Moonriver makes two products, in Sweden no less... the 404 integrated amplifier and the 505 phono amplifier, reviewed here at SonicFlare Studio A. Let's take a dive into the world of Moonriver... Available through fine dealers worldwide! 💰 Suggested retail price: USD $5,999- / 5,000- EUR Moonriver website: moonriveraudio.com 🍿 Popcorn time! 01:52 pipes or cigars? 03:32 review intro - Moonriver 505 10:19 construction 14:02 sound quality 27:20 conclusion & final thoughts 🎻 Equipment currently setup in Studio A: EINSTEIN The Preamp einstein-audio.de EINSTEIN The Last Record Player, CD player EINSTEIN The Perfect Pickup, MC current sensing phono EINSTEIN The Poweramp, hybrid Circlotron dual-mono amplifier EMMlabs MTRS, solid state stereo amplifier www.emmlabs.com EMMlabs DS-EQ1, optical cartridge "energizer" x 2 Meitner MA3, DAC + Streamer Kuzma XL Air + Safir, turntable + arm www.kuzma.si Bergmann Galder Signature + Odin, turntable + arm bergmannaudio.com ReVox H1 Cassette tape deck Telefunken M15A reel to reel tape machine x 2 Nagra IV-S reel to reel tape machine www.nagraaudio.com Wilson Audio Sasha V www.wilsonaudio.com Wilson Audio Loke x 2 DeVore Fidelity O/96 devorefidelity.com SonoruS Audio proximity bass controller sonorusaudio.com Tascam DA1000, A/D converter + digital recorder QNAP 8 bay 32TB NAS Tidal, Apple Music streaming services Audirvana Studio media playback app audirvana.com eero Pro 6 WiFi network 🎼 Cables used in Studio A: Black Cat Cable blackcatcable.com Graceline L3, speaker + interconnect LessLoss C-MARC Classic power cables www.lessloss.com 🔈 Music used for evaluation - Freddie Hubbard - Keep Your Soul Together Kruder & Dorfmeister - Conversions Randy Travis - Storms Of Life Black Uhuru - Chill Out Oscar Peterson & Nelson Riddle Nucleus - Alley Cat La Planete Sauvage Brian Eno - Apollo 2 LP Ahmad Jamal - Chamber Music Of The New Jazz Duke Ellington - Indigos (2024 65th anniversary IMPEX reissue) 📝 About SonicFlare Danny Kaey has been a published audio and HiFi reviewer for almost 25 years in online and printed publications in the US, Canada and Europe. In the hobby for over 40 years, his tastes have varied through the decades, though now have settled for what music is all about: dynamics, slam, resolving power and tonality. DK believes that like many personally experienced tastes, there are many flavors to HiFi, though in all cases HiFi should aim to replicate music as closely as possible. 🤩 If you like this channel and content please help support me by liking and subscribing here on UA-cam and Instagram. Instagram: instagram.com/sonicflare/ Please DM me with inquiries for future reviews or interviews. #audio #music #hifi #stereo #records #sonicflare Thanks so much for watching this episode, Have I finally found my golden super amp? Cheers!
Hi it’s Craig messaging from Spain on my Wife’s UA-cam account to say I love the videos and particularly this one with the pipe. My Grandfather smoked a pipe and I still love the smell of his preferred backy as he called it which was either Murray’s Erinmore or Balkan Sobranie. I’ve actually bought myself a pipe and some Erinmore to have with a single malt. I think I will once my system is set up again. 🎵🙏🏻
Try the Greece Lab12 melto2. Input and settings are similar to the 505. soundwise? I didn’t hear the 505 but your words meant for me that both are in the same direction. I have the Lab12 melto2 for three years much more better than an EAR 834 what I had before - much more. But not that good like my phono stage built in Backes&Müller ICE 525. That’s a killer. If you are looking for a Line stage with DAC and Phono under 13k that’s the way to go.
Great review! By the time you got to the end of all the features I thought this unit would be costing way more than it actually does... Still a little bit more than what I'm looking for, but I love the versatility and look of this thing.
Yes, got a Peterson system pipe and the other is my grandfather’s Parker London from the 60’s. My pick for the best summer tobacco is Rattray’s Exotic passion. 😉🍷
Mom and dad smoked cigarettes in 60's. Mom started spitting blood she quit after the doctor told her you could quit or die . Dad took up pipe as less chemicals. Then, eventually, quit early 70's. Phono I use an old Technics phono stage as my NAD hasn't got one. I was using a Kenwood but it had some transformer buzz.
