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    The Computer Audiophile

    Peachtree Audio 2.0 Launches In NYC

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    In 2006 Peachtree Audio started bringing its first product, the Decco integrated amplifier with USB input, around to dealers in the US. Most of the dealers initially told the Peachtree Audio team that the product would never sell and that nobody was going to connect a computer to piece of HiFi equipment via USB. Dealer Stereo Exchange in New York City completely understood the impact computer audio would have in the high end sector and jumped onboard right away. Not too long after, 300+ dealers took on the Peachtree Audio products and the company was off to a blistering start. After 10 years, and a learning experience or two later, Peachtree Audio was back at Stereo Exchange to launch version 2.0 of the company and kick things into high gear with some major changes to the product line and the way its products are made.[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]

     

     

     

    In addition to product, design, and manufacturing changes I'll discuss in a minute, it should be noted that Peachtree Audio co-founder David Solomon is back with the company. David has been a supporter of Computer Audiophile and everything the CA readers are into of many years. During his absence at Peachtree Audio he worked for Tidal, launching the streaming service in the United States before it was purchased by Jay Z's Project Panther Ltd.

     

    A major part of Peachtree Audio's 2.0 initiative is the company's new way of developing products. Most important for the sound quality aficionados is the fact they the company has hired world class engineers to design its products. Unfortunately I'm not at liberty to publish the name(s) of those designing the products but I know their previous work and it has been highly regarded by both the press and consumers worldwide. In addition, Peachtree Audio has started building its new Nova series of products in North America. The cabinets, metal work and chassis are manufactured in China, but all audio circuitry is designed and built in Canada. Final assembly and QC is completed in Seattle before shipment out to dealers around the globe. Last, and equally as important, Peachtree Audio has begun sourcing all components itself. Like many other companies, Peachtree Audio previously hired someone in China to source parts based on specifications and price points. Now Peachtree Audio's Jim Spainhour, having been to China 44 times since the company was founded, and his team have brought this task in-house, enabling the company to improve both price and performance.

     

    To the customers this means great new products now and in the not too distant future. During the event at Stereo Exchange Peachtree Audio demonstrated its new Nova 150 ($1,499) and featured on static display the new Nova 300 ($2,199). The Nova 500 is still in the final design stages and should retail for roughly $2,999. It will also be one of the first products to feature the new ESS Sabre 9038 Pro DAC chip. The entire new Nova series is unique in that it's made in North America, features 150-500 WATTS of power, has a phono input, reference level DAC chips, home theater bypass, S/N ratio 115 db A weighted at the preamp output, and a great discrete headphone amp not driven off the main integrated amplifier or a TI chip, and all for $1,499, $2,199, or $2,999. I'm unsure there's another integrated amplifier that will match these features and specifications.

     

    At the event Peachtree Audio's Nova 300 display unit featured an incredible wood finish with thirteen coats of lacquer. Pictures just don't do this unit justice. It's a must-see at your local dealer when it's in stock. It should also be notes that Peachtree Audio, in addition to the displayed wood and black lacquer products, will offer a real rosewood finish on the Nova series. Not to worry, the rosewood is FSC certified and will not contribute to rosewood deforestation.

     

    Last, and maybe most interesting to readers of Computer Audiophile, is the fact that Peachtree Audio will soon release products with a built-in WiFi platform supporting a host of services (lossy and lossless) as well as UPnP/DLNA. There will be Peachtree Audio iOS and Android apps for control and music selection, enabling those of us looking for a better sounding product than Sonos, to stream out high resolution content to any room of our houses. I have my fingers crossed for Roon integration with the Peachtree Audio platform, but I don't want to put the cart before the horse.

     

    Overall it was a fun event at Stereo Exchange. I even had the opportunity to talk politics with the owner David Wasserman, whose niece is a U.S. Congresswoman from Florida and Chair of the Democratic National Committee. In addition I had a nice conversation with Audiostream's Michael Lavorgna, one of the nicest guys in the industry. Anyway, I look forward to seeing what's to come of the Peachtree Audio products just announced and in the near future.

