MOON 861

Pre owned. In excellent condition. Free of visible signs of wear. Without original packaging.

The MOON 861 is a power amplifier that represents the evolution of the prestigious MOON 888, while integrating the innovative design philosophy of the North Collection. This amplifier delivers ultimate control and uncompromising sonic transparency, providing musical reproduction with extraordinary depth and timbral richness.

At the heart of the MOON 861 is the MDCA (MOON Distortion-Cancelling Amplifier) circuit, an advanced engineering technology that enables audio signal resolution with the highest level of detail and dynamics. Every musical nuance is reproduced with absolute purity, offering an immersive and precise listening experience.

The power supply is meticulously engineered, featuring two low-noise 1,500 VA MOON transformers and a total capacitance of 228,000 µF, ensuring thermal stability and consistent energy delivery even during the most complex musical passages. The dual-mono configuration delivers 300 watts per channel into 8 ohms in stereo mode, doubles at 4 ohms, and reaches 800 watts into 8 ohms in bridged mono mode, providing a massive power reserve.

The MOON 861 combines refined aesthetics with flawless construction, inheriting the exclusive character of the MOON 888. Its iconic front panel integrates a discreet LED indicator and MOONLink technology, allowing intuitive and immediate interaction. The amplifier’s specialized suspension feet, composed of O-rings, poron damping pads, and dense ABS contact points, ensure mechanical stability and vibration reduction, enabling placement on uneven surfaces without compromising performance.

The MOON 861 stands out for its extraordinary attention to setup, which can significantly affect sound quality. Experiments on different supports—from HRS stands to granite surfaces, or directly on low-pile carpet—demonstrated how optimal positioning can reveal the full timbral precision, dynamic range, and sonic depth this amplifier is capable of delivering.

MDCA technology eliminates all forms of global feedback, correcting distortion through a proprietary parallel circuit acting on the output signal. This keeps the audio path simple and free from unwanted side effects, reduces output impedance, and increases damping factor. The duplicated input for each channel allows real-time signal correction, resulting in faster, cleaner, and more precise amplification.

The rear panel provides comprehensive connectivity with balanced and unbalanced inputs, stereo/mono selector, AC/DC toggle, 12V trigger, network ports for firmware updates and MOONLink functionality, low-power standby switch, and 15A AC input. New Furutech terminals replace the previous WBT connectors, allowing a more secure connection for large spade cables.

The MOON 861 maintains an ultra-short signal path, minimal internal wiring, four-layer PCBs with 70 µ copper, polypropylene capacitors for local decoupling, and local regulators for noise reduction. Volume is controlled via a 43-step balanced relay attenuator, with only 1–2 resistors in series with the signal at all levels.

Paired with components of equivalent value, the MOON 861 delivers engaging, neutral, and balanced musical experiences, with dynamics, soundstage, and bass impact that confirm its status as a benchmark in high-end power amplifiers.

Technical specifications:

• Type: Dual-mono power amplifier, bridgeable to mono
• Inputs: Stereo pair balanced (XLR); single-ended (RCA); IEC 15A
• Outputs: Two pairs of spade-lug binding posts
• Output power: Stereo 300 W per channel @ 8Ω, 600 W per channel @ 4Ω; Mono 800 W @ 8Ω, 1400 W @ 4Ω
• Input sensitivity: 1.4 V for full rated output
• Input impedance: 47 kΩ
• Gain: 31 dB
• Frequency response: 2 Hz – 100 kHz (+0/–3 dB)
• Crosstalk: –119 dB
• THD: 0.002% @ 1 W; 0.001% @ 200 W
• IMD: 0.006%
• Signal-to-noise ratio: 119 dB
• Damping factor: 900
• Power consumption: 85 W idle; 75 W full-power standby; 1.25 W low-power standby
• Dimensions: 481 × 210 × 609 mm
• Weight: 55.6 kg