2. amps-preamps
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Peachtree GaN 1 Beta

Before I start my post here is my current system for reference:

Auarlic Aries G1 --> Denafrips Terminator or SW1X DAC --> Audio GD HE1 XLR preamp or Sachs preamp --> various tube amps --> Cube Nenuphar Mini's w/ a pair of REL S510 subs. Cables and power conditioning commensurate with the rest of the system.

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As warmer months approach I have been looking for a cool running amp to replace my Line Magnetic LM-518 and other tube amps for a few months as they run pretty hot.

I've been interested in the GaN FET amps and just purchased a used LSA Voyager 350 Gan FET amp which I should receive in a few days. I've tried class D amps before and while they checked a lot of boxes I just didn't feel drawn in. However, I like to explore so I figured I'd try the GanFET and since the amp has zero feedback and my speakers seem to prefer amps with little or no feedback I figured it be worth checking out.

Today, Peachtree Audio sent out an email inviting users to a beta of their new Gan 1 amp. Here are some excerpts from their email:

 

What is the GaN 1?

In basic terms it is a 200 Watts-Per-Channel (WPC) Power Amplifier designed to be the sole interface between your digital audio device with a variable output, like a Bluesound NODE, and your speakers. The GaN 1 is a simple, pure and cost-effective audio solution: connect the GaN 1 to a streamer and a pair of speakers and you have an amazing Hi-Fi system. That's it...no DAC, no preamp and no input switching. The signal path from the music to your speakers is remarkably short and free of artifacts. Want to hear the intricate details in your music that have always been there, but you couldn't quite make them all out before? Then the GaN 1 is for you!

What makes the GaN 1 so special?

First and foremost is the GaN-FET amplifier module. It has several inherent advantages in a power amplifier that even the best MOS-FET designs simply cannot achieve. A GaN-FET power stage provides a precise high-power reproduction of the Class-D PWM signal with extremely high linearity. This linearity eliminates the need for ANY feedback, ultimately allowing for the best possible audio quality providing clean, clear middle and high frequencies and a tight, solid reproduction of low frequencies. GaN-FETs track the complex audio waveforms MUCH more accurately than MOS-FETs, resulting in significantly more transparent and natural sound. The difference is something even a casual listener can hear and appreciate. The GaN 1 is also designed so that it does NOT require a digital-to-analog-converter (DAC). The digital audio signal at the input directs the amplifier outputs to drive the speakers. Although DACs have continued to improve over the years, there is no DAC better than NO DAC! This concept is not new as similar devices known as "Power DACs" made quite a splash in our industry years ago. But this time around, by executing the concept with GaN-FETs, the bar is raised to an entirely new level.

Key Features at a Glance:
▪ 200 WPC state-of-the-art GaN-FET module
▪ ZERO feedback design
▪ Regulated 450-Watt power supply
▪ Coaxial S/PDIF input with native support up to 24-bit / 192kHz
▪ DAC-less design
▪ Power on/off trigger port
▪ All aluminum chassis
▪ No cooling fans

 

This sounded really interesting to me and since I have a good streamer I signed up for the amp beta only. One aspect that intrigues me is to create an extremely minimal signal path. My speakers are single driver, crossover-less design. Employing the GaN 1 will mean the system will be Auralic Aries --> GaN 1 --> Cube Nenuphar Mini's. Will that lead to a more engaging sound vs the full system? Will the Voyager GaN 350 outperform a tube amp in the full system? Who knows, should be fun to find out....

Now, I have no idea how either of these GaN FET amps will work with my speakers. The Cube Nenuphars seem to prefer amps with low damping and no negative feedback, which is more common with SET tube amps and Class A solid state amps. I'm not sure of the damping factor of the GaN FET amps, but both are Zero feedback designs, and both have way more wattage than I need. For reference, I have a 1.5 wpc 45 tube amp that sounds amazing with the Cubes, so high wattage is not required. I am interested though in what these amps will sound like compared to my tube amps, and I am particularly interested in what the streamer direct to amp Peachtree will sound like.

I am also looking to acquire a First Watt SIT-3, which is a great match with the Cubes, but now that they are no longer produced prices have gone above my current comfort level. If I can get one I will throw it into the experiment.

