Peachtree Audio GaN400 and Pre/Dac: 10 Years After the Nova/Pre & 220 Amp
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- Опубликовано: 8 сен 2024
- Comparing earlier generation B&O Ice powered amp with latest GaN-FET Class D technology.
"New intro music from HAAWK, provided by WeVideo"
Do you want to write me: 2channellistening@gmail.com
The Music Room; Contact Ben Klenk bklenk@tmraudio.com
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Tested With:
Harbeth Compact 7ES-3 XD, NAD M10 v.1, NAD C388 w/BluOS Module, Ayre C-5xe SACD, Musical Paradise MKII Tube Preamp, Peachtree220 amp, Peachtree Novapre, iFi Zen One Signature Dac, Arylic S50 Pro+ Streaming/Dac, Audience & Audioquest cables.
Thanks for covering Peachtree ... there aren't too many reviews and by comparing with brands that we (common folks) cannot afford, you have helped us a lot!
Glad it was helpful! Always good to mix price points and see what creates a surprising synergy.
@@2ChannelListening btw just ordered the Pre-DAC and GAN400 combo based on your review. There is no dealer near where I stay. It is on back order, but I should have it in couple of weeks. To begin with, their customer service is just excellent! Can't wait to get my unit!
@@HS-lb8kv Congratulations! After you've been running it a couple weeks, let me know what you think.
@@2ChannelListening I got my pre-dac and Gan400 stack .. been listening to it over past two weekends and I can't express using the adjectives that are commonly used by audiophiles ... instead will summarize in one sentence 'Love at first Sound'! ... well, actually Love at first listening. BTW, I am using it to power the Magnepan 0.7i
I just happened to stumble upon your YT channel while doing some research into buying a high-powered amp to tie into my Yamaha receiver. I have been out of the audiophile listening arena for over 35 years, and am just starting to get back into it. I am building a 2-channel stereo system, that will keep my wife happy and allow me to recapture my love for stereo music.
Decades before, I used to have a nice stereo and home theater which cost me well over $20,000. Unfortunately, I am now unable to afford what I could many years ago, but am looking to carefully spend my retirement funds on a new stereo system, while keeping my better half happy. LOL.
I have recently heard of PeachTree and after finding your channel, I am off and running on doing more research into these pieces. Thank you for your honest and biased (which I like) appraisal of this new Peachtree system. You just won another sub... Best of luck and thanks.
Ah, thank you kind sir. Glad you have the ability to rekindle your passion. Feel free to email me directly if you have questions I can help with.
Good luck with the hunt, it can be overwhelming! 😊👍
I have the Gan400 paired with a Schitt Freya+ and a pair of Magnepan LRS+ with the magnariser stands and for the $ it is amazing.
That does sound like a pretty good system on a moderate budget. Nice! Thanks for sharing.
I have the nova 300 going into my now 29 years old magnepan 2.7 and a denon 800 cd player and wouldn’t change anything since I have over 800 cds I like playing cds but I might get into the steaming some day also have jbl speakers but I love my magnepan 2.7 better in my opinion there is no better wider sound stage speakers out there
I have the Nova 300 with the Black Ice Audio Foz SSX sound expander and tube buffer in the loop option. Called and someone at peachtree suggested the Foz. Absolutely love it the holographic sound I’m getting from my old Vandersteens. I’m mean the peachtree is making the Vandys SING!These class d amps have excellent potential.
Yes, the Black Ice expander, I've been told many good things about it. The Nova150/300 are absolute value kings in the integrated amp segment, just like Tekton, Aperion and ZU are for speakers. Thank you for watching and sharing!
@@2ChannelListening Thanks I’ll check out the speakers you mentioned for the near future. Keep making informed reviews for us noob audiophiles 👍 There are zero hifi shops within two hundred miles of my city. We need honest reviewers like you.
I’m now convinced with Peachtree Audio. I have always been fascinated with the Nova 150, and now I really want one! I have the Dynaudio Emit M20 bookshelf speakers, and with 250 watts of output power into 4 ohms, this amplifier will drive them with real grip, control, authority and slam! The 2 things I love about the Nova 150 is that you can change the phono input to a line in if you already have a phono stage, which I have the Pro-Ject Phono Box S2. The second reason is because it has a monitor loop, which is very useful for me as I also use cassettes and make mixtape recordings. Pair that with a decent DAC with multiple digital inputs and you have an amazing all in one box solution! Going to start saving my pennies for one, and hopefully have it by the end of the year!
Still making mix tape recordings and spinning vinyl, that's impressive. That should be a nice combination for the Emit 20. When the time comes to pull the trigger, remember to use HiFi Shark, you might find a killer deal on a Nova300 or NAD C388 for around the same money. Good luck.
