moon Evolution 850P User manual

Owner’s Manual
MOON Evolution Series
850P
Reference Dual-Mono Preamplifier

MOON 850P Dual-Mono Preamplifier
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.
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.
____________________________________________________________________________________

MOON 850P Dual-Mono Preamplifier
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 Dual-Mono 850P Preamplifier.
1. ALWAYS disconnect your entire system from the AC mains before connecting or disconnecting any cables,
or when cleaning any component.
2. The MOON 850P 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 850P 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.
4. NEVER use flammable or combustible chemicals for cleaning audio components.
5. NEVER operate the MOON 850P 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 850P with any liquid. If a liquid substance does enter your MOON 850P,
immediately disconnect it from the AC mains and take it to your MOON dealer for a complete check-up.
7. NEVER expose the MOON 850P 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 850P. If a problem occurs contact your MOON dealer.
12. NEVER expose the MOON 850P to extremely high or low temperatures.
13. NEVER operate the MOON 850P in an explosive atmosphere.
14. ALWAYS keep electrical equipment out of reach of children.
15. ALWAYS unplug sensitive electronic equipment during lightning storms.
____________________________________________________________________________________

MOON 850P Dual-Mono Preamplifier
Table of Contents
Congratulations ................................................ 5
Unpacking........................................................ 5
Introduction ..................................................... 6
Installation & Placement ................................... 6
Connecting the 850P Preamplifier & Controller ...... 7
Front Panel Controls ........................................ 8
Software Setup ................................................ 9
Rear Panel Connections .................................. 11
SimLink™ .......................................................12
Operating the 850P ........................................13
Remote Control Operation ...............................14
Balanced Operation ....................................... 15
Specifications ................................................16
www.simaudio.com
Revision no.: 20110301
____________________________________________________________________________________

MOON 850P Dual-Mono Preamplifier
Congratulations!
Thank you for selecting the MOON 850P Dual-Mono preamplifier as a part of your music/cinema system. This preamplifier
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
the finest two-channel
preamplifier 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 preamplifiers are so musically satisfying.
Your new preamplifier is a true dual-mono design, whereby each channel operates completely independent of the other.
The performance of your 850P will continue to improve during the first 400 hours of listening. This is the result of a “break-
in” period required for the numerous high quality electronic parts used throughout this preamplifier.
Before setting up your new MOON 850P, we encourage you to please read this manual thoroughly to properly acquaint
yourself with its features. We hope you enjoy listening to the MOON 850P dual-mono preamplifier 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
Unpacking
The MOON 850P preamplifier and power supply/controller should be removed from its box with care.
The following accessories should be included inside the box with your preamplifier:
9 AC power cable
9 ‘FRM-3’ Full Function remote control with three ‘AAA’ batteries (USA and Canada only)
9 Three (3) color-coded cables that connect the 850P preamplifier to it’s power supply/controller chassis
9 ‘SimLink’ cable with 1/8” mini plug terminations on each end
9 Eight (8) pointed screw-on cones (for the Preamplifier’s legs and the Controller’s legs)
9 Eight (8) protective flat dimpled discs to be placed under the screw-on cones
9 This owner’s manual
9 Quick reference card for the “MOON 850P Setup Menus”
9 Warranty and product registration information (USA and Canada only)
As soon as the preamplifier is safely removed from its box and placed down, perform a thorough physical inspection and
report any physical damage to your dealer immediately. We suggest that you keep all of the original packaging, storing it in a
safe, dry place in the event that you’re required to transport the preamplifier. The customized packaging is specially designed
to protect the MOON 850P preamplifier from potential damage that may occur during shipping.
Please write the serial number of your new Simaudio MOON 850P in the space provided below for future reference.
Serial No.: ________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
Congratulations / Unpacking 5

