Peachtree GaN 1 Beta

I've never heard the stock Gan1.

Ric’s reputation for his mods and especially mods to the Gan1, had me just get one and send to him for upgrading.

Still wondering about the Zen Stream as a streamer vs something else - the ZS streamer is good but I haven’t used any others. I have an auralic mini and the ZS. The streamer needs to have the service options which most have but since it is THE software volume control, have a vc that works really well too.

Would like to know what one, two, or three things are better than the stock GaN1?  Any other descriptions would be appreciated!

I’m back with my @ricevs modified Gan1 up and running. 
All I can say is……..incredible. This thing is really really good. 
streamer is Ifi Zen Stream. Two components. 
 

Hi, anyone know if you can use a Fiio R7 as a streamer coax out into the Gan 1 and if you'll have volume control?  If so, that would work for Apple Hi Res.  

Benefits of GaN in Class-D Amplification

yyzsantabarbara is right. A great front end can make a big difference.  Network switches and power conditioning also play a role. The best front end I've paired with the D300 consisted of a Lumin U2 streamer, LHY Audio SW-10 switch, Uptone EtherRegen switch, and an Audio GD DI-20HE USB to SPDIF DDC, all connected to a Shunyata Everest power distributor.  Fiber optics were used between switches and to the Lumin U2. All digital cables were Sablon Audio. It was elaborate but the sound was the best I've heard from the amp.  I also personally modded my D300 and yes, that made an audible difference for the better.  Note, although it sounds great, I would not recommend the Audio GD DDC with the Gan1 or D300. It has its quirks and in my opinion is not compatible. 

Thanks @yyzsantabarbara but I’m in UK.

@singintheblues If you are willing to take a chance with the GAN1, send it to TweakAudio.com and let Ric make the GAN1 sound good ($500). In stock form it is just OK. You have an great piece of gear but you just have not heard it yet.

A great front end for this is the Sonore OpticalRendu +

ultraDigital 1.5 - USB to SPDIF and i2s converter – Small Green Computer

It is ROON READY with volume control on the software (has to be with the GAN1).

I also used a Lumin X1 as a streamer to the GAN1 and controlled the volume with the LeedH volume control. This was another amazing way to control the GAN1. Lumin has a new streamer minus the DAC which is what is needed for the GAN1.

LUMIN U2 (luminmusic.com) (also has a remote control that works with the GAN1)

I bought a used Sonore OpticalRendu from Canada for $700 and will get it in 4 weeks. It will be used with the GAN1, which is idle at the moment. I had this setup before as I mention above.

I used fibre optic streaming for both scenarios I described. That is the only way I stream. Only limitation I had with the streamers I used was the difficulty in hooking up a sub. The Node supports it but it does not do fibre so I never considered it.

I went for the GaN1 + Bluesound Node combo.  Unfortunately, it’s not for me. Too anaemic/clinical for my liking.

I really don’t like the restriction of the single input of the GaN1.  OK if I could find a front end that ticks all my boxes, but the Bluesound Node definitely isn’t that.

I really dislike everything about the Node.  The sound, the interface (both physical & the app).

I’ll be moving both units on as soon as I get time.

My Lumin D1 doesn't support Tidal Connect so I can't test Tidal Connect for you. However, the Lumin U1/U2 Mini do support it.  I've been using Roon happily with my D1. In addition to the 0-100 volume range, I also like the "Max Volume %" feature of the Lumin streamers.  One can set this to say "50", and then if one accidentally sets the normal volume to maximum, then the sound won't be as loud as without any limit. It's a safety feature.  And what's cool also is that the volume range is still 0-100 but now 100 represents 50% so granularity of control is not lost.

I'm currently using a TP link mesh router (1 of 3) to essentially provide wifi to my D1. I'm also thinking about getting a TP Link TL-WR802N "router" as the wifi device for the D1.  The TL-WR802N just needs to be put into "client" mode.  This router can possibly be powered by USB power from the device (don't quote me on this).  My D1 doesn't have USB out but U1/U2 Mini does.

