Peachtree GaN 1 Beta

@donnylovely 

Due to the fact that all the other Peachtree GaN amps have had load dependent frequency response and the fact that class d amps without feedback have had the same issue, it's a very good bet this new product has it as well. Prove me wrong.

It's an issue that can be measured. No doubt Peachtree already knows.

Still an assumption. If you actually listen to it let me know what really happens. 

This is his MO.....he will keep pestering you as long as you reply. Best to put him on ignore because what he wants is fighting drama and attention (he knew in advance what the reaction to his comments would bring as he has done the EXACT same thing over and over already on this forum). Give him no attention or fight and he will go away. This MO comes from a lack of self love....as all of anyones foibles are linked to this.....including mine. We are ALL amazingly beautiful.....when we act anything but this.....we have forgotten how incredible we are. May you all know, feel and share your beauty.

Yikes Pokémon is back.

Has anyone played with changing the power supply yet? I was just curious if someone had gone with a LPS and what the difference was?

Thanks.

Are the ganfets part of the power supply? Idk if I would want to change those out if that’s the case. Plus it’s a 32 volt 8 amp power supply, might be hard to find an audio one that size. But I to would like to know.

Announcement......I posted here that I sent an email to Peachtree over the last weekend, to be signed up for the Beta test program for the GAN 1......CD45123 answered me....he stated that program was over and it’s on the Peachtree website @ $2K......I just got an email back from PT saying I qualified for the ENCORE Program for the GAN1. The price quoted to me was $1399 and December delivery...WOW.

Damn, that's awesome! Only $100 more. I might order a second at that price. I would have ordered 2 from the start if I knew how good it was going to be. I'm sure we won't see prices like this again once reviewers get their hands on it. 

To add the NODE it's $1599 total......Should I get the Node or an IFI Zen Streamer.

just ordered a 2nd....looking forward to bi-amping and using a miniDSP SHD for an active system...

Correction ... The GAN 1 with the BS NODE is $1698...sounds like a great package.

@mbmi 

I think the combo is $1700...

$300 for the node is a good deal

This combo could be what I’ve been waiting for.

Any idea if PT plan to run this program in UK?

They don't ship outside the US. But their products accept 220 v. You could do a mail forwarding service or if you know someone in the US, have them send to you. 

Hello AudioGoners,

My apologies if this is not allowed and please let me know if it isn't! A customer called me yesterday and directed me here...

Thank you for your support and kind words regarding the GaN 1! I see that several of you have experienced the GaN 1 and had the same reaction I did when I first heard it. I'm sure I am biased as I work for the company and have been a GaN proponent since the beginning, but the GaN 1 was the first time (in my entire 30+ year career in the audio industry) that I heard a PROFOUND improvement listening to recorded music using a $2K product, much less a <$3.5K system. In fact, I can't recall that happening before on any other single product I have heard under $15K and many systems costing MUCH, MUCH more than that. Sorry for the "sales pitch," but I get energized when I talk about it!

We have another GaN 1 build scheduled for December and have allocated it to beta testing. Unfortunately securing all the parts for full production is taking us much longer than we hoped so it will probably not begin until Q1 2023. The "beta" units are identical to production units (minus the owners manual). If you missed the first beta opportunity and would like to join in, please click below. We have a limited number available. We would love to have you join us in our pursuit!

Sincerely,

Andrew Clark

President of Peachtree Audio

Gan400 shipped and will be here Friyay. Can't wait.

The GaN 400 is nothing like the GaN 1.  The GaN 400 has one dollar op amps on the input with a ton of feedback.  It requires a DAC in front of it.  It certainly is a good amp (same amp as LSA Voyager).....but it no better than the Orchard Stereo amp or Purifi amps from VTV.......the GaN 1 has a shorter and purer signal path....meaning more transparency.  And then by spending less money by avoiding a DAC/preamp/cables and amp setup.....you can upgrade your speakers, speaker wires, and digital front end and add an Inverter for sound that is out of this world.  There is already one person here who has both the GaN 400 and the GaN 1.....both driven by the Rose streamer (DAC out to GaN 400 and digital out to GaN 1).  He preferred the GaN 1.   The revolution here is the direct digital input path.....same as what Technics and Lyngdorf are using.....but this amp is simpler and, I bet, better sounding.  

