Peachtree GaN 1 Beta

Early in the year when this came up I tried to sign up as beta tester but unfortunately Peachtree wanted to limit to testers in the US, which I'm not. So I'm an interested follower in this thread.

@ricevs is overwhelmingly enthusiastic about this, and he's going in the direction I wanted to experiment. I have an active 4-way system with DIY speakers, software-based digital crossover, time-aligned, etc. My midbasses have been driven by Hypex UcD400 for some years and it's time for a change so I've been looking into the new GaN amps in the cheaper range and the GaN1 beta trial came up. From reading user comments from LSA and Peachtree GaN400 and Atma-Sphere's I've been wondering if they might replace my tubed McIntosh MC275 in the midrange also. This could lead to placing a GaN1 inside each speaker and drive midrange and midbass with separate channels (plus a cleaner look with the amps inside the speaker). Top end for now would be left to my Yamamoto 45-type SET driving AMT tweeters, but maybe the rest could be turned to GaN1.

@ricevs when you envision a system with digital xo and digital cables going straight to the multiple GaN1 in an active setup, which piece of equipment are you thinking about to distribute digital signals? Something like a Focusrite RedNet handling digital-in thru ethernet and digital out to GaN1s?

Today I have a Lynx Hilo that receives 8 digital channels thru USB, outputs 6 analog and 2 digital into a MiniDSP 2x4HD that handles the subs optimized with MSO. I had been thinking of replacing the Hilo with a Merging Hapi for multiple DAC channels, but this discussion is making me revisit and maybe I'll need something different if I went down this path.

Will be looking forward to more comments from beta testers. Keep them coming please!

You must be fun at parties.... It’s a different module. Maybe just listen to it instead. Who cares about load data and rulers? It sounds amazing. Stay ignorant my friend

LSA and Peachtree have been using the same GaN fet class d modules. No feedback and a very load dependent frequency response, just like the old Tripath class d amps from 25 years ago. Out of date design with the flavor of the month fet. Ask Peachtree for some frequency vs load data and compare to modern class d designs like Hypex, Purifi, etc., which are ruler flat...Pig with lipstick.

Musical fidelity m6s prx, denafrips ares ii. Transpuls 1500 

Kinda drunk so will just ask again instead of reading through posts. 
 

What are you personally coming from that the Peachtree betters? And what speakers? 

They are sold with a 30 day money back thang.....so anyone can try one.....including any dealer. But then you would have to sign up as a dealer to sell them. And why would you want to sell them when you hardly make any money on it. You want to sell your $6K tube amp or whatever, plus DAC plus preamp plus cables. And it is not an easy sell as audiophiles are mostly loners and already have an opinion about things. This thing is off the charts weird. If it is so good (and it is) then how come a zillion poeple aren’t buying it? Because they just bought a new DAC or cable or preamp or amp....and now you all going to tell them that all that stuff is obsolete? They don’t want to believe it. They have too much ego and money invested in what they "think" is right. Also, you need a streamer or software with a good digital volume control (some of the expensive server/streamers do not have volume control because they are selling to a market that uses DACs and preamps). If you think about it....even Peachtree is probably not crazy about this thing. Since it beats their (now discounted) $3.5K separates......then they make less money. They need to make a dual mono version using the 400 watt boards and bigger power supplies and also have I2S and Usb inputs....and make it bigger and sexier....then they could make more money. I hope Peachtree is following this thread.

However, there are a few players out there that are now purchasing this thing and they will keep chiming in here and then you will see Darko review it with the Blue Sound and he will rave and that will help some but it will take a long time for most conservative audiophiles to embrace such a novel and cheap thing.....they will scream "this thing weighs 11lbs.!!!! it cannot be good.....it cost nothing....it cannot be good". I am doing my best to tell the world about this thing. I believe in it. I know it works......it will make many, many people happy. I like happy people. Goosebumps for the masses!!!!!

They have a 30 day return window. 

Interesting would love to hear one. I wonder if they demo models they send out for evaluation? I personally would do that if I was a Hifi manufacturer/seller. Would be a pretty easy sell right? Beat the s..t outta my 20k tube mono blocks. Of course I’ll take 2 .. 

This amp is not really about zero feedback.....it it MUUUUCH more. This amp is revolutionary. You are eliminating the DAC, Preamp, regular amp and analog cables. LESS IS MORE. I am pretty sure the stock GaN 1 is not quite as good as $400,000 worth of "normal" state of the art components. But a super tweaked version of this technology would, I am sure, beat the $400K electronics.