MOON 850P Dual-Mono Preamplifier
Introduction
Your MOON 850P dual-mono preamplifier incorporates many significant design features to achieve its “world-class” level of
performance. This is an abbreviated list of the more important features:
2-chassis design with one chassis (Controller) housing the power supply, digital controller circuitry, software processing
and the LED display. The other chassis (Preamplifier) contains ONLY audio circuitry.
Our proprietary M-Octave Damping system that virtually eliminates the sonically degrading “microphonic effect” by
mounting the main audio circuit board on an 8-point floating suspension.
Full unsolicited RS-232 bidirectional feedback
Custom proprietary toroidal transformer design with lower magnetic, electrical and thermal loss, yielding an improved
power transfer and lower regulation factor. The result is increased current speed and better dynamics
An oversized dual-mono power supply features 6 stages of DC voltage regulation and choke filtering
SimLink controller port allows for 2-way communications between other compatible MOON Evolution Series components
M-Ray volume control circuit based on the R-2R resistor array configuration that uses thin film surface mount resistors with
0.1% tolerances, resulting in no sonic degradation of the audio signal regardless of the selected volume setting
M-Lock circuit for “user selectable” maximum volume setting lock-out for each line input
Power supply voltage regulation includes i2DCf (Independent Inductive DC Filtering); 1 inductor for each and every IC in
the audio circuit’s signal path – 40 stages in all
Gain offset for each individual line input with a ±10dB range
Each line input is fully configurable to be “home theater ready”, where the volume control of the 850P is bypassed
530 individual volume steps in 1dB and 0.1dB increments
Four-layer PCB tracings; The advantages include better ground and power supply circuit layouts resulting in a much
shorter signal path and dramatically improved signal-to-noise ratio
Extremely rigid chassis construction to minimize the effects of external vibrations
Accurate matching of the very finest quality electronic components in a symmetrical circuit design
Improved reliabilty through the elimination of moving parts.
Installation & Placement
The MOON 850P dual-mono preamplifier is very heavy and 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 preamplifier’s
performance and reliability.
Once you’ve decided on a location for the 850P Preamplifier and its controller, you should install the eight (8) pointed
screw-on cones into the threaded holes located on the bottom of the four (4) the corner posts of both the Preamplifier chassis
& controller chassis. These cones will easily scratch most surfaces, therefore it’s advisable to follow these instructions: Place
your 850P on a soft surface (i.e. carpet) and carefully turn it so that it rests on its side. Screw one cone onto each of the four
posts. Carefully move the chassis to it’s pre-determined location. Repeat these steps for the controller chassis.
In the event that the surface you have chosen isn’t perfectly level, each of the four (4) legs of both your 850P and it’s power
supply / controller are height adjustable; carefully using your fingers, you can either raise each leg by turning the cone
underneath clockwise, or lower each leg by turning it counterclockwise.
____________________________________________________________________________________
Introduction / Installation Tips 6

MOON 850P Dual-Mono Preamplifier
Connecting the 850P Preamplifier & Controller
Figure 1: Connecting the MOON 850P Preamplifier (bottom) and 850P Controller (top)
There are three (3) connections that must be made between the MOON 850P Preamplifier’s chassis and its separate
controller chassis as shown above in Figure 1; First, using one of the two supplied 4-pin XLR cables, connect the end with the
male pin socket to the plug labeled “DC Power Output Right Channel” located on the rear panel of the controller. Connect the
other end of the cable, with the female socket, to the plug labeled “DC Input R” located on the rear panel of the preamplifier.
Next, using the other 4-pin XLR cable, repeat the same process between “DC Power Output Left Channel” and the “DC Input
L” socket. Finally, using the supplied 8-pin Ethercon cable (both ends are identically terminated), connect one end to the plug
labeled “Communications Output 1” located on the rear panel of the controller. Connect the other end of the cable to the plug
labeled “Comm” located on the rear panel of the preamplifier. You will notice that there are two sets of each output
connector on the controller, however only one of each is required to operate this preamplifier; the other connectors are for
possible future use with other components. Do not attempt to modify the lengths these cables – they are specifically
designed for optimal performance.
Connect the supplied AC power cable to the IEC receptacle, located on the rear panel of the preamplifier’s controller chassis.
Ensure that the AC wall outlet you use has a functioning ground. For the best sonic performance, it is preferable that you plug
your 850P preamplifier directly into a dedicated AC outlet and avoid using an extension cord.
The MOON 850P is equipped with our M-Octave Damping system, whereby the main audio circuit board is coupled to the
chassis using an 8-point floating suspension that is designed to eliminate distortion caused by the “Microphonic effect” of
airborne vibrations. All audio connectors are directly mounted to this main audio circuit board. As a result, a dual-layered rear
panel is required to accommodate this suspension, with the outer layer affixed to the 850P’s chassis and the inner layer –
with the audio connectors – affixed to the main audio circuit board.
Consequently, when you connect cables to (or disconnect
cables from) the 850P, this inner rear panel will move slightly – This is normal.
These rear panel layers are completely
independant of each other, only coming into physical contact when either connecting or disconnecting cables.
____________________________________________________________________________________
Connecting The 850P Preamplifier & Controller 7

