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
sirnui
82 posts
 

The Lumin U2 is an excellent streamer.  I'm very happy with the purchase.  The RCA SPDIF output is good but the USB output with my two DDCs is special.  Currently, The U2's USB output feeds an Ideon Audio 3R Master Time which feeds an Audio GD DI-20HE.  USB cables are Zavfino Majestic and Sablon EVO.  SPDIF cable is current generation Sablon with Bocchino Paladium RCAs.  The DI-20HE is signal grounded with its external clock (LHY Audio OCK-1) to a Puritan Audio Routemaster Signal Ground Unification System.  The clock canle is current gen Sablon  

For the network, it's currently TP Link mesh router > Uptone EtherRegen > Sonore opticalModule connected by fiber to the Lumin U2. 

This is very elaborate, I know, but the sound is very addictive to say the least.  The Lumin U2 replaces a Lumin U1 mini with LHY LPS conversion. The U2 has brought an ease to the sound. In other words, my already low listener fatigue was made even lower. The second thing it has brought is ... information.  That's a weird word to describe music but I think it summarizes very well what I'm hearing because I'm literally hearing more information. I'm hearing more of the details contained in the music.  For example, there is airiness but it's dense.  That's an oxymoron so let me try to explain.  When the bass hits, it feels heavier and fuller, and yet it's very articulate, detailed, and ... airy... the reverb of the bass hit lingers just ever so slightly longer to create a better sense of the air.  It's this type of information  I'm hearing and the great news is, it's not limited to the bass.

I have not described the power side of my system which is just as elaborate but I will save this for another night. 

I have an LHY Audio SW-10 switch coming any day now.  I plan to replace the opticalModule with the SW-10 and send fiber both to it and from it to the Lumin U2.  The SW-10 has two SFP cages to do this.  It also has a 10MHz clock output which will be used to clock the DI-20HE and it will replace the OCK-1 clock. 

sirnui
82 posts
 

BTW, I'm hearing these improvements on the Soul 6 speakers but I'm really hearing this on my Sennheiser IE900 IEMs. Yes, my 390W VTV D300 speaker amp is also used for powering highly sensitive in-ear monitors (with a converter box, of course). And it works very well. 

sirnui
82 posts
 

For anyone who may think about using an Audio GD DI-20HE with their GAN 1 or VTV D300, I want to give a warning.  DO NOT power on the DI-20HE if the amp is already on.  Only power on the amp after the DI-20HE has powered on and completed its initialization. I don't know about the GAN 1 but on my VTV D300, the scream of a banshee will likely come screaming out of the speakers during initialization.  No music lover wants that type of noise and at that extreme level coming out of their speakers. 

lee_short
20 posts
 

Just got done working out the kinks of setting up my Lumin U1 Mini with the GAN1.

Here’s the pieces that aren't obvious: turn on Custom Re-Sampling. For DSD128, DSD64, 44.1kHz PCD -- all 3 of these should be set to 176.4kHz. All other set to Native. PCM Output Bit Depth set to 24.

With those settings, I can play both red book CDs and high resolution files (96/24, 192/24).

 

ricevs
1,543 posts
 

Yesterday, another person received their modded GaN1 and within a few hours of turning it on he sent me this email:

"Arrived, and already playing a bit…..AMAZING difference!! In stock form, I was actually finding the sound a bit lifeless (I have other streamers that feed both a GaN amp and one of your modded VTV Purifi amps, and they were much better than stock GAN-1).

Anyway, transparency galore, including some deeper bass definition. One of my guilty pleasure listens is a Viking/Pagan/Medieval band named Heilung. Lots of percussion, natural and artificial; chants/growls/singing; and lots of little Easter Egg sounds in the mix. The modded GAN-1 is already showing much more clarity around a bunch of their songs…. I know to listen for specific things and they are really great through this.

All of this is just thru a simple Pi-based streamer with digital output. Will eventually try out other streamers with better digital out, as well as getting the Holo Red DDC/streamer.

Looking forward to much more listening, but wanted to let you know all is great so far! "

These little modded amps kick some butt!

Who will be the first to build a 2 way speaker with two of these amps and the pure digital minidsp xover?........9.5 inch Satori woofer that goes below 30hz in a box and above it a $70 GRS planar on an open baffle.....crossed over at 500hz.....the whole thing equalized, room corrected and time aligned in the pure digital xover......wires running directly from my clamps on the amps to the drivers directly....no spades, no binding posts....no nothing.....just transparency like an electrostat.....but with super dynamics.....you could use two 9.5 inch Satori woofers in the same box it if you need to listen super loud or have a big room. This is what I want. $7K for the whole shebang including: xover with custom $500 power supply, two modded amps, three coax cables, speaker wire, drivers and wood........would sound like $100K....would blow your mind.

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