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
tweak1
3,651 posts
 

Apparently you aren't familiar with the giant leap in amplifier technology in the last 2 years- GaN amps. I have a LSA Voyager GaN 350, which is cool running and sonically seamless from top to bottom. Anyone saying otherwise is probably not using quality cables, or some piece of kit upstream is the problem, cause my experience using various cables including; speaker, power cords, interconnects and digital cable is the changes are immediately heard. And MSRP is $3000, but typically it's on sale for ~ $2400

ricevs
1,543 posts
 

Apparently you don’t know that the LSA Voyager and the Peachtree GaN400 are essentiallly the same amplifier. Both use the same amp boards and probably the same power supplies from EAS (Eleagant Audio Solutions). The LSA site says there are just a few Voyagers left....so maybe they are going to the digital input boards, as well.

The Peachtree GaN 1 is another board from EAS but it is a digital input only board. If you ask EAS which is better (the same board with analog input or the one with digital).....they will tell you the digital is better.....no op amps, no feedback...no DAC or preamp needed.......digital amps are the future of audio. You will see over the next five years more and more complanies going over to this. It is sonically the purest way of amplification.. The future is now with the GaN 1 and soon other companies will be making amps with the EAS boards and they have 400 watt a channel stereo and mono boards.....The revolution is here...NOW!

Of course, there will be other companies coming out with their own boards (Mytek just hinted at that in an interview). The way you do anything effects the sound. So, how you write the software that converts PCM to PWM, the clocking, the power supplies, the bypass caps, the output filter components, etc, into infinity will all still change the sound. However, this first one we have here from EAS is so good that it can replace $15-$20K worth of normal DAC, preamp and amp. The GaN1 can be modded for higher perfomance right now, as well.

The LSA Voyager is $2400.....the GaN 400 is $2500.......the GaN 1 is $2K (on sale now for 1.4K)......and you don’t need a multithousand dollar DAC or preamp or analog interconnects.....way better sound for way less........can you dig it?

There are other class D amps under $3K right now that are REALLY great....the (non GaN) Purifi modules, new new Hypex modules (NCx500 and the diy Nilai 500), the GaN Orchard amps and even the inexpensive Class D audio Mini GaN......but all these need a DAC and don’t sound as good. Bye bye normal amps, DACs, preamps and analog interconnects.....there is a new world....and it is here NOW. Embrace it for your hearts and ears sake.....and with the money you saved.....you can get your wife/children something nice.

rsf507
2,310 posts
 

"Bye bye normal amps

Really! I think not but time will tell

tweak1
3,651 posts
 

@ricevs

 

Im guessing your reply was for me. I try to avoid mentioning such things as they can confuse people

How does the new amp bypass the need for a pre (2+ inputs) or a volume control?

 

FYI I have long thought about replacing my solid steel vertical rack with a horizontal table. Last week I scored a maple table top locally for $170 its 5 x 2 x 2" (heavy beast). When I moved all the kit out of the SS rack, my Voyager slipped off a chair and the unattached cover slid into the insides. I saw no visible damage but when I turned the system back on the right module went all 4th of July, so I do need it replaced (was unaware that LSA is not making any more. Fortunately, I still have my EVS 1200, which never sounded this good, but since it was last in the system I have completely upgraded all cables + the HORIZONTAL maple TABLE cleared up the rear sound stage from my Open Baffle Emerald Physics 3.4s

ricevs
1,543 posts
 

You need a streamer with a built in volume control......like the $400 IFI Zen Streamer (a linear power supply option will help sound).  You use wireless or ethernet to stream and you can also use a usb stick/hard drive to play files.  So, you would download all your CDs and other files (including high rez PCM) onto a thumb drive/hard drive and play them with the Zen Stream app on your smart phone.  If you have analog as a source, you would need to convert it to high speed PCM and then play it through the usb input.

The $2400 Lumin U2 Mini has Leedh digital volume (completely lossless) and probably better sound than the IFI jobbie....However, no one has commented here on the difference in sound.

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