Simaudio Moon P5 Pre-amplifier. Ultra-low noise floor, superior transparency, excellent design, and separate very heavy-duty power supply (ships in its own box). There are a small number of minor scratches (on average ~ 1/4" long, or less) on the case--the front panel has some minor blemishes. You can see these cosmetic marks in the photos. Please examine the photos carefully. I can provide additional photos on request.
NOTE: Both units were recently shipped to Simaudio in Canada for full service, and after 2 weeks testing, returned in like new operational condition.
Sonically, this P-5 is perfect--because of the (minor) cosmetic flaws, it's a real value. In sum, this gently pre-owned pre-amp is in great working, and good cosmetic condition. As an audiophile for over 25 years, I'd give it a 7.5/10 overall condition, based completely on cosmetics--again, sonically the P-5 is amazing. There is a reason so few of these preamps appear on the used market. It comes with the metal remote control, manual (copy), and heavy-duty IEC power cable. Both components have their own boxes and will ship together in a separate box effectively making it double boxed.
Asking $1850 + shipping (Retailed for $4000). Located in Dallas TX. Local pickup OK.
Short technical quote (Fair Use Doctrine) from a Stereophile review:
"Based on SimAudio's proprietary "Advanced Renaissance" technology, there is no overall negative feedback and no DC-blocking caps in either of these components, and each is powered by custom toroidal power transformers. The P-5 preamp uses Sim's RBG gain control (derived from a NASA development), which places only two resistors in the signal path. Still, the P-5 is a full-function, remote-controlled line preamplifier. Jean Poulin, designer and company president, emphasized that the P-5 not only had to sound great, but had to have good manners as well: no clicks or pops under any conditions, even at power-on and -off—not so easy to maintain in a DC-referenced circuit without blocking capacitors in the signal path...Despite the creeping advance of criteria, the Simaudio Moon P-5 remains at the top of the heap."
