SimAudio ACE NEO Owner's Manual
ACE Series
All-in-One
Owner’s Manual
ACE Nēo Series
Owner’s Manual
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 groundingtype 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. Unplug mains cord during
transportation.
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.
FCC information for MOON ACE ALL-in-One equipped with the Qualcomm® aptX
Streamer module:
This unit contains Transmitter Module FCC ID : SSSBC127-X and Transmitter Module FCC ID : ZUCSEDMP3. This device complies with
part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and
(2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
TM
audio for Bluetooth module and MiND Music
ACE Nēo Series
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 Nēo ACE All-in-One.
1. ALWAYS disconnect your entire system from
the AC mains before connecting or
disconnecting any cables, or when cleaning any
component. To completely disconnect this
apparatus from the AC mains, disconnect the
power supply cord plug from the AC receptacle.
2. The
3. AC extension cords are NOT recommended for
4. NEVER use flammable or combustible
5. NEVER operate the
Nēo ACE must be terminated with a three-
conductor AC mains power cord which includes
an earth ground connection. To prevent shock
hazard, all three connections must ALWAYS be
used. Connect the
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
use with this product. The mains plug of the
power supply cord shall remain readily
accessible.
chemicals for cleaning audio components.
Nēo ACE only to an AC
Nēo ACE 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 Nēo ACE with any
liquid. If a liquid substance does enter your
ACE, immediately disconnect it from the AC
mains and take it to your MOON dealer for a
complete check-up.
7. NEVER spill or pour liquids directly onto the
Nēo ACE.
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
problem occurs contact your MOON dealer.
12. NEVER expose the
or low temperatures.
13. NEVER operate the Nēo ACE in an explosive
atmosphere.
14. ALWAYS keep electrical equipment out of
reach of children.
15. ALWAYS unplug sensitive electronic
equipment during lightning storms.
16. WARNING: Do not expose batteries or battery
pack to excessive heat such as sunshine, or fire
or the like.
Nēo ACE to extremely high
Nēo ACE. If a
Nēo
Owner’s Manual
Introduction 6
Unpacking 7
Installation
7
Front Panel Controls
8
Phono Input 9
Digital Inputs 9
Software Setup
12
Rear Panel Connections
25
SimLink™
6
Ope
6
Remote Control Operation
7
Troubleshooting
9
Specifications
30
Quick Reference: Setup Menus
Appendix
Table of Contents
& Placement
2
rating the Nēo ACE
2
2
2
www.simaudio.com
Simaudio Ltd., 1345 Newton Road
Boucherville, Québec J4B 5H2 CANADA
Date Code: 20170619
ACE Nēo Series
Introduction
Thank you for selecting the MOON Nēo ACE All-in-One
as a part of your music/cinema system. This component
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
amongst the very finest All-in-Ones available. We have
been building high-performance audio equipment for
over 35 years, and the know-how gained through our
cumulative experience is an important reason why
MOON products are so musically satisfying.
The performance of your Nēo ACE 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 All-in-One.
Before setting up your new ACE, we encourage you to
please read this manual thoroughly to properly
acquaint yourself with its features. We hope you enjoy
listening to the Nēo ACE All-in-One 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
Your Nēo ACE All-in-One incorporates many significant
design features to achieve its “world class” level of
performance. This is an abbreviated list of the more
important features:
Fully asynchronous DAC supports native DSD64, DSD128
and DSD256 (USB only) and PCM up to 32-bit/384kHz
including DXD (USB only)
“MiND” (MOON intelligent Network Device) module for
streaming; Includes TIDAL and vTuner Music Services.
3 line-level inputs including a front-mounted 1/8” mini-jack
for personal media players.
Seven (7) digital inputs includes USB (hi-res audio), SPDIF (2),
Optical (2), Bluetooth® with Qualcomm® aptX
and MiND (via WiFi and Ethernet).
Moving magnet phono input for a turntable.
Headphone output on 1/4” jack located on the front panel.
Seamless integration with our MiND app.
OLED type screen (organic light-emitting diode) which
provides much more detailed information.
Simple MiND setup via on-board software menu.
Analog inputs are configurable to “HT BYPASS” mode to
accommodate components like a home-theater processor,
whose own volume control is used. This is sometimes referred
to as a “pass-through” input.
