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

Showing 33 responses by donnylovely

@kuribo You obviously haven’t looked at the design to tell if that’s true or not. How much better can it be? What specifically would you do differently? Where are these mythical measurements of yours? How come you’re the only one that can see them? Why won't you share them with us? I’m thinking they don’t exist. The measurements just post seemed like they were news to you. 🤔 So weird. It’s almost like you have no idea what you’re talking about and that you just made up a story in your head so that you could practice being bitter. Why are you keeping them a secret? Oh why lol

@kuribo What would you change with the output filter then? What do you see wrong with the design other than it being "old"? How come you are not sharing any of the info with us still? How come the measurements just posted was news to you? Why can’t you give us any facts? Why do you just avoid the topics and complain about some other random thing?

@kuribo Do you mean Mouser? searched DigiGaN-200s RevA and Gan 1, got nothing. Are you sure you weren’t looking at another amp?...You made up issues but no proof of such issues. You had to get the data from someone else for the one "issue" (more of a nonissue, since it’s not audible) that you were talking about when you supposedly had all the measurements. I am back I have learned something, that you don’t know anything about the gan 1 at all except for what people have told you today....Only one-sided because you are not answering any of the questions, just deflecting.

I got the pd creative linear power board for the newer node. I would say it's worth it. The expensive part is the actual power supply that you plug into the board. It's super easy to install. It provides a nice improvement in sound quality. 

@yyzsantabarbara Just make sure you order the Digital version of it. The other two versions won't hook up to the GaN 1.

@yyzsantabarbara You can use the speaker-level inputs on that sub. You could hook up your tuner to it with the Minidsp Flex Digital ($500) which will give you a ton of other options as well. You could even use your current preamp with the Minidsp Flex Digital and run your sub off the preamp still.

@dspringham I thought that was just for Bluetooth? I am sure it will be an issue for some. Wouldn't be an issue for me personally. I don't think it would be an issue for most, considering the price category. I don't think it will be a huge audible difference between 96 and 192, at least on my system. 

@yyzsantabarbara you can just use cheap speaker cable for the sub that you can pick up at a hardware store. I wouldn't spend a lot on that.

Looks like LHY audio has an 18v lps with enough juice, 8.8A, to power the gan 1, I think. Can you just hook up + to + and - to - and just ground it to the case? 

Thanks for the info. I think i'll let someone else try it first. Don't want to break my amp

@kuribo  where are those measurements man? I see you’re still bothering everyone even though you still have no experience with this amp at all.

@ricevs to change out the wire can I use molex pins and just replace the pins in the connectors? Is there better way? Does anyone make copper pins or upgraded pins? 

@kuribo  that's because they are nonexistent. You were surprised by the measurements others posted. You know nothing about this amp. 

@kuribo Then why don’t you go design a better amp then? You are not helping anyone complaining about this one.

I saw that. Another person that thinks the gan 1 is great. Still only the people that have never heard it are the only ones that don’t like it, weird. Maybe now they will stop harassing us until they have tried it out? Or are they going to keep trying to pretend like they are the smartest person in the room, and that we need to listen to them 🤔

Can you negative Nancy’s go to a different thread to argue about this BS. Either talk about the gan 1 or keep your mouth shut please. Leave rick alone. If you want to be Dicks about everything, try the ASR forum. You should feel right at home there.

Do you know that I don’t care? Stop terrorizing this this post. Can we please stick to the subject. You people are the worst. 

@atmasphere why don’t you test his mod if you don’t belive him, then tell us. Until then nobody cares, so go post your hate somewhere else.

Why do you care what my other posts are about? It’s new and is what interests me. I want to see what others thought of it as well. If there was another item I was interested in, I would post there also, but I don’t at this time. I like that I no longer need a dac and I only need one interconnect. I like that it sounds better than my previous $4500 amp and dac at less than half the price. I would also like to see how people’s mods work out for them. But this thread has turned into a pissing contest about who knows what and people craping on the product that have no experience with it.

@jerryg123 good for you. You must be better and smarter than all of us. Thanks for sharing your thoughtful insights. 

It's rude gate keepers like you 3 that keep people from wanting to participate in the hobby. Why can't you just be decent and inviting people instead of being a know it all and ragging things just because you think they are below you. 

@thespeakerdude don't send him your amp then. We all know your the smartest person on earth and that you are better than everybody else. No need to rub it in. 

The output inductors he’s taking about, is a ferrite on the speaker wire outputs, the speaker wire is coiled around it. Not a coil on the power supply. Looks like the know it alls, don’t know it all. This we don’t listen to people that have never seen the product.