MOON 850P Dual-Mono Preamplifier
Front Panel Controls
Figure 2: Front panel of MOON 850P dual-mono Controller
The front panel will look similar to Figure 2 (above). The large display window normally indicates the current volume level
and, whenever you change the input, it will briefly show the selected input. On the left side of the display window, are six (6)
buttons. On the right side of the display are two (2) more buttons and a large rotary volume control. for a total of eight (8)
buttons which are all described in detail below:
The “Standby” button disengages the input section from the rest of the 850P’s circuitry and turns off the digital display.
However, when in “Standby” mode all audio circuitry remains powered up to help maintain optimal performance. When
switching back from “Standby”, both the ‘input’ and volume settings are re-established from the previous listening session.
The blue pilot LEDs will not be illuminated, on both the Preamplifier and Controller, when the 850P is in “Standby” mode.
The “Monitor” button provides for a dedicated loop to be used with either a component that can record & playback (Cassette
Deck, DAT, CD-Recorder, etc.) or a signal processor such as an equalizer. Pressing this button allows you to 1) monitor the
recording as it occurs on the recording device or 2) engage the effects of the signal processor. The monitor component’s
outputs must be connected to the 850P’s “Tape Monitor In” and its inputs must be connected to the 850P’s “Tape Monitor
Out”. The monitor output level is fixed and independent of the 850P’s volume setting. The LED immediately to the right of
this button will illuminate when the “Monitor” function is engaged.
The “Mute” button reduces your volume setting to zero. Pressing the “Mute” button a second time will return the output
volume to its previous level. As well, adjusting the volume level while the “Mute” function is engaged will effectively defeat the
muting function.
The “Display” button allows you to adjust the brightness of the large digital display window. It also provides you with the
option of turning off the display. There are three (3) different levels of brightness; The default is medium. Pressing the
“Display” button once will increase the level to medium. Pressing the button a second time will further increase the brightness
to the highest setting. Pressing the “Display” button a third time returns the display to its default setting of medium.
If you want to turn the display off, press and hold the “Display” button for 2 seconds. When the display is turned off, it will
still come back on for a short period of time whenever you press any of the buttons located on the front panel or the remote
control, using the brightness level that was previously set; the display will automatically turn off again once you are done. To
turn the display back on, simply press and hold the “Display” button for 2 seconds.
____________________________________________________________________________________
Front Panel Controls 8

