Peachtree or Hegel Integrated?


I have a secondary two-channel system in my bedroom. It comprises a Marantz NR1403 HT receiver and Wharfedale Dentons connected to Samsung HDTV, cable box and a Sonos connect. The room measures 16x13 and the speakers are in open bookshelves (7-8" from the wall). I like the overall sound quality, finding the system musical and non-fatiguing. The only negative is it does not have the air and clarity in the upper-end like my LR system. I am not sure I should mess with it, though, since I like the overall sound. I should also note the system will remain with just two main speakers. A sub may be added at some point, but I actually like the Dentons without a sub.

My thought is to change the Marantz receiver (50 watts) in hope of elevating the Dentons. I enjoy their musical nature, but it would nice if there was a bit more transparency and air on the upper-end. It’s most notable on female voices which seem slightly veiled, but still sharper than my older B&Ws. My choices would be either a Peachtree Audio Nova65s or Hegel H-80. The Peachtree is about half the costs of the Hegel, while the Hegel seems to garner more consistent positive reviews. The 3rd option is getting a higher-end Marantz such as the SR7007 which would offer more power and room correction. It also adds bass management in case I decided to add a sub at some point.

The second aspect is possibly replacing the Wharfedales at some point with the Kef LS50s. The Kefs seem to get such praise for their transparency and musical nature. I think I would want to try them at some point and would want any replacement to be able to driving less efficient speakers. I have heard so may mixed comments on the Kefs' power needs I probably need to form my own opinion, albeit there are no local dealers. On that front, I have a local Peachtree dealer. There is also a Hegel dealer, but they don’t have a H-80 on display.

Given the above, can I expect…..
1) Is it reasonable to think a higher quality and more powerful amp will enhance the Dentons?
2) Would you expect the Hegel to outperform the Peachtree? If so, in what way? Would the Peachtree provide a warmer presentation?
3) Would your recommendation change if the speakers were the Kef LS50s instead of the Dentons?

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Peachtree Nova65se
+ well reviewed with comments on being slight warm sounding
+ attractive physical design
+ comments about good service
+ efficiency of Class D design
- comments about noise floor issues
- they seem to change/upgrade models frequently

Hegel H-80
+ well reviewed with favorable comments on power & transparency
+ robust design according to reviews
+ low noise floor
- don’t seem widely known with smaller dealer network
- limited options to find dealer who stocks it
- not sure remote has discrete codes

Marantz SR7007
+ familiar with Marantz products
+ room correction & bass management
+ more power
- improvement might not be noticeable
macct
Although you have asked only about Hegel and Peachtree I believe it is worth thinking about the NAD D7050 integrated amplifier. I have one running a pair of LS50s and the sound is great. Very clean and detailed. And frankly I don't feel the need of more power. The NAD also gives you a lot of flexibility for digital and wireless inputs (but there are no analogs). The form factor is another plus for a bedroom system. Unfortunately I have not listened to the Hegel and Peachtree and therefore cannot compared them with the D7050.
Schubert, I understand what you're saying. I should have been more descriptive in my last post. What I meant by finicky volume is that I had to adjust the volume repeatedly DURING one song. I had to turn the volume down as the music got more dynamic, and up as it got softer. I never had this issue on another piece of equipment.

This issue was too annoying for me to keep it for the long haul, but once the volume was "right", it was nice to listen to.

However, after I heard the Clones, it was game over for the Hegel. The Clones just has more air, wider soundstage, blacker backgrounds, etc. It sounds more like a live listening experience and makes the Hegel sound like overpriced, exaggerated HiFi.
Is it possible that the Hegel is telling you where the sweet spot for that recording is on that amp driving that speaker?
From 50 years of playing around with audio I find every recording sounds its best at one volume and that only.
I've never heard the Hegel, but I do have the Peachtree Grand X-1, just a little up the food chain from the Nova. I'd like to check out the Hegel someday, just out of curiosity, because everyone seems to love them (this volume issue notwithstanding). Thinking about it objectively, I do think that the Hegel products seem to have more panache in the marketplace...people associate them as higher-end than Peachtree stuff, so maybe there's a bit of that feeling of not wanting to "settle" for a Peachtree with some buyers. It took me a while to finally pull the trigger on mine, to get over that feeling of "is it good enough?"

