Peachtree Audio - Page 47

Hey all,

I've been doing some reading on the nova and I must say I am intrigued. My 2 channel system in my living room also doubles as audio for tv. I've got a squeezebox touch, an apple tv, a satellite receiver and a bluray player. My speakers are monitor audio rs6 and my current amp is a Cambridge audio 540a.

The sound is ok. I just think I can do better and I've got serious upgraditis. I auditioned a creek evolution 2 in my house and absolutely loved what it did for my system. It would be sitting in my house right now, however the fact it has no standby (ie can't be powered off with a remote) was a deal killer. It had to be family friendly. I looked at the creek destiny but it's a big step up price wise.

So, will the nova impress me? Is the dac a significant upgrade from the touch's which is considered "not bad". Note I've never used a standalone dac. Will the nova power my speakers well. I like to listen loud on occasion. Anyone have a nova/rs6 pairing? And the big question...where the heck can I audition these. Preferably in the kitchener, Ontario Canada area. I have had trouble finding any sort of list of Canadian dealers.

Oh ya, one last question, is the iNova a big step up from the nova?

Thanks in advance!

Well being the owner of 3 different units from Peachtree, I can say that with each upgrade I noticed a difference. Went from the iDecco, to the Nova now own the iNova. And yes! The difference between the iNova and and Nova are considerable. The DAC's in the iNova are better than the Nova and the iNova plays back 24/96 from a usb connection which is huge for me due to the fact that I play most of my music through my computer. The Nova does not playback 24/96 through a usb connection. Hooking up the iNova, I noticed right away how eveything just sounded more open and airy. Clarity was amazing. You can really tell the difference between the two.

And as far as pairing them to the Monitor Audio RS6's, I think the combo would be very nice. I have always loved Monitor Audio speakers. I am running av123 Rocket RS-450's which I think sound amazing paired to the iNova and would probably be in the same class as your Monitor Audios. And as far as powering them goes, I usually don't go past 12oclock on the volume control and I know that Monitor Audio's are more efficient than my Rockets which have an 87db sensitivity rating.

You will be very pleased with the iNova. Good luck. Oh and take a look at the Rosewood finish. It's beautiful and costs nothing extra.

Hi,

I'm so happy since my nova came back from reparation service.
It's a wonderful unit!
My only concern is the volume knob, that is far too sensitive when using the remote. It's bad that I need to raise from my couch each time I want to change the volume (and it happens a lot when I'm watching TV with all the ads)
David, is there anyway to improve it? (even if I need to tweak or buy another knob)

Thanks

That's disappointing to hear. One of my biggest beefs with my Cambridge amp is that I can't make small adjustments in volume. If it's too loud a small touch of the remote makes it too quiet. If it's quiet, a small touch and it's blaring. If the nova is similar it would not be on my list.

I just wanted to share my experience with the Peachtree Nova and a Macbook Pro. I've read on this thread and on a different forum site that some users are having problems playing back 96/24 recording with their Macbook Pro using a mini-toslink cable. I was experiencing the same problem and had tried 3 different mini-toslink to toslink cables. What I discovered that it may not be the cable but the Macbook Pro. On my version 1 of Macbook Pro (identifier MacbookPro 5,1) I was only able to play 44/24. At 96/24 I would hear a clicking sound. On my version 4 Macbook Pro (identifier MacbookPro 5,4) 96/24 playback was flawless. Both computers are using the latest OSX 10.6.7 OS and application Audirvana and the same toslink cable (Monster mini-toslink cable for Airport Express). At this point, I can only conclude it's the hardware and not either the cable or the Nova.

How about using the mute button?

I am listening to my iNova right now and the volume control from the remote is not an issue for me.

What's the best way to connect an iNova to a JL Audio Fathom sub?

And hypothetically if the iNova had a balanced L/R XLR output the what would the best way to hook up the same sub?

for the first time i plugged a subwoofer into the iNova with a y cable and heard distortion in the upper frquencies in my l/r speakers. unplugging one of the channels (left), the distortion was gone. i switched to the other channel (right) and it was fine as well... is this normal..?! thanks in advance...

Can you use an ipad / ipod via usb to the Dac*it to bypass the digital to analog in the i-device? I'm looking for a simple set-up to improve my ipad to Audio-Engine A5 sound. I'm considering the HRT iStreamer but the Dac*it would be more full featured if it allows direct ipad connections. Thx.

I'm pretty sure the camera kit can pass along the 16/44 digital signal to the DAC from and ipad. I haven't looked into whether this works with an ipod.

