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
yyzsantabarbara
5,123 posts
 

@mbolek I have a call with the dealer on Tues. Along with the sonics, I am interested in how the WiFi will work with ROON. Also, whether it has a has a remote control.

The bi-amping feature is another thing I want to understand.

Hope you can post on how it sounded and a comparison to some other gear.

 

yyzsantabarbara
5,123 posts
 

I got the modded GAN1 amp and my RAAL SR1a phones back today. I will give a description of the setup I will be using in the next few days.

I was not able to figure out how to use the Lumin X1 DAC’s SPDIF streaming output with the GAN1. The X1 takes fibre in and outputs to SPDIF but I got no sound on the amp. If I can figure out how to do this and also control volume via the XI then I will have my best streaming source.

I pivoted from the X1 and put in my Sonore OpticalRendu + UltraDigital streamer

Sonore - Sonicorbiter

This is fibre optical-2-USB-2-SPDIF. It is not too bad. Not as good as fibre-2-usb or just fibre directly into the X1.

All my gear in this chain needs about 10 hours to settle in since it has been disconnected for 3 months and some not really burned in (ultraDigital and some SPDIF cables).

It is late at night, so I am listening with my RAAL SR1a earphones. The GAN1 is connected to the RAAL amp adapter box via a 1-foot Audience AU24 SX speaker cable. I control volume using ROON software.

In the morning I will move the amp next to my Benchmark AHB2 monos and CODA #16 amp. I will use the same streaming setup to drive my KEF LS50 Meta speakers.

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Listening to some Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder at the moment and it is definitely better than stock. Now I loved the stock sound of the GAN1. Ric hated it and Scott at Verdant Audio posted that it was bright. I heard nothing like that and thought it was the very best 2-channel amp I have heard with the RAAL SR1a via the RAAL adapter box. Better than my prior best 2-channel combo, CODA 07x preamp | Musetec 005 DAC | KRELL Duo 175XD | cables and streamer. All of that cost about $30k and is now sold. The STOCK GAN1 was better than that combo on the RAAL, not 2-channel. Which was an incredible result for me and that is why I wanted to see if Ric’s mods can take it even higher.

As I am listening, th music already sounds beautiful and will only get better with a few more hours. If I can replace the king of the hill, my RAAL VM-1a headphone amp from my office with the GAN1, then that is the greatest compliment I can give it.

The GAN1 will never be as good as the VM-1a because it has to go through the RAAL amp adapter box, the VM-1a does not. However, if I can get about 80%-85% there then I will move the VM-1a to my bedroom. I bet that is what will happen given how it is sounding now.

This Saturday I am meeting up with one of the designers of the RAAL VM-1a amp. I told him that I will be bringing the modded GAN1 for him to hear. I think he will be very impressed as I am now.

Listening to Isac Hayes WALK ON BY. A song that really moves me and hits hard with its’ soul and brilliance. I hear all that with the modded GAN1, this is really sounding good.

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More to come on 2-channel, which I am sure what people really want to hear about.

 

 

 

yyzsantabarbara
5,123 posts
 

I just got the great idea of GROUPING my ROON stream to both the Lumin X1-to-VM-1a amp and the Sonore OpticalRendu-to-GAN1. So, the same fibre stream is going to two different amps at the same time. I just need to disconnect the headphone cable from 1 amp to the other to quickly compare the same song.

The VM-1a sounds better as expected but it is very close (which is the shocking part, no 2-channel has come this close). The VM-1a sounds more powerful but tonally they sound similar. Let me now try a very demanding track.

When I want to see if an amp can deliver the power, I put on Led Zeppelin’s WHEN THE LEVEE BREAKS. On the VM-1a and the CA-1a headphones the sound is the very best I have heard the song. On the SR1a earphones it is the second best I have heard it. The CA-1a is a more dynamic phone. The GAN1 does not seem to be able to scale the power requirements to really hit as hard as the RAAL VM-1a amp.

Here is some context on the power requirements of the RAAL adapter box when connected to a 2-channel amp. In the past, I used to have a CODA #8 (with meters) and it was connected to a Thiel CS3.7 speaker. The Thiel is a very hard speaker to drive, and the CODA #8 did a great job. The power draw on the amp was not that much at my regular listening levels. The meters did not move that much. When I put the RAAL adapter box after the CODA #8, CODA the meters would fly with approximately the same volume. The adapter box draws a lot of current. I think about 300 watts @8 Ohms is the sweet spot for a 2-channel amp to really drive the earphones with dynamic music, like WHEN THE LEVEE BREAKS.

It seems like the GAN1 could use a bit more power with the RAAL Adapter box.

None of this really matter when one connects the GAN1 to some 2-channel speakers (forget about the RAAL). I am looking forward to that on Friday. The sound is really opening up now. On slower less demanding music it hard to tell the difference between the GAN1 and the VM-1a (that is shocking).

 

 

 

These are the other 2-channel amps I have tried in the same comparison.

- CODA #8 (the CODA #16 will be compared tomorrow)

- KRELL Duo 175XD

- Benchmark AHB2 stereo and mono

- Parasound A21+

- NAD M22 V1

- LSA Voyager 350 GAN

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yyzsantabarbara
5,123 posts
 

I got a reply from Lumin on how to setup the volume for the GAN1.

 

You need a 1.5m BNC to RCA 75 ohm coaxial cable.

Connect the X1 BNC to the GaN 1.

In Lumin app, change output to SPDIF.

If not using Roon: After changing the output, turn on Custom Re-sampling. Change DSD64 / DSD128 to PCM 176.4kHz.

If using Roon: Turn off Custom resampling. In Roon DSP Engine, change DSD to 176.4kHz.

Turn volume down.

Play a 44.1kHz file or a default radio station such as Radio Paradise FLAC.

yyzsantabarbara
5,123 posts
 

I am now using the Lumin X1 with Leedh volume to stream and volume. Sounds real fine.

It is 2AM and I cannot stop listening or start the work I was supposed to do.

My Audience AU24 SX cables from the amp to the adapter box seems to have baked in a bit because the sound has improved. WHEN THE LEVEE BREAKS is better now, maybe the amp does have enough power.

I can say for sure that this 2-channel amp is by far the VERY BEST I have had with the RAAL Adapter box. I am going to move my RAAL VM-1a to my bedroom.

I have a second free RAAL adapter box and I am thinking of buying a second GAN1 to put that in the family room. Now that the Lumin X1 can stream and do volume via SPDIF I have an extra streamer and another short speaker cable in storage.

Tomorrow let me see how this amp is with the KEF LS50 Meta. Whatever the case, the fact that I am moving the VM-1a to another room is mind boggling to me. I would have never thought that was possible.

BTW - I am fond of using Lynard Skynyrd SWEET HOME ALABAMA to hear how detailed DAC is. At the 57 second mark there is a background singer saying SOUTHERN MAN. On most gear I do not hear that vocal. On the GAN1 I do hear it not too faintly but not loud either. On the X1 and VM-1a it seems about the same.

 

 

 

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