MOON 850P Dual-Mono Preamplifier
Front Panel Controls (continued)
The “Input X” and “Input W” buttons allow you to choose which input source you wish to listen to. The MOON 850P dual-
mono preamplifier has a total of seven (7) inputs; The first three (3) inputs are fully-balanced and use XLR connectors
labeled B1, B2 and B3. The next four (4) inputs are single-ended and use RCA connectors labeled S1, S2, S3 and S4.
Assuming that you’re currently listening to a source component connected to input B1, the “X” allows to sequentially scroll
forward through the available inputs from B2 to S4. The “W” button allows you to sequentially scroll backwards from S4 to
B2. Holding down either the “X” or “W” input buttons will allow only a single change of the selected input. You must press
the button again to select the next or previous input.
The rotary “volume” control determines the gain setting, which ranges from ‘0.0dB’ (no output) to ’80.0dB’ (full output). This
control does not function like a typical volume: When you rotate the dial, either clockwise to raise the volume or counter-
clockwise to lower the volume, you are actually engaging a precision optical encoder which selects, via a relay network, very
high quality thin film resistors that the audio signal passes through. The result is a proprietary gain circuit, called M-Ray, that
doesn’t degrade the audio signal regardless of the setting, unlike all potentiometer based circuits. Since this circuitry operates
in a fully balanced differential mode, no noise is introduced to the audio signal. Futhermore, since there are no actual moving
parts, this technology has a minimum life expectancy of one million rotations.
The MOON 850P preamplifier provides a range of five-hundred and thirty (530) unique volume settings. This is achieved as
follows: Within the 0.0dB to 30.0dB range, you can increase and decrease the volume in 1.0dB steps. From the 30.0dB to
80.0dB range, you can increase and decrease the volume by either 0.1dB or 1.0dB steps; By rotating the volume control
slowly, the level will change by 0.1dB increments. A quicker rotation will change the volume in 1.0dB increments.
Note: To change the balance between the left and right channels, please refer to the section “Remote Control Operation”.
The “Setup” and “OK” buttons are used for programming the numerous software functions available on this preamplifier. The
next section, entitled “Software Setup”, explains their usage in detail.
Software Setup
The MOON 850P preamplifier includes powerful software that allows you to configure it to meet your specific needs. For
each of the seven (7) inputs, you can assign a
label to replace the factory assigned name (i.e. B1, S1, etc.), assign a
maximum volume level of less than 80.0dB, create an offset volume level ranging from –10.0dB to +10.0dB, bypass the
volume control (to exclusively use the source component’s volume instead) and
disable the input completely when it’s not in
use. As well, you can assign any and all inputs to activate each of the 850P’s two
12 Volt triggers . Finally, there’s a facility
to reset all software settings back to their factory defaults. Please refer to the accompanying quick reference diagram for a
snapshot of the entire Setup menu layout.
When you are in Setup mode, there are three (3) front panel items used to program this preamplifier; The “Setup” button for
navigating up and down through the various menu levels, the rotary volume control for scrolling through the available choices
within each programmable item, and the “OK” button for confirming and saving your selections.
What follows are step-by-step examples of how to configure an input, assign the two 12 Volt triggers and reset the software
back to the factory default.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Front Panel Controls / Software Setup 9

