Peachtree GaN 1 Beta


Before I start my post here is my current system for reference:

Auarlic Aries G1 --> Denafrips Terminator or SW1X DAC --> Audio GD HE1 XLR preamp or Sachs preamp --> various tube amps --> Cube Nenuphar Mini's w/ a pair of REL S510 subs. Cables and power conditioning commensurate with the rest of the system.

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As warmer months approach I have been looking for a cool running amp to replace my Line Magnetic LM-518 and other tube amps for a few months as they run pretty hot.

I've been interested in the GaN FET amps and just purchased a used LSA Voyager 350 Gan FET amp which I should receive in a few days. I've tried class D amps before and while they checked a lot of boxes I just didn't feel drawn in. However, I like to explore so I figured I'd try the GanFET and since the amp has zero feedback and my speakers seem to prefer amps with little or no feedback I figured it be worth checking out.

Today, Peachtree Audio sent out an email inviting users to a beta of their new Gan 1 amp. Here are some excerpts from their email:

 

What is the GaN 1?

In basic terms it is a 200 Watts-Per-Channel (WPC) Power Amplifier designed to be the sole interface between your digital audio device with a variable output, like a Bluesound NODE, and your speakers. The GaN 1 is a simple, pure and cost-effective audio solution: connect the GaN 1 to a streamer and a pair of speakers and you have an amazing Hi-Fi system. That's it...no DAC, no preamp and no input switching. The signal path from the music to your speakers is remarkably short and free of artifacts. Want to hear the intricate details in your music that have always been there, but you couldn't quite make them all out before? Then the GaN 1 is for you!

What makes the GaN 1 so special?

First and foremost is the GaN-FET amplifier module. It has several inherent advantages in a power amplifier that even the best MOS-FET designs simply cannot achieve. A GaN-FET power stage provides a precise high-power reproduction of the Class-D PWM signal with extremely high linearity. This linearity eliminates the need for ANY feedback, ultimately allowing for the best possible audio quality providing clean, clear middle and high frequencies and a tight, solid reproduction of low frequencies. GaN-FETs track the complex audio waveforms MUCH more accurately than MOS-FETs, resulting in significantly more transparent and natural sound. The difference is something even a casual listener can hear and appreciate. The GaN 1 is also designed so that it does NOT require a digital-to-analog-converter (DAC). The digital audio signal at the input directs the amplifier outputs to drive the speakers. Although DACs have continued to improve over the years, there is no DAC better than NO DAC! This concept is not new as similar devices known as "Power DACs" made quite a splash in our industry years ago. But this time around, by executing the concept with GaN-FETs, the bar is raised to an entirely new level.

Key Features at a Glance:

▪ 200 WPC state-of-the-art GaN-FET module
▪ ZERO feedback design
▪ Regulated 450-Watt power supply
▪ Coaxial S/PDIF input with native support up to 24-bit / 192kHz
▪ DAC-less design
▪ Power on/off trigger port
▪ All aluminum chassis
▪ No cooling fans

 

This sounded really interesting to me and since I have a good streamer I signed up for the amp beta only. One aspect that intrigues me is to create an extremely minimal signal path. My speakers are single driver, crossover-less design. Employing the GaN 1 will mean the system will be Auralic Aries --> GaN 1 --> Cube Nenuphar Mini's. Will that lead to a more engaging sound vs the full system? Will the Voyager GaN 350 outperform a tube amp in the full system? Who knows, should be fun to find out....

Now, I have no idea how either of these GaN FET amps will work with my speakers. The Cube Nenuphars seem to prefer amps with low damping and no negative feedback, which is more common with SET tube amps and Class A solid state amps. I'm not sure of the damping factor of the GaN FET amps, but both are Zero feedback designs, and both have way more wattage than I need. For reference, I have a 1.5 wpc 45 tube amp that sounds amazing with the Cubes, so high wattage is not required. I am interested though in what these amps will sound like compared to my tube amps, and I am particularly interested in what the streamer direct to amp Peachtree will sound like.

