moon 400M User manual

Owner’s Manual
Series
400M
Mono Power Amplifier

400M 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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400M 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 Nēo MOON 400M 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 supply cord plug from the AC receptacle.
2. The MOON 400M must be terminated with a three-conductor AC mains power cord which includes an earth
ground connection. To prevent shock hazard, all three connections must ALWAYS be used. Connect the
MOON 400M 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 400M 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 400M with any liquid. If a liquid substance does enter your MOON
400M, immediately disconnect it from the AC mains and take it to your MOON dealer for a complete check-
up.
7. NEVER spill or pour liquids directly onto the MOON 400M.
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 400M. If a problem occurs contact your MOON dealer.
12. NEVER expose the MOON 400M to extremely high or low temperatures.
13. NEVER operate the MOON 400M 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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400M Power Amplifier
Table of Contents
Introduction .................................................... 6
Unpacking........................................................ 7
Installation & Placement ................................... 7
Rear Panel Layout ............................................ 8
Connecting the 400M ........................................ 9
Balanced Operation .......................................... 9
Operating the 400M ........................................ 10
Remote Operation .......................................... 11
Specifications ................................................ 12
www.simaudio.com
Simaudio Ltd., 1345 Newton Road
Boucherville, Quebec J4B 5H2 CANADA
Date Code: 20140717
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400M Power Amplifier
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6
Introduction
Thank you for selecting the Nēo 400M Mono 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 400M 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 Nēo 400M, we
encourage you to please read this manual
thoroughly to properly acquaint yourself with its
features. We hope you enjoy listening to the Nēo
400M Mono 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
Your Nēo 400M Mono 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 10 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.

400M Power Amplifier
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7
Unpacking
The Nēo 400M Power Amplifier should be removed from its box with care.
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 Nēo 400M 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 400M from any potential
damage during transit.
Please write the serial number of your new Nēo 400M in the space provided below for future reference.
Serial No.: ________________
Installation & Placement
The Nēo 400M Mono Power Amplifier 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
integrated amplifier. As well, it 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 400M
uses a large toroidal transformer in its power supply;
even though it is well shielded, you should not place
this power amplifier too close to source components
sensitive to EMI, such as turntables, phono
preamplifiers and CD Players. Finally, y
ou should
never place another component directly on top of
this power amplifier.

400M Power Amplifier
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8
Rear Panel Layout
Figure 1: Rear panel of Nēo400M Mono Power 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 input. When you decide to switch
to single-ended input mode, you must reinstall the
XLR jumper (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 pair of
heavy duty gold-plated speaker binding posts.
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.

400M Power Amplifier
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9
Connecting the 400M
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
input, respectively. We highly recommend that
you use the balanced XLR input (provided that
your preamplifier has balanced outputs) to take
full advantage of Nēo 400M Mono 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 400M 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 400M when
using long cable runs (i.e. more than 3 meters
in length).
2. Connect your speaker, with the cable of your
choice, to the 400M’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
400M 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 Nēo 400M, 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.

400M Power Amplifier
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10
Operating the 400M
We recommend leaving your Nēo 400M 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 400M
requires several hours of operation before reaching
optimal performance after powering it up again.
Turning on your Nēo 400M 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 400M. 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 400M 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 400M 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 400M on or off, you should always
power up your preamplifier prior to powering up
your 400M. As well, always power down your
400M prior to powering down your preamplifier.
Troubleshooting
Your Nēo 400M
Mono 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 400M 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 400M via the main power rocker switch, then
disconnecting the input to the 400M leaving only
the speaker connected. Attempt to power up your
400M 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 400M 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 400M. If not, immediately consult
your Authorized MOON Retailer for assistance.

400M Power Amplifier
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11
Remote Operation
Figure 3: Remote Operation
In figure 3 we have a Nēo 350P Preamplifier and a
pair of 400M Amplifiers connected together via their
respective 12V triggers; The 12V trigger output on
the 350P is connected to the 12V trigger input on
the top 400M (using a 1/8” mini-jack cable). The
12V trigger output from this 400M connects to the
12V trigger input on the bottom 400M (also using a
1/8” mini-jack cable). When you turn on the 350P
using a remote control (or its Standby button), both
400M’s will turn on automatically. The same rule
applies when you put the 350P into Standby mode.

400M Power Amplifier
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12
Specifications
Configuration ................................................ Fully Balanced Differential, Mono
Power Supply Transformer ............................. 400VA
Power Supply Capacitance ............................. 85,000µF
Class Of Operation ........................................ A/AB
Input Impedance .......................................... 47,500Ω
Input Sensitivity ............................................ 800mV
Output Device Type ....................................... Bipolars
Output Power at 8Ω...................................... 400 Watts per channel
Output Power at 4Ω..................................... 600 Watts per channel
Frequency Response ...................................... 10Hz - 125kHz +0/-3dB
Output Impedance ........................................ 0.01Ω
Damping Factor (static) ................................ 800
Gain ............................................................. 36dB
Signal-to-noise Ratio ..................................... > 106dB @ full power
Maximum Output Voltage ............................... 70 Volts
Slew Rate ..................................................... 60V/µs
Maximum Current – Peak ............................... 56 amperes
Maximum Current – Continuous ...................... 26 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 Nēo 400M,please contact Simaudio Ltd.
directly by either email ([email protected]) or by toll-free telephone [phone]).
Fuse Replacement: For the 120V version use a 8A fast blow (3AG size).
For the 220 - 240V version use a 4A fast blow (3AG size).