How much do you have to spend to beat this thing?.....$40K....more? So far, the stock unit has beaten $15K worth of super gear with it being sourced by a $400 streamer with a linear power supply.

If you are heavily into vinyl then I can see it would be hard to move in this direction as you have to run your phono stage through an ADC to convert it to high speed digital. But, if you listen to digital only and you have a system budget of $30K or less than I think there is NOW only one choice for most pure sound.....the GaN 1......If you like tube sound and have to have super liquid sound then again this is not your cup of tea......but solid state these days is pretty darn good.....and this thing is probably the king in the $20K solid state electronics game......and it costs $2K!!!!!!!! This will allow you to buy a better streamer with better digital volume control, super ethernet switching, super coax cable and better speakers and speaker wires...... for WAY, way better sound than what you currently have. This is just so cool. All the "normal" class D amp manufacturers, including Atmasphere, Merrill, AGD, Orchard, Purifi, Hypex, IcePower, etc. are now put on notice.......YOUR STUFF IS OBSOLETE! he he

You will see some of these manufacturers soon playing with this technology and other companies not currently making class D will join in the game. You will see $100,000 digital amps from Boulder and Gryphon.....you will see $25K digital amps from Classe, Luxman, Levinson, etc.....you will see $10K digital amps from lots of people and you see RIGHT NOW.....the Peachtree GaN 1 at $2K

Dealers do not want to know about this product.....this will kill the sales of their $3K-$20K integrated amps, and separates. This is a radical new thing that is going to shake up the "normal" audiophile community. Naturally, your 1 percenters will still want the mega buck linear amp systems. BUT YOU want this....if you value sound quality. And you can have it right now.

This is just the tip of the iceberg....bi and triamping your speakers using zero analog xover, powered speakers with everything built in.....it is all coming....very soon......everything controlled perfectly in the digital domain....time aligning, perfect bass in your room......THE FUTURE IS NOW!

@atulmajithia Its not a simple as you are asking- your question suggests to me that the amps you've heard that use feedback didn't use enough (which describes most amps made). Imagine a bell curve with the bell being the amount of harm caused by feedback, with zero feedback on the left and really a lot of feedback (+35dB) on the right. The reason it happens this way has to do with non-linearities present where the feedback is returned to the input of the amplifier, causing the feedback signal to be distorted before it can do its job, so distortion is created while innate distortions are suppressed (for the most part). If you can add enough feedback though (+35dB or more at all audio frequencies) then you overcome this problem.

When you get over that hump, then the feedback isn't doing the damage it does when its somewhere in the middle. Strictly in our own comparisons to our zero feedback triode class A OTLs, our class D sounds remarkably similar.

Has anyone compared this amp with the recently released Atma-Sphere Class-D one? Since this one applies no loop feedback, while the Atma-Sphere does apply loop feed-back, I'd be interested in knowing how they compare, especially with music with a lot of transients.

Also, regarding the node’s digital volume: does anyone know what it’s lowest volume level is before it starts sacrificing bit depth?  Is 50% or higher volume the only levels that are bit-perfect/lossless?

Does anyone else have a rel hooked up to their G1 with speakon?  Mine gets a double “kick” whenever the amp sleeps/wakes.  Anyone else happen to get this?  I’m an always on kinda amp owner, so I wish there was a way to disable the sleep mode…

I see you love to tinker.  Each of the different things you did should be audible. "never really know if they make any difference" seems very odd to me.  Everything I do in my system I hear and can describe.  Wire will sound best twisted in the same direction.....not opposite per phase.  Usually sounds best if you twist the wire in the direction of its internal windings.  Most wires it would be clockwise.

The important thing is to have fun.  Looks like you are enjoying yourself.....good for you.

Yeah,  I'm not going to add RCA/BNC adapters to the mix.  We'll never find a streamer that has a BNC digital coax connector.  I remember the old days using BNC, just liked the secure connection.

As I mentioned in the previous post, may run the coax straight to the board.  

After listening for the last hour, something is better.  I'm thinking the speaker jumpers may be the improvement.  I never liked the ferrite beads (what was on the stock speaker wires).  I really don't buy into the power side, other than a more secure/tight connection.

