, located on the amplifier’s rear panel. Ensure that the AC wall
outlet you use has a functioning ground. For the best sonic performance, it is preferable that you plug your 330A
directly into a dedicated AC outlet and avoid using an extension cord. If you have the time and willingness, consider
installing a superior quality AC wall outlet such as a hospital grade Hubbell*.
* Please speak with your MOON Authorized Retailer about the benefits of high quality cables for your system, and
superior quality AC wall outlet.
Balanced Operation
When using an unbalanced interconnect, the audio signal runs through both the center wire and the shield/ground wire. Any
noise picked up by this interconnect (ie. nearby magnetic fields such as an AC power cord) will be reproduced by the
amplifier and heard through the loudspeakers. Conversely, a balanced interconnect has three separate conductors; one for
the ground and two for the actual signal. These two signals are identical except that one is 180 degrees out of phase with the
other. For example, when one conductor is carrying a signal of +5 Volts, the other will be carrying a signal of –5 Volts. When
these two inverted signals on a balanced line are input into a differential power amplifier such as the MOON 330A, any noise
picked up by the interconnect will be eliminated since a differential circuit amplifies only the difference between these two
signals: Noise on a balanced interconnect will be equal on both conductors and therefore cancel out.

330A Stereo Power Amplifier
Bridged-Mono Operation
Figure 3: Bridged-Mono operation of the MOON 330A Stereo Amplifier
In the event that you wish to operate the MOON 330A Stereo Power Amplifier as a monoblock amplifier, it can be converted
to bridged mode without any complex modifications. Only a MOON XLR-BRIDGE adapter cable is required. This custom cable
will allow one input signal to be sent to both channels of the amplifier’s inputs, as pictured above in Figure 3. One lead from
the “Y” adapter must plug into right channel XLR input and the other lead must plug into left channel XLR input. As well, you
must use the positive terminal of each output binding post (exactly as in figure 3) for the loudspeaker connection. If you are
unsure about how to accomplish a bridged-mono mode of operation, don’t hesitate to contact your Authorized MOON
Retailer.
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330A Stereo Power Amplifier
Operating the 330A
We recommend leaving your MOON 330A powered up at all times to maintain optimal performance. When you plan on being
away for a few days, it may not be a bad idea to power off your amplifier. Please keep in mind that once fully “broken-in”,
your 330A requires several hours of operation before reaching optimal performance after powering it up again.
Turning on your MOON 330A for the first time
Prior to turning the amplifier on for the first time, make sure that every cable is properly connected to avoid any problems.
Then turn on your preamplifier connected to the 330A. Flick the main rocker switch, located on the rear panel, labeled
“POWER” to the ‘1’ (on) position. The blue LED on the front panel will blink for up to 10 seconds while it achieves standby
mode. When it stops blinking and is not illuminated, your 330A is in standby mode. Next, briefly press the push button
labeled “Standby” located on the front panel. You will hear a very faint click sound confirming that everything is in order. The
blue LED on the front panel will illuminate, indicating that the 330A is now powered up and ready for use.
On and Off Sequence
To avoid having any annoying noises (ie. “thumps” and “pops”) emanate from your speakers when powering your 330A on or
off, you should always power up your preamplifier prior to powering up your 330A. As well, always power down your 330A
prior to powering down your preamplifier.
Troubleshooting
Your MOON 330A Stereo Power Amplifier is equipped with a self-diagnostic system that will automatically shut itself down
when it detects either DC (direct current) or it enters into thermal protection mode due to overheating. When either of these
situations occur, the blue LED on the front panel will begin to blink continuously. If your 330A power amplifier turns itself off
or will not power up, there may very well be some DC present in the amplifier’s input coming from your preamplifier’s outputs.
To determine if there is any DC present power down your 330A via the main power rocker switch, then disconnecting the
input to the 330A leaving only the speaker connected. Attempt to power up your 330A again: A successful power up will
indicate the presence of DC coming from your preamplifier or one of your signal sources (ie. CD Player). When your amplifier
has overheated, simply wait until it cools down before attempting to power it back on again. If your 330A still doesn’t power
up, turn off the main power switch and check the AC fuse. If the fuse appears OK, put it back in its socket and then try
powering up again. If the fuse is blown, replace it with a fuse of the same rating, and repeat the above process. At this point,
you should be able to power up your 330A. If not, immediately consult your Authorized MOON Retailer for assistance.
Remote Operation
Figure 4: Remote Operation
In figure 4 we have a MOON 350P Preamplifier and 330A Amplifier connected together via their respective 12V triggers; The
12V trigger output on the 350P is connected to the 12V trigger input on the 330A using a 1/8” mini-jack cable. When you
turn on the 350P via remote control (or its Standby button), the 330A will automatically turn on. The same rule applies when
you put the 350P into Standby mode.
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330A Stereo Power Amplifier
Specifications
Configuration ......................................................... Stereo
Power Supply Transformer ...................................... 400VA
Power Supply Capacitance ...................................... 85,000µF
Class Of Operation ................................................. A/AB
Design .................................................................... Fully Balanced Differential
Input Impedance ................................................... 47,500Ω
Input Sensitivity ..................................................... 800mV
Output Device Type ................................................ Bipolars
Output Power at 8Ω............................................... 125 Watts per channel
Output Power at 4Ω.............................................. 250 Watts per channel
Output Power – Bridged Mono at 8Ω....................... 400 Watts
Frequency Response .............................................. 10Hz - 125kHz +0/-3dB
Output Impedance ................................................. 0.02Ω
Damping Factor (static) ......................................... 400
Gain ...................................................................... 31dB
Signal-to-noise Ratio .............................................. > 100dB @ full power
Maximum Output Voltage ....................................... 40 Volts
Slew Rate .............................................................. 62V/µs
Maximum Current – Peak ........................................ 28 amperes
Maximum Current – Continuous .............................. 13 amperes
Intermodulation Distortion ...................................... Unmeasureable
THD (20Hz - 20kHz @ 1 watt) ................................ < 0.02 %
THD (20Hz - 20kHz @ 400 watts) .......................... < 0.05 %
Power Consumption @ idle ..................................... 36 Watts
AC Power Requirements ......................................... 120V / 60Hz or 240V / 50Hz
Shipping Weight ..................................................... 33 lbs / 15 Kgs
Dimensions (W x H x D, inches) .............................. 16.9 x 3.5 x 14.0
Balanced Pin Assignment: Pin 1................................ Ground
Pin 2................................ Positive
Pin 3 .............................. Negative
12 Volt Trigger: Logic ............................... Direct (0V off, 12V on)
Jack................................. 3.5mm microphone jack
Input Impedance.............. 1kΩ
Current Consumption........ 12mA
NOTE: If you require the RS-232 codes for your MOON 330A, please contact Simaudio Ltd.
directly by either email ([email protected]) or by toll-free telephone [phone]).
Fuse Replacement: For the 120V version use a 6A fast blow (3AG size).
For the 220 - 240V version use a 3A fast blow (3AG size).
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