The Peachtree won't be shipped until sometime in June, or possibly later. In the meantime I will get the LSA Voyager in the next few days. I might even be able to get it hooked up this weekend so stay tuned, should be an interesting experiment...
abd1
kuribo
524 posts
 

LSA and Peachtree have been using the same GaN fet class d modules. No feedback and a very load dependent frequency response, just like the old Tripath class d amps from 25 years ago. Out of date design with the flavor of the month fet. Ask Peachtree for some frequency vs load data and compare to modern class d designs like Hypex, Purifi, etc., which are ruler flat...Pig with lipstick.

donnylovely
105 posts
 

You must be fun at parties.... It’s a different module. Maybe just listen to it instead. Who cares about load data and rulers? It sounds amazing. Stay ignorant my friend

lewinskih01
909 posts
 

Early in the year when this came up I tried to sign up as beta tester but unfortunately Peachtree wanted to limit to testers in the US, which I'm not. So I'm an interested follower in this thread.

@ricevs is overwhelmingly enthusiastic about this, and he's going in the direction I wanted to experiment. I have an active 4-way system with DIY speakers, software-based digital crossover, time-aligned, etc. My midbasses have been driven by Hypex UcD400 for some years and it's time for a change so I've been looking into the new GaN amps in the cheaper range and the GaN1 beta trial came up. From reading user comments from LSA and Peachtree GaN400 and Atma-Sphere's I've been wondering if they might replace my tubed McIntosh MC275 in the midrange also. This could lead to placing a GaN1 inside each speaker and drive midrange and midbass with separate channels (plus a cleaner look with the amps inside the speaker). Top end for now would be left to my Yamamoto 45-type SET driving AMT tweeters, but maybe the rest could be turned to GaN1.

@ricevs when you envision a system with digital xo and digital cables going straight to the multiple GaN1 in an active setup, which piece of equipment are you thinking about to distribute digital signals? Something like a Focusrite RedNet handling digital-in thru ethernet and digital out to GaN1s?

Today I have a Lynx Hilo that receives 8 digital channels thru USB, outputs 6 analog and 2 digital into a MiniDSP 2x4HD that handles the subs optimized with MSO. I had been thinking of replacing the Hilo with a Merging Hapi for multiple DAC channels, but this discussion is making me revisit and maybe I'll need something different if I went down this path.

 

Will be looking forward to more comments from beta testers. Keep them coming please!

lanx0003
768 posts
 
@chrisld - Next I used the iFi Zen Stream (running from linear PSU) direct to the GaN1 and the Stream-iFi app to control the volume. The sound is stunning. It is so transparent, dynamic and enjoyable that it beats my much more expensive system. My class AB amps have a higher power rating, but you would never know it from the way the GaN1 sounds. The control is that good. I wonder what the damping factor is.\

I wonder myself too but, since the Gan1 menu is not even out, there seems no way to find out for the time being.  I guess its DF won't be high especially at the low freq. because of the "zero" neg. feedback.  In general, low neg. feedback -> low output impedance -> low DF.  The Gan400 has low neg. feedback and its DF at 1k hz is reported as merely 230ish.  This is usually translated to low DF at low end freq.  But the number does not matter if "the control is that good."  I am tempted.

I have seen the critique for Tact Millennium saying the top end sounds a bit too much energy, agreesive not too natural.  That gets me thinking about the bright sometime edgy sound characteristic of the traditional Class D amp (or digital amp whatever you call it).  Is it the case here?  I guess not due to the merging modern Class D technology made twenty years later.  Could you confirm? 

kuribo
524 posts
 

You must be fun at parties.... It’s a different module. Maybe just listen to it instead. Who cares about load data and rulers? It sounds amazing. Stay ignorant my friend

@donnylovely

 

Different module, still no feedback. Perhaps if you knew why load dependent frequency response is relevant you wouldn’t be making such ignorant and rude comments. Here’s why: when amps have load dependent frequency response, they don’t sound the same with varying loads. What that means is they can sound different not only across the frequency spectrum with one’s speakers, but can sound different when used with different speakers. There is thus no guarantee that they will sound "amazing" with any or every speaker, disregarding the differences in tastes amongst listeners. Therefore, one can take the impressions of listeners here with less than the usual grain of salt.

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