     

     

     

     

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    Very nice. Except the niece is not nice. Pun intended. (Check the typo.)

     

    I was beginning to worry Peachtree had lost its mojo. Sounds like they have some great new ideas.

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    Very nice. Except the niece is not nice. Pun intended. (Check the typo.)

     

    I was beginning to worry Peachtree had lost its mojo. Sounds like they have some great new ideas.

    oops. Thanks for the correction.

     

    I was in your camp as well, thinking Peachtree had lost its mojo. Over the last few years much of the company's work has been behind the scenes. Now it's time for those efforts to bear fruit.

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    It was your Nova review that got me to buy it and get started this hobby six years ago.

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    It was your Nova review that got me to buy it and get started this hobby six years ago.

    Wonderful to hear. Peachtree Audio is a neat company with neat people, looking to bring better sound to others without breaking the bank.

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    What's ETA on the Nova 150 and 300?

     

    I believe the 150 and 300 will ship in a month or two. The 500 will be August.

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    Hmmm... Such a big tease. I wonder if preamp/volume control is digitally implemented or analog?. Or if the phono input is an ADC or analog? Or what class D amp the system uses, Hypex?

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    I totally got into computer audiophile quality through the Nova and this website. Good to see they're still kicking with new stuff.

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    This is great news. I am an owner of the P220 Power Amp and was somewhat disappointed to see the product line diminish with that amp being dropped. I am been extremely happy with the amp so I have nothing negative to say about it, so it's great to see new energy and effort behind the brand. David himself called me during my product selection so I certainly think highly of him and the brand.

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    Does anyone have experience with the SonaDAC and/or amp? I was very tempted by the SonaDAC, but I couldn't find any information on it anywhere. Their marketing definitely needs a 2.0 reboot; hopefully having the original guy back on board will do that. But how hard would it be to send a few out to have them reviewed and measured? It has what I was looking for (DAC/pre, various digital inputs, remote volume control, XLR balanced and RCA outputs), but for $1300, I wanted some assurance that it would sound as good or better that the similarly-priced competition. At one point I thought I read it was made in the US or North America, but I can't even find that out. So I bought the Teac NT-503, which has the same features but many others including network capability and flexibility with the filters, etc. Having said that, if the very same thing had said "Peachtree" on it instead of "Teac", I probably would have paid $1300 for it. I really like these guys and want to see them succeed.

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    Any chance Peachtree has plans to make an integrated amp in the 400-800 range? Think PS Sprout, with digital inputs and an on-board DAC. Thanks!

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    Any chance Peachtree has plans to make an integrated amp in the 400-800 range? Think PS Sprout, with digital inputs and an on-board DAC. Thanks!

    The Nova 500 is in that range and will be ready around August.

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    Hmmm... Such a big tease. I wonder if preamp/volume control is digitally implemented or analog?. Or if the phono input is an ADC or analog? Or what class D amp the system uses, Hypex?

     

    Good question. Both analog.

    We're using the new I. C. E.

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    Does anyone have experience with the SonaDAC and/or amp? I was very tempted by the SonaDAC, but I couldn't find any information on it anywhere. Their marketing definitely needs a 2.0 reboot; hopefully having the original guy back on board will do that. But how hard would it be to send a few out to have them reviewed and measured? It has what I was looking for (DAC/pre, various digital inputs, remote volume control, XLR balanced and RCA outputs), but for $1300, I wanted some assurance that it would sound as good or better that the similarly-priced competition. At one point I thought I read it was made in the US or North America, but I can't even find that out. So I bought the Teac NT-503, which has the same features but many others including network capability and flexibility with the filters, etc. Having said that, if the very same thing had said "Peachtree" on it instead of "Teac", I probably would have paid $1300 for it. I really like these guys and want to see them succeed.

     

    Thanks for the comments. So glad to be back home at Peachtree. FYI. The sona is made in California.

    We'll be sending a lot more out for review.

