Peachtree Nova as a preamp

s08.mbower -- Wed, 11/17/2010 - 14:49

I was wondering if anyone with some experience could comment on how the nova's preamp only section stacks up to what is available for under $1500. I have seen it written that as a DAC/pre it is a great bargain, but, cost/benefit aside, how does it perform in a more absolute sense. I have a sonos and am using a older, low end receiver as a pre while looking to upgrade. Ideally I'd like to get into something like a rogue perseus but that would require waiting longer and still buying a DAC. I like the feature set, but if it isn't going to raise the bar that much higher then it may not be worth it. As a note I do require a HT bypass so that is one reason it is on my radar. For reference, I would be using it with an Emotiva amp, Sonos player, Oppo SE and PSB speakers (will be changed soon).
Also to the TAS staff, Peachtree is about to release the iDAC and iNova to the market with notable improvents. It would be interesting to see these reviewed (ESS Sabre 9016 and iPod docks on both!).
Thank you,
Harvey

Steven Stone -- Wed, 11/17/2010 - 19:11

I'd investigate the Wyred 4 Sound DAC 2 if I were you. It's also $1500 and has a built-in volume control so it serves as both a DAC and preamp as well.

Steven Stone
Contributor to The Absolute Sound, EnjoytheMusic.com, Vintage Guitar Magazine, and other fine publications

s08.mbower -- Wed, 11/17/2010 - 19:48

Mr. Stone,
Thank you for your tip, I have considered that model and am confident that its DAC section is superb. As a preamp though, I don't know if I would be able to live without any analog inputs. I would only need two in addition to the HT bypass but that still exceeds the DAC-2's current hardware (hanen't ruled it out though). I was wondering though, what are you opinions on volume control in the digital domain? I have heard from some, that it can "significantly" lower resolution even if the sum of the word length attenuation and incoming data stream do not exceed the capability of the DAC chip. Is this true? Both the sonos and the oppo are capable of it but I have never hooked them up directly to a power amp to see what it would sound like.

Steven Stone -- Wed, 11/17/2010 - 20:06

With current 32-bit technology, the argument that digital attenuation affects resolution is no longer the case.

If you need analog inputs, the DAC-2 won't work, unless you want to use an A/D to bring your analog sources into the digital domain.

OK, at a slightly higher price-point, I'll steer you towards the new Grace m903. It has analog and digital inputs and an analog stage that can drive anything.

s08.mbower -- Wed, 11/17/2010 - 21:11

I have not heard of that unit, or brand for that matter, but from a quick google it looks quite pro indeed. I'll have to look into it. Is it fair then to assume that you think there are better pre's or pre/dac's to be had in the $1500ish price range than the Nova? I have heard the Nova numerous times at different dealers with different equipment but I don't have enough experience to know what is possible at that price range.

Steven Stone -- Wed, 11/17/2010 - 22:14

The Nova is a super product if you require its feature set.

If you aren't going to use the Nova's power amp, then you are pitting it against more specialized products that can spend the parts costs that the Nova uses for its amp for other things, such as a better DAC part or preamp section or connectors. You see where I'm going with this...

s08.mbower -- Thu, 11/18/2010 - 14:57

Absolutely, thank you so much for your advice. I can't ever see myself using the amp section so I suppose it is for the best. Just seemed very tempting given its price...

s08.mbower -- Thu, 11/18/2010 - 15:09

After some internet cruising, I realize that used higher-end preamps with HT bypass like the ARC SP16/17 are the same price as the Nova. In addition DACs are plentiful nowadays with tech improving very quickly. Sounds like a more future proof plan.

Correction: The new Peachtree products I listed in my first post use the Sabre32 DAC (9018).

Michael James -- Sat, 06/04/2011 - 01:36

Normally, I use the Nova to drive a pair of Sonus Faber toy monitors in my office. But as an experiment, I've used the Nova as a pre-amp in front of my ML 334.
I have Martin Logan Prodigys and I use Transparent Reference speaker cable and Tara labs interconnects..
It's not the same as my no.32 but for $1100.00 compared to $16,000.00 and having to use unbalanced interconnects, it's still, really, really impressive.
I don't see the point in going into the sonic differences between the two, because it's irrelevant in terms of your budget.
I don't know what you could buy used that would come close to it as a preamp for what you'll spend on the Nova.
It sounds great as a preamp and you won't be disappointed. The music comes through and allows the Mark Levinson to throw a nice sound stage that is fairly deep and holographic (with my amp). Sonically, it sounds seriously amazing for the cost. As I said, I haven't heard anything even close, that's out there at the Nova's price (or even a little higher) that matches it.
There is a definite reason why it has won it's awards.
But forget what everyone else, including me, says and go listen to it. Have a dealer set it up and see if you like it. Everyone has an opinion, but yours is the one that counts. And the only way you can have an opinion, is if you go and listen to the Nova set up as a preamp.
And if you buy it, you might want to consider buying an old telefunken tube and replace the one it comes with, as a tweak

Do you want to better or do you want to be good?

s08.mbower -- Sat, 06/04/2011 - 20:57

Hi michael
Thank you for your opinion, that's good to know. I have auditioned it many times but no dealer has it connected to anything but the most modest budget system making it hard to get a handle on how it would function in a higher end system. What other preamps in the 2k and under bracket have you heard that you think the nova is competitive with?

Michael James -- Mon, 06/06/2011 - 23:47

I heard the Primare at $2400.00.. which is not a $1500.00 component.. But Primare makes a 2 channel integrated amp for $1400.00
I couldn't really tell just how good the Primare was. It was in front of a McIntosh amp driving a pair of Summits (that were only 2 feet from the rear, glass wall). The room was obviously a bit bright, but it still sounded decent (I'm not a fan of McIntosh, only because, just like in that case, I've never heard a good set up with them).
.
If you're serious, why don't you take your amp and some music into that showroom, tell the dealer that you want to demo the Nova as a preamp and if you like what you hear, he's got a sale.
Either he wants to sell it to you or he doesn't. If it means a sale, my bet, is that he'll let you do it, .
I have a friend whose listened to my system a bunch of times and asked me to set him up.
I told him about the Nova he came over to my office and heard it driving the Sonus Faber toys and was amazed.
For the money, I recommended the B&W 685 speakers..
He read up on both of them and bought them.
I helped him set up his speakers, so that they were transparent, he listens to his computer music through the DAC in the Nova and CD's and he's in his own audio heaven. More than once he's called me up, telling me that he can't believe how good it sounds and he's just sitting in front of his system listening to music.. Something he's never done before.. He now pays attention to the quality of recordings, etc.

I don't know what you're expecting at your budget level, where the differences in readily available gear to listen to, will be slim.
There is a reason why it won product of the year awards and personally I can't see how you would go wrong with a Peachtree Nova.