Ok.  So for anyone that cares, here are my mods to the GaN1.

1.  Replaced power inlet/fuse with a pure copper (Viborg) IEC.

2.  Replaced internal power wiring with VenHaus 12awg wire.

3.  Added KLE copper binding posts

4.  Triple C (Audio Revere) speaker jumpers to the GaN1 modules.

Pics added to my profile.  Love doing these mods. never really know if they make any difference.  I always tell myself that it sounds better....

Thinking that I'll bypass the RCA plug and run a direct connection to the PCB.  The internal wire is standard OEM.

Know the power and binding post connections feels more secure, I love using pure copper.  Never worried about the oxidation as I have seen more tarnishing with silver coated terminals.

@ricevs  take note to the twists on the speaker jumpers, opposite turns for positive/negative, does everything matter.....just kidding

I did not say that bnc connectors were inferior or superior to rca. You would have to listen to the connectors to know which is better. What is on the GaN 1 is an rca. If you add an adapter, then you add the "sound" of an adapter. If someone really has to have a BNC connector then I could add one to the GaN 1 as part of a mod. Personally, I would not do that.....just use a better rca connector and better wire going to the board....but who knows?

The 75 ohm thing is really only one small factor in the sound of things. Years ago I bought this "pure 75 ohm" digital cable from Goldmund....that was suppose to be baked in an oven to insure perfect 75ohm......well, I made my own digital cable in a few minutes using high purity six nines copper twisted together and just regular rca’s.....and it slaughtered the Goldmund cable for sound purity. My cable was who knows what impedance. There are sooooooooooooooooo many things that make a sonic difference. Getting hung up on 75 ohm or whatever single thing will not get you great sound.

Here is a link to a review of a bunch of digital cables (all with bnc connectors). The same difference would still be there if using rca connectors. This will give you an idea of the differences EVERYTHING makes. We have only just begun!

Curious that you don't feel that BNC connectors/connections make a difference.  Aren't they supposed to be superior to RCA since they are truly 75ohm terminations.

On one had you rave about the sound.....and then with the other hand you say its best use is using it with cheap streamers in a secondary system......HUH? How can you be raving about the sound in your main system and say this?

My statement should have been that most people would not spend the money on the 150 and just use the digital out to the GaN1.  Agree using the best possible streamer will enhance the GaN1 performance.

Ric - I love your idea with using the Flex and may have to look at using (2) GaN1s for an active system with my Camerton's and Purifi woofers.   Interesting....

I received my GaN1 + Node 2 weeks ago and have been listening to it everyday for a few hours.  While waiting (& waiting) for the combo to arrive, I went ahead and ordered the Teddy Pardo lps for the node and had it waiting (& waiting) for when the rest arrived.  Didn’t even bother testing the node without the lps lol.  
I'm replacing a Rega Elex R + NAD C658 combo and have Triangle Borea BR08’s with a REL t9/x using speakon.  I’ll mention that I’d like be keeping the C658 if it had digital coax out.  
The elex-r/c658 was a funky combo due to the rega being an ia and the nad being a preamp.  Needless to say, it loved them with the BR08’s.  The BR08’s (I’ve read) can be a touch bright if not paired carefully and the Rega was a great amp for them.  Very natural and polite.  Convincing soundstage and nice dynamics across the fr.  Not the last word in detail, but a very nice setup (especially for the deals I found on the nad and triangles).  My biggest complaint was that everything didn’t really “wake up” until around 25% volume, which is too loud for evening listening.  The speakers are 92db sensitive, so the 72w of rega class a/b should have been plenty for quiet sessions.  Just left me wanting more though.  
Figured I could do with some more headroom right around the time PT announced the beta.  200wpc, DAC-less, zero feedback, cutting edge design used in much more expensive amps?  Sign me up.  
2 weeks in and I couldn’t be happier.  I was worried the GaN would come off bright on the BR08’s, but it isn’t an issue at all.  Not a hint of harshness to be found.  I’ve got some tinnitus, so I can be touchy with some hf and can get fatigued pretty quick in the wrong conditions.  Extended sessions with the GaN have been nothing but pleasant.  I haven’t done a quick-swap a/b test with the rega+nad combo, but I had the rega for around 5 yrs and the nad with it for the last 1.5yrs, so I’m pretty familiar with what I was used to hearing.  Comparing it to the GaN1, I can’t find a single parameter where I preferred the rega+nad.  Soundstage?  It was good before, but now it’s great!  The separation between instruments, the air/space around instruments/effects is profoundly better.  Previous setup had good depth, but the PT is deeper while also being more forward and throwing sounds behind/around my listening position.  My music lounge is untreated aside from carpet and soft furniture (room treatments are next up), so I know this will only get more precise once the room is dialed in better.  The triangle’s cellulose paper midrange driver already was very natural and a true highlight of the speaker, but paired with the GaN1, vocals (m & f) have more texture and presence.  Percussion sounds like it’s in the room with you.  If I were a drummer, I could prob tell what make/model drums, heads and cymbals are being played by how real they sound.  Strings sound superb, all of it.  I’ve thrown the kitchen sink at this amp and it hits a home run with everything.  
I understand the node is the weakest link and I’ve been thinking about adding the ifi ipurifier 2.  What’s kept me from pulling the trigger is the male coax output on the ifi.  Do I just plug it straight into the amp and have all the stress from its weight and cables be supported by a single rca?  I feel like that could cause some issues down the line?  I’m running a kimber ascent series coax and it’s very stiff and I feel like it would be unforgiving.  Does anyone have experience with using a node as a transport with the lps upgrade and a ipurifier2?  Does this push the node into proper streamer (lumin) territory?  
Anyways, I’m completely sold on the GaN1 and very much look forward to upgrading my triangles at some point.  I’d love to hear some Q Acoustic Concept 700’s on this amp.  I’d also love to hear this amp with a few of the previously mentioned internal upgrades and would be curious to know the cost of having work like that done?  I swapped out the ps on the node, but that was super-simple/low-risk.  
Looking forward to hearing more feedback once these amps get out in the wild more and others begin to see the light!