@@2ChannelListening the NAD C388 wouldn’t be useful to me, as it doesn’t have RCA record outs, and need that for my cassette deck. So I’d dare say that the Nova 150 would still be the better choice. I’m from Australia and there’s a site called Addicted To Audio that sells Peachtree Audio gear, and atm they have the Nova 150 on sale for $1999.00 AUD which is really good because they are normally $2500.
@@benkrake3678 I gotcha, you guys have it rough down there with import duties. The Nova is unique with the tape loop in a modern kit. Too bad Burson didn't offer something similar that would be easier to obtain. Sounds like you are set on a path, good luck. Thank you for the dialogue.
Nice review. Looking forward to seeing you use the combo in later reviews and audio comparisons
Thank you 😊
algo sent this to my way, when I saw Dr X on the intro I had to stay :) Regardless of Dr X great review. Good to find audio reviewer with similar music taste. Subscribed
Welcome aboard! Dr. X was for you my man! Thank you.
After losing my Bel Canto ref600M's to a flood, I looked at this combo, although I ended up getting Wyred4Sound sx1000r's. So I Too am a Class D flunkie, thx for the review, and YES i'm searching the perfect tube Pre..........
Sorry to read that! I had Red Dragon Mono's that use the same ICE modules, that's a tough loss. Wyred SX's also have the same modules I believe, with proprietary switching power supplies?
I tell you the Schitt Freya+ balanced is very compelling for the money. If you have a little more budget and patience, Audio Research LS17SE's are really killer too now that the prices have come down. Several folks swear by the new Black Ice preamp, though I have not heard one. Good luck in your hunt. Let me know what you end up with.
Thanks for the video. I'm trying to find something to step up to from my avr but I don't want to break the bank and I think I found it with peach tree. I want good sound quality with enough power that won't break the bank
The Nova 300 at its current closeout price is a steal versus the competitors right now, especially import prices.
I was on the fence with the Gan400 + PreDac combo for quite a while. I have Larsen 8.2 speakers that I was driving with a Bob Carver Crimson 275. The sound was good. Then I pulled the trigger on that Gan-stack. All I can say is, everything just sounds effortless now.
I had to chuckle because, Audio Excellence in Canada put that Gan-stack up against their vaunted Hegel H390 driving some Maggies. The Gan-stack more than held its own (and at a FRACTION of the cost).
Thank you for this feedback, glad to read you feel the same regarding their performance. It’s a treat to get this level of finesse at well below $5k. 👍
@@2ChannelListening indeed! I'm curious - though kinda scared! - to see what kind of financial layout one would be talking about in order to cleanly best the Gan-stack?!
To best this set across the board, or at least in a few categories; you're right, it would not be the best money spent - I would focus that kind of change towards speakers. Thank you.
@@2ChannelListening I'm really glad you mentioned in your comparison "Jeff Rowland" and "Mark Levinson" because I was sorta considering saving up for an integrated from one of those guys.
Great review! I had the NOVA Integrated and eventually purchased the NOVA300, even though at the time I went to the store with full intent of evaluating and purchasing a different and highly rated A/B amp in the same price range. But comparing those two side by side on the same speakers, I ended up walking away with the Class D NOVA300 after all anyway. The NOVA to my ears just sounded a bit more agile and dynamic, plus -full disclosure- I really prefer the sleek uncluttered, modern look. Would love to test more amps to see if I’d come to other conclusions today, but will settle for reviews such as yours short of that option.
Form as well as function matter! There are a few brands out there that have this figured out and some that are stuck in the 1970’s.
Your experience at the stereo shop is very important. I will shoot myself in the foot and say this, take all of us reviewers as nothing but flavor palette guides! I have colleagues who’s personal preferences are the opposite of mine. We each enjoy our music on our terms ☝️.
Thank you for your feedback, enjoy that Nova300.
For what it’s worth, I extensively tested the Amp500 against several power amps and integrated, such as Musical Fidelity M5si, Emotiva XPA Gen3 2 channel power amp, the big monolith power amp, and others and it wasnt even close, the Amp500 was the clear best of all of them.
We used LS50 Metas, LS50 OG and Kef R300 to test those amps and a few DACs.
@@alitomr1979 thanks for this additional insight. I'm surprised about the M5SI, always thought Musical Fidelity had a nice smooth power delivery. Peachtree usually always provides stand out performance for the dollars spent. 👍
@@2ChannelListening It was a surprised to both my uncle and me. The M5si was extremely muscular. I remember my uncle saying he had never heard the LS50 sound so loud, strong. But both of us just thought the musicality of the pther amps was simply not there. The only amplifier we liked less pf all we tested was the Monoprice Monolith. Even the smaller lower end 5 channel Emotiva we found more musical and as detailed.
We tested with several DACs as I mentioned and the results were the same. The amplifier looks and feels luxurious. Built like a tank also. It just didn’t deliver as the best of the group, namely the Amp500 and the Emotiva XPA.
