Amp/Preamp Asylum

LSA, VTV, Orchard Audio

37.19.221.229

voolston

A

In Reply to: RE: Who makes GaN FET Amps ? posted by AbeCollins on July 15, 2023 at 09:48:07

Abe,

See blow. Sorry, I've not quite grasped how to imbed links in a post. Care to share how to do that?

LSA Electronics (Underwood HiFi) - Voyager - I think it's the same module as the Peachtree, but could be wrong. Currently sold out?
https://www.underwoodhifi.com/products/lsa-electronics

VTV - digital input only though...
https://vtvamplifier.com/product/vtv-amplifier-stereo-eas-ganfet-digital-amplifier/

Orchard Audio - Starkrimson
https://orchardaudio.com/starkrimson_ultra_stereo_ultra_amplifier/

voolston - audiophile by day, music lover by night!

Follow Ups:

RE: LSA, VTV, Orchard Audio - SNR&THD 05:52:35 07/20/23 (0)
Thanks for the mention. If anybody has questions feel free to contact me.
How do you like them apples?
www.orchardaudio.com
Thanks! And how to embed the links..... - AbeCollins 13:03:13 07/16/23 (0)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Here is that example in action. Click the link to Goodies from LSA
Impressive article about the Orchard Audio Starkrimson - John Marks 15:42:39 07/15/23 (1)
I might be wrong, but it's the only affordable GaN amp that is fully balanced. It's on an introductory discount. They make 3- and 2-channel versions.

The 3-channel would be good for a 2.1-way compact desktop stereo system with a passive subwoofer... .

Fascinating, but... I am too busy to review it.

ciao,

john
- https://audioxpress.com/news/orchard-audio-introduces-starkr (Open in New Window)
- RE: Impressive article about the Orchard Audio Starkrimson - SNR&THD 05:52:06 07/20/23 (0)
  Thanks for the mention. If anybody has questions feel free to contact me.
  How do you like them apples?
  www.orchardaudio.com
Wow!! the VTV has only a DIGITAL input - Feanor 14:19:39 07/15/23 (11)
Presumably it has a built-in DAC.
Linked below is some info on the 'EAS Digital Amplification Module'. This is EAS' "Evalution Kit" description. I see that the kit module permits analog and USB input though VTV has apparently decided not to implement either of these.

Dmitri Shostakovich
- EAS Digital Amplification Module (Open in New Window)
Edits: 07/15/23 07/15/23
- I don't know the details but.... - AbeCollins 15:24:00 07/15/23 (10)
  I'm not familiar with the GaN FET amp modules but the first GaN FET amp from Peachtree was digital input only. If I'm guessing correctly there is no built-in DAC but they let the digital input signal more directly control (modulate) the pulse width modulated (PWM) nature of Class D amps. So these would be digitally modulated Class D ?
  - Yes, probably so - Feanor 16:35:59 07/15/23 (9)
    I had a Panasonic AVR years ago that directly convert PCM to PWM. It accepted analog input but did ADC before passing on to PCM-PWM converter. I believe the convert was by Texas Instruments.
    Actually there's a TI guide on how to do it with TI chips: see link
    
    Dmitri Shostakovich
    - https://www.ti.com/lit/an/slaa117a/slaa117a.pdf (Open in New Window)
    Edits: 07/15/23
    - Interesting.... - AbeCollins 18:33:12 07/15/23 (8)
      And that application note is dated 2001.
      - Nothing really new ... surprised we don't see it more today - Feanor 04:31:11 07/16/23 (7)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Interesting.... posted by AbeCollins on July 15, 2023 at 18:33:12
        
        The Panny receiver I mentioned I bought in 2002/3.
        The concept of bypassing DAC seems appealing especially with the increasing digital dominance due to streaming, etc. But I suppose the power amps would need different "front ends" to what they have typically got.
        Unless I'm confused about it, I think NAD had some "direct digital" amps for a while, but I'm not spotting any of these in their current lineup.
        
        Dmitri Shostakovich
        
        Edits: 07/16/23
        
        RE: Nothing really new ... surprised we don't see it more today - cawson@onetel.com 05:55:53 07/16/23 (6)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Nothing really new ... surprised we don't see it more today posted by Feanor on July 16, 2023 at 04:31:11
        
        > Unless I'm confused about it, I think NAD had some "direct digital" amps for a while, but I'm not spotting any of these in their current lineup.
        