Configurable “Standby” modes that will reduce your power
consumption.
DSD Streaming via USB input and over ethernet through the
MiND module.
RS-232 port for (i) full unsolicited bidirectional feedback and
(ii) firmware updates; IR input for external control with
aftermarket infrared remote control receivers and SimLinkTM
controller ports that allow for 2-way communications
between other MOON components.
Rigid chassis construction to minimize the effects of external
vibrations.
TM
audio support,
6
Owner’s Manual
‘CRM
‘
This owner’s manual
Quick reference guide
Warranty and product registration information (USA and Canada only)
Unpacking
The Nēo ACE should be removed from its box with care.
The following accessories should be included inside the box with your All-in-One:
AC power cable
Wi-Fi antenna
1 spare fast-blow fuse
-3’ remote control with two ‘CR-2032’ batteries
SimLink™’ cable
Once the Nēo ACE is unpacked, inspect it thoroughly and report any damage to your dealer immediately. We
suggest that you keep all of the original packaging, storing it in a safe, dry place in case you’re required to
transport this product. The customized packaging is specially designed to protect the ACE from any potential
damage during transit.
Please write the serial number of your new Nēo ACE in the space provided below for future reference.
Serial Number
Installation & Placement
The Nēo ACE requires reasonable ventilation to
maintain an optimum and consistent operating
temperature since it will radiate heat. Consequently, it
should be placed in a location with empty space around
it for proper heat dissipation. Maintain a minimum of 4
inches of free space on each side and back, and 9 inches
on top. You should never place another component on
top of this unit nor block the vents. Air must be
permitted to pass freely through. As well, it 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 its
performance and reliability. The ACE uses a toroidal
transformer; even though it is well shielded, you should
not place it too close to source components sensitive to
EMI, such as turntables.
Your Nēo ACE is equipped with the “MiND” Music
Streamer. If you plan to use its wireless streaming
feature (between your wireless router and your ACE),
you must install the included Wi-Fi antenna on the back
panel by screwing it into the socket labelled “WIFI ANT”.
Since your Nēo ACE is equipped with the
“MiND” Music Streamer, please visit our
website to download a PDF version of the
“MiND App User Guide”
If you intend to use the Nēo ACE’s USB input
connection (PCM or DSD) with a Windowsbased computer, you will need to install our
USB HD DSD driver, which can be downloaded
from the support section of our website.
Note: Apple-based computers don’t require this
driver.
7
ACE Nēo Series
Front Panel Controls
Figure 1: Nēo ACE Front panel
The front panel will look similar to Figure 1 (above). The “Standby” button places the unit into Standby mode; You
can configure this to your own preferences– refer to the “Power Settings” section of the “Software Setup”. When
switching from “Standby” to the “on” mode (i) Five (5) seconds of animation will appear in the display prior to the
ACE being ready for use and (ii) The blue indicator LED will illuminate unless you have programmed it differently
using the “SETUP” software.
The “Mute” button mutes the output signal to all
outputs. Pressing the “Mute” button a second time will
reinstate the volume back to its previous level. Below
are two (2) screen capture images that demonstrate
what appears on the display during muting and
immediately after unmuting the output signal:
The “Display” button allows you to adjust the brightness
of the large 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 high.
Pressing the “Display” button once will decrease the
level to the low setting. Pressing the button again will
increase the brightness to the medium setting. Pressing
the “Display” button a third time returns the display to
its default setting of high. 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 briefly
whenever you press any of the buttons located on the
front panel or the remote control, using the previously
set brightness level; 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.
The two (2) buttons labeled “ Input ” allow you to
sequentially scroll, either forward “” or backward “”
through all eleven (11) inputs. These inputs are ordered
as follows going forward (): “OPTICAL 1”, “OPTICAL 2”,
“SPDIF 1”, “SPDIF 2”, “USB”, “MiND”, “BLUETOOTH”,
“ANALOG 1”, “ANALOG 2”, “PHONO” and “MP IN”. The
display window will show the currently selected input.
Each type of input has a uniquely respresentative icon,
located to the left of the input name, to help clearly
identify it. Here are examples of these aforementioned
inputs. Note: The two (2) OPTICAL, two (2) SPDIF and
two (2) ANALOG inputs each use the same type of icons:
8
Owner’s Manual
Unlike all other inputs, the “MP in” (for Media
Players) has its corresponding input connection
located on the front panel for easy access. It uses a
1/8” mini-jack connector which is the most
common type of connection found on portable
media players and most smart devices.
