Chubz71,
The other posters having given good advice, especially swapping out another amp and seeing if it too sounds bad.
I had the first gen. Decco for a three day audition in my system about a month ago. I used a Tara Lab digital cable to use my NAD c542 cdp as a transport. I also use Analysis Plus Oval 9 speaker wire. And I used my NAD 320BEE to compare.
I had similar impressions as you. It sounded just as you described. I did prefer the sound with my cdp connected directly to the amp section by rca jacks. And when I used the NAD as a transport I preferred it not using the tube section of the Peachtree. The tube section imparted a bright forwardness to the sound which completely threw me as I never expected that from a tube stage.
When using the Peachtree DAC there was definitely more detail but the music lost much of its weight, presence and body. I was very disappointed because I really wanted the Decco. When putting the NAD 320BEE back in the musics fullness was restored.
I believe it is a great piece of equipment. It's beautifully built too. And I can see why people love it. I just wanted to post my impressions for you because maybe you and I just came across a compatibility issue in our systems and thought you might be a bit relieved that you are not alone. Sometimes things just don't work out.
Cheers,
Scott
The other posters having given good advice, especially swapping out another amp and seeing if it too sounds bad.
I had the first gen. Decco for a three day audition in my system about a month ago. I used a Tara Lab digital cable to use my NAD c542 cdp as a transport. I also use Analysis Plus Oval 9 speaker wire. And I used my NAD 320BEE to compare.
I had similar impressions as you. It sounded just as you described. I did prefer the sound with my cdp connected directly to the amp section by rca jacks. And when I used the NAD as a transport I preferred it not using the tube section of the Peachtree. The tube section imparted a bright forwardness to the sound which completely threw me as I never expected that from a tube stage.
When using the Peachtree DAC there was definitely more detail but the music lost much of its weight, presence and body. I was very disappointed because I really wanted the Decco. When putting the NAD 320BEE back in the musics fullness was restored.
I believe it is a great piece of equipment. It's beautifully built too. And I can see why people love it. I just wanted to post my impressions for you because maybe you and I just came across a compatibility issue in our systems and thought you might be a bit relieved that you are not alone. Sometimes things just don't work out.
Cheers,
Scott