I am also looking to acquire a First Watt SIT-3, which is a great match with the Cubes, but now that they are no longer produced prices have gone above my current comfort level. If I can get one I will throw it into the experiment.

The Peachtree won't be shipped until sometime in June, or possibly later. In the meantime I will get the LSA Voyager in the next few days. I might even be able to get it hooked up this weekend so stay tuned, should be an interesting experiment...

abd1

Other than using the high level speaker inputs like REL not sure what else you’d do.

How are you going to use a tuner with Gan1?  A2D converter?

The tuner is out of consideration on the GAN1. However, my VM-1a headphone amp, which is better than the GAN1, has XLR inputs and I will use it with the RAAL SR1a earphones for the 3 hours in the morning as I listen to KCRW on my Magnum Dynalab MD108T.

Normally I have the Lumin X1 DAC’s XLR on the VM-1a however, this morning I rearranged my gear and have the Lumin XLR and the MD 108T XLR’s grouped together so it will be a breeze to flip them back and forth.

My RAAL SR1a with the VM-1a is better than the GAN1 and KEF LS50 Meta. However, the sound out of the LS50 Meta is incredible, even without the sub. I do prefer 2-channel listening since it less physically restrictive but the SR1a is almost 2-channel like, not like regular headphones.

I should be content with this current LS50 Meta sound, but I know there is more available if I put in a sub. The Yamaha NS3000 without the sub will be better than the naked LS50 Meta and have more bass. The NS3000 was reviewed to be a more refined KEF Reference 1, which I totally believe since I have heard the NS5000 and the non-meta Reference 1.

Yamaha NS-3000: High-end Høyttalere I Miniutgave (lbtechreviews.com)

I will put a few photos of my new setup in the evening. I am taking most of the gear down to Ventura, CA today for a listening session. I will post the feedback, could be good or bad, everyone hears differently.

@ricevs I hope you can post some comparisons between the Peachtree GAN1 and whatever VTV amp you are modding. I realized I did not solve my initial problem of getting an amp for my RAAL SR1a + amp adapter box for another room. So, I either get another GAN1 or a VTV.

I forgot I also have all the gear from Sonore to stream to the SPDIF.

BTW - I am keeping the Benchmark LA4 preamp, DAC3B, and the Sonore streaming pieces. The following are going bye-bye:

  • Benchmark AHB2 x 2
  • FrontRow Speaker cable
  • KEF LS50 Meta
  • KEF KC62 sub

 

I had a interesting demo session with my friend. The GAN1 sounded bad to him on the RAAL SR1a via a adapter box. He is used to the RAAL VM-1a so everything else sounds inferior. As I also said in my posts about the VM-1a.

We then put his Bryston 2B-SST on the system, replacing the GAN1. Again, he said it sounded bad. This made him say it is the adapter box that is the culprit. He knows how the 2B-SST should with the track we played. My adapter box is the old version.

He gave me the new adapter box to try out, which I did at home. Bad news is that it sounds much better than the old box, so that is about another $1K out the door. Goods news is is that it sounds better.

With regards, to my system. I decided to put back the AHB2 with my LA4 preamp, to listen to KCRW from 9-12. I cannot listen on headphones when I need to move about in the morning.

So I now need to change the speaker cable into the speakers from the GAN1 and AHB2 when I need to listen to the tuner. Not the end of the world and I am happy with the setup.

Another thing, a single AHB2 has more bass than 2 monos in with my LS50 Meta. I had the same thing with my Thiel CS3.7. I did not expect that with the LS50 Meta. The LS50 Meta + KC62 sub is going to be replaced by most likely the KEF Reference 1 Meta (getting a deal on the Ref 1).

The reason for the more bass from the single AHB2 could be because I have to now use the Benchmark speaker cable. I have no time to figure out if this is the true cause.

 

 

I have been listening to the GAN1 for almost the whole day (and yesterday) and this amp sounds great, even without the necessary sub. I am very impressed by this amp.

I also sold 1 of my Benchmark AHB2 amps today. I am keeping the other one because listening to my tuner was a PIA with the GAN1. It takes me 10 seconds to flip the speaker cables so not a problem.