 

You want more? How about making your own speaker and bi-amping with two of these amps. You get a miniDSP Flex (digital out version) $500 and you use this as your digital xover after your streamer......it has two digital coax outs so you can use one amp for each channel. You set the xover wherever you like and at whatever frequency you want (all done at 32 bit/96K). You make an open baffle, partially open baffle, or box speaker using super pure woofer and tweeter......I would use a 10 inch cone woofer (or maybe two Purify 7 inch woofers in parallel) and cross it/them over to a super AMT or Beryllium tweeter in a wave guide around 1.3 K. You hardwire your speaker wires directly inside the amp and directly to the voice coil wires on the woofer and to the tabs on the tweeter......This will kill most $100K systems.....no doubt. Of course, you can get another digital xover and more amps and do 3 and 4 way speakers, as well. You can equalize for flat at your listening position...time align, etc. all in the digital domain.....again...no DACS, no preamps, no normal amps, no analog interconnects and no transparency robbing and dynamics robbing passive xover parts......OMG.....mind blowing possibilities.

What is so cool is that anyone (above the age of 10 with normal IQ) can do this. You do not need to know most of the parmeters of the drivers and how to design a perfect passive xover. You just play in the software and then measure using a measurement mic and your ears. Of course, the Q of the drivers and the size of the box (if using one) has to be taken into consideration for bass loading. Pretty simple really.

I didn't really understand what he's saying either. I'm betting his hifi rose sounds much better than the node, it does more than just pass a signal. I got some big improvements with ethernet switches and adding a lps to my node. I look forward to hearing about any mods you do. I'm looking at adding purple fuses right now. 

mbolek,

On one had you rave about the sound.....and then with the other hand you say its best use is using it with cheap streamers in a secondary system......HUH? How can you be raving about the sound in your main system and say this?

I think that this thing has incredible possibilities.....in even the MOST high end system...yes, indeed. Do you know how much difference ethernet cables make? Ethernet switches? digital cables? footers? modding? streamers? digital volume control? running your entire system on an inverter with the Puritan AC filter afterwords? The people who are loving this thing have barely scratched the surface of what this thing can do. As you see, I am excited about this thing. When I first heard about the TACT integraded digital amp in the late 90s I thought that it was over for "regular" audio. Well, the TACT had its problems......and now it is 25 years later. The Peachtree, so far, has no problems.....and so far, it is beating $15K worth of great separates. What else will it beat?.....and like I said.....wait till people tweak more and really find out what this thing can do.

Here is a link to a review of a bunch of digital cables (all with bnc connectors). The same difference would still be there if using rca connectors. This will give you an idea of the differences EVERYTHING makes. We have only just begun!