MOON 850P Dual-Mono Preamplifier
Software Setup (continued)
We will begin by walking through all 5 available options for the “B1” input:
1To enter the Setup mode, begin by pressing the “Setup” button; “SETUP” will appear in the display window.
2Rotate the volume control clockwise until “INPUTS” appears in the display. Press “OK”.
3Rotate the volume control clockwise until “B1” appears in the display. Press “OK”.
4“LABEL” will appear in the display. Press “OK”.
5“AUX1” will appear in the display. By rotating the volume control clockwise, you will scroll through more than 25
generic choices appearing in alphabetical order (AUX1 … CD … TUNER, etc.), various MOON source model names
(i.e. ANDROMEDA … ORBITER, etc) and finally a choice called “CUSTOM” which allows you to create your own text
label of up to 8 characters in length (refer to the example at the end of this section for more details).
6When the label name you wish to assign to the B1 input appears in the display, press the “OK” button. “SAVED”
will briefly appear in the display followed by “LABEL”.
7Press the “Setup” button and the label you’ve just assigned to the B1 input will appear in the display.
8At this point you can (i) continue configuring other options for the B1 input (see the next step), (ii) configure
another input such as B2 (rotate the volume control clockwise to access the B2 input), or (iii) leave the Setup
mode (press the “Setup” button once and “INPUTS” appears in the display; the press it again and “EXITING” will
appear in the display).
9The next option to configure for the B1 input is the maximum volume setting. Press “OK” and “LABEL” will appear
in the display. Then slowly rotate the volume control clockwise until “MAX VOL” appears in the display. Press
“OK” and the factory default of “80.0dB” will appear in the display; this is the maximum volume level.
10 The maximum setting can be changed by rotating the volume control. A slow rotation makes 0.1dB adjustments
and a faster rotation results in 1.0dB adjustments. Once you’ve found a desired setting, press “OK” and “SAVED”
will briefly appear in the display followed by “MAX VOL”. The lowest possible setting is 40.0dB.
11 The next option to configure for the B1 input is volume offset. This allows you to compensate for the different
output levels amongst your various source components you will be connecting to the 850P. Slowly rotate the
volume control clockwise and “OFFSET” will appear in the display. Press “OK” and the factory default of “+6.0dB”
will appear in the display.
12 You can adjust the volume offset in either 0.1dB (slow rotation) or 1.0dB (faster rotation) increments to either
+10.0dB by rotating the volume control clockwise or –10.0dB rotating the volume control counter-clockwise. Once
you’ve found the appropriate setting, press “OK” and “SAVED” will briefly appear in the display the “OFFSET”.
13 The fourth configurable option is the volume bypass feature for use with home-theater processors and source
components that have their own volume control. When activated, the volume control of the 850P is bypassed and
the volume level is adjusted using the component connected to the input. Slowly rotate the volume control
clockwise and “BYPASS” will appear in the display. Press “OK”.
14 The factory default of “BYPASS N” will appear in the display. Use the volume control to alternate between
“BYPASS N” and “BYPASS Y” and then press “OK”. Next you will be asked to confirm your selection as “SURE ? N”
will appear in the display. Rotate the volume control until “SURE ? Y” appears in the display. Press “OK” and
“SAVED” will briefly appear in the display followed by “BYPASS”. When you set the volume bypass to “Y”, the
volume setting you saved for the input with “OFFSET” will be maintained.
15 The fifth and final configurable option for the B1 input is to disable it in the event that it won’t be used. Slowly
rotate the volume control clockwise and “ENABLE” will appear in the display. Press “OK”.
16 The factory default is “ENABLE Y” which will appear in the display. Use the volume control to alternate between
“ENABLE N” and “ENABLE Y”. Press “OK” and “SAVED” will briefly appear in the display followed by “ENABLE”.
When an input has been disabled it will appear only in the Setup menu as “B1 N/A”.
17 You have now passed through all five configuration options for the B1 input. At this point, you can (i) repeat the
above process for the another input by pressing the “Setup” button and then use the volume control to select the
next input to configure, (ii) exit from the Setup procedure by pressing the “Setup” button three times or (iii)
continue with the Setup procedure and either assign the 12 Volt trigger outputs or reset the 850P back to factory
default status (see the following examples).
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Software Setup 10

MOON 850P Dual-Mono Preamplifier
Software Setup (continued)
The MOON 850P is equipped with two 12 Volt trigger outputs. When an input is assigned to a 12 Volt trigger, the device
connected to the trigger will automatically start-up whenever you switch to that input. The default setting for all seven inputs
is on. When you set the IR input to “Y”, all inputs previously set to “Y” for that trigger will automatically be set to “N”. Then
the trigger will be controlled exclusively by an external IR signal. The following example shows how to configure one of them:
1You may either continue where we left off in the previous example by pressing “Setup” twice to return to the main
menu and the turn the volume control until “TRIG 1” appears in the display OR enter into the “Setup” mode from
the beginning by pressing the “Setup” button and rotating the volume control until “TRIG 1” appears in the display.
2Press “OK” and “B1 : Y” will appear in the display.
3To disable the 12 Volt trigger, press “OK” and “B1 ? Y” appears in the display; rotate the volume control to
alternate from “Y” to “N” .
4Press “OK” and “SAVED” will appear brielfy in the display followed by “B1 : N”.
5To configure another input, rotate the volume control until that input appears in the display, then press “OK”.
6Repeat steps 3 and 4.
7When you have finished with all of the inputs for the “TRIG 1” press the “Setup” button and “TRIG 1” will appear
in the display. From this point you may go to four different locations in the Setup menu:
• To configure the second 12 Volt trigger output, rotate the volume control until “TRIG 2” appears in the
display then press “OK” and repeat the above process beginning with step 3.
• To exit from the Setup procedure, press the “Setup” button again and “EXITING” will appear in the display.
• To reset the software settings back to their factory defaults, rotate the volume control until “RESET”
appears in the display (see the next example).
• To configure the inputs (previous example) rotate the volume control until “INPUT” appears in the display.
Reset the MOON 850P software settings back to their factory defaults:
1You may either continue were we left off in the previous example by turning the volume control until “RESET”
appears in the display OR enter into the “Setup” mode from the beginning by pressing the “Setup” button and then
rotating the volume control until “RESET” appears in the display.
2Press “OK” and “RESET N” will appear in the display.
3Rotate the volume control until “RESET Y” appears in the display.
4Press “OK” and “SURE ? N” will appear in the display.
5Rotate the volume control until “SURE ? Y” appears in the display.
6Press “OK” and “SAVED” will briefly appear in the display followed by “RESET”.
7Press the “Setup” button again and “EXITING” will appear in the display.
Assigning a custom label to an input:
1Using the example from the previous page for configuring an input, repeat steps 1 through 5.
2When “CUSTOM” appears in the display press the “OK” button. The display will show “……………………………” .
3Rotate the volume control clockwise to scroll through the 26 letters of the English alphabet, first in uppercase and
then lowercase, followed by the numbers 0 through 9, and finally several miscellaneous symbols including the
space character. When you see the letter/number/symbol you wish to use, press “OK” to select it and then repeat
this step for the next character.
4You must assign all 8 characters when creating a custom input label; In the event that your label requires only 5
characters, you will need to input a blank space for the remaining 3 characters.
5Once you’ve filled the last position, press”OK” and “SAVED” will briefly appear in the display followed by “INPUTS”.
6Press the “SETUP” button to exit from the Setup menu.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Software Setup 11

