2. amps-preamps
  3. 176422-76351

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.

__________________________________________________________________

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
4,811 posts
 

As I type this, I am listening to my GAN1 with my RAAL CA-1a headphones. I got the GAN1 for the headphones but thought it was amazing on the 2-channel, so I had been listening to 2-channel since I got the modded amp back. I recently decided to use my CODA #16 and Lumin X1 on the 2-channel and use the GAN1 on the headphones. The CODA + Lumin is incredible. I will do some comparisons with the GAN1 later. From past memory, I think it is very close.

I am using a 2-channel RAAL headphone adapter box to connect the GAN1 to the headphones. The one I am using is not as good as the latest version of this adapter box. I cannot use the new one because Ric's mods on the GAN1 speaker connector is incompatible with the new interface box box's amp cable. I am getting a new cable next week (hopefully) to solve this issue.

Saying all of that. The sound quality today with the inferior adapter box and the modded GAN1 is the very best 2-channel amp paired with these headphones.  Better than $30K of gear (all sold) that was an apples-to-apples comparison with the GAN1. This was expected since I thought the GAN1 was the best on the headphones even before the mods.

After the mods, I definitely hear a better sounding system. So much so that I am now questioning the need for my RAAL VM-1a tube headphone amp. That is with the inferior adapter box used today. When I get the new adapter box connected to the GAN1 it should be much better and may tip me to sell another piece of equipment, the VM-1a.

yyzsantabarbara
4,811 posts
 

@lee_short I posted a few weeks ago on this thread how to setup the Lumin X1 to stream via SDPIF. It should be the same for the U2. I got that info from Lumin rep on AudioShark.

lee_short
20 posts
 

@yyzsantabarbara Yeah, I saw that. As you mentioned in that post, I needed to turn on Custom Re-Sampling and set DSD64/128 to 176.4. But that wasn’t enough to get my U1 Mini working. I thought others might be interested in the rest of the settings I needed to use to make it work.

peachtreeaudio's avatar
peachtreeaudio
2 posts
 

Hello all. Andrew Clark from Peachtree Audio here. My apologies to the forum and its moderator(s) if this type of post is not allowed but we know many of you participated in our GaN 1 beta test program and we sincerely appreciate your help! We are extending a special offer to others on this forum that may have missed the beta test program (we are now in full production) and would still like to get a GaN 1. You have 2 options; go to our website and trade something in for up to $700 off the price of a GaN 1 or GaN 1 + NODE (a $1000 trade in nets the GaN 1 price down to $1299...same as the beta test price) OR use this coupon code in the shopping cart and get $500 off the purchase of a GaN 1 or GaN 1 + NODE without any trade in: K2BJX37ER7S9. Thanks again for your continued support and happy listening!

chrisld
12 posts
 

Update on my earlier comments. Back then had ultraRendu to Singxer SU-6 to Holo May KTE to Serene to Kinki Studio EX-B7 monoblocks to Silverline SR-17 Supreme speakers then. Now I have Holo Red zero jitter streamer as source and a Pass X250.8 power amp, so quite an upgrade. The Pass is way more transparent than the Kinki Studios were. So, how does it sound when I swap in the GaN1 in? More transparent than the other system, more separation of each sound. Great power and control. Quite remarkable considering that the GaN1 costs less than the cables alone of the other system. Holo Red to GaN1 with Roon for volume control. Done. Runs way cooler and uses way less electricity too if you care about that.

More to discover