Peachtree Audio Decco 65 stereo integrated amplifier with built-in digital-to-analog converter

[Sumflow]

Tube sound
I was looking at the Peachtree Audio Decco. Can Peachtree Hybrid amps be made to sound warm like Mac tubes?

Does anybody make a Hybrid that produces the low fatiguing sounds like a tube Macintosh amp?

Can an equalizer or some other device contribute to making Hybrids sound more like tube Macintosh's?

Clipping
In the late 80s we were advised to have 100 watts per channel on hand for the then new digital music sources. How can these current products get by with so few output watts?

Are they all designed for little, tiny speakers?

We had to upgrade to our Macintosh’s to amps with power guard to protect against clipping. Do Hybrids have some kind of built in clipping protection, do we still have to worry about clipping?

USB
Is USB a better DAC input than optical?

[Sumflow]

In the ancient past, a certain amount of Watts was suggested to drive loud speakers properly. The power amplifier was required to provide for the complete range of sound. But now they are only required to power part of the sound, with the subwoofers amplifiers getting the low end. Is there a formula about how much less a speaker needs from the power amplifier, when the subwoofers amplifiers are used to take part of the load?

Does the more efficient design of the class D power amplifier use less Watts to get the same result?

[Julf]

Does the more efficient design of the class D power amplifier use less Watts to get the same result?

Yes and no. The power rating of an amplifier is the maximum output power - and 50W into the speaker is 50W into the speaker, be it from a class D amp or a class A/B or A. The difference is that to push that 50 W into the speaker, a class D amp uses 55-60W of mains power (and burns away 5-10W as heat), whle a class A/B amp might use 75-100W and a class A amp whatever your local power station can deliver...

[Julf]

Can Peachtree Hybrid amps be made to sound warm like Mac tubes?

Sure. Want software (Virtual Valve Amplifier - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) or hardware (VOX | ToneLab EX)?

In the late 80s we were advised to have 100 watts per channel on hand for the then new digital music sources. How can these current products get by with so few output watts?

Everything was louder in the 80's?

[wgscott]

I haven't heard this one, but it is exactly what I wish my Nova was. In particular, the newer class D amps actually are said to have a more tube-like sound to them.

If you have $4K, the Peachtree Grand Integrated looks like a zero-compromise option.