Once I raise enough cash from gear sales, I am going to pair the GAN1 with the KEF Reference 1 speaker. That monitor will not need a sub in my room.

 

 

Exciting times for sure. I’m also impressed with my self-modded VTV D300 amp. The stock D300 performed at a similar level to my previous system which consisted of a 6K traditional amp, 1.7K XLR cables, and 3K DAC. For about the price of the XLR cables alone, the D300 gave me the same level of performance. This is a real bargain! And after doing the mods which I estimate is about $400 including parts and tools, the D300 is now at another level and I believe would beat my old system. My speakers are Zu Audio Soul 6 which have a live in your listening room sound. The D300 has only increased the sense of liveliness and realism. I believe the GAN 1, especially a modded GAN 1, would do the same if it were in my system.

For years I’ve enjoyed headphone listening over listening to the 2 channel system. But now with an amp like the D300 and the Soul 6 speakers, I find listening to the 2 channel system to be slightly more enthralling than headphones. This is a surprising statement for me and this is not to reduce my joy with headphone listening in any way because that is still a very addictive activity. The 390W D300 is also at times reconfigured to power my headphone system but I use a converter box before the power reaches my sensitive Sennheiser IE900 IEMs. Sounds amazing with headphones.

I have also sold some gear recently and have started to reinvest those funds in other parts of the system. The fun continues.

@yyzsantabarbara 

"you need a 1.5m BNC to RCA 75 ohm coaxial cable."

This is oddly specific, I'd think any 75 ohm BNC to RCA would work.  Did they actually say that, or is 1.5m just what you ended up buying?

 

@lee_short I do not know exactly what I have, but It is a SPDIF, with RCA at GAN1 end and BNC at streamer end. This worked with the Lumin X1 as a streamer and the Sonore OpticalRendu connected to a Sonore UltraDgital streamer which had BNC connector.

The Lumin X1 is amazing with the GAN1 since it has volume control via a optional remote. The streamer sounds great and the remote is not bad, I was expecting a lot worse on the volume control.

I sold another item that I did not want to setup with the GAN1, the KEF KC62 sub. Another 2 more items to go before I upgrade the speakers for this amp.

 

@yyzsantabarbara Thanks for the info.  My Lumin is the U1 Mini with SBooster power supply, and my existing cord is 1m.  I'm guessing it will work, but was thinking about upgrading that cord anyway. 

Hopefully I'll have time next weekend to play with the GAN1. 

 

can someone please confirm if I can safely connect my Lumin T2 directly to Gan1 via BNC to RCA cable?

if so, anybody know where to get a good cable?  I only see cheap ones on amazon

 

 

I've used Canare BNC to RCA and RCA to BNC adapters with the VTV D300 and I'm happy with their performance. If you already have a good SPDIF cable, I would recommend to try the adapters first.  There may not be a problem here to fix. 

anybody using a rel with high level?

would it be the same method as a connecting a regular class ab amp?

 

I just saw this ad on USAM for a streamer that also does SPDIF. I think it is the same as my Lumin X1 minus the DAC section. If so, then it will work great with the PeachTree GAN1.

Lumin U2 (NOT MINI) Streamer - Silver w Remote Kit Photo #4406379 - US Audio Mart

can anybody help with the following,

 

A)lumin u2 mini streamer only vs a lumint3, what would be the difference connected directly to the Gan1

B)I have the Gan1 connected to Harbeth 30.2 XD's from a node, anybody tried something similair.....seems a bit dry with the harbeths

C)would something like a NAD C658 offer more gain and get more volume over the node to gan1 (output seems low for 200w)

 

I sent in my Gan 1 to @ricevs  for mods. I really enjoyed the stock version but took a chance. He put in new IEC and I got the WBT binding post option plus whatever else he does. It's a different amp. Much larger soundstage, speakers disappear on all but the worst recordings, much more musical, more depth.  Really surprised at the amount of difference. It's only got 50 hours or so on it so more to come. Glad I took a chance.