The “Setup” and “OK” buttons are used exclusively for
programming the numerous software functions
available on this All-in-One. The next section, entitled
“Software Setup”, explains their usage in full detail.
The “Phones” jack is used for connecting a pair of stereo
headphones to the ACE. The input connector is a
standard ¼” stereo TRS jack. When a pair of headphones
are connected to the ACE, both the loudspeakers and
the preamplifier/subwoofer outputs will stop receiving
a signal.
The rotary “volume” control ranges from ‘0.0’ (no
output) to ’80.0dB’ (full output). Within the 0.0 to 30.0dB
range the volume operates in 1.0dB steps. From the 30.0
to 80.0dB range the volume operates in 0.5dB steps.
When you adjust the volume, only the volume level will
appear on the center of the display in a larger format:
The two (2) ANALOG inputs, “MP in” and “PHONO”
inputs will only display their input name and volume
level when active:
Phono Input
The Nēo ACE is equipped with one analog “PHONO”
input for use with turntables equipped with a moving
magnet (MM) cartridge ONLY. You must remember to
connect your turntable’s grounding cable to the
grounding screw on the ACE’s rear panel; Refer to the
section “Rear Panel Connections” for details.
Digital Inputs
The Nēo ACE has a total of seven (7) “Digital Inputs”. Six
(6) inputs are wired: “USB”, two (2) optical , two (2) SPDIF
and Ethernet (for the MiND module). One (1) input is
wireless: Bluetooth® aptX®. The MiND module can also
operate wirelessly via WiFi. Each of these inputs will
appear in the front panel display when selected, along
with the digital audio signal’s sampling rate and other
information:
The “MiND” input name appears in the top left on the
display; Directly below is the icon to indicate the
track is currently playing, as opposed to the icon to
indicated the track is paused or the icon to indicate
the tracks has stopped playing. Below the icon is the
elapsed playing time of “00:12” for the current track. On
the bottom left corner is the track’s file format, in this
case “FLAC” followed by its sampling rate of “192kHz”.
9
ACE Nēo Series
The main body of the display shows the track name
“The Natives Are Restless” on the first line and the artist
name “Horace Silver” combined with the album name
“Song For My Father” on the second line. When the
length of this information exceeds the screen size, it will
continuously scroll from left to right.
Below the track information are two (2) icons – one each
for repeat mode and random mode - that will appear
only when either or both of these modes are active.
Repeat mode has two (2) variations: repeat the current
track in the MiND QUEUE and repeat the entire contents
of the MiND QUEUE. The number “1” will appear inside
the repeat icon when repeating the current track.
Random mode will play the contents of the MiND
QUEUE in a random order, as opposed to the order they
appear in the QUEUE. Please refer to the section
“Remote Control Operation” to learn how to activate
and deactivate these modes. The repeat and random
modes are ONLY applicable to the MiND input; They are
independant of each other; they can both be active at
the same time. Finally, the volume level “40.0” appears
in bottom right.
The other digital inputs – both “OPTICAL”, both “SPDIF“,
“USB” and “BLUETOOTH” - will only show the input
name, sampling rate and volume level in the display
window:
When the ACE cannot lock onto selected digital input’s
signal, “NO SIGNAL” will appear in the display instead of
the sampling rate:
The Nēo ACE is capable of processing a PCM digital
signal at any of the following eight (8) sampling rates:
44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz, 96kHz, 176.4kHz, 192kHz,
352.8kHz and 384kHz.
The Nēo ACE is also capable of processing a DSD digital
signal at any of the following three (3) data rates: DSD64
(2.82MHz), DSD128 (5.64MHz) and DSD256 (11.28MHz).
Notes: (i) DSD format signals can ONLY be played
through the USB input, except for DSD64 which
can also be played via the MiND module. (ii) PCM
format signals with sample-rates of 352.8kHz and
384kHz can ONLY be played through the USB
input. (iii) you cannot connect a USB flash drive or
external hard drive to the “USB” input.
Finally, the on-board MiND module is capable of
streaming PCM signals up to 24-bit/192kHz and DSD64.
10
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