@simui

I’ll have to look at the Lumin streamers, especially the new U2 mini or the older D1. I was thinking they were all real expensive. I was worried with the fact that it is not wireless scared me away as my router is downstairs. I could get a Netgear wi fi extender.

I really like the volume control of 1-100 idea.

Is the Leedh volume control needed or used/beneficial if you are using Tidal Connect??

Regarding the ADC, I actually have a studio quality ADC sitting idle.  My Lumin D1 has an internal DAC (a very good one, BTW). I'm going to have to play with this DAC and the ADC to feed digital to the D300.  I'm curious to know how this would sound over D1 directly feeding digital to the D300.  

mr_bill, what about the Lumin U1/U2 Mini don't you like?  I've tried a Lumin U1 Mini with LPS, U2, and D1 with LPS. All three have LEEDH volume processing and I think it works very with my VTV D300.  A used D1 may be the most economical way to get LEEDH digital volume control.  The Lumin streamers have volume range from 0 to 100 (whole numbers) so they offer fine tuning of the volume. This is especially important with sensitive speakers like my Zu Audio Soul 6's at lower volume. I've also tried the Eversolo DMP-A6 Master Edition streamer.  Although the sound was great with the Eversolo, the Eversolo's digital out range was 0 to 15 (whole numbers) and this did not allow for fine tuning of the volume at low levels. Anything above "4" was considered too loud to me. I sold the Eversolo. 

Anyone else have any compatible streamer recommendations for Gan1?

Any streamer with AES or SPDIF digital output in coaxial, xlr, bnc, or Toslink formats can be connected to the coaxial port of GaN 1. If the streamer lacks a coaxial digital output port, a converter from AES, BNC, or Toslink to coaxial is available as an option. However, the catch is that SPDIF supports a maximum bit depth and sample rate of 24/192 for digital audio signals.

It’s a pity for me since I have a collection of DSD files that I enjoy listening to. I suggest that Peachtree considers adding a USB port and due computing power to process those higher resolution music files. I believe Schiit is also considering taking that direction.

Hi Mr Bill

As far as connecting a turntable to your GaN1, I use the Bluesound Node, and with that, you can connect a turntable to the Node via the Node's 3.5mm audio cable input jack.  This 3.5mm audio input jack is a dual purpose use as it is also a TosLink ipunt via the use of an adapter that comes with the Node.  I use that adapter to connect my Marantz CD player to the Node.

If I were to connect my turntable to the Node, it would be turntable>Phono Preamp>Node 3.5mm audio input.

Please report your view of your soon to arrive modded GaN1 amp!  Really looking forward to hearing all about it!

Cheers,

Tom

Here’s another thought:

Would this work to run an fm tuner or a phono stage into a Gan1? It has a gain control and so do some tuners and preamps with phono?

All you’d have to do is move your coax SPDIF from your streamer to this unit with other end in the Gan1.

https://avahifi.com/collections/accessories/products/dva-a2d

Hi all,

Just wondering if anyone has any updates to this thread. My Ric modded Gan1 will be done soon.
Will be using an ifi Zen Stream. I think the ZS sounds a little better than my Aries Mini and both have good software volume control.
I’ve never tried any of the new Auralic Aries streamers but they are priced a lot higher. I’ve read about Lumin mini but done think I’m interested in it or the Sonore. 
Anyone else have any compatible streamer recommendations for Gan1?

I had the modded Peachtree GAN1 and the PeachTree GAN400 in the house for the past month. I was using the GAN400 on the Magnepan LSR+, which I like a lot. I found the GAN400 with a Holo Serene preamp and Shitt Yggi+ LM rather good. A bit of hardness on the top end (very minor) that was not in the GAN1. 

I returned the GAN400 last week and bought a used Benchmark AHB2 (again) for $2K to be used in the same small room. I will have 2 systems the GAN1 and a KEF LS50 META + KEF KC62 sub. The sub is not essential for the LSR+, but does help. 

Since I need both analog sources and streaming, I will use the GAN1 with the 5 lb LRS+ and the AHB2 with the KEF LS50 Meta. Both will be great and not too much of an issue having both speakers in the same room. Nothing I will freak out about.