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    Any chance Peachtree has plans to make an integrated amp in the 400-800 range? Think PS Sprout, with digital inputs and an on-board DAC. Thanks!

     

    We are working on a system in that range. Top secrete at the moment. And probably not what you'll expect. ?

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    "Top secrete"? Nice Freudian slip/typo. Potential buyers are salivating as we speak!

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    David Solomon welcome home. Immediately following your persuasive appeal for the merits of the grand integrated I bought the product and you left peachtree while I was just breaking it in. I followed your move to Tidal with curiosity the entire time, wondering if if I had made a mistake. But I love the grand and it's cool tubes. I think you are a compelling spokesperson for a great line of gear and I wish you the best.

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    The sona is made in California.

    We'll be sending a lot more out for review.

     

    That's good to hear. I think that is worth paying a bit more for.

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    How will these new units fit in with the existing nova 65/220se models? Are they considered a step up in terms of performance? Same DACs?

    I ask because I'm strongly considering moving from a 220se to Hegel H160.

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    While hunting for information on the sonaDAC a couple of weeks ago, I stumbled across an advertisement for a pair of used D5 speakers in the coveted rosewood finish, so I snapped them up. I just now put them in the bedroom and moved the Peachtree Nova in to power them, and connected my trusty old ATV2 via optical (port 1 sounds as good as port 2, so I have it on that). The sound quality is outstanding, as is the build quality. (The speakers are in immaculate condition.) Previously, I had a 1st generation Zeppelin in the bedroom. This blows it out of the air like a fireball of exploding hydrogen. The Nova is ideally suited for these speakers. (Using the ATV2 as a player rather than streaming via air-play seems to be much more robust, by the way.)

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    While hunting for information on the sonaDAC a couple of weeks ago, I stumbled across an advertisement for a pair of used D5 speakers in the coveted rosewood finish, so I snapped them up. I just now put them in the bedroom and moved the Peachtree Nova in to power them, and connected my trusty old ATV2 via optical (port 1 sounds as good as port 2, so I have it on that). The sound quality is outstanding, as is the build quality. (The speakers are in immaculate condition.) Previously, I had a 1st generation Zeppelin in the bedroom. This blows it out of the air like a fireball of exploding hydrogen. The Nova is ideally suited for these speakers. (Using the ATV2 as a player rather than streaming via air-play seems to be much more robust, by the way.)

    Strong words from The Professor :~)

     

    I couldn't agree more with everything you said. Peachtree Audio has been demonstrating its stuff for years with AppleTV. Much of the industry doesn't get it, but the Peachtree team does. The D5 speakers are killer. And, the rosewood is fabulous. Your new solution compared to the Zeppelin is so much better that even an objectivist professor would ... oh wait :~)

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    David Solomon welcome home. Immediately following your persuasive appeal for the merits of the grand integrated I bought the product and you left peachtree while I was just breaking it in. I followed your move to Tidal with curiosity the entire time, wondering if if I had made a mistake. But I love the grand and it's cool tubes. I think you are a compelling spokesperson for a great line of gear and I wish you the best.

     

    Ross,

    Thank you for the inspiring comments.

    So glad you like the Grand. We were really proud of that piece and learned so much doing it. Shortly, we'll have the nova300 which will be the replacement.

    Tidal still remains my favorite source for everyday use. It's such a wonderful service and sounds great too. Add on Roon and it's almost all music lovers will ever need.

    It also works well combining my high res recordings from my HD.

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    How will these new units fit in with the existing nova 65/220se models? Are they considered a step up in terms of performance? Same DACs?

    I ask because I'm strongly considering moving from a 220se to Hegel H160.

     

    The new 2.0 series will take the place of the current line. And yes, while the 65, 125 and 220 are good values and sound quite musical, the new line is quite a step from anything we've built in the past, including the Grand.

    The nova150 and 300 will use the ESS reference 9018 and have 105dB A-weighted s/n at speaker level. Great headphone section as well.

    The 150 will sell for $1500 and the 300 will be $2200.

    Hope this helps.

    David

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