Peach Tree

[blackraven]

Take a look at Peach Tree's new integrated amp/DAC

Grand Integrated Amplifier - Asynchronous USB DAC | Peachtree Audio (http://www.peachtreeaudio.com/grand-integrated.html)

It looks like a beast. I would love to hear one. I may have to stop by the Needle Doctor here in town and give one a listen.

[Feanor]

Take a look at Peach Tree's new integrated amp/DAC

Grand Integrated Amplifier - Asynchronous USB DAC | Peachtree Audio (http://www.peachtreeaudio.com/grand-integrated.html)

It looks like a beast. I would love to hear one. I may have to stop by the Needle Doctor here in town and give one a listen.
It's none too cheap at $4500. I like the ESS Sabre 9018 DAC and the XMOS asynchronous USB interface. The amp sounds suspiciously like a Class D Audio, say a pair of bridged "SIMON SDS-OEM" modules, HERE (http://classdaudio.com/amplifier-modules/simon-sds-oem.html). (Class D Audio sells the module to DIY'ers but, according to Tom at CDA, provides no information online because of an agreement with an OEM who uses the modules.)

[TheHills44060]

Like the casework, defeatable 80hz high pass, 12AU7's however the volume knob stinks and 440w/ch but the thing only weighs 28lbs (class D stench). Would have to sound totally out of this world for me to even consider this especially at $4,500 bucks retail.

[blackraven]

Who cares if it a class d. 770wpc, high current, 2 tubes, with a preamp and state of the art Sabre DAC all in one chassis! I agree it is pricey but for an all in one with that kind of power, it is a nice piece of kit! I have heard Peach Tree gear and it sounds great.

[TheHills44060]

You make a good point but I'm very biased against high power class D at the moment. I'd have to hear it with some speakers that actually crave that kind of power and see how the thing holds up.

[Landy360]

I actually did come across this a couple days ago. Beautiful piece of equipment! Can someone please explain what the difference is between the amp classes?

[Feanor]

I actually did come across this a couple days ago. Beautiful piece of equipment! Can someone please explain what the difference is between the amp classes?
Hi, Landy,

A fairly succinct explanation can be found HERE (http://www.hifivision.com/amplifiers/174-types-amplifiers-class-class-b-class-ab-class-d.html) at hifivision. This item is technically helpful but quite dismissive of class D amps for hifi application. However given the current state of the art, the statement that class D amps, the assertion that "Class D amplifiers are models of efficiency but with a loss of detail and fidelity" should be considered no longer true. Today there are many high-end brands that offer class D amplifiers. On the other hand, there as still lots of people who say they don't like class D sound.

A more thorough and technical explanation HERE (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amplifier) at Wikipedia -- scroll down for class D which also has its own Wiki item, HERE (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Class_D_amplifier).

[Unworthy]

Class D has come a long way in the past decade. It started gaining traction in the portable PA market due to its low poundage/wattage factor. In that market, amps used to start at 40# and could easily be double that. Put two of them in a rack and it wasn't really very portable. That new little NAD D 3020 integrated amp is packed with features, only weighs 3#, cost $500 and has been receiving glowing reviews. 30 WPC from a package that will fit comfortably in a briefcase! And Peach Tree is on a roll, I doubt they would take a chance with something that wasn't pretty stellar.

[blackraven]

Yes, Class D has come a long way. I love the sound of many Class D amps. They are definitely on par with Class A/B amps. Many manufacturers are producing high end Class D gear. Give a listen to the Nuforce Model 9se monoblocks. They are very tube like, detailed and dynamic. I contemplated buying a pair instead of my Pass amp. What's nice about Class D is that you can get that air, transparency and 3D like presentation that high end amps give for a fraction of the cost.