Monsieur John Poulin

Not content to simply rest on his laurels following the critical success of the W-5, SimAudio's chief designer, John Poulin, set out to further refine the circuit at the heart of his flagship amplifier and, while not significant enough to warrant a model number change or even Mk.II status, these changes are said to have taken the W-5's already impressive performance up a notch or two.Such circuit changes are significant in the current context because, according to Monsieur Poulin, many (if not all) of them have trickled their way down to the W-3.Poulin goes so far as to suggest that, in some respects, the W-3 outperforms the original W-5.
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The latest revisions to the Renaissance circuit at work in the W-3 resulted in noticeably better low-level resolution relative to the original W-5 (John Poulin informs me that owners of the W-5 can have their amplifiers brought up to the latest specification with little trouble).

Luckily for Simaudio, John Poulin (President and Director of Research & Development) has an extensive background in transformers from his experiences in the Telecommunications industry, where leading edge technologies are often developed and/or used.

The current company president, John Poulin, took over about four years ago.Celeste products are marketed around the world through a network of dealers.
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John Poulin states that his tests conducted with expensive capacitors didn't result in better sound quality or even come close to the reality delivered by the final no-cap version of the Moon.He also says that there is a price to pay-an audible pop when the unit is turned on/off and at certain points when changing the gain.He discovered that carbon-based parts, such as resistors, potentiometers, insulation material, PCB, silicone devices etc. all interfere with the purity of the signal, and that the decision to accept the small "pops" represents the only limitation.

In 1993 Sima left the company to pursue other interests, leaving partner John Poulin at the helm.
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While many designers rely on at least some degree of global feedback in order to maintain acceptable levels of distortion and ensure amplifier stability, John Poulin (and others before him) believes firmly that global feedback is to be avoided if an amplifier is to exhibit realistic transient response.
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Its design and construction reflect John Poulin and SimAudio's unwavering commitment to the highest level of musical reproduction.John Poulin's goal to produce a highly musical and competitive, yet relatively affordable, product has most assuredly been met.Indeed, if it can be said that amplifier design is an art, then Monsieur Poulin is a master of the Renaissance.

SimAudio's John Poulin was on his home turf to show off his lovely Celeste Moon series of components.The terrific Moon W-5 power amplifier, in conjunction with the Moon P-5 preamplifier and PS-5 outboard power supply, was driving a pair of Meadowlark Heron loudspeakers.

John Poulin, Simaudio's CEO, took such comments too heart and decided to design and build a more expensive product which offers upscale sound at a reasonable price - the Moon Series of components.

Current company president John Poulin bought Simaudio about five years ago and since then has developed the Moon series for the audiophile market.
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According to Poulin, intermodulation distortion, far more damaging than THD, is virtually non-existent.
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Poulin decided to minimize signal path obstacles by using a passive circuit for the preamplification section.This circuit is void of both carbon-based parts (resistors, pots, etc.) and capacitors which adversely affect the signal by introducing coloration and a nuance of inaccuracy.

The Moon i-5 gain stage results from an intensive research and development program.Poulin settled on an electronic component manufactured by Crystal.
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Poulin opted for the Crystal devise to save space inside the Moon i-5.

Here John Poulin (front) of SimAudio along with Ofra and Eli Gershman (back) of Gershman Acoustics cool their heels in the hall -- and another showgoer enters.

Not content to simply rest on his laurels following the critical success of the W-5, SimAudio's chief designer, John Poulin, set out to further refine the circuit at the heart of his flagship amplifier and, while not significant enough to warrant a model number change or even Mk.II status, these changes are said to have taken the W-5's already impressive performance up a notch or two.Such circuit changes are significant in the current context because, according to Monsieur Poulin, many (if not all) of them have trickled their way down to the W-3.Poulin goes so far as to suggest that, in some respects, the W-3 outperforms the original W-5.
...
The latest revisions to the Renaissance circuit at work in the W-3 resulted in noticeably better low-level resolution relative to the original W-5 (John Poulin informs me that owners of the W-5 can have their amplifiers brought up to the latest specification with little trouble).