@@alitomr1979 Good observations, thank you for sharing.
Great review. Any chance you will continue the class D amp review to a Purify 7040SA, Wyred for sound, Class D Audio and others? I think a lot of guys are ready to pull the trigger but need to know the SQ differences. Happy New Year.
Thank you for the compliments. I am open to demo's of any style amp for sure, I just will not be purchasing any new ones anytime soon - very happy with the Peachtree combo. I will cover off on the NAD M10 soon vs. the C388. Different sound profile indeed.
You have to try their GaN 1, it is awesome!
Now that I have a HiFi Rose RS250 with volume control, I probably could, I just do not like how they implemented the amp, way too restricting for me as a reviewer. Glad you like yours though! Are you running the BluOS?
@@2ChannelListening yeah, the node. If you just need streaming it's an amazing deal. Replaced $4500 worth of equipment and sounds a lot better.
great review --- but way above my budget. My budget is more like the 2021 Bluesound Powernode running a pair of 8 inch two way book shelf speakers in a small room. thanks you
Fair enough! Nothing wrong with what you got, especially if it allows you to enjoy your favorite music and explore new tracks. I appreciate you taking the time to watch, thank you sir.
Best wishes for 2023🙏
with mentioning Modwright which I assume you have experience with and that the peachtree GAN220 likes tubes, could the Modwright ls 100 be a good match with the Peachtree GAN220/400
Modwright with my first 220 amp, not the GaN400, at least not yet. Earlier SWL not the 36 or 100.
Thanks
I love how Danny just reviews his measurements of single speakers to judge the speaker. Lol
His own speakers are said to be very good, though.
I trust Ron when he reviews Danny's speakers. Thanks for watching.
Great video!! I just got a pre-owned nove150 & driving a pair of Elac ub5s. A great match for them. Question what tube buffer would pair with the Noav150?
You got me there, I personally would not introduce a tube buffer into the signal path. However, if you are looking for a good one, this is the only one I could point you too that has a good reputation: blackiceaudio.com/foz-line
Happy & healthy new year!!!Greetings from Greece!!!
Hello Greece! Happy New Year and welcome 🤗
Nice review! You mentioned you were looking into streamers. I run an iFi Zen Stream into a Peachtree Nova 300 with great results.
I haven't seen anyone compare the DAC's in Peachtree and iFi products, which is where I'm at. I'm considering trading out my iFi Zen Stream + Peachtree Nova 300 for the iFi NEO Stream + Peachtree GaN400. My hope is that the latter combo would be an upgrade, and an upgrade worth the price, but I'm not certain. My understanding is that the iFi NEO Stream doesn't come with a remote, which is another piece I would need to figure out. If you ever review the iFi NEO Stream, I'd be interested in your thoughts!
For a short period I had the Zen One Signature feeding the Zen Stream to both Peachtree units. I was very impressed with the SQ of the iFi and very disappointed in the Stream app. I believe the iFi has BluOS beat on SQ, but BluOS absolutely has the tech and UX figured out. I now have the HiFi Rose RS250, its fantastic!
@@2ChannelListening I've heard good things about the HiFi Rose. I agree that the iFi UI is about as engaging as router UI.
I treat the iFi streamer options as a bring-your-own-app streamers, which is what I prefer. (NAD just released an affordable, bring-your-own-app streamer.) I worry about "lock-in" with a streamer manufacturer's app, and I want to keep my hardware options open. Also, I would argue that the music platforms are better positioned to develop and maintain apps anyway. To connect the platform apps to streamers, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, and Roon all work great. And said apps ought to be better app options than streamer manufacturer apps anyway.
@@audi-o150 Fully agreed. Marantz gave up and went to HEOS with Denon, not much of an improvement. I have yet to play with Aurender, I hear they have a pretty slick system (cost of entry funding it). Thanks for your feedback Aaron.
HNY Great Review . ASR reviews should be ignored if you’re gonna actually listen to a piece of “kit” .
Lol, I read you 👍😁
Wonder how that power amp would pair with an ARC Ref 3?
Hmm i don't about those speculations why not the preamp from peachaudio don't have a differential and XLR out, more than that adds effort and cost for the company.
For the power amplifier. That use generic ice class D modules. Those comes as standard with implemented fully differential balanced already built into the card that ICEpower have made. And it is the preferred way to use them by amplifier manufacturers like Peachaudio, to just put them into a chassi and use.
In other words it would be just stupid and a service error to offer only single ended input on the power amplifier when using ICEpower modules (but i didn't identify what exact ICEpower module/s it were in the footage).
Thanks for a great review.
The gan400 looks like a great build. With the details of the iron core on the speaker outputs. Maybe indicates that they help sonically. Should be possible to remove and reattach if there is any difference.