I would think the lumin would make a big difference. I believe it reclocks the signal as well. I was looking at upgrading to the lumin as well. 

What really caught me was how dead silent this thing is.   I'm primarily listening to audio from my OLED TV and it is tremendous (thru my Rose 150). Voicing is amazing and watching sports (ESPN) is impressive.

Don't know how much the Rose helps (just passing a digital coax), but hate by-passing their ESS DAC.  

I don't know about front ending this thing with something other than a cheaper Node or iFi.  Sweet spot seems to be a great second room system.   

Thanks for the pics......now I see even more I can mod.  So far, everyone who has tried this thing has loved it and it beat whatever they had before.  I wonder how good it could sound with a Lumn U1 mini ($2400) with its super lossless LEEDH volume control?  What DAC, Preamp, amp combo can beat this thing?  So far, nothing.

Here ya go Ric....put a couple pics in my profile

This thing sounds so good. I remember the old days and stacking multiple components to achieve the perceived best audio performance.

I feel bad because I love building all my cabling and this trend reduces it down to PCB traces.

Very simplistic interior. Cheap CMC binding posts, basic IEC inlet, RCA wiring.

I’ll modify all this stuff. My ears are old, so not convinced it will make any difference...

Just to note. I have the Peachtree GaN400 and I think I like the GaN1 better.

A digital amp is a class D amp......but it has digital input and not an analog input. It changes the PCM directly to PWM in software and then drives a class D output stage. It does not use digits to drive the speaker. What comes out of it is analog. You might say a "digital amp" is a "power DAC". A digital amp is not a normal "class" of amp. It is just the name that TACT and Lyndorf and Technics use to describe their amps. Peachtree does not call it anything but an "amp".

Lyngdorf and Technics also make "digital" amps (Tact, now out of business, morphed into Lyngdorf). The Technics and Lyngdorf both have analog inputs along with digital inputs but the analog signal is changed to PCM with an ADC before going to the main chip to be changed to PWM. The Peacetree is the only "super simple" digital input class D amp made.....super simple meaning just a digital input and no volume control. The amp module inside the amp is inexpensive and you will see others using this technology......and other more high end complanies developing their own PCM to PWM conversion software and building their own digital amps. They will naturally be used in powered speakers, as well.....so you would have all the xovers, equalizaion, time alignment done inside speaker in the digital domain and then fed directly to the speaker drivers.....this will be fantastic!  However, then there will be less to tweak....Hey, where is the fun in that? Just fantastic sound? boring....he he.

If you buy the Peachtree and love it.....you are no longer looking for analog interconnects, DACs, or Preamps.....you simple do not need these components......Using the money you save, you can get a serious inverter like the Giandel 5000 watter and the Puritan line filter after it and blow your mind to kingdom come.

It's not class d, it's a digital amp. Technics has a ganfet digital amp also. 

Is the Gan 1 the only class D amp that uses zero negative feedback or the only one that simplifies the chain, eliminating the need for all these separate components?

@ricevs I’ve gotten caught up in this now…I remember canceling my order to trial this for $1499 because I couldn’t get a definitive date for delivery back in April…oh well.

Since I’m a futurist and like most audiophiles am interested in the next best thing, what comes after GanFET or is that it? I asked over on the AHB2 thread but probably more appropriate to keep it here.

OK, please do a serious evaluation and let us know......thanks.

BTW....how does the Rose do digital out volume control? At 32Bits? or ? What digital cable are you using?

Here is the feedback from the Rose engineers...

Basically, for OPT OUT/ AES/EBU, and COAX OUT, the maximum possible transmission rate is 24Bit/192KHz.
If you use internal DAC of Rose, you can use full specification of Rose streamers, 32bit 768kHz for RS150B.
Lowering the volume won’t degrade bits.

I make all my own cables, take a look at my system details.  

Is it safe to bypass the first fuse in the IEC outlet? How do I tell if it's fast or slow for the ceramic one inside? 

Everything makes a difference. Every single thing inside the Node and Zen effect the sound.

LEDs add distortion. A toslink output is an LED.....the indicators for frequency are LEDs. I removed the toslink connector and the indicator LEDs. I hardwired a custom power supply cable directly into the I Purifier that comes from a hardwired custom power supply. I damped the I purifier with EAR SD40AL and also damped/mounted the I Purifier directly to the load (damping material running down the body of the I Purifier and onto the chassis of the DAC).