@audiocanada get the Node power supply upgrade from beatechnik on cbay. Get the Isopods on glamazon. Linkup network cables. Play with some power cords and fine tune your speaker positions. ?Digital cable. Little things pay big with the Gan.

@yyzsantabarbara Well, I ended up buying that U2 unit and it's on a UPS truck right now coming my way. There is also a brand new one for sale here on AGon for a good price (less than MSRP) for anyone interested. This one doesn't come with remote like the unit I bought but still a good deal in my opinion for a new unit. 

@sirnui Congrats, the streamer is well worth it for the GAN1. Mine is modded and sounds incredible with the Lumin X1 using Fibre Optic input streaming and SPDIF output streaming. I also bought the optional remote control which is very useful.

@dolfan I am getting more bass out of my modded GAN1. I kept 1 of my 2 Benchmark AHB2's and the differences between the 2 amps is easily evident. The AHB2 is still the most crystal clear, but the GAN1 is more powerful, and I find the better overall amp. The GAN1 seems to be getting better still with more hours. 

I have a number of boxes and cables I can remove from the system if the U2 is good enough to dethrone that small collection.  The rack looks cluttered at the moment.  I'm hoping simpler is better in this case.

To describe just a slice of the boxes I currently have a Lumin U1 Mini with LHY Audio LPS feeding USB to an Ideon Audio 3R Master Time DDC feeding USB to an Audio GD DI-20HE DDC.  I would be mightily impressed if the U2 allows me to remove at least one of the DDCs.   

@sirnui I am going to assume your U2 is the same as my X1 minus the DAC chip. The streamer on the X1 is louder, faster sounding, and maybe more aggressive sounding (that could be related to the increased loudness). I am comparing this to my Sonore OpticalRendu. I had 3 of these great streamers but sold 2 of them because the X1 replaced them. Not sure which is better, they sound different, but both are excellent.

I'm still confused on the benefits of using a lumin dac/streamer combo

vs the just a lumin streamer with this amp

 

 

 

My Lumin X1 DAC is useless with the PeachTree GAN1. That is the DAC chip in the X1 is totally skipped. I only use the SPDIF stream output from the X1. Now this stream is rather good since it originated from a Fibre Optical input into the X1.

The new Lumin U2 eliminates the DAC inside the unit (I think).

In my situation, I use the X1 as both a SPDIF streamer and an analog DAC out to my RAAL VM-1a headphone amp. So, I am maximizing the use of the X1.

 

 

 

Correct, the Lumin U2 and other "U" Lumin units don't have DACs and are pure streamers.  I'm excited to try the fiber input of the U2. This is the future and the future is now. I think this can simplify the network side of my system.  The U2 has a special USB output but I'm doubtful this alone can replace my USB reclocker. I usually find that improvements along the USB chain are cumulative.  

Too much hype has been created around this amp haha. I have known several people who are selling it for cheap after buying into the hype. 

There are plenty of well executed GaN amplifiers on the market, AGD, Atma-Sphere, Peachtree, Gold Note to name a few. The issue is the use of a Node for a preamp. 

I'll wait for Technics to provide an integrated like their SU-G700 with more power, say 200W. I had that integrated but just lacked power for my Acoustats. Excellent however with their SB-C600 speakers.

 

Laptop with JRiver and USB is all I'll need to feed it. I do not believe in streaming, so can forgo all the associated nonsense.

 

Yes, I am aware that the high end Technics amp is only 150W. I can still wait and hope. No way Technics can sit on the 70W spec in the near future.

@viethluu Get it modded by Ric and then decide if the hype is real, ha ha. This modded amp is amazing.

I just bought an amp stand (with wheels) for my CODA #16. That arrives soon. Once it does, I will be doing head-to-head comparisons with the following:

  • Lumin X1 SPDIF stream out (fibre in) | modded PeachTree GAN1
  • Lumin X1 analog out (fibre in) | Benchmark LA4 preamp | CODA #16

I will be using a KEF LS50 Meta until I sell some speaker cables, then the LS50 will be replaced by the KEF Reference 1 Meta (or maybe Magico A1)

At this point I am not sure which setup will be preferred. That is how good the GAN1 sounds in my office system. Now my speakers are not big, and the room is small so maybe the GAN1 is benefiting from that.