Hey Danny i use MM cartridges mostly , for now a Grace F9 with a ruby catilever through my Mcintosh MA7000 intergrated phono stage, what do you think the biggestes deffernce would be? I am also going to try the Sumiko Blackbird HO.... Speak soon.
Ha! I think a few things... 1. lower noise floor (hum, hash, etc.) which will immediately result in more and better dynamics. 2. big increase in detail and just overall "more" sound; 3. with 4 inputs you can futz around to your heart's content... While the McIntosh phono is decent, this will be a revelation for sure. Thanks for tuning in!
From the given price that is one very nice designed product and they really got it with that powerful psu and dual mono which reminds me about my own Accuphase C47 albeit double the money. Try it out but be aware the C47 takes +350 hours to break in otherwise you will never hear it in its full splendor as it is night and day from 0 hour.
Thanks for a great review - i like your tak om purism in the end. I use a Holfi SuperBattriaa with batteries in PSU. VERY purist - and very quiet and costummade for my Hana SL by Peter Holstein.
Great video Danny! Greeney here from Portland. I smoke a 20yr old Savinelli pipe. It’s called the “Gandalf” and Is a bit of a collectors item as Saveinelli got into some legal battles with lord of the rings. I smoke it while listening through my Meitner DS energizer!
I wonder if the would consider making a single input version with all the same facilities? Or a two input version? I like what’s on offer and a slimmed down version would be a super product. The styling is so appealing! It’s not crazy priced for what it is either.
Great review! Used to smoke a pipe... Usually el cheapo corn cob pipes with different types of aromatic tobaccos, most of which were variations of Black Cavendish or Black Cavendish + Virginia tobacco. After my cancer diagnosis (not tobacco related), I've abstained from using tobacco, but I get why people love it. My favorite phono preamps are from Jim Hagerman of Hagerman Audio Labs. Unparalleled bang for the buck and he still carries kits for DIYers. Maybe we'll see you do a review of his TOTL Trumpet MC at some point? It's a fraction of the cost of the Moonriver and I'm guessing (based on his other phono preamps) sounds fantastic. Jim is also offers lots of wonderful information on his page AND publishes his schematics. Wish others did that as well. Cheers!!
Oh no, sorry to hear about your cancer! Well wishes my friend. Heard of Jim's stuff a bunch of times, you are right, I should request a review of his gear... thanks for the tip! Stay tuned...
@@SonicFlare Sorry, should have mentioned that diagnosis and treatment was years ago. Doing well now, but thank you for the well wishes. Yes, definitely check out the Hagerman Labs gear. Jim and I chat from time to time, so I'd be happy to help facilitate that now that you have Studio A rollin.🥳👍 Just let me know.
Ha. Remember me asking about the Moonriver 505 and the Soulnote E2 last year? I went for the Soulnote because it also opens the door for an optical cartridge in my budget range. It would be great if you get your hands on this one as well. Would be great to hear your thoughts on it.
I'm confused by your final point. I don't think the comparison to tone controls is accurate. The options don't add any additional circuitry. All phono stages have a resistive load, a capacitive load (for moving magnet), and gain. The difference is that while the Einstein only gives you one setting for each of those parameters, the Moonriver offers several options so you can match it more accurately to the cartridge. Unless you are saying that the switching hardware needed to select between the various options is damaging the signal, I don't see where your argument lies.
That’s exactly it - the switching is all in the signal path. How much does it degrade the sound? Who knows. The only way you would be able to tell for certain is if Moonriver where to make a model without switchable stages. Which of course will never happen.
@@SonicFlare I'm still not getting it. At 25.50 you say that Einstein doesn't include any loading or gain options because they would be "in the signal path" But in fact, even though they have a fixed value, the Einstein still has a gain stage, and a loading resistor that's "in the signal path". You just don't get to choose its value.
I just looked at the Einstein website, and to me it appears that their two voltage drive phono preamps do have adjustable input impedance through plug in resistors on the rear panel.