Understood but it suits my needs at the moment. We will see

I have the GaN 400.......It’s Awsome ! Needs about 150 hrs. and it will be the sweetest thing you’ve ever heard. The SOUNDSTAGE is Big and Deep.....I like that "I'm there" feeling. You'll love it....Enjoy.

but this amp is simpler and, I bet, better sounding.

So, have you heard the GaN 1 or the GaN 400? Why are you betting if you have already compared them?

I don’t need to bet on the Gan 1 versus Gan 400.....it has already been A/Bed here on this thread. I was talking about the Technics and Lyngdorf amps....which both also use digital amp technology. The GaN 1 has no input switching or bit reducing volume control.....it is super simple and pure.....that is why I "think" it might be better......and the company that wrote the software....(Elegant Audio Solutions and their earlier company D2Audio which is now part of Renesas)....has been writing software since the early 2000s. No one in the world has A/Bed any of them, that I know of. The main "conversion" from digital to analog or...PCM to PWM is written in software in a digital amp......so the better the software the better the sound. That is why there will be even better digital amps in the future.....besides the power supply purity, parts purity, etc. that also effects sound.

I have both and they are really good! The GaN1 opens up options to simplify a dedicated streaming configuration. Although, I’m planning on using two of them in an active setup using a miniDSP SHD on the front end. I have one already hooked up and it sounds fantastic driving a full range Camerton Binom-A2s. I have a Class D mini GaN5 on Purifi subs and it is quite impressive.

With that said, the GaN400 has more power and I’m very happy using it with my Rose 150B driving Wharfedale Elysian 2s. It sounds better and than my previous reference Purifi amps.

im following this thread and I am considering the Peachtree GaN400. Can owners of the "400" tell me what their previous amps were and comparisons etc. I know the two popular amps out there are the Purifi and GaN amps. I assume they have similar attributes but have some sonic differences, if some one can explain. Thanks Much.

Check out the Darko or audio excellence Canada review on the 400. I think only 1 person on this thread has the 400. There's probably a thread dedicated to the 400, I would think. 

donnylovely

They don't ship outside the US. But their products accept 220 v.
 

You could do a mail forwarding service or if you know someone in the US, have them send to you. 

Thanks donny

Re the 220v, do you know if it can be plugged straight in or is there some internal jumper or something?

Is it the same with the Bluesound Node?

I’m looking into the shipping.   I need to find out the shipping weight & dimensions.

An update: spent some time switching back and forth between the cheap and simple Zen Stream plus GaN1 and my normal system. I also tried the Peachtree GaN400 and Pass X150 for comparison. The sound is super clean but still enjoyable because there's no harshness added, which is why I spent so much on my regular system, you need good gear to make digital sound musical. The only drawback of the GaN1 is that it is so clean that it takes getting used to. It may help some to combine it with less revealing speaker cables in order to smear the sound a little and make it sound fuller.

The board says 100-250 Vac. The fuse is 250v 8a

So I belive you could just plug it in

@chrisld By super clean do you mean thin?   I hope not.   My idea of super clean is no distortion, sounds like real life, in the room.   I can’t cope with thin, all treble, no bass sound, so I’m hoping I don’t get that.   
 

@donnylovely thanks donny.   Yes, I emailed Peachtree & they were very helpful.   Told me I just need to change a fuse.   I’ve ordered a GaN 1 + Node combo.   Can’t wait!!!

I have zero understanding of how electronics work, so I’m struggling to understand why the GaN 1 is just quoted at 200 watts full stop.   Most amps are quoted

X watts @ 8ohm

X x 2 watts @ 4ohms etc…

What speakers are you guys using?   Is there a certain spec that best matches this amp?

jimbones - I tried the GaN400 and sent it back. In my system it was too analytical and I didn't enjoy the music. The GaN1 is better and far cheaper in a system.