When I get the KEF Blade 2 Meta in the Fall for a bigger room, I am going to try the GAN1 on it to see if it can hang with the CODA system. That is the CODA systems intended purpose. I am very happy to sell more gear and save money if it makes sense sonically.

BTW - the speaker cables I am selling are Audience FrontRow long enough only for monoblocks. I am selling them because they are too short for the GAN1. I sold one of my 2 Benchmark AHB2’s because the modded GAN1 was better. The cables were used with the 2 AHB2’s.

BTW2 - the new speaker purchase is the result of the GAN1 not easily incorporating my now sold KEF KC62 sub. The LS50 Meta + KC62 sub are great but the sub failed a few times on me and the GAN1 sounds too good to not use, so out went the KC62. The next speaker will negate the need for a sub in my small room.

The Lumin U2 is an excellent streamer.  I'm very happy with the purchase.  The RCA SPDIF output is good but the USB output with my two DDCs is special.  Currently, The U2's USB output feeds an Ideon Audio 3R Master Time which feeds an Audio GD DI-20HE.  USB cables are Zavfino Majestic and Sablon EVO.  SPDIF cable is current generation Sablon with Bocchino Paladium RCAs.  The DI-20HE is signal grounded with its external clock (LHY Audio OCK-1) to a Puritan Audio Routemaster Signal Ground Unification System.  The clock canle is current gen Sablon  

For the network, it's currently TP Link mesh router > Uptone EtherRegen > Sonore opticalModule connected by fiber to the Lumin U2. 

This is very elaborate, I know, but the sound is very addictive to say the least.  The Lumin U2 replaces a Lumin U1 mini with LHY LPS conversion. The U2 has brought an ease to the sound. In other words, my already low listener fatigue was made even lower. The second thing it has brought is ... information.  That's a weird word to describe music but I think it summarizes very well what I'm hearing because I'm literally hearing more information. I'm hearing more of the details contained in the music.  For example, there is airiness but it's dense.  That's an oxymoron so let me try to explain.  When the bass hits, it feels heavier and fuller, and yet it's very articulate, detailed, and ... airy... the reverb of the bass hit lingers just ever so slightly longer to create a better sense of the air.  It's this type of information  I'm hearing and the great news is, it's not limited to the bass.

I have not described the power side of my system which is just as elaborate but I will save this for another night. 

I have an LHY Audio SW-10 switch coming any day now.  I plan to replace the opticalModule with the SW-10 and send fiber both to it and from it to the Lumin U2.  The SW-10 has two SFP cages to do this.  It also has a 10MHz clock output which will be used to clock the DI-20HE and it will replace the OCK-1 clock. 

BTW, I'm hearing these improvements on the Soul 6 speakers but I'm really hearing this on my Sennheiser IE900 IEMs. Yes, my 390W VTV D300 speaker amp is also used for powering highly sensitive in-ear monitors (with a converter box, of course). And it works very well. 

For anyone who may think about using an Audio GD DI-20HE with their GAN 1 or VTV D300, I want to give a warning.  DO NOT power on the DI-20HE if the amp is already on.  Only power on the amp after the DI-20HE has powered on and completed its initialization. I don't know about the GAN 1 but on my VTV D300, the scream of a banshee will likely come screaming out of the speakers during initialization.  No music lover wants that type of noise and at that extreme level coming out of their speakers. 

Just got done working out the kinks of setting up my Lumin U1 Mini with the GAN1.

Here’s the pieces that aren't obvious: turn on Custom Re-Sampling. For DSD128, DSD64, 44.1kHz PCD -- all 3 of these should be set to 176.4kHz. All other set to Native. PCM Output Bit Depth set to 24.

With those settings, I can play both red book CDs and high resolution files (96/24, 192/24).

 

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.

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.

@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.

@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.

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!

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.

@chrisld 

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

Thanks for sharing your observations. 

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!

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.

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?

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

 

 

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.

 

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..

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