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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
4,526 posts
 

I have been listening to the GAN1 amp + CODA #16 amp + Benchmark AHB2 mono amps + Lumin X1 DAC/Streamer + Benchmark LA4 preamp in various combos with the KEF LS50 Meta speakers. It turned out to be a lucky break that my KEF KC62 sub died last week and I sent it in to KEF for repair. So my LS50 Meta is naked. I also used the same used $200 WyWire Platinum speaker cable on all 3 amps.

A long story short, there is a new sheriff in town. It is called the PeachTree GAN1 by Ric Shultz.

I am selling my 2 AHB2 monos (maybe keep 1). Selling my Audience FrontRow speaker cable for the AHB2. They only work with the AHB2 since they have SpeakON termination at the amp end. I will buy a replacement FrontRow cable for the GAN1.

This will be my new setup in my office:

  • Lumin X1 stream via SPDIF to GAN1. I have a remote control and the X1 has the amazing Leedh algorithm working for volume on this SPDIF output stream
  • Lumin X1 as a DAC into my RAAL VM-1a tube headphone amp
    • I have a 15 foot Benchmark StarQuad XLR to go from the X1’s new location to my audio rack where the VM-1a resides. The X1 resides on the floor in-between the speakers, next to the GAN1 (on a block of wood)
  • KEF LS50 Meta (without the KC62 sub, selling it)
    • Trying to determine if the KEF Reference 1 Meta will fit into my 12 x 11 x 9 (plus 4 addition feet with a removed closet door (my desk is in there)
  • My only issue is getting my amazing Magnum Dynalab MD108T tuner to work but I can use the RAAL VM-1a headphone amp with the RAAL SR1a during the 3 hours I listen to radio (KCRW from 9AM - 12PM). I never consider it a downgrade when I listen to the RAAL phones.

My Livingroom system will be the following:

  • CODA #16
  • Accuphase T-101 tuner
  • Benchmark LA4 preamp
  • Benchmark DAC3B (sounds good with the CODA #16)
    • eventually getting a Playback Designs DAC/SACD player to replace my Sony SCD-1 that died 2 weeks ago
  • KEF Blade 2 Meta speakers

I got to get back to work. If I have time I will give some observations on the sound differences between all the gear.

yyzsantabarbara
4,526 posts
 

I should add some congratulations to Ric, some real fine work with the mods.

mbolek
164 posts
 

@ricevs I sure hope you didn't charge yyz for your mods.  Especially after his advertising...

The GaN1 is definitely a disruptor within the current amplifier landscape.  I have had mine for over six months and it betters any previous Class D that I have had.  This includes early Hypex, nCore, Purifi, Teac, NAD, Class D Audio, GaN400.  It is neck and neck with my current reference (Hifi Rose RA180).

I did my mods and it was less than $50.   I eliminated some of the switching, replaced internal wiring/binding posts/connectors. Trust me, the stock version sounds really good and the only reason I did it was for fun.  I honestly can't say that it sounds any better.  For me, incorporating better conductors/connectors and more secure connections are more of a priority.

 

 

 

yyzsantabarbara
4,526 posts
 

Done with my work-work for now. 

I wrote about how I will use the GAN1 because it was a mystery to me at first with the amp having only a single SPDIF input. I also did not want to get the Bluesnode streamer. I think getting the Lumin X1 was a very lucky break. It seems perfect for how I am now sending music to the LS50 Meta and VM-1a (for the phones).

When my KEF KC62 sub died I revisited my initial complaints about the AHB2 and LS50 setup. It was lacking low end power and a little flat sounding. Adding the KC62 to the setup made the sound great, I loved it. 

Today, without the sub the AHB2 came in last place in my shootout. The AHB2 has the most razor sharp outlines on the soundstage. The music is also the most clean sounding. This is something that I was always drawn to whenever I came back to the AHB2. However, that is with the KC62 sub and the Lumin X1 DAC.

The CODA #16 with the Lumin X1 DAC is a firehose of music. I am seriously concerned that the amp will blow up the drivers. The amount of sound and BASS I get from the small LS50 is incredible. This is clean, detailed, and powerful sound. Just a hair less clear sounding than the AHB2 but miles ahead in power. This has so much power that I was getting a bit of fatigue in my small room. I realized that I cannot listen to this amp in this small room for 8+ hours a day.  However, this amp has got me excited to pair it with the KEF Blade 2 Meta later this year in my larger  Livingroom.

The Peachtree GAN1 and Lumin X1 SPDIF stream via fibre optic input stream was more like the CODA #16 than the AHB2. The bass was more than the AHB2 and the clarity and detail on the music was like the CODA #16 and Lumin X1.  That is a tad less razor sharp but rounder and warmer sounding, likely preferred by most over my AHB2 clarity preference. 

The GAN1 bass was not as good as with the AHB2 + KC62 sub but it was at a point where the low end was sort of sufficient. I wish it would be easy to incorporate the sub into the GAN1. I do not want to hook up speaker cables into the sub and then speaker cables to the LS50 Meta. That does not seem like the right way for me to do the sub integration. I will figure out something later on this sub issue.

The music from the GAN1 is rather big. Similar to the CODA #16 in that it is wide and deep. However, the firehose intensity of the sound is not as strong. I never got any fatigue with the GAN1 (or AHB2's).

The integration of the DAC into the GAN1 seems to be a killer approach. I got the sense that I was hearing more (not detail), just a fuller dose of music.

In my home, the king of the hill is still the RAAL SR1a | VM-1a  Lumin X1 (via fibre). I would love to have this same GAN + DAC tech inside the VM-1a. This Sunday, I am taking the GAN1 | Lumin X1 | VM-1a to one of the designers of the VM-1a. We had planned on meeting weeks ago for some computer/audio networking issues. I told him how good this GAN1 amp was and that he needed to hear this tech. His ears are the best and I am interested to get his feedback.

 

yyzsantabarbara
4,526 posts
 

I only had the stock GAN1 for a day and it was breaking in as I was listening to it. I did not hear the bad sound that Ric or Scott at Verdant Audio first heard. I do remember that the stock GAN1 (brand new) was not that great on the LS50 Meta so I quickly moved it to the VM-1a.

It showed great promise on the VM-1a amp and that was going to be the intended future use. However, the amp today sounds incredible on the LS50 Meta. I am also someone who has had close to 10 amps in this room over the last 3 years. The GAN1 sound is similar in quality to the best of those amps. Though I get that sound with less gear. No extra DAC or preamp needed, that is the secret sauce in this GAN1.

BTW - the Peachtree GAN1 is an amp I am not selling, The LSA Voyager 350 GAN (also modded by Ric)  could not beat my former CODA #8 and was sold. The GAN1 can hang in some ways with the CODA #16. That is great.

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