Another option would be to use an express. This would free up the ipad/ipod from the tether.

How cool would it be to leave your music player sitting on the coffee table?

Or you could use a Wadia dock, or the new Cambridge Audio iD100, which works with the iPad as well. (According to the guy at Audio Advisor, the iD100 needs a simple firmware update to work with the iPad 2, fyi.)

http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo...00%20%20%20BLK

Thanks for the ideas Dirk and Terrya. This is for a vacation rental where I want to give renters the flexibility of using the ubiquitous ipods / ipads but also want some good audio. I'm leaning toward something economical though. I ruled out the camera kit as I think it's only for ipads (not ipods, could be wrong) and then would still need a DAC. The CA ID 100 is very cool but is somewhat expensive and still needs a DAC to the all analog AudioEngine A5s. I'm leaning toward the HRT istreamer ($200) as it does exactly what I'm looking for (bypasses i-device DAC and has it's own DAC with analog out). But it's 16/44 only and I can't help but be tempted by a full featured DAC especially when I have a Nova at home and know that the PT products are good.

I haven't heard back yet but am assuming you can't connect an i-device direct to the DAC*it as that seems to be the IDAC's realm.

Anyway, good ideas and I'm having fun figuring out which way to go.

Hmmm.. no sooner do I post here for the first time in many moons then I start having problems with my Nova. My PT Nova is clearly outputting less volume in the left channel than the right. I've tried all sorts of different sources, inputs, switching speaker cables, and A/B'ing vs. my AVR. The Nova left channel / left speaker sound about 1/2 as loud as the right. When I switch the Nova left speaker out to the right speaker, then the right speaker is less loud. When I hook the front speakers to my AVR for comparison, the AVR is balanced. Analog and digitial inputs / sources all have the same problem. Anyone have this problem or some suggestions? Am I missing something obvious?

Pls write service@peachtreeaudio.com and we'll take care of you pronto. Sorry for the problem.
David

Hi sbtv,
You are correct. You can't use the iPod via the dac it. The iDac would work w the iPad via a 30 pin extension data cable.

Hi, we don't use buffers in the iNova so we recommend using the L ch out into the sub. The distortion should disappear.

Has any one been able to test a Inova/Idac sound versus the Dac it? Curious if there is much of a difference in the DAC chips.

Thanks

Hi! Happy Nova owner, running it with some entry-level KEF speakers, looking to upgrade. Does anyone have experience with the Nova and Harbeth P3ESRs? Their rated sensitivity is only 83.5 db, but that's at an impedance of 6 ohms. I should mention that my listening room is quite small, maybe 12x12x10.

Jim? Anyone? Any experience?

Sorry, have a URL, but I can't post it.

I've had a Nova for a while now, and I'm very happy with it. Except playing Blu Rays through it. I guess the problem is that I don't have a separate center speaker (I'm using Totem Hawks). If I turn the volume up so that I can hear the dialog, when the "music" comes on (i.e., scene cutaways, etc.), it's blaring.

is there a solution for this, other than getting a HTS?

That's a common issue, even with some budget home theater systems.

The new audio codecs available on Blu Ray go a long way to remedy this problem. In my opinion they are vastly superior to the older codecs, and are as big a reason to upgrade to Blu Ray as video quality.

Many of us found ourselves tweaking the volume up on the center channel to improve dialog clarity. With the new codecs, and on the right system, you can easily hear the dialog while bombs explode in the background.

I changed the audio out on the Samsung 1600 to "Audiophile," which seems to help a lot. Thanks.

Just wanted to get the word out about my exceptional experience with Peachtree's customer service. After a couple years of ownership, my Decco developed a problem. Right from the start, Jose was very friendly and quick to respond. He even referred me to the tech who was working on my amp, who was able to update me on the progress and even share a little info about the circuit.

The Decco is a discontinued model and yet the good folks at Peachtree are still fully supporting it. I definitely won't hesitate to buy with Peachtree or Signal Path next time I'm looking at components. Sorry if I sound like a shill but I'm thrilled with the job they did. Highly recommended company to deal with.

Yes, I have. A good friend brings in Harbeth. It sounds great to a point, and then the reality of 83 dB kicks in. If you're a moderate listener, it will sound wonderful. Just know that if you juice it, the Nova will likely run out of gas.
Hope this helps,
David

Would the Harbeth be that much tougher than the Design 4 or Design 5 (84db and 85db)?

On a different note, have you considered putting your Music Matters presentation on video for those of us not lucky enough to live near one? I would love to see it.