No, meant to say, it should. Sorry. I wasn't thinking about the other parts either. How did you mod ipurifier?

Have you tested this? Do you have a Zen and Node and the IFI I Purifier and you tested it with both units? Or is this a guess?.....since the Zen has a built in purifier. The Purifier would work best at the load....not the source. The I Purifier sounds even better when modded and a super hardwired power supply is used (yes, I have done this). However, sometimes it sounds best without the I purifier......Everything has to be listened to.

Thank you for the information on the insides. I am sure upgrading the wires and binding posts would make a noticeable improvememt in sound along with all the other things I noted.

Skip at Elegant Audio Solutions told me that his digital amps were better than the Technics..........but those are words. What is the reality? I hope someone A/Bs the Peachtree with any of the Technics....using the same source.

The amp board in there is a four channel board that is used as a bridged two channel amp. Each of the four single ended amps puts out 50 watts.....and two of them combined gives 200 watts. Imagine using one of these amps for each channel and wiring two of the channels for 50 watts and the other two for 200 watts. You could then use a minidsp or whatever as digital xover and triamp speaker drivers directly without any analog xover. You would have 50 watts on the tweeter and midrange and 200 watts for the woofer.....OMG......this would kill 100K systems for sure. I am sure some manufacturers of speakers are already looking into this.....the whole shebang would be inside each speaker......OMG again. The revolution has begun.....no more DACS, preamps, analog interconnects and big heavy amplifiers.......this thing is 10lbs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  The power amp board and switching power supply probably weigh something like 2 lbs total.

If you add the ifi spdif ipurifier 2 to the node it will sound as good as the Zen. 

There's a 32v switch mode power supply with an 8A fuse. Nichicon caps on both the power supply and amplifier board. Elegant Audio solutions 200s Rev A board. Wires seem to be a decent guage with ferrite cores on the speaker wires going to the binding posts. Binding posts seem to be of high quality, not magnetic. 

From what i have read the Lumin U1 and the IFI Zen Stream both seriously beat the Bluesound.

You can replace the output connectors with WBT Nexgens, replace the output wire, change the AC inlet to a Furutech and get rid of the external fuse (probably already has a fuse on the power supply board....which you can upgrade to serious audiophile fuse).  Then you could do power supply beefing, bypassing and trying different caps on the filter output (very important).   You could also Cryo the output inductors, etc.

Of course, you can use better footers and mass load/damp the chassis. 

What mod do you do to the amp? 

Yes, indeed.  Your PS Audio Directstream Jr., Backert Pre and Pass 30.8 are $15K....plus cables......this is $2K.  Peachtree has 30 day trial.....would be really cool to find out.  Again, you could mod it for better sound (me can do) and you can add Inverter power for far better sound.

I’m wondering how this would sound with my Lumin U1 Mini streamer with LeedH volume control.  Might be worth a try.

OK, please do a serious evaluation and let us know......thanks.

BTW....how does the Rose do digital out volume control? At 32Bits? or ? What digital cable are you using?

I would love to see a comparison of the IFI Zen Stream (using better linear power supply) with the much more expensive Rose 150.

This amp will only sound as good as the digital signal being put into it. How would this amp sound with the world's best streamer and cable?

I'll finally be able to listen/eval the GaN1.   Swapped out the GaN400 and will be using the Rose 150 as the digital front end.

It is dead silent (GaN400 has a slight turn on/off pop), no speaker hiss at all.

Probably not the long term pairing with the Rose, but could be a great combo for a Node/iFi/Minidsp Flex front end.

Has anyone compared the Gan 1 to the technics sug700 m2?

Both use the ganfets and are all digital. Is the extra $700, soon to be $900, worth it if only using streaming? Does it have better sound quality? 

This is revolutionary.  His DAC is the Holo May KTE.....the preamp is the Holo Serene and the amps are mono block Kinki B7s....this is serious stuff.......every thing is in the top league in its price.......Please read the reviews on his OLD stuff.  Incredible reviews.......If you substituted an MSB select DAC in his old system would it be as good as the GaN1?.......How about a $100K amp?  Of course, you could mod the GaN1 amp and use Inverter power to take it to another whole level.  The revolution has come......No more heavy and expensive boxes....amen...

