Decco from Preachtree audio


Anyone out there have any experience with the Decco? Its a 50 wpc tube hybrid integrated amp with a built in DAC (usb, coax, and optical) It can be used as a dac/pre as well. Very versatile. It looks like its geared toward the ipod generation. Not necessarily a bad thing. . . I'm wondering if it belongs in a high end two channel system. Or could it be a big bang for the buck at $799?
kenmknoxdc
Hey Ken, have you any experience with Nad, Jolida, Creek, Rotel, or Rega amps? I would like to know how the decco amp compares.
Hi Guys,
My name is David Solomon, one of the owners of Signal Path, the mother company of Peachtree Audio.
Thanks for the comments above. We worked hard for two years on the project and it's great to be received so well.
If I can ever be of assistance, please write.
You can get me at dsolomon@signalpathint.com.
Just wanted to make myself available.
Best wishes,
David
Hey DJ, Sorry it took me so long to post regarding the amp section. I don't have any recent first hand experience with NAD, Jolida, Creek, Rotel, or Rega.

They all have excellent reputations, though.

So here goes. First, I have to make a correction on my system. My Chario Acedemy 2's are actually 83 to 84 db, not 86. A pretty difficult load to drive.
So, that said, comparing this little over achieving Decco to my $3k Audioprism high current tube amp is not really fair.

At first listen, its very articulate, solid imaging, reasonable power, and a little on the bright side compared with the tube amp.

As I listened for some time, some of its weaknesses were exposed. It just doesn't have the tone of tubes (I am an admittedly biased tube lover as you can tell) or the front to back imagery and sound stage. It also runs out of gas when when the going gets rough. Again, its not a fair match up to put this little guy with an 83 db speaker load. Matched with a more efficient speaker, it should yield much better results.

So I hooked my Audioprism back into the system for good.

I am still loving the decco as a dac/pre! Well worth the $800 price tag alone. I look at it as a bonus that it has an amp if I ever need to service my other amp.

Bottom line, this is a great foundation for an audiophile on a budget.
Hook up your computer and/or dvd player, get some decent speaker cable to your reasonably efficient speakers, and you've got a sweet little system that just about anyone would thoroughly enjoy.

Enjoy the music and don't get too caught up in this crazy disease/hobby! lol.
I'm seriously considering picking one up to compare to my Paradisea Dac/Nuforce processor combo. DAC isn't USB so I could also add in a Trends UD10.1 (or similar) to my current combo as well. I'd be money ahead selling the two and foregoing the Trends by going with the Decco.

I also have low db speakers down in the 80's from Selah Audio. And a Gemstone Blue Diamond amp. These would stay.
Hey Ken... Excellent, thanks for the review. I would be driving some new Paradigm Atoms v5... they are rated 90db I think.

Musicman... I would love that review... that is exactly what I have been wondering. Reason being... I could buy a Paradisea and a nice integrated for about the same price as the decco.

So... I wonder, with regards to performance, if it would be better to have a separate amp / DAC+pre-amp or a separate DAC / integrated amp...