@@SonicFlare I think we've beaten this one to death now, but let me try one more time. @ 25.30 you talk about how "the gain stage, the capacitance, the impedance etc etc are all in the signal path" and then say that the Einstein takes a more "purist" approach by not having these things in the signal path. But that's nonsense. The Einstein does have a gain stage, and a loading resistor that are both in the signal path. (the capacitance adjustment is only for the moving magnet input) It just doesn't give you any way to adjust them. The only difference in the signal path is perhaps a relay to switch between loading resistors and gain sections. If you had said the Einstein is more "purist" because it doesn't put a relay in the signal path, that would have been more accurate.
Great review with clear and precise explanations! My Phasemation EA-320 phono stage (similar price) doesn't have any manual adjustments (just MM/MC - Mono/Stereo) so I'm kind of stuck with Phasemation cartridges... Thanks!
@@SonicFlare The Phasemation EA-1200 is the best phonostage I've ever heard, unfortunately slightly out of my budget so I opted for a Zanden Model 120 that I received last month, and I love it !
Why they offer such high capacitance loadings I don't know. In my experience, phono leads struggle to have low enough capacitance for most situations in the first place, let alone adding hundreds more pF.....
Moonriver makes two products, in Sweden no less... the 404 integrated amplifier and the 505 phono amplifier, reviewed here at SonicFlare Studio A.
Let's take a dive into the world of Moonriver...
Available through fine dealers worldwide!
💰 Suggested retail price: USD $5,999- / 5,000- EUR
Moonriver website:
moonriveraudio.com
🍿 Popcorn time!
01:52 pipes or cigars?
03:32 review intro - Moonriver 505
10:19 construction
14:02 sound quality
27:20 conclusion & final thoughts
🎻 Equipment currently setup in Studio A:
EINSTEIN The Preamp einstein-audio.de
EINSTEIN The Last Record Player, CD player
EINSTEIN The Perfect Pickup, MC current sensing phono
EINSTEIN The Poweramp, hybrid Circlotron dual-mono amplifier
EMMlabs MTRS, solid state stereo amplifier www.emmlabs.com
EMMlabs DS-EQ1, optical cartridge "energizer" x 2
Meitner MA3, DAC + Streamer
Kuzma XL Air + Safir, turntable + arm www.kuzma.si
Bergmann Galder Signature + Odin, turntable + arm bergmannaudio.com
ReVox H1 Cassette tape deck
Telefunken M15A reel to reel tape machine x 2
Nagra IV-S reel to reel tape machine www.nagraaudio.com
Wilson Audio Sasha V www.wilsonaudio.com
Wilson Audio Loke x 2
DeVore Fidelity O/96 devorefidelity.com
SonoruS Audio proximity bass controller sonorusaudio.com
Tascam DA1000, A/D converter + digital recorder
QNAP 8 bay 32TB NAS
Tidal, Apple Music streaming services
Audirvana Studio media playback app audirvana.com
eero Pro 6 WiFi network
🎼 Cables used in Studio A:
Black Cat Cable blackcatcable.com
Graceline L3, speaker + interconnect
LessLoss C-MARC Classic power cables www.lessloss.com
🔈 Music used for evaluation -
Freddie Hubbard - Keep Your Soul Together
Kruder & Dorfmeister - Conversions
Randy Travis - Storms Of Life
Black Uhuru - Chill Out
Oscar Peterson & Nelson Riddle
Nucleus - Alley Cat
La Planete Sauvage
Brian Eno - Apollo 2 LP
Ahmad Jamal - Chamber Music Of The New Jazz
Duke Ellington - Indigos (2024 65th anniversary IMPEX reissue)
📝 About SonicFlare
Danny Kaey has been a published audio and HiFi reviewer for almost 25 years in online and printed publications in the US, Canada and Europe. In the hobby for over 40 years, his tastes have varied through the decades, though now have settled for what music is all about: dynamics, slam, resolving power and tonality. DK believes that like many personally experienced tastes, there are many flavors to HiFi, though in all cases HiFi should aim to replicate music as closely as possible.
🤩 If you like this channel and content please help support me by liking and subscribing here on UA-cam and Instagram.
Instagram: instagram.com/sonicflare/
Please DM me with inquiries for future reviews or interviews.
#audio #music #hifi #stereo #records #sonicflare
Thanks so much for watching this episode, Have I finally found my golden super amp? Cheers!
Great Sunday review / show and tell! Planete sauvage is a great sonic treat.