        NAD used a DirectDigital amp in their M32 all-in-one - predecessor of the M33 that I currently use. The sound improvement with the M33 is subtle and the M32 was still a great amp
        
        I wasn't clear about that - Feanor 07:53:05 07/16/23 (5)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Nothing really new ... surprised we don't see it more today posted by cawson@onetel.com on July 16, 2023 at 05:55:53
        
        So NAD says of the M32, (not longer sold), "Combining all pre-amplification and power amplification functions into a single amplifying stage, the M32 ...". The M32 had analog inputs, so were these inputs converted to digital, (ADC), before being passed to the "single amplifying stage"?
        For that matter, is this the case for the M33? As far as I know the Eigentakt needs analog inputs(?)
        
        Dmitri Shostakovich
        
        Edits: 07/16/23
        
        RE: I wasn't clear about that - cawson@onetel.com 11:47:36 07/16/23 (4)
        
        In Reply to: RE: I wasn't clear about that posted by Feanor on July 16, 2023 at 07:53:05
        
        Yes, both the M32 and M33 convert incoming analogue signals to digital and later back to analogue.
        
        The forthcoming M66 will feature a bi-pass such that analogue will remain analogue throughout. In fact it offers lots of nice features for analogue users. Pity in a way because I'm planning on buying one and don't use only digital inputs - but will have to pay for the analogue features!
        
        Peter
        NAD M66 info (Open in New Window)
        
        It's pretty unique but not sure about that approach - AbeCollins 13:14:07 07/16/23 (3)
        
        In Reply to: RE: I wasn't clear about that posted by cawson@onetel.com on July 16, 2023 at 11:47:36
        
        I'm not a fan of the all-in-one approach with preamp and DAC combined and having the analog inputs first converted to digital. It's good that the M66 will have an analog direct mode but having the DAC in there would be wasted on me.
        I have to admit that I'm loving the sound of the pedestrian basic black NAD C 298 Purifi amp. It would be nice if NAD came out with a matching analog only preamp. Maybe they have one but I'm not sure.
        
        Edits: 07/16/23
        
        RE: It's pretty unique but not sure about that approach - cawson@onetel.com 03:27:24 07/17/23 (1)
        
        In Reply to: RE: It's pretty unique but not sure about that approach posted by AbeCollins on July 16, 2023 at 13:14:07
        
        > I'm not a fan of the all-in-one approach with preamp and DAC combined
        
        DACs seem to have matured to the extent that any worthwhile improvements may be long past the sell-by date of the amp it's built into.
        
        Since DAC modules are now tiny and require very little from the power supply, I'm very happy not to have to pay for the extra case, power supply, sockets, cables, etc that a stand-alone DAC would require. In fact the DAC element within such a stand-alone box may represent only 25% of its total cost.
        
        I'm thinking of moving away from an all-in-one to a 2 box solution where the low power demanding components (streamer, DAC and preamp) are in one box and the power amp in another. I have no concerns that the DAC board shares the box as long as it's a first-class DAC. The one in the M33 is the excellent ESS Sabre 9028, whereas the M66 will use the top-of-the-range 9038.
        
        It's more than the DAC itself: - Freo-1 18:33:44 07/19/23 (0)
        
        In Reply to: RE: It's pretty unique but not sure about that approach posted by cawson@onetel.com on July 17, 2023 at 03:27:24
        
        It's also how the DAC is implemented in the design. The Devialet Expert Pro uses an excellent DAC, although not the latest (and greatest). It does, however, support an outstanding interface between the DAC and the power amp section (passive I/V) with an incredibly short and extremely low noise floor.
        
        I'm happy enough with the Expert Pro setup that I'll stick with the one box solution, as it also supports Roon/UPnP, and most importantly, Spe3aker Active Matching. Once you are exposed to it's virtues, very hard to go back to a non SAM supported speaker.
        " Don't look back. Someone may be gaining on you"
        Sctchel Paige
        
        RE: It's pretty unique but not sure about that approach - voolston 17:25:44 07/16/23 (0)
        
        In Reply to: RE: It's pretty unique but not sure about that approach posted by AbeCollins on July 16, 2023 at 13:14:07
        
        "Maybe they have one but I'm not sure"
        
        With analog falling by the wayside, I don't see that happening. Notice you don't see a pure standalone NAD DAC in the lineup either? Phono stage tech seems mature enough to be ok to include in a preamp, but digital/dac's is seemingly still evolving so I feel your sentiment abut not combining them in a preamp.
        
        Thanks for the link imbedding info provided elsewhere.
        
        voolston - audiophile by day, music lover by night!

Post a Followup:

FAQ

Post a Message!

Forgot Password?

Moniker (Username):
Password (Optional):
	Remember my Moniker & Password (What's this?) Eat Me
E-Mail (Optional):
Subject:

Message:	(Posts are subject to Content Rules)

Optional Link URL:
Optional Link Title:
Optional Image URL:
Upload Image:
E-mail Replies:	Automagically notify you when someone responds.

To view your new posting or follow-up, click on the RELOAD or REFRESH button on your browser.

This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:

Kimber Kable