@tapp Yeah, I've seen some non-love for them.  I've had one of their integrated amps (Decco65 if I recall)  in years past and paired with my speakers of that era (Zu Omen) and my complaint with the Peachtree of yore was that bass and lower midrange were sorely missing but very smooth treble and dimensionality.  By the performance so far, it seems like they have addressed those two things.

Do they have a character or sound signature? Not really.  I think that's their goal with this amp, though, neutrality.  If that's the goal, this amp is a success. Does it cost a lot to get to that goal? In this case, no, so it's a really good value at that.  For a LOT of people, this amp is enough.  As of now, if I could temper my expectations (a tall order for any self-described audiophile) I could absolutely be happy with this amp.  Maybe not with the Bluesound as the front, but the technology of the amp design is really really good and provides a lot of listening satisfaction.  Do you *need* anything else? We're always chasing it and will probably continue because that's the nature of this hobby 😁

@rickallen81 Great detailed review thanks!  There are a few folks on A'gon that hate on Peachtree, but I have really enjoyed my Gan400 powering KEF LS50 Meta's.  Very similar to what you describe is what I get from the gan amp.  Of course I can't get the low's your Spatials get, that's what my 2 SVS subs are for.

I just received my beta tester Friday and gave it a good 12 hours of use over the weekend.  

My equipment includes Spatial M3 Triode Master speakers (16 ohm open baffle) and comparison amp is the Linear Tube Audio Ultralinear Integrated (20w per channel) run from a Bluesound Node 2i via the MHDT Orchid tube DAC.

I was intrigued by the simplicity of the GAN1 setup and was curious what a GAN amp might bring to the party so I put my money down back in May with a promise of June delivery haha.  So nearly October is what finally happened.  

I got everything set up and plugged in and started up.  My speakers are 95db sensitive and I could hear the slightest introduction of a high frequency noise when the GAN1 came on.  Not intrusive, but there.  

I started running it through some tests to see how it handled different genres.  Classical is one I find to be a pretty good test since it has to reproduce a huge amount of recorded sound, make it come across as unified as well as illustrate individual instruments without sounding constrained.  The GAN1 did seriously well.  The "full tilt" of an orchestra was there when called upon with some serious gusto.  The soundstage is also noticeably deeper and more expansive than the LTA which is somewhat expected given the quietness of the GAN vs tubes, even transformerless tubes.  The texture on the LTA is better, but requires higher volumes to be achieved on the same content.  The GAN projected some really cool and realistic tones for piano and upright bass which sounded like they were in the room, not just on a recording, by bringing more space and bass definition.  The whole spectrum, though, was nicely done.  No harsh highs, no apparent lack anywhere.  In fact, the highs were beautifully done for my ears, which typically are sensitive to harshness and fatigue.  I never got any from the GAN after a long weekend of listening.

Then I switched to my wife's favorite, EDM.  In order to play house party levels on the LTA, I really have to crank it.  Not so on the GAN.  25% volume on Spotify connect played the whole house convincingly with everything carrying through.  I initially had a sub going, but turned it off to compare and at that 25% volume, it was not needed.  The two 15" woofers of the Spatials were thumping beautifully.  Even after a particularly spirited three hours of dynamic material, I couldn't detect so much as a degree of temperature change coming off the amp.

High points: Spatial expansiveness and sound field depth, bass definition, realism, quietness of the amp, ability to hit party levels without distortion or strain.

Low points: Digital volume control via the Bluesound could use more gradation.  The difference between 0 and 1 is the same as the difference between 0 and 25 on the LTA out of 100 steps.  Pairing with Bluetooth rather than Spotify connect helped dial in lower volumes though. Perhaps a Cambridge CXN would do better here, but my speakers' sensitivity is likely to blame.

I did not do a true A/B, although I should sometime…

I only do streaming so HEOS with TIDAL in the living room on the Marantz 40n and I use it with Zu Dirty Weekends and a KEF KC62 Sub, sounds warmer, fuller and has more depth to me and the top end is less harsh.

I use the Blusound Node and TIDAL with the GaN 1 and the open baffles and I feel like I need a sub… but it sounds more detailed, not that the Marantz isn’t detailed, the GaN 1 is just super crisp sounding.  I did try both speakers with the Marantz before I got the sub and liked the Zu’s look in my living room, as well as the sound and they are less sensitive to place but it has been a while since comparing the two.