Neo 230HAD

About the Neo 230HAD

The Moon by Simaudio Neo 230HAD is a versatile fusion product that functions as a headphone amplifier, DSD DAC, and line-level preamplifier. It supports PCM audio up to 384kHz/32-bit and DSD up to DSD256 via USB, with SPDIF inputs supporting up to 192kHz/24-bit PCM. The unit features a single-ended headphone amplifier capable of delivering 1W into 50 ohms and 200mW into 300 ohms, suitable for headphones ranging from 20 to 600 ohms impedance. It has two pairs of RCA outputs (fixed and variable), a ¼” headphone output, and a 3.5mm analog input. The chassis measures 7" wide by 3" high by 11" deep, with a curved front panel and a large volume knob. It includes a Moon CRM-2 remote control for input selection, volume, and power. The Neo 230HAD uses a pure analog transconductance amplifier design powered by a 10VA toroidal transformer with 13,200µF capacitance and eight stages of DC voltage regulation. It offers a frequency response of 20Hz–20kHz ±0.1dB and full-range response of 5Hz–100kHz +0/-3dB. The signal-to-noise ratio is 115dB at full output, with distortion below 0.005%. This model is a simplified, more affordable alternative to the flagship 430HAD, omitting features like balanced amplification, user-adjustable gain, and crossfeed circuitry, but retaining much of the sonic character and performance.