🎯😎
Hi it’s Craig messaging from Spain on my Wife’s UA-cam account to say I love the videos and particularly this one with the pipe. My Grandfather smoked a pipe and I still love the smell of his preferred backy as he called it which was either Murray’s Erinmore or Balkan Sobranie. I’ve actually bought myself a pipe and some Erinmore to have with a single malt. I think I will once my system is set up again. 🎵🙏🏻
Love it! Cheers and enjoy your pipe!
Try the Greece Lab12 melto2. Input and settings are similar to the 505. soundwise? I didn’t hear the 505 but your words meant for me that both are in the same direction.
I have the Lab12 melto2 for three years much more better than an EAR 834 what I had before - much more. But not that good like my phono stage built in Backes&Müller ICE 525. That’s a killer. If you are looking for a Line stage with DAC and Phono under 13k that’s the way to go.
Great review! By the time you got to the end of all the features I thought this unit would be costing way more than it actually does... Still a little bit more than what I'm looking for, but I love the versatility and look of this thing.
Agreed - fully featured and reasonably priced!
Yes, got a Peterson system pipe and the other is my grandfather’s Parker London from the 60’s. My pick for the best summer tobacco is Rattray’s Exotic passion. 😉🍷
Mom and dad smoked cigarettes in 60's. Mom started spitting blood she quit after the doctor told her you could quit or die . Dad took up pipe as less chemicals. Then, eventually, quit early 70's.
Phono I use an old Technics phono stage as my NAD hasn't got one.
I was using a Kenwood but it had some transformer buzz.
Buzzzzzzzzzzz. It kills the joy, doesn't it. Glad you solved it with Technics! Pipe are cool. Cheers!
Hey Danny i use MM cartridges mostly , for now a Grace F9 with a ruby catilever through my Mcintosh MA7000 intergrated phono stage, what do you think the biggestes deffernce would be?
I am also going to try the Sumiko Blackbird HO....
Speak soon.
Ha! I think a few things... 1. lower noise floor (hum, hash, etc.) which will immediately result in more and better dynamics. 2. big increase in detail and just overall "more" sound; 3. with 4 inputs you can futz around to your heart's content... While the McIntosh phono is decent, this will be a revelation for sure. Thanks for tuning in!
From the given price that is one very nice designed product and they really got it with that powerful psu and dual mono which reminds me about my own Accuphase C47 albeit double the money. Try it out but be aware the C47 takes +350 hours to break in otherwise you will never hear it in its full splendor as it is night and day from 0 hour.
Good to know! Cheers! 🥂
@@SonicFlare Try it! Fully balanced which makes a good difference to SE at least on input.
Thanks for a great review - i like your tak om purism in the end. I use a Holfi SuperBattriaa with batteries in PSU. VERY purist - and very quiet and costummade for my Hana SL by Peter Holstein.
Purism... it's the antithesis to the Moonriver and similar designs! Cheers!
Great video Danny! Greeney here from Portland. I smoke a 20yr old Savinelli pipe. It’s called the “Gandalf” and Is a bit of a collectors item as Saveinelli got into some legal battles with lord of the rings. I smoke it while listening through my Meitner DS energizer!
Cheers mate, pipes galore! Meitner rocks! Analog for life.
I wonder if the would consider making a single input version with all the same facilities? Or a two input version? I like what’s on offer and a slimmed down version would be a super product. The styling is so appealing! It’s not crazy priced for what it is either.
Great question - I doubt it. Then again, who knows! I have been asking to add an optical cartridge input!
Great review! Used to smoke a pipe... Usually el cheapo corn cob pipes with different types of aromatic tobaccos, most of which were variations of Black Cavendish or Black Cavendish + Virginia tobacco. After my cancer diagnosis (not tobacco related), I've abstained from using tobacco, but I get why people love it.
My favorite phono preamps are from Jim Hagerman of Hagerman Audio Labs. Unparalleled bang for the buck and he still carries kits for DIYers. Maybe we'll see you do a review of his TOTL Trumpet MC at some point? It's a fraction of the cost of the Moonriver and I'm guessing (based on his other phono preamps) sounds fantastic. Jim is also offers lots of wonderful information on his page AND publishes his schematics. Wish others did that as well. Cheers!!
Oh no, sorry to hear about your cancer! Well wishes my friend.