Thanks.

A really slick way to do it is to use the new Apple TV. You could use AirPlay to transfer your music wirelessly and totally bypass the internal analog output of the iPod. I do this a lot and it actually sounds really good. Not as good as the direct connection on the idac, but surprisingly good. You do have to have an iPhone or touch though.
Plus it has Netflix too. It's $99 so that brings you up to $550 total. It has an optical out so it hooks right in to any of our digital to awesome converters.

The other alternative is of course the iDac. By the way, look for a killer review in the Oct Stereophile recommended component issue.
Hope this helps
David

I believe Bjorns actually streamed the seminar a couple of weeks ago. I really want to do this but haven't done it yet personally. Partly because I see it in my minds eye as looking bad w one camera angle shot.
I'm sure there are professional companies that do this.
My next one is going to be at Audio Advice in Raleigh and Charlotte. I'll ck on getting a company to do this. Any advice you have is welcome as I'm a major novice at anything video.

I doubt you're any more of a novice than I am, so I regret to say that I don't have any advice. I get excited when I hear about the things you're doing at Peachtree, but I want to see it in action and hear the difference for myself. Please keep this in mind, at least. Thanks.

I've been researching upgrading my living room system for a few weeks now. Currently I have a Carver Receiver (original MXR-130), Pioneer PL-707 Turntable, Pioneer DV-578A Universal Disc Player, Denon DR-M44 Cassette Deck, and Def Tech SM450 Studio Monitors. I've been unhappy with the Carver's sound for some time, but since it's a second system that I use infrequently, I've let it slide.

However, I recently decided to get a nice pair of headphones (a whole other long story for another forum!) so I could listen to music more often again, and I now find myself listening in the living room a lot more. Unfortunately (or fortunately), my new Sennheiser HD600's are a lot more resolving than my speakers and gave me the shove I needed to finally upgrade.

After much reading both here (I've read this entire thread!) and at head-fi, I finally took some time to audition a number of integrated amps I have been reading about and put on my short list. I was mostly looking for a quality integrated unit with a very good headphone stage built in because I find myself really attracted to (obsessed with) headphone listening. I went with my "go-to" demo music (well recorded redbook rock, jazz, and classical) and HD600's in hand to audition the Peachteee Audio Nova and Decco2, Cambridge Audio Azur 650A, NAD C356BEE, and Marantz PM5004. The Marantz PM8004 and Creek Classic 5350SE were on my list, but neither was available. I also listened to a Pioneer Elite SC-55 because it closely matches my home theater AVR which I have spent a lot of time listening to. I did most of my listening with my HD600's because that's what I will use most often with this system. The store I visited had Def Tech SM350's on the shelf so, even though speaker fidelity isn't my top priority, I also got some idea of the sound and ability for the amps to drive my loudspeakers.

Long story short, I fell in love with the Peachtree Audio Nova. The Marantz was surprisingly a very close 2nd sound-wise, but I just loved the sound, features, build quality, and design of the Nova. The Nova is very musical and I think it has the easy going musicality to take the analysis out of my listening (which I tend to do) and let me enjoy my music. I also really like the all-in-one elegance of the Nova - that it has a great headphone amp, it will power my Def Techs, will take coax from my DVD player to bypass it's lousy DAC, and take RCA's from my cassette deck and turntable via RCA. I also like that it's ready for the future when I eventually start downloading and streaming (more on that in a bit). A true Jack-of-all-trades.

I ordered the Peachtree Nova in Rosewood today with Amazon Prime so I should have it by Tuesday. I also ordered a Musical Fidelity v-lps phono preamp for my turntable.

Finally, on a complete lark, I went to Crutchfield and ordered a Logitech Squeezebox Touch because I've been wanting to get into downloading hi-rez FLAC audio for some time but haven't had a way to listen to them! I feel the Nova was made for the Squeezebox and it's something my whole family will enjoy using.

The only thing the Nova doesn't address (and I never expected it to) is what to do with all of my SACD's and DVD-A's. I have read a little about HDMI de-embedders, but I could also replace my Pioneer disc player with an Oppo or Marantz Universal Player. I think disc players of this caliber have decent digital converters that should be more or less comparable to the Nova. Mostly though, I think I can live without hi-rez music upstairs - my home theater really sounds very good with both 2 and multi-channel music, so I don't have a screaming need to listen above 24/96 upstairs. Besides, If I solve that problem, then I'd have nothing to quest after...

Great thread. I've enjoyed reading about everyone's experiences and opinions. I've learned a lot.