@newbluesuit Volume will be controlled by the streamer. You will not lose any resolution (signal) going through the GaN1. In theory, this will be the most direct way to amplify a digital source.
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!
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You won't lose anything inside the amplifier, but you will lose some (possibly a lot of) bit depth in the streamer when you control the volume in the digital domain. My NAD M12 controls the volume in the digital domain as well, but it does so at a much higher bit depth, and then the signal is converted to analog to feed the M22 V1. It would certainly be great if a digital signal with a very high bit depth could be fed into the GaN 1, but since the input is limited to 24 bits I'm very skeptical. You lose 1 bit of depth every time you lower the volume by 6 dB. |
While I really like this concept, of skipping what might be the superfluous conversion stage from PCM to analog (and to many, perhaps a most critical conversion stage) before ultimately being converted to PWM, @newbluesuit brings up an excellent point. Perhaps, if this device started with a higher bit depth such as the ubiquitous 32-bit rates now available this might work out better. Furthermore, I would like to see this amp spec’d into 4- and 2-Ohm outputs. |
@unsound S/PDIF does not support anything above 24 bits, unfortunately. You'd need something like USB to accept a higher bit depth, but that would probably require more processing inside the amplifier to recover the raw PCM signal. And you would need the source (where the volume is actually controlled) to be able to output a 32-bit (or more) signal as well. It seems to me that this concept would work better in an integrated unit, so that the manufacturer could use whatever connection is most appropriate between the digital preamp and the class-d amp (separates with some kind of proprietary connector between the two would also work). Peachtree's self-imposed decision to make a standalone power amp costing less than $2000 would not have allowed this, but I hope we'll see something like this from them or another reputable company soon. For now my plan is still to replace my NAD M22 V1 with an M23 when that becomes available (haven't seen it anywhere in Switzerland yet…). I'll have to ‘live with’ an analog connection between the preamp and the amp for a bit longer! |
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