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
mbolek
173 posts
 

Yes.  I bought one of the first ones in last year.  Did my mods, check my pics.

Ordered a second to look at an active vertical speaker config with a Minidsp SHD.

No difference in sound.  These amps are dead silent, very impressive.  

I have built, or used Hypex UcD, nCore (M10,Teac), Purifi, PT GaN, Class D GaN, Rose, NAD....

To date the Rose RS150/RA180 to Nova 5s gets me to a really enjoyable experience...

mbolek
173 posts
 

Here are my mods.

I think Ric charges ~$500.00

Fururtech IEC, no fuse. $10

Chris VenHaus quad star 12awg copper direct to PS board. $20

OCC5N Silver with air dialectic tubing (WillyWonka) 75ohm Digital coax from circuit board to new AECO RCA. Partsconnexion. $60

Triple C direct speaker connect to KLE pure copper binding posts. $80

I did these mods to create a cleaner signal path, eliminating unnecessary switches, fuses, upgrading wiring. In most cases newer electronics have secondary fusing at the power supply board/circuitry, so eliminating the IEC inlet fuse is not a concern for me.

 

And,,,,I don't sell this....

 

yyzsantabarbara
4,897 posts
 

I have put up my Lumin X1 up for sale if anyone with the GAN1 is interested. I may trade it in tomorrow if I get a good offer. I am going to upgrade that DAC to the Playback Designs and the Playback Designs Stream-IF gives me the streaming functionality of the Lumin X1.

I am going to be buying the Yamaha NS5000 speaker tomorrow and using it with the modded GAN1. That is it for my Livingroom system, super simple and it will cost me about 5x less $$$ than I expected to spend with separates and KEF Blade 2 Meta.

One reason I will try the GAN1 with the NS5000 is that the NS500 has massive amount of bass with that 12-inch Zylon driver (same as tweeter and mid). The slightly less bass with the GAN1 vs the CODA #16 may work in my favor with the NS5000. The CODA is the outlier here, it is unusually powerful.

I will be using the Sonore OpticalRendu with the UltraDigital (for SPDIF) for the GAN1 streaming. I already have this gear and it worked well with the GAN1. However, I think I will run into a problem using the Stream-IF without the opticalRendu so I may get the Lumin U2 in the future for the GAn1. Or get the new Sonore OpticalRendu expected out in late summer.

I will also be selling a bunch of XLR’s and RCA that are now no longer needed.

BTW - I would NEVER have used the stock GAN1 with the Yamaha NS5000. That would be a criminal.

ricevs
1,543 posts
 

I think mbolek in going over to the dark side....he he. The fact that he cannot hear the mods he did.....and thinks that all AC mods do nothing sonically.....well....he is pretty much alone here with the ASR people. The fact that he uses the word "snake" when describing what I do is really silly. There are thousands of posts on the internet describing mods to the AC power.....from dedicated lines, to power cords, to line conditioners, to AC jacks and plugs, to AC wiring inside equipment, upgrading fuses, etc. etc. to infiinity.....All of these posts claim they hear differences.....and these people are not snakes (many are manufacturers and noted designers). Two people who had my mods done described the differences here on this thread along with the guy with the VTV amp (very similar to the Peachtree) who did his own mods......the first mod he did was to the AC and he descirbed what he heard.....and he liked it.....again....he is not a snake.

Tomorrow I am damping the AC inlet on my modded VTV D300 and will also be damping the back panel that the upgraded WBT RCA jack is mounted to. I am sure I will hear a difference. This modded VTV is doing some things I have NEVER heard before. More burn in and mods to come.....this is fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

yyzsantabarbara
4,897 posts
 

On a whim I managed to buy the Magnepan LRS+ from a dealer 2 weeks ago. I have them in my office system. It previously used the KEF LS50 Meta in this system. I still have the LS50 but the LRS+ is on stage now.

I even repurchased the KEF KC62 sub to use with the LRS+ (and LS50 Meta). Unfortunately, I do not know how to use the sub with the GAN1. I had to send my Benchmark LA4 preamp for repairs because it was not working with the KC62 sub. Benchmark thinks the preamp is fine. So, I have to figure out what the issue could be once the LA4 returns.

In the meantime, I wanted to hear the LRS+ so I put the GAN1 on it. The LRS+ has about 50 hours on it now and I can tell a bit of the hardness on top has now gone away. I believe the LRS+ needs some power to shine, Today, I am hearing amazing sound from the LRS+ and the modded GAN1. The GAN1 certainly has enough power for the LRS+. The sound is larger than the LS50 Meta and a bit clearer. A sub will definitely make this speaker shine even more. My room is small at 12 x 11 x 9 (plus extra closet space).

This sound is so impressive that I am going to use the GAN1 with my bucket list speaker that I bought last week. I was planning on buying a KEF Blade 2 Meta. However, a kids birthday party that I am hosting this Saturday made me realize it was crazy to have the Blade around kids. I went with plan B and got the Yamaha NS5000 speaker.

This speaker is a lot easier to drive than the Blades. I will be using the GAN1 on this Yamaha for a while. I am $$ broke now, so no plans to get anything else. My concern with the GAN1 is useability for the family since it is controlled by software. No simple physical volume control to adjust volume. Anyways, I will see if this is a real problem. The sound is really not an issue for me with the modded GAN1.

I had to sell my Lumin X1 to buy the Yamaha, the Lumin was my GAN1 streamer. I am now using the Sonore OpticalRendu to stream into the GAN1 and control everything via ROON.

The office system will be:

CODA #16 | Benchmark DAC3B | Benchmark LA4 (or Holo Serene) preamp | Magnepan LRS+ (and KEF LS50 Meta)| KEF KC62 sub | WyWire Platinum speaker cable | Playback Designs Stream-IF ROON READY streamer.

The Livingroom system will be:

PeachTree GAN1 | Yamaha NS5000 speaker | WyWire Diamond speaker | Sonore Optical Rendu ROON READY streamer.

I am hedging my bets with the GAN1 since I have 2 preamps, the LA4 and Serene. I likely will get another amp and put a preamp and amp with the Yamaha. If that happens then the GAN1 will go towards headphone duty. If I find that I do not need to ’upgrade’ the GAN1 then I will sell one of the 2 preamps.

 

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