Apparently you aren't familiar with the giant leap in amplifier technology in the last 2 years- GaN amps. I have a LSA Voyager GaN 350, which is cool running and sonically seamless from top to bottom. Anyone saying otherwise is probably not using quality cables, or some piece of kit upstream is the problem, cause my experience using various cables including; speaker, power cords, interconnects and digital cable is the changes are immediately heard. And MSRP is $3000, but typically it's on sale for ~ $2400

Apparently you don’t know that the LSA Voyager and the Peachtree GaN400 are essentiallly the same amplifier. Both use the same amp boards and probably the same power supplies from EAS (Eleagant Audio Solutions). The LSA site says there are just a few Voyagers left....so maybe they are going to the digital input boards, as well.

The Peachtree GaN 1 is another board from EAS but it is a digital input only board. If you ask EAS which is better (the same board with analog input or the one with digital).....they will tell you the digital is better.....no op amps, no feedback...no DAC or preamp needed.......digital amps are the future of audio. You will see over the next five years more and more complanies going over to this. It is sonically the purest way of amplification.. The future is now with the GaN 1 and soon other companies will be making amps with the EAS boards and they have 400 watt a channel stereo and mono boards.....The revolution is here...NOW!

Of course, there will be other companies coming out with their own boards (Mytek just hinted at that in an interview). The way you do anything effects the sound. So, how you write the software that converts PCM to PWM, the clocking, the power supplies, the bypass caps, the output filter components, etc, into infinity will all still change the sound. However, this first one we have here from EAS is so good that it can replace $15-$20K worth of normal DAC, preamp and amp. The GaN1 can be modded for higher perfomance right now, as well.

The LSA Voyager is $2400.....the GaN 400 is $2500.......the GaN 1 is $2K (on sale now for 1.4K)......and you don’t need a multithousand dollar DAC or preamp or analog interconnects.....way better sound for way less........can you dig it?

There are other class D amps under $3K right now that are REALLY great....the (non GaN) Purifi modules, new new Hypex modules (NCx500 and the diy Nilai 500), the GaN Orchard amps and even the inexpensive Class D audio Mini GaN......but all these need a DAC and don’t sound as good. Bye bye normal amps, DACs, preamps and analog interconnects.....there is a new world....and it is here NOW. Embrace it for your hearts and ears sake.....and with the money you saved.....you can get your wife/children something nice.

"Bye bye normal amps

Really! I think not but time will tell

@ricevs

Im guessing your reply was for me. I try to avoid mentioning such things as they can confuse people

How does the new amp bypass the need for a pre (2+ inputs) or a volume control?

FYI I have long thought about replacing my solid steel vertical rack with a horizontal table. Last week I scored a maple table top locally for $170 its 5 x 2 x 2" (heavy beast). When I moved all the kit out of the SS rack, my Voyager slipped off a chair and the unattached cover slid into the insides. I saw no visible damage but when I turned the system back on the right module went all 4th of July, so I do need it replaced (was unaware that LSA is not making any more. Fortunately, I still have my EVS 1200, which never sounded this good, but since it was last in the system I have completely upgraded all cables + the HORIZONTAL maple TABLE cleared up the rear sound stage from my Open Baffle Emerald Physics 3.4s

You need a streamer with a built in volume control......like the $400 IFI Zen Streamer (a linear power supply option will help sound).  You use wireless or ethernet to stream and you can also use a usb stick/hard drive to play files.  So, you would download all your CDs and other files (including high rez PCM) onto a thumb drive/hard drive and play them with the Zen Stream app on your smart phone.  If you have analog as a source, you would need to convert it to high speed PCM and then play it through the usb input.

The $2400 Lumin U2 Mini has Leedh digital volume (completely lossless) and probably better sound than the IFI jobbie....However, no one has commented here on the difference in sound.

Has anyone here tried the IFI streamer with a USB hard disk? Curious how the sound quality would be with the GAN1.

Also curious about Lumin U1/U2 Mini with Leedh vs Innous Zen/Mini. By all accounts the Innuos has better sound at full output, wondering if Leedh gives the Lumin the edge here.

Have a GAN 1 on order, they’re currently saying delivery some time in December.  I mostly play music from a server rather than streaming (currently Naim Uniti Core, but it lacks volume control). 

Anyone else here had delivery?   Still waiting for mine.  Can’t wait!!!

Any more user reviews?

Any ideas on what speakers work best?

Got this response Friday

The Gan 1 Beta Encore units will begin shipping next week. Once your unit is in production/testing, we will send out an update letting you know.
Then once it ships, you will receive an email with tracking information.
 