MOON 850P Dual-Mono Preamplifier
Rear Panel Connections
Figure 3: Rear panel of MOON 850P Preamplifier
The rear panel of the MOON 850P dual-mono preamplifier will look similar to Figure 3 (above). There are two rows of
connectors; the top row contains single-ended RCA inputs/outputs and the bottom row contains balanced XLR inputs/outputs,
as well as the three input connections from the separate digital controller chassis. There are three (3) pairs of balanced
inputs on XLR connectors (B1, B2, B3) and four pairs (4) of single-ended inputs on RCA connectors (S1, S2, S3, S4). As a
result of this preamplifier’s dual-mono design, the left channel inputs are located on the left side and the right channel inputs
are locted on the right side. This preamplifier is also equipped with a single-ended monitor loop; the input and output
connectors for each channel are located on their respective sides of the rear panel. The 850P has two (2) pairs each of
balanced outputs and single-ended outputs. Both balanced outputs are variable; One single-ended output is variable and the
other one is fixed, meaning that it bypasses the volume control. Don’t hesitate to use high quality interconnect cables. Poor
quality interconnect cables can degrade the overall sonic performance of your system.
Figure 4: Rear panel of MOON 850P Controller
The rear panel of the MOON 850P controller will look similar to Figure 4 (above). It is equipped with full-function bi-
directional RS-232 port control and status for custom integration or automation. This is located in the upper-middle section
and uses a DB9 connector. Immediately to the right of the RS-232 port are two (2) “SimLink” connectors labeled “in” and
“out” on 1/8” mini jacks. Please refer to the next section entitled SimLink for more details. Your MOON 850P preamplifier
has a 1/8” mini jack input for use with aftermarket infrared remote control receivers. The “IR in” connector is located on the
upper right section of the rear panel. Across the lower section you will find the 3 pairs of output connectors that are used for
powering the preamplifier chassis. To the right of these connectors are two 12 Volt trigger outputs, each on a 1/8” mini-jack.
Finally, on the far right side are the “AC Fuse” socket cover; the power “main switch”; and the “AC Input” IEC receptacle for
the power cord. All rear panel connectors have been chosen because they provide the best possible connections for your unit.
A poor contact will degrade the signal substantially, and plugs and sockets should all look clean and free of dirt and corrosion.
The easiest way to clean them is to remove the cables from their sockets and push them back in again. This procedure
requires that your preamplifier and the rest of your components be completely turned off.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Rear Panel Connections 12