The GAN1 is almost there in terms of features. It just needs analog input support and also subwoofer support. I know the BluesNode can provide this but my fibre optical streaming is better.

I also recently tested the modded GAN1 with the Yamaha NS5000, which I have in my larger Livingroom. I needed to crank up the volume a lot to get very good sound from the system. I felt the speaker needed more power, so I have the CODA #16 on it instead, with a Benchmark LA4 preamp.

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0401/9490/0118/files/GaN_1_Review_by_Charles_Umberger.pdf?v=1679341369

Good review

I have finally A/Bed the modded GaN 1 with the modded VTV D300......at first it was not close.....the VTV slaughtered the GaN 1.......but the GaN 1 needed burn in......it kept getting better and better......but today still sounded somewhat 2D and not quite real and micro detailed compared to the VTV.......I had done some new things to the VTV that I had not done to the GaN 1.....and it has a different power supply and a different input jack.......well, I discovered tonight what it mostly was and it is a very simple mod that I had done to the VTV......NOW, the modded GaN 1 is very close to the modded VTV. If you are one of those that has my modded GaN 1 and you have a little mechanical skill (very little).....I can walk you through doing the mod yourself (I will send you a pic)......you will be blown away with the difference.

Please don’t ask me what the difference is between a stock GaN 1 and a stock VTV D300......I only heard a stock GaN 1 a long time ago (and did not like it at all) and never listened to the VTV before I modded it. The GaN 1 lists for $2000 and the VTV lists for $1500 with free shipping and more power.......so, that one makes sense to me.....but the mod on the VTV is $175 more (I change the input jack to a WBT Nextgen and also add 15lbs. of weight inside the chassis on the VTV amp). I might be able to add some weight inside the GaN 1, as well...TBD. Right now I listen to the GaN 1 with 10lbs. of damped weight on top of the amp. It is best to have the weight on the bottom inside as it damps the bottom panel where the amp module and power supply are mounted. These amps are light so they do not couple to audiophile feet very well without added mass. I use the Mad Scientist best footers along with two different types of hardwood (maple on top of bamboo) and an inner tube with very little air so the whole shebang bounces at under 10hz.  These modded digital amps are really transparent!......so simple.....no DAC, no preamp, no analog interconnects, no feedback......very, very little sonic distortion......and you can get an inexpensive Minidsp xover and use two of these amps and make a two way biamped, equalized, room corrected, time aligned super speaker for very little money....way cool!

First review Ive seen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28GQzI5meB0

I will have some info on the Peachtree VTV differences in a day or so.  The High powered Purifi and Hypex Nilai amps are both reported to sound great (they are not digital amps....they need a DAC)

Any updates here?

I see that VTV 300 is similar to Peachtree Gan 1 - how do they compare?
Also Purifi and Hypex have newer modules - wondering how those sound?

A lot of subs have speaker level inputs too. My Rythmik F15HP has those and line level inputs. I am using the line level outputs from the Node to the sub and the digital to the Gan 1.

Anybody using the GAN1 with subwoofers?  I was hoping to go that route with my Lumin U1 Mini, but the Lumin only has digitals outs, so I'd need to add a DAC between the Lumin and my subwoofers. 

It looks like the Node has a mono subwoofer out, and some folks are using this.

Wondering what others have done with the GAN1 and subwoofers.

I wonder how the Maggie DWM Bass Panels would work?

On a whim I managed to buy the Magnepan LRS+ from a dealer 2 weeks ago. I have them in my office system. It previously used the KEF LS50 Meta in this system. I still have the LS50 but the LRS+ is on stage now.

I even repurchased the KEF KC62 sub to use with the LRS+ (and LS50 Meta). Unfortunately, I do not know how to use the sub with the GAN1. I had to send my Benchmark LA4 preamp for repairs because it was not working with the KC62 sub. Benchmark thinks the preamp is fine. So, I have to figure out what the issue could be once the LA4 returns.

In the meantime, I wanted to hear the LRS+ so I put the GAN1 on it. The LRS+ has about 50 hours on it now and I can tell a bit of the hardness on top has now gone away. I believe the LRS+ needs some power to shine, Today, I am hearing amazing sound from the LRS+ and the modded GAN1. The GAN1 certainly has enough power for the LRS+. The sound is larger than the LS50 Meta and a bit clearer. A sub will definitely make this speaker shine even more. My room is small at 12 x 11 x 9 (plus extra closet space).

