GaN amps: Peachtree or LSA Voyager?


Peachtree 400 and LSA Voyager GaN amps: Does anyone have direct experience with both of these amps? Can you comment on any differences that might exist in sound? I know the internals are supposed to be the same but even if that is true implementation can make a difference. Both are highly regarded by those who own them.

Might also be helpful if you listed the rest of your system (Pre and speakers).

My current system is: Bricasti M3 DAC; Rogue RP-7 (NOS) pre; Bel Canto Ref600M amps; Fyne F1-8 speakers.

Thanks in advance!

markmuse

Showing 2 responses by abd1

I recently acquired the LSA Voyager amp. I tend to prefer tube amps but my current Line Magnetic LM518 gets pretty hot so I like to use something else in the summer. I also wanted to try something different with my system and was curious to hear a GaN FET amp. My current system is a Denafrips Terminator DAC --> Audio GD HE XLR1 tube pre --> amp --> Cube Nenuphar Mini speakers. The speakers are single driver crossover-less that tend to prefer low damped, no negative feedback designs. They sound amazing with the LM518 and I also have a 1.5 wpc 45 tube amp that also sounds amazing. I really don't need a lot of power but I've curious to try the GaN FET. I also have some standmount speakers that aren't so efficient so I figured I could use this amp with those as well.

I received the amp a couple of weeks ago and briefly hooked it up to make sure it was working. My impressions are only after listening for a couple of hours, but so far I am impressed. I've listened to class D before and I always felt like I was hearing all of the pieces of the song, but not the music. Just never felt engaged. This amp had me engaged. It was dead quiet, detailed, and dynamic. I will spend more time listening to it soon. I was having trouble with my dual REL subs and realized the connection method to a class D amp is different for the subs, so I went back to the LM518 until I'm ready to hook the subs up using the Voyager. Once I get more time I'll post my thoughts, but so far this is the best class D I've heard.

Also, I haven't heard the Peachtree but I am a fan of their products. The Nova was my first 2-channel integrated and my "gateway drug" into this hobby. I've had 3 of their integrateds and even have their Deepblue speaker. The only reason I didn't try their amp is I found a great deal on a used Voyager. I heard the amp modules are pretty much the same in the Peachtree and Voyager. Not saying they're the same but I'm guessing the amps sound pretty similar. IMO the Peachtree looks better and if I had my amp out in the open I'd prefer that amp, but mine's in a cabinet so it didn't matter to me.

I have the Voyager (supposedly the amp used by the SF Audio Society) to use in warmer months instead of my Line Magnetic LM845 tube amp. I briefly hooked it up when I got it and was impressed, but only listened for a few hours. Maybe I'll hook it up again this weekend to spend some more time with it. However, I also have a condo in AZ and might ship it there to use with a Don Sachs tube pre that I'm not using right now. The speakers are Clearwave Duet 6 standmount speakers that I think will sound great with this combo. We just purchased the condo and will be there in a couple weeks to start setting it up. I picked up a used Cambridge EVO150 all in one to use at first, but I could just use it as a streamer/dac too. We'll see, I like having options.

 

@yyzsantabarbara I'm also impressed by the LS60 and I'm also thinking of selling all this stuff (the voyager, sachs pre, cambridge) and getting a pair of LS60's instead, but that's another subject. We'll see.