In my case, my main system is an Audio Research VSi55 into a pair of Proac D2 monitors, which sounds great. I got the Peachtree so I'd have something in the summer months when I didn't want to deal with tube heat here in Phoenix. That the Peachtree is just as musically pleasing as the Audio Research integrated, and I can swap them out without a thought, is the best compliment I can pay it.

I say this not to sell you on the Peachtree - you should buy what makes you happiest, since we're talking about a nice chunk of money - but instead to suggest giving the Peachtree a good listen without holding its affordability against it, just in case you've got some "I don't want to settle" doubts like I had.
Scott, that's exactly what I encountered. For some reason I could never get the volume "right" and leave it there. I was always going up/down, up/down. Again, a real nice sounding piece of audio though.
The Hegel is definitely a good sounding amp. However, it's interesting that Devilboy mentioned the finicky volume control on the Hegel H80. I had similar issues, and the problem was so significant that I ended up selling the Hegel.

The volume has a range of 0-99, but in my room the usable range was from about 42-46. That was it. Anything below that sounded muted and distant and anything above that was far too loud for my room. Even within this narrow margin, the volume was never "right." I was using 85db efficient speakers, and my room is hardly ideal (a bit live). Perhaps more efficient speakers in a well treated room would work better. Nevertheless, it was the only amp/integrated that I just couldn't make work well (and I've tried many). It is a very high quality amp, though.

Haven't heard the Peachtree, but I would audition the Hegel before buying as Devilboy is the second person to mention the volume control issue.

Best, Scott
I appreciate the responses. I did look up the Clones site. It appears they are like many integrated units with only analog inputs. My intent is to have an integrated with digital inputs, preferably with 2 optical inputs. Thanks again.
Hey Z, like I said, I have no connection or affiliation with Clones at all. Like I also said, it may not be all things to all people and some may hate it. A staggering amount of equipment has passed through my system over the years that has received GLOWING reviews from magazines and people online. To describe those that have as a "piece of crap", would have been too kind. It's quit sad actually.
The Clones has mad me the most content I have ever been. I wish I had it years ago.
Good luck in your search Macct.
I tried the Clones. That thing was a piece of crap. Whatever they're trying to clone, they're not doing a very good job. Don't you have something to do with the company? You're required to disclose that type of info on AG.
I've owned the Peachtree and Hegel 80 and to me, the Hegel clearly outperformed the Peachtree and gave me more pleasure. It was quieter, warmer, richer, had tighter, faster, more controlled bass and I could listen for longer periods. With the exception of the finicky volume control, it was a wonderful piece that I would include in my system for a long time.
Until............
On a whim, I tried the Clones Audio 25i integrated. At a retail price of around $890 I figured, what the hell?
Basically, the Clones integrated made the Hegel sound like HiFi, while the Clones sounded more natural and lifelike.
In fact, this little $890 black box sounded more natural and organic than my $1,400 Bent Autoformer passive preamp with my $1,500 Job 225 amplifier. Better than my $7,000 E.A.R. 890 amp and $5,000 (or whatever Tim is charging now), 834 integrated. Better than Kora, Dynaco and Wyred amps I've had.
I am in no way affiliated with the sales or distribution of Clones products in any way.
Funjoe has opened my ears to what I've been missing since I started this madness almost 30 years ago.

Someone above mentioned the Creek integrated. Don't waste your time chasing low-fi. Do yourself a favor Macct. Try the Clones. I'm not saying it's all things to all people. You may try it and hate it.......to each his own. I'm just saying I haven't been this enthusiastic about a product for a very long time.

.........$890
I was able to see and hear the Hegel H80 this weekend. The demo, however, wasn't great. I heard it briefly with large floorstanding speakers instead of monitor. Some questions went unanswered. Are the discrete codes for inputs to program remote (Harmony)? Does the "Eco" mode serve as stand-by mode, turning screen off and reducing power? Overall, I walked away without knowing much, but I can home demo at some point?

For those who have heard the h160 or h300 how does the h80 compare? The Peachtree would be easier to demo and with a dealer who I have a rapport with, but the Hegel interests me more.
Find a good used Creek 5350SE. I don't know if it ever got any good reviews, but it sounds good.
I have heard the Hegel integrated and came close to buying it. You may want to find some way of auditioning it, before you rule it out.