Like pacing back and forth at a maternity ward!  

@ricevs I saw some of your posts on this and decided today to see what the fuss was all about. I guess I will get delivery next week.

I am going to compare this to the following:

- Benchmark LA4 preamp

- Benchmark AHB2 monos

- Musetec 005 DAC + opticalRendu streamer

- Benchmark DAC3B + opticalRendu streamer

- Audience FrontRow speaker cable

- KEF LS50 Meta

- KEF KC62 sub (will not use with Peachtree)

- 12 x 11 x 9 room

This is my office system, and it is not going anywhere since it sounds amazing. i also have 4 sources connected to my preamp. All 4 are used daily. Which the Peachtree cannot support.

However, if this thing is as good as what I have in the office, I may change my Livingroom speaker choice and go with option #2, Yamaha NS5000.

I need to get a SPDIF cable now and maybe some speaker cables if my old Audience Conductor SE are not long enough (somewhere in storage).

Very good.  How will you be getting the digital signal to the coax input on the GaN 1 and how are you controlling the volume?.....ie. what is your signal path before the GaN1?

You could bi-amp and make your own speaker that might sound better than Kef or Yamaha driven with normal gear.....  You use the $600 minidsp xover and buy two amps and make a speaker using (for example) two Purifi woofs per side with a Beryllium tweeter in between...crossover at 1K at 48db per octave......With no passive xover and tweaking you will have sound that is unbelievable.  Anyone can make you the boxes.  You can even put them in a sealed box so you do not even have to know anything about box size and ports......just make the box as deep as you can and then just equalize using the crossover.....you should get punchy bass to 30 hz with two of the kick ass Purifi 6.5 inch woofs.

@ricevs Not interested in building a speaker. I am going to be doing a second job in Jan 2023 and have no time for anything but work and music.

What do you think I should get to stream to the GAN1?

Sonore - Sonicorbiter ultraDigital 

I would like to get the above since I could connect the USB output of my opticalRendu to the input of the ultraDigital and then SPDIF to the GAN1. However, I am not sure if I would be able to adjust the volume via my computer. 

When I owned the KRELL K-300i integrated amp with built-in RJ45 streaming I was able to change the volume using my ROON client on the DAC of the K-300i. Now KRELL did a great job of adding that feature to the ROON READY feature set of the K-300i. I do not think PT has any such ROON READY support.

My OpticalRendu does have ROON READY support and so volume adjustment may work. Actually, as I type this, I recall a setting for FIXED vs DEVICE VOLUME on the ROON ENDPOINT settings section of ROON. 

I am going to talk with Sonore tomorrow and see if the ultraDigital will work in my setup using ROON and the opticalRendu. My fibre optical streaming setup is excellent I would like to leverage that to compare the existing gear with the GAN1. 

Just found out that the UltraDigital unit connected to my opticalRendu will infact support software volume adjustment via ROON.

I now need to cancel that order for the Bluessound unit from Peachtree.

This is what my streamer will be like (video)

No USB input? Can’t use this unit with my Innuos Zenith or many great servers. Only coax input? Really an issue for folks wanting to buy one with their USB optimized digital front ends. 

Yup, you will have to use a converter.....usb to coax. Here is one of many:

https://www.sonore.us/ultraDigital.html

There will be units with multiple inputs, including usb input, volume control built in, xover/equalizer built in and multichannel out so you can use this one integrated amp to drive speaker drivers directly.....one box solution.....you just make your own speaker and hook this thing up and play with the settings....easy as pie.....and better than $100K systems based on the old paradigm (DAC, cable, Preamp, cable, normal amp, whole bunch of xover parts then the speaker drivers). We no longer need any of that stuff....none of it. Of course, this will not be tube sound and not all will like it. But, if you want pure transparency and super detail and goosebumps and wowiezowie.....this will do.

I will have my webpage done by tomorrow (maybe even tonight) and post the link to all this madness.....he he.

I have a USB optimized front end, the Sonore opticalRendu fed by a EtherRegen. I am going to use the just purchased Sonore UltraDigital and use it with the oR and eR combo. This is all Fibre Optical and my best streaming setup. I have 2 other opticalRendu but no FMC (like the eR) in front of those 2.