MOON 850P Dual-Mono Preamplifier
SimLink™
The SimLink™ provides communication features between various MOON components. For example, if you were to connect
the 750D DAC/CD Transport to the 850P Preamplifier via the SimLink™, pressing the X(play) button on the 750D would
cause the preamplifier automatically switch to it’s designated input for the CD Player.
You must assign the input with the
name “750D” for this feature to work
. If you were to adjust the brightness level of the large digital display window using
the “Display” button on the 850P, the brightness level of the 750D’s display will automatically adjust to the same brightness
level as that of the 850P. Conversely, since the SimLink™ is a true bi-directional connection, adjusting the 750D’s brightness
level will automatically adjust the brightness level of the 850P.
A third feature of SimLink™ involves the “Standby” function. By pressing down and holding the “Standby” button for 2
seconds on the 850P, all other MOON components connected via the SimLink will go into “Standby” mode along with the
850P. The same logic applies when switching from “Standby” to active mode.
The connection rules for the SimLink™ are very basic. You must always connect the supplied cable between one component’s
“SimLink™ Out” jack and another component’s “SimLink™ In” jack. If you inadvertently connect the cable between either two
“SimLink™ In” or two “SimLink™ Out” jacks, the SimLink™ communication feature will not function. Also, there is no master
component in a SimLink™ chain; no one particular component operates as the main communications controller.
Operating the 850P
We recommend that you leave your MOON 850P dual-mono preamplifier powered up at all times to maintain optimal
performance. In the event that you plan to be away from your home for a few days, powering off the preamplifier may not
be a bad idea. Once fully “broken-in”, please keep in mind that your 850P will require several hours of playing time before it
reaches its peak performance after you’ve powered it up again.
Turning on your MOON 850P for the first time
Prior to turning this preamplifier on for the first time, make sure that every cable is properly connected to avoid any problems.
Then turn on your preamplifier in the following manner:
1) Flick the main rocker switch labeled “POWER” to the ‘1’ (on) position on the rear of the controller chassis.
2) Press the push button labeled “Standby” on the 850P, the blue LED’s on both chassis’ will confirm operation and
the controller’s digital display will illuminate. You are now ready to begin listening to music.
On and Off Sequence
To avoid having any annoying noises (ie. “thumps” and “pops”) emanate from your speakers when powering your 850P on or
off, you should
1) Always power up your 850P preamplifier before powering up your amplifier.
2) Always power down your 850P after powering down your amplifier.
____________________________________________________________________________________
SimLink™ / Operating The 850P 13

MOON 850P Dual-Mono Preamplifier
Remote Control Operation
The MOON 850P Dual-Mono preamplifier uses the ‘FRM-3’ full function, all aluminum
backlit remote control (figure 5). It operates on the Philips RC-5 communication protocol
and is can be used with other MOON components such as CD Players, DAC’s, Integrated
Amplifiers, as well as other Preamplifiers.
The ‘FRM-3’ remote uses three AAA batteries (included). To install them, use a Phillips
head screwdriver #1 to remove the three screws located on the rear plate; insert the
batteries in the correct direction and then screw the rear plate back into place.
To operate the 850P with this remote control, you must first press the AMP button
located on the second row from the top.
The power button switches the 850P between ‘Standby’ and ‘On’ mode.
The Balance Wand Balance Xbuttons control channel balance; Pressing the left
arrow button causes a decrease in the volume level of the right channel; pressing the
right arrow button causes a decrease in the volume level of the left channel. The balance
adjustment operates in 1% increments. When the balance is equal for both channels, “Å
00 Æ” will briefly appear in the front panel display. The range for the balance control
varies from “Å100” for left channel only to “100 Æ” for right channel only.
The Input Sand Input Tbuttons allow you to sequentially scroll through each of the
preamplifier’s inputs, performing the identical function as the ‘Input’ buttons located on
the 850P’s front panel
The Mute button, located between the input and volume buttons, reduces your volume
setting to zero, performing the identical function as the ‘Mute’ button located on the
850P’s front panel.
The VolSand VolTbuttons increase and decrease the volume level. From 30 to 80dB,
holding either button down results in 1.0dB volume changes; repeatedly pressing either
button very briefly results in 0.1dB volume changes.
The Disp button allows you to adjust the brightness of the digital display window. It also
provides you with the option of turning off the display, performing the identical function
as the ‘Display’ button located on the 850P’s front panel.
Mon engages (and disengages) the Monitor loop, performing the identical function as
the ‘Monitor’ button located on the 850P’s front panel.
Figure 5: FRM-3 Remote Control
____________________________________________________________________________________
Remote Control Operation 14