I am in the process to build a amp with ICEpower 1200AS2 module for a use case to drive 2 bass speakers.
And only amplifing ~20 Hz to 100 Hz (bass).
When you have experience with ICEpower modules (even if it is not the same model) and the newer generation GaN class D.
Yeh, I realize when I write this that it is a impossible thing to answer. When it is so much more than just if it uses GaN-FETs or MOS-FETs. When topology and implementation is equally important than what FETs are used.
But has the GaN a superior quality/improvement at the lowest specific frequency range 20 Hz to 100 Hz?
I have a nice case on its way, and has not yet bought the electronics/internals yet.
I were a bit choked how much my 18" woofers is power hungry.
And it doesn't help that:
"a change in power by a factor of 10 corresponds to a 10 dB change in level."
I get today ~62 dB when my amplifier that is 70w bottom out and distortion occur (the claim 150w but the Internal toroidal voltage output @22v make the Tripath's chip to only be able to produce ~70w according to the data sheet).
And with the above Wikipedia citation I will "only" reach ~72 dB with 10 x 70w. Now the woofers are rated @600w RMS (1200w peak).
So when I probably need more than 700w but the woofer can only continuous use 600w then 400w probably is not enough.
And it doesn't help that I am implementing our hearing sensitivity (researched with 18-25 years) in ISO226:2003 (or more known as Fletcher-Munson curves)).
So that is precived by us homo sapiens as flat.. ..when those curves is used.
Note that we can see it also as the "BBC dip" or "Arnie Nudell dip". So they were into something already back then (yes, nothing new when Fletcher-Munson did their research 1933).
In practice the elevation in the bas region when playing at 60 dB @1 kHz then we are almost at ~110 dB @20 Hz and ~78 @100 Hz (the curve flattening out somewhat the louder we play and will be less extreme difference at louder volume).
From that we see that I need to be able to pump in a lot of wattage in the 20-100 Hz region just for that we should be able to PRECIVE it as flat (equal loud as @1 kHz). So it is not about that I am a bass head I just want a system that supports our decreased hearing sensitivity as we grow lower in frequency.
In short that is the huge difference between "microphone flat" and our "hearing flat", and why our hearing is not as a microphone.
Thanks again for your review and insights and sorry for the rant. 🙏🎶🎵🎼
I admit I am not as good at the conversion math here. You need head room for dynamic peak, the question is how or what level do you want to achieve for sustained playback? Then there is the ohm dip! Nevertheless, I absolutely cannot imagine you running out of headroom with the 1200AS2!!!
I’m not a speaker builder so I will refrain from throwing out any napkin math nonsense, wish I could help. 😕
Thank you for the effort and your comments! 👍
I believe you and I are on the same page regarding the Nova/pre. The 220 amp is in fact using ICE 125asx2 modules.
Thanks for reviews. Just wish they came in all aluminum and not the two tone. Not sure what that part of the case is made from but the black and mocha look kinda cheap I think.
Fair enough, they are made from some kind of mystery wood and look great in person from the front. The rear finish could use some consistency and refinement.
Hi there. Love your videos. Expecting delivery for Gan400. Do you have any experience matching the Gan 400 with tube preamplifier. If so, I would like to hear your opinion. I'm thinking to pair Gan 400 with Schiit freya+. Thanks.
No, sorry, I have not done so yet. I have been thinking the same thing for a little while and would like to explore a similar combination. Let me know what you think of yours! Thank you for watching.
Try some Salk Sound Song 3’s
Access and opportunity Shorby!
Cool, but how does it sound. I've heard the ice modules & I dunno. This means nothing because the module doesn't work alone. So I've said nothing...lol
There are variations of ICE, Hypex, GanFET and Purifi. I took both the strengths and weakness of the top 5 amplifiers I've owned to explain how and what about the Peachtree GaN400 I like most, especially compared to the older ICE based 220 amp.
How can you hook a sub up with this?
Yes you can.
What vacuum tube? Happy New year to you and your wife
Bottom right corner of my videos. Is it not there?
Happy New Year 🎊
@@2ChannelListening no I can't see anything what does it do?
@@2ChannelListening that Peachtree looks like a good bit of kit, what is the switch mode power supply do you know what the wattage is?
How much did you pay for it what are they second hand?
@@hoobsgroove the SMPS is related at 850w continuous
@@stephennarayan is it? I thought it was 1200 watts consumption that's what it says on the specs
Does SPDIF mean toslink?
Hi Sam, Toslink is an optical cable, SPDIF is a single RCA digital connection. I use the SPDIF when connecting my iFi Dac. Hope this helps.
Does this have sub out
Yep
Does it have high pass low pass?
@@thomaskahalepuna9604 unit allows for external equalization input. Pre out for sub has to be controlled at sub.
Can't watch this, too high energy for me. Will check back to see if you calm down.
Well gosh darn...