I spoke by email with 3 principles of Sonore UltraDigital . They responded this way:

1) No problem it will work with ROON DEVICE VOLUME setting. Many people use as I am thinking of doing.

2) It will have dropouts with ROON DEVICE VOLUME use FIXED instead

3) It will work.

So not the clearest feedback but I bought the UltraDigital today anyways and will test this out against my reference office system (only ROON streaming).

Cost of the contender:

- Peachtree GAN1 $1399

- UltraDigital $499

- WyWire ’Silver’ SPDIF $299 on sale and it will be BNC to RCA terminated

- EtherRegen $600ish with wall wort PS (as recommended)

- Sonore OpticalRendu ROON Only version $999 + $750 for Sonore LPS + $250 USB cable

This is $4800 worth of gear and nothing I would consider a weak link. It should be an apples-to-apples comparison for the most part.

I will use ROON as my streaming client and control volume from that (hopefully works).

I would agree with @grannyring. With today's digital setup, a usb input would just made it a lot viable option. Many with highend streamers would have to use a digital convertor which somewhat defeats the purpose of simplicity GAN1 brings to the table. Also, I am not sure about digital volume control - I have experimented with Roon's DSP volume in the past and didn't like it much.

@abd1 did you receive either the Voyager or the GaN1. I am curious about your impression with the Cubes. Can you please provide an update ?

Also agree about the omission of a USB input which would seem a superior choice for interface. Would there be a specific technical reason for SPDIF only as it relates to data conversion to PWM or just a lower cost, more easily implemented interface?

Regarding volume control in the digital domain (ie streamer), it seems many have dissed the notion due to "dropped bits/reduced resolution". I’m wondering if the advantages of the minimalist signal path utilizing the GAN-1 are potentially lost (or muted) due to software based attenuation (volume control) at the source. Or alternatively, do the benefits of the simplified chain more than make up for any detrimental effects of the software volume control.

Most streamer volume control options interface via a "slider" or other GUI based option on a control device so I’m wondering if one would miss the "tactile" feel of a high quality physical remote control (think Devialet). MiniDSP looks like it utilizes one of those cheap "credit card" type remotes - not much enjoyment there.

Very interested in the concept and potential of the GAN-1, however would like to see more ideas for source devices regarding volume control options.

@debjit_g 

This thread has been interesting to follow. I started it when I originally received the promo offer from Peachtree and was intending to try a GaN1. However, things changed and I cancelled my order. I did wind up with an LSA GaN 350 amp and it sounds fantastic with the Cube Nenuphar Mini's. The Cubes tend to "prefer" low damped, no feedback amp designs and can sound amazing with very low powered amps (I've used 2 wpc tube amps that sound great) so I wasn't sure how the GaN amps would sound. I've used other higher powered solid state amps that sound flat and a bit dry with the Cubes. The GaN 350 amp just sounds so clean but not harsh and the detail is extraordinary. I put on one of my wife's favorite Michael Stipe tracks and she said she's never heard his voice so clear and "in the room." Strings are so vibrant you can practically feel the vibration. I've been impressed with this amp and I sometime wonder if the GaN1 would sound even better since it direct. However, ultimately, I still prefer tubes. Even though I'm not getting the detail there's an expansiveness and weight that I like with tube amps. However, I could easily see living happily with the GaN 350 amp, especially with other speakers. Which reminds me that I did use it with some Usher BE718 speakers it was a fantastic match as well. If those were my permanent speakers it would be hard to move away from the GaN 350. My main purpose with the GaN 350 was to have a cooler amp for summer. I thought of keeping it for next summer but there's so many amps I want to try. So I am selling my GaN 350. You can pm me if you're interested. It is one of the best solid state amps I've had at any price and I highly recommend it.

Yes, lots of used GaN350s out there.  Looks like LSA has discontinued it and are probably working up an amp based on the much better sounding digital boards from EAS (if you talk to EAS they will tell you that the digital boards are more transparent).  Even the best digital amp system that can be made (yet to be done) will not sound like tubes.....there will always be those that prefer the "sound" of tubes....

I should have my webpage about all things: (digital amp/digital crossover/off the grid power/making your own speakers) up tonight or tomorrow and will share the link.