This sound is so impressive that I am going to use the GAN1 with my bucket list speaker that I bought last week. I was planning on buying a KEF Blade 2 Meta. However, a kids birthday party that I am hosting this Saturday made me realize it was crazy to have the Blade around kids. I went with plan B and got the Yamaha NS5000 speaker.

This speaker is a lot easier to drive than the Blades. I will be using the GAN1 on this Yamaha for a while. I am $$ broke now, so no plans to get anything else. My concern with the GAN1 is useability for the family since it is controlled by software. No simple physical volume control to adjust volume. Anyways, I will see if this is a real problem. The sound is really not an issue for me with the modded GAN1.

I had to sell my Lumin X1 to buy the Yamaha, the Lumin was my GAN1 streamer. I am now using the Sonore OpticalRendu to stream into the GAN1 and control everything via ROON.

The office system will be:

CODA #16 | Benchmark DAC3B | Benchmark LA4 (or Holo Serene) preamp | Magnepan LRS+ (and KEF LS50 Meta)| KEF KC62 sub | WyWire Platinum speaker cable | Playback Designs Stream-IF ROON READY streamer.

The Livingroom system will be:

PeachTree GAN1 | Yamaha NS5000 speaker | WyWire Diamond speaker | Sonore Optical Rendu ROON READY streamer.

I am hedging my bets with the GAN1 since I have 2 preamps, the LA4 and Serene. I likely will get another amp and put a preamp and amp with the Yamaha. If that happens then the GAN1 will go towards headphone duty. If I find that I do not need to ’upgrade’ the GAN1 then I will sell one of the 2 preamps.

I think mbolek in going over to the dark side....he he. The fact that he cannot hear the mods he did.....and thinks that all AC mods do nothing sonically.....well....he is pretty much alone here with the ASR people. The fact that he uses the word "snake" when describing what I do is really silly. There are thousands of posts on the internet describing mods to the AC power.....from dedicated lines, to power cords, to line conditioners, to AC jacks and plugs, to AC wiring inside equipment, upgrading fuses, etc. etc. to infiinity.....All of these posts claim they hear differences.....and these people are not snakes (many are manufacturers and noted designers). Two people who had my mods done described the differences here on this thread along with the guy with the VTV amp (very similar to the Peachtree) who did his own mods......the first mod he did was to the AC and he descirbed what he heard.....and he liked it.....again....he is not a snake.

Tomorrow I am damping the AC inlet on my modded VTV D300 and will also be damping the back panel that the upgraded WBT RCA jack is mounted to. I am sure I will hear a difference. This modded VTV is doing some things I have NEVER heard before. More burn in and mods to come.....this is fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have put up my Lumin X1 up for sale if anyone with the GAN1 is interested. I may trade it in tomorrow if I get a good offer. I am going to upgrade that DAC to the Playback Designs and the Playback Designs Stream-IF gives me the streaming functionality of the Lumin X1.

I am going to be buying the Yamaha NS5000 speaker tomorrow and using it with the modded GAN1. That is it for my Livingroom system, super simple and it will cost me about 5x less $$$ than I expected to spend with separates and KEF Blade 2 Meta.

One reason I will try the GAN1 with the NS5000 is that the NS500 has massive amount of bass with that 12-inch Zylon driver (same as tweeter and mid). The slightly less bass with the GAN1 vs the CODA #16 may work in my favor with the NS5000. The CODA is the outlier here, it is unusually powerful.

I will be using the Sonore OpticalRendu with the UltraDigital (for SPDIF) for the GAN1 streaming. I already have this gear and it worked well with the GAN1. However, I think I will run into a problem using the Stream-IF without the opticalRendu so I may get the Lumin U2 in the future for the GAn1. Or get the new Sonore OpticalRendu expected out in late summer.

I will also be selling a bunch of XLR’s and RCA that are now no longer needed.