MOON 850P Dual-Mono Preamplifier
Remote Control Operation (continued)
Backlight Function
Your FRM-3 features a backlight capability that allows you to effortlessly operate this remote control in a darkened
environment. Since battery lifespan is substantially reduced when the backlighting feature is activated, the FRM-3 includes 3
different operational modes to preserve the batteries:
Default Mode (#1): The backlight is triggered on by either moving the remote control (via an internal motion detector) or by
pressing any button on the remote’s keypad; The backlight will remain illuminated for a full five (5) seconds after the last
event (motion or pressed button). To activate the “Default Mode”, press and hold the “CD” button for three (3) seconds. The
backlight will illuminate once, very briefly for confirmation.
Button Mode (#2): The backlight is triggered ONLY by pressing any button on the remote’s keypad - the internal motion
detector is deactivated; The backlight will remain illuminated for a full five (5) seconds after the last button is pressed. To
activate the “Button Mode”, press and hold the “AMP” button for three (3) seconds. The backlight will illuminate twice, very
briefly for confirmation.
Off Mode (#3): The backlight feature is completely disabled. To activate the “Off Mode”, press and hold the “DAC” button for
three (3) seconds. The backlight will illuminate three times, very briefly for confirmation.
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 both the
preamplifier and amplifier, then 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 +10 Volts, the other will be carrying a
signal of –10 Volts. When these two inverted signals on a balanced line are output from the MOON 850P, 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 not be processed.
____________________________________________________________________________________
Remote Control Operation / Balanced Operation 15

MOON 850P Dual-Mono Preamplifier
Specifications
Configuration ......................................................... Fully balanced, dual-mono
Power Supply Transformers ..................................... 2 x 150VA (for audio); 1 x 10VA (controller circuitry)
Power Supply Capacitance ...................................... 50,000µF
Circuit Topology ...................................................... Open Loop
Balanced inputs (XLR) ........................................... 3 pairs
Single-ended inputs (RCA) ..................................... 4 pairs
Monitor Loop (RCA)................................................. 1 pair
Input Impedance ................................................... 11,000Ω
Input Sensitivity ..................................................... 200mV – 4.0V RMS
Balanced outputs (XLR) .......................................... 2 pairs
Single-ended outputs (RCA) .................................... 2 pairs (fixed and variable)
Output Impedance .................................................. 50Ω
Gain Control ........................................................... M-Ray (Fully Discrete R-2R)
Gain ....................................................................... 9dB
Signal-to-noise Ratio (20Hz-20kHz) ......................... 130dB @ full output
Maximum Output Voltage (Balanced) ........................ 15 Volts
Maximum Output Voltage (Single-Ended) .................. 7.5 Volts
Frequency Response .............................................. 5Hz - 100kHz +0/-0.1dB
Crosstalk @ 1kHz ................................................... -130dB
Intermodulation Distortion ...................................... Unmeasureable
THD (20Hz - 20kHz) .............................................. < 0.0005%
Remote Control ...................................................... All Aluminum Full-Function Backlit (FRM-3)
Display Type............................................................ 8 character dot matrix LED
Power Consumption @ idle ..................................... 25 Watts
AC Power Requirements ......................................... 120V / 60Hz or 240V / 50Hz
Shipping Weight ..................................................... 72 lbs / 32 Kgs
Dimensions – Preamplifier (W x H x D, inches) ......... 18.75 x 4.0 x 16.5
Dimensions – Controller (W x H x D, inches) ............. 18.75 x 4.0 x 16.5
Balanced Input and Output Pin Assignment:
Pin 1................................ Ground
Pin 2................................ Positive
Pin 3 .............................. Negative
NOTE: In the event that you require the RS-232 codes for your MOON 850P, please contact
Simaudio Ltd. directly by either email (ser[email protected]) or by toll-free telephone
(877-980-2400).
Fuse Replacement: For the 120V version use a 400mA slow blow (5 x 20mm size).
For the 230V version use a 200mA slow blow (5 x 20mm size).
____________________________________________________________________________________
Specifications 16