Retro but not retrograde | Moonriver 404 Review in TED French magazine by Michel Dallaire
"When an amplifier sounds good, it doesn't take hours of listening to realize it. Moonriver 404 is one of the few exceptions of which you can sit down and immediately stop asking questions as both a music lover and an audiophile. It has not often happened in my work as an audio columnist that a device forces me to put aside my analysis mode and simply let myself be immersed in the music. Moonriver 404 Integrated Amplifier is one of those exceptions and even though it seems to go against the grain in its design, it is based on sound and timeless values that do nothing but do the music justice.
The 404 is superbly made, easily repairable and its user interface is one of the easiest to use. Despite its modest power, it packs a punch and its sound is simply sublime for its price category. This is yet another device that I have to repack with a twinge of heart! But as my mother often told me, you can't have everything in life".
A comprehensive amplifier | Moonriver Audio 404 Reference extensive review in Hi-AV Chinese magazine by Liao Feisen
"Taking a $6700 integrated amplifier as an example, the Moonriver Audio Model 404 Reference's performance in terms of music texture, solidity, smoothness , macro and micro-dynamics is indeed beyond expectations and beyond value.
The 404 Reference has a dense texture in violins, violas, cellos, double basses and other string groups. The richness, fullness and luster of various wind instruments are surprising and the energy is sufficient.
In addition, its body positioning is extremely precise and does not rush forward, and the usual timpani thump is also solid and stable. The output power of the Moonriver Audio Model 404 Reference is only 50 watts but the power supply delivers a really solid drive, first-class control".
Read the whole review here translated in English
Gentle and moist sound | Moonriver 404 Reference Review in Audio Forum magazine by Hong Ruifeng
"As the time runs and stretches, the 404 Reference is getting more and more comprehensive. The low-frequency timbre definitely forms a school by itself. While playing the song "Queen", a rhythmic kick drum in the opening, was never heard like this. It allows me to hear the very subtle sound of the musician hitting the drumhead. The low frequencies were bouncing shockingly and the sound was more pliable than ever before. Firm, drum-skinned texture, like real, shocking waves in the air.
The guitar performance and the bass sound even more lively. The 404 Reference reveals layer by layer the low-frequencies, and enriches the sound. It's the most "human" sound I've heard recently".
Download the review in Chinese
Love for Music | Moonriver Audio 404 Reference review in Audio Home Theater S. Korean magazine by Kim Nam
"No matter what kind of music you play, the richness, dignifiedness, and stability stand out. The realism of vocals and piano, and the majesty and resolution of the large arrangement are also commendable. Visual satisfaction and sound quality are all grade A".
Read the whole review here translated in English
Top Naturalness | Moonriver Audio 404 Reference review in Sound & Vision HiFi Greek magazine by Paris Kotsis
"Consequently, it delivers the most organic tone we have heard from transistors, regardless of price. The 404 Reference has the freest and clearest flow we've ever heard from a solid state amplifier. The most natural regeneration of the attack and the erasure, the most realistic performance of the duration and the way each note beats.
It does not impose anything "by force", but it releases everything in the recording and the speakers like this very much since they seem to bring out their best, especially in the transitional ones. The loads play calmer, fuller and more open under the guidance of the Moonriver Audio, they completely lose their excessive brilliance which is replaced by information but they never darken, since the amplifier is completely flat."
Read the whole review here translated in English
MOONRIVER AUDIO 404 WON THE INTEGRATED AMPLIFIER OF THE YEAR AWARD (UP TO £10,000) 2021 BY HiFI+ MAGAZINE
Chris Thomas (the reviewer): “It just flew out of the traps with a confident musical message that just grew and grew. Even from cold it took very little time to get into its stride and after an hour or so I stopped thinking that it could ever sound out of its depth. It was shockingly good but also incredibly charming in its musical style. Tonally, its balance is about perfect. It is both fast and slow as the need arises but the one thing that shines out is the feeling of musical textures that it brings into the room plus the way it allows the music to unfold time-wise without ever sounding rushed or stressed".
Read more in the attached PDF:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1H-9moOKNGmf5DiYgCO5mY4Tm05VHJwv9/view?usp=sharing
Dreammaker & Heartbreaker | Moonriver Audio 404 review in Dutch Hifi Magazine "Music Emotion" by Ruud Jonker
"The Moonriver sounds neutral, very spacious, dynamically very well and has a beautiful focus and detail. Timeless, durable and affordable.
What is inspiring about Moonriver is that it's a beautifully built amp, with excellent performance, an amount of meaningful functionality, reliability, understandable user interface and a long expected life".
Fine-tuned acoustic minimalism! | Moonriver Audio 404 Reference review in Swedish Hifi & Musik magazine by Mats Meyer-Lie
"The 404 Reference model managed to expose fine micro-details and creative, breathtaking depth, towards a calm, quiet and velvet-black background.
This little class AB amplifier delivers all the spellbinding realism and truly tangible sense of presence that usually reserved in low power (expensive!) amplifiers with minimum of components in the signal path. Yes, the cliché ”less is more” is more appropriate when the Model 404 Reference wraps you in an airy, acoustic magic.
The new 404 Reference delivers dynamic resilience and shocking realism that only few offer in the price range".
Applause Award! Moonriver Audio 404 Reference review in Stereonet by James Michael Hughes
"I was immediately impressed by the warmth and weight of the overall sound; the strong and clear bass, plus the sweet richness of Joni Mitchell's voice. The dense layering of background vocals and synthesizers was amazing. I sensed the relaxed ease and fullness you get from good tube designs, but with the immediacy and detail found in the best solid-state models.
The combination of responsiveness, transparency, and a certain relaxed ease makes the 404 Reference musically rewarding to listen to.
I reckon Moonriver Audio's 404 Reference must be one of the best integrated amplifiers currently available. It delivers an outstandingly clear, dynamic, and full-bodied sound, with great timing, plus levels of clarity and refinement that few rival regardless of cost approach. I absolutely loved it. [...] A veritable wolf in sheep's clothing, it offers a monstrous musical performance".
Read the full review here:
https://www.stereonet.co.uk/reviews/moonriver-404-reference-integrated-amplifier-review
Download a PDF version:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1as1SRgM_ed12wvl4U5V4q2dt89R_08k2/view?usp=sharing
Moonriver Audio 404 review in Alpha Audio magazine by Geoffrey Van Houwaert
"The Moonriver Audio 404 integrated amplifier sounds fantastic. It’s the kind of amplifier you’ve always been looking for. For it possesses the perfect balance of insight and commitment. It is full of temperament and has no intention of playing second fiddle. It plays big with balls and is not at all ashamed of it. In addition, there is transparency and refinement to the point where we get a very complete reproduction. It brings every piece of music regardless of genre with conviction and gusto.
The soundstage is 3D and wide and deep. Not the ultimate soundstage that more expensive components achieve but very good indeed. Engaging, organic, impactful, colorful (not colored), transparent, dynamic, textured, delicate, timbre and vibrant. These are just a few of the adjectives we’ve penned down during our countless listening sessions over the past few weeks. Words are almost insufficient to describe this wonderful amplifier. As far as we are concerned the Moonriver really plays above his class and we do not say that often".
Read the full review here:
https://alpha-audio.net/review/review-moonriver-audio-404-geintegreerde-versterker/