BTW - I would NEVER have used the stock GAN1 with the Yamaha NS5000. That would be a criminal.

Here are my mods.

I think Ric charges ~$500.00

Fururtech IEC, no fuse. $10

Chris VenHaus quad star 12awg copper direct to PS board. $20

OCC5N Silver with air dialectic tubing (WillyWonka) 75ohm Digital coax from circuit board to new AECO RCA. Partsconnexion. $60

Triple C direct speaker connect to KLE pure copper binding posts. $80

I did these mods to create a cleaner signal path, eliminating unnecessary switches, fuses, upgrading wiring. In most cases newer electronics have secondary fusing at the power supply board/circuitry, so eliminating the IEC inlet fuse is not a concern for me.

And,,,,I don't sell this....

Yes.  I bought one of the first ones in last year.  Did my mods, check my pics.

Ordered a second to look at an active vertical speaker config with a Minidsp SHD.

No difference in sound.  These amps are dead silent, very impressive.  

I have built, or used Hypex UcD, nCore (M10,Teac), Purifi, PT GaN, Class D GaN, Rose, NAD....

To date the Rose RS150/RA180 to Nova 5s gets me to a really enjoyable experience...

Peachtree made it to a price point though. Have you heard a moded version of the  amp or are you just making stuff up? 

Can you imagine that Andrew @peachtree can’t dial in a digital amp. All my same mods don’t make the amp sound any better. If you think changing anything on the PS side enhances the audio, you have another thing coming.

Please don’t let Ric tell you otherwise...Snake

This is a great amp. Going back and forth with a Rose RA180.

The cool thing is that I listen to these amps. My Rush buddy does the same..

Been listening some more to the modded GAN1 and my KEF LS50 Meta. Still not at the uber sonic levels of the CODA #16 gear but damn this is still some fine sound. Next month, I will be buying my Livingroom speaker, the Yamaha NS5000, and I think I will give the GAN1 first dibs at running that speaker.

I was planning on the KEF Blade 2 Meta however, the GAN1 will not really drive that well, while the NS5000 should be driven well with the GAN1. I also save a ton of money if this works out.

Edit: Just found out what my taxes are for 2022 (CA has an extension). Happy days are back. I am ordering the NS5000 next week to go with the GAN1.

I had a Playback Designs Stream-IF ($2K) still in my office for the last 3 months and put it into my system yesterday. I noticed that it had a COAX stream output, so I wanted to try it on my modded GAN1. I first installed the ASIO driver from Playback Designs and used it as a ROON endpoint with my computer. It was OK but not amazing like my optical setup. I then disconnected the computer and added my Sonore OpticalRendu to stream into the Playback Designs via USB and then the COAX to the GAN1. Volume is done by ROON.

On my RAAL SR1a headphones (with the second-best adapter box) the sound was great. The best I have heard on the SR1a using a 2-channel speaker amp. This is compared to $30K of old 2-channel gear that I sold and was the prior 2-channel champs on the RAAL SR1a.

Today I am comparing the same streamer setup with my KEF LS50 Meta speakers against the following:

Lumin X1 DAC and fibre stream with analog out | Benchmark LA4 preamp | CODA #16 amp | WyWire Diamond speaker cable

I am using the same WyWire Diamond speaker cable with the GAN1. This is an apples-to-apples comparison because I think the 3 streamers that I have now tried with the GAN1 are of similar quality (ultraDigital maybe a tad lower),

Lumin X1 SPDIF | Playback designs + Sonore OpticalRendu | Sonore OpticalRendu + Sonore UltraDigital (for SPDIF)

What I hear now with the GAN1 vs the CODA #16 is similar top end and mids but the bottom is missing with the KEF LS50 Meta and GAN1 (no sub was used). Not sure how the CODA #16 does it but it manages to add some bass into the mix and I sometimes question the need for a sub with the LS50 Meta and #16. I also felt the Benchmark AHB2 (sold) was missing the bottom with the LS50 Meta so I used a sub with it, However, my GAN1 streaming approach does not make using a sub easy.