Heard of Jim's stuff a bunch of times, you are right, I should request a review of his gear... thanks for the tip! Stay tuned...
@@SonicFlare Sorry, should have mentioned that diagnosis and treatment was years ago. Doing well now, but thank you for the well wishes.
Yes, definitely check out the Hagerman Labs gear. Jim and I chat from time to time, so I'd be happy to help facilitate that now that you have Studio A rollin.🥳👍 Just let me know.
@@terrywho22 that would be great!!! Thank you!!! 🙏🏼
@@SonicFlare Sure thing! Best to use icloud mail or other method for communication? (sorry for being cryptic... YT is blocking my replies.)
@terrywho22 ya - that’s fine, or you can DM me on Instagram
I have a Parasound JC3+ phono pre. Absolutely love it. But I wish it would have more more than 1 input for multiple tonearms
Yep, it’s convenient for sure, though, again, all these switches and adjustments are in the signal path!
Ha. Remember me asking about the Moonriver 505 and the Soulnote E2 last year? I went for the Soulnote because it also opens the door for an optical cartridge in my budget range. It would be great if you get your hands on this one as well. Would be great to hear your thoughts on it.
Too funny, YES!!! Soulnote I a little difficult to get a hold of here... I'll try!
@1:10 New Ring Tone! Thanks!
Get out! Ha! Love it.
I'm confused by your final point. I don't think the comparison to tone controls is accurate. The options don't add any additional circuitry. All phono stages have a resistive load, a capacitive load (for moving magnet), and gain. The difference is that while the Einstein only gives you one setting for each of those parameters, the Moonriver offers several options so you can match it more accurately to the cartridge. Unless you are saying that the switching hardware needed to select between the various options is damaging the signal, I don't see where your argument lies.
That’s exactly it - the switching is all in the signal path. How much does it degrade the sound? Who knows. The only way you would be able to tell for certain is if Moonriver where to make a model without switchable stages. Which of course will never happen.
@@SonicFlare I'm still not getting it. At 25.50 you say that Einstein doesn't include any loading or gain options because they would be "in the signal path" But in fact, even though they have a fixed value, the Einstein still has a gain stage, and a loading resistor that's "in the signal path". You just don't get to choose its value.
I just looked at the Einstein website, and to me it appears that their two voltage drive phono preamps do have adjustable input impedance through plug in resistors on the rear panel.
Correct - so what is the confusion then?
@@SonicFlare I think we've beaten this one to death now, but let me try one more time. @ 25.30 you talk about how "the gain stage, the capacitance, the impedance etc etc are all in the signal path" and then say that the Einstein takes a more "purist" approach by not having these things in the signal path. But that's nonsense. The Einstein does have a gain stage, and a loading resistor that are both in the signal path. (the capacitance adjustment is only for the moving magnet input) It just doesn't give you any way to adjust them. The only difference in the signal path is perhaps a relay to switch between loading resistors and gain sections. If you had said the Einstein is more "purist" because it doesn't put a relay in the signal path, that would have been more accurate.
Great review with clear and precise explanations! My Phasemation EA-320 phono stage (similar price) doesn't have any manual adjustments (just MM/MC - Mono/Stereo) so I'm kind of stuck with Phasemation cartridges... Thanks!
Thanks much! I try. I fail often. LOL! Heard good things about Phasemation!
@@SonicFlare The Phasemation EA-1200 is the best phonostage I've ever heard, unfortunately slightly out of my budget so I opted for a Zanden Model 120 that I received last month, and I love it !
@@jbcasalta8622 Slick! Enjoy!
@@SonicFlare thank you Danny !;)
The Peterson Deluxe Navy Rolls!
Ok I had to laugh. I was curious if you were going to catch that you said 'cartridge'. Good catch!!!
😝
Why they offer such high capacitance loadings I don't know. In my experience, phono leads struggle to have low enough capacitance for most situations in the first place, let alone adding hundreds more pF.....
Fair point - what's it all mean in the end? Who knows.
Functionality similar to that of Cyrus Signature
Haven’t heard it - speaking of… I wonder how they are doing. Been a little quiet lately!
Smörebröd is danish :)
I knew I screwed up something!!! 😝
If you can sh.. money,go for it.🧐
all that smoke isn't good for your audio electronics 🤣🤣🤣
😝