This is the first time I found the modded GAN1 in second place in any of my comparisons. However, I have the upgraded RAAL adapter box for 2-channel and I am getting 2 cables made by RAAL so that I can use both the CODA #16 and the GAN1 with the SR1a and CA-1a. One cable is 25 feet and the other is 3 feet (for the GAN1). My beloved RAAL VM-1a tube amp will move out of the office because I think the GAN1 and CODA will get me to 90% maybe 95% with the new adapter box, which is incredible.

Getting the modded GAN1 was originally targeted for the RAAL SR1a headphone and the old adapter box. However, it will now go with the new adapter box and the CA-1a phones, the SR1a will not work with the GAN1 since I cannot do baffle compensation like I can with the CODA (no analog inputs).

Long term, I will be using the Playback Designs Stream-IF to stream to both the GAN1 (CA-1a) and the future Dream DAC I will get to replace the Lumin X1 (for 2-channel).

The Playback designs Stream-IF is sort of like a Lumin X1 stream with the restriction that it only does fibre to PlayBack Designs DACs (maybe also Nagra).

I am also going to get a Magnepan LRS+ for my office to alternate with the LS50 Meta. I think the CODA #16 will be better with the LRS+ given what I hear with the LS50 Meta

Office System | Virtual Listening Room (audiogon.com)

See photo: Modded PeachTree GAN1 vs CODA #16

Yes, using the volume control in the Zen Stream and it sounds great at all volumes.  The only way you would know if it affects the sound would be to use volume control in a lossless volume (like Leedh) and then run it into the Zen stream and put its volume to full and compare.  Of course, you are adding extra stuff and cables to do the A/B.....few on this planet will attempt such a test.  So, basically no one knows.  The Zen Stream is preferred by some over the Bluesound and they both have a digital volume control.  Some like the way more expensive Lumin products with Leedh volume control.....but what is making the difference in sound?

For those of you using ifi zen stream with Gan 1:

are you using the software volume control in the zen stream to control volume?

Does this software volume affect quality?
I don’t know any other way you would control volume otherwise.

Darko's review of the GaN 1

https://youtu.be/qzF3oSjOIgA

Yes, I am.  Please give me a call for more info.

Thanks @ricevs

Ric, are you still modding the VTV Purifi in addition to the Gan1 and VTV300?

The review of the Ric modded Purifi in 10audio.com was super!

I have not modded chrisld's Peachtree.  So, much more to be had,

@chrisld 

Do you have a Ric modded Gan1 or a stock Gan1?

Thanks for sharing your observations. 

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.

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!

@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.

@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.

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.

Yesterday, another person received their modded GaN1 and within a few hours of turning it on he sent me this email:

"Arrived, and already playing a bit…..AMAZING difference!! In stock form, I was actually finding the sound a bit lifeless (I have other streamers that feed both a GaN amp and one of your modded VTV Purifi amps, and they were much better than stock GAN-1).

Anyway, transparency galore, including some deeper bass definition. One of my guilty pleasure listens is a Viking/Pagan/Medieval band named Heilung. Lots of percussion, natural and artificial; chants/growls/singing; and lots of little Easter Egg sounds in the mix. The modded GAN-1 is already showing much more clarity around a bunch of their songs…. I know to listen for specific things and they are really great through this.

All of this is just thru a simple Pi-based streamer with digital output. Will eventually try out other streamers with better digital out, as well as getting the Holo Red DDC/streamer.

Looking forward to much more listening, but wanted to let you know all is great so far! "

These little modded amps kick some butt!

Who will be the first to build a 2 way speaker with two of these amps and the pure digital minidsp xover?........9.5 inch Satori woofer that goes below 30hz in a box and above it a $70 GRS planar on an open baffle.....crossed over at 500hz.....the whole thing equalized, room corrected and time aligned in the pure digital xover......wires running directly from my clamps on the amps to the drivers directly....no spades, no binding posts....no nothing.....just transparency like an electrostat.....but with super dynamics.....you could use two 9.5 inch Satori woofers in the same box it if you need to listen super loud or have a big room. This is what I want. $7K for the whole shebang including: xover with custom $500 power supply, two modded amps, three coax cables, speaker wire, drivers and wood........would sound like $100K....would blow your mind.