The Peachtree Nova's smaller brother, the iDecco,  is billed as the world's first "Tube Hybrid Integrated amplifier with a Pure Digital iPod dock".This unit shares many of the properties of its larger sibling, it uses a valve pre-amp stage, it shares the same high quality headphone amplifier, and it boasts the same DAC. Like the Nova it is designed for the music lover who is retrieving their material from both analogue and digital sources, be that an iPod, or more possibly, a computer or NAS drive. Where it differs is in output : the iDecco has a 40 watt/channel power amp stage (the Nova is 80 watts), and most noticeably, it has an iPod dock on the top. It is this dock, along with the quality of the in-built DAC, which sets this product apart from its competition. Most iPod docks operate via the analogue output of the iPod, using the iPod power supply, DAC and output stage. The iDecco accesses the digital content directly, which is fed to the on-board DAC. If your material has been recorded in an uncompressed format, your iPod can now perform to the levels of a CD player, and beyond. As well as the iPod dock the iDecco has one analogue input and three additional digital inputs.This is a great sounding and very versatile amplifier, ideal for small format systems which can be digitally fed, and which utilise good quality bookshelf speakers.

Digital to Anaologue Converter. The heart of the iDecco is the SS Sabre D/A converter. This ESS 9006 Sabre DAC was two years in design, and uses a multi-layer DAC board with over 450 components and 11 regulated power supplies. The Sabre patented jitter reduction circuit re-clocks the digital signal before passing it through a high resolution 24/96 up-sampling processor. This is perfect for computers and most streaming or hard-drive based music servers as most of them have high levels of jitter. Jitter, simply put, is digital timing error between the source and the DAC. The lower the jitter, the better the DAC sounds. This DAC takes the re-clocked signal and re-samples it to achieve 24/96 resolution. This transforms your iPod or just about any digital source to the performance of a high-end CD player.

Even cheap transports and high jitter sources like Sonos, computers and iPods now sound great because the iDecco thinks they’re all high-end digital transports! The iDecco can deliver an astounding 118dB signal to noise ratio, greatly extending dynamic range and your overall music experience with virtually all digital sources.

Each digital input is transformer-coupled so noise associated with ground problems and switching power supplies from computers is eliminated. The USB connection is galvanically isolated; eliminating noise generated by your computer’s switching power supply and greatly improving sound quality.

The pre-amp section employs a Class ‘A’ tube buffer with a 30-ohm output impedance, so if 40 watts isn’t quite enough power you can connect a separate more powerful power amplifier. The pre-amp maintains a high level of detail while also taming harsh compressed digital music and allowing exceptional reproduction when listening to high resolution files. The iDecco has a USB input for your computer, 1 x co-ax and 1 x optical inputs for other digital sources like Squeezebox, Apple TV or Airport Express, Sonos or digital tuners. It also has one analogue input for a traditional component.

For the headphone user the iDecco has a Class ‘A’ tube headphone section that rivals some of the best headphone amps available today. A great deal of time was spent on the headphone section and no detail regarding quality was left to chance. The signal passes through the DAC, the pre-amp and then the tube buffer giving you an extended yet addictive sound.
When headphones are connected your speakers are muted so you can rock on when quiet is a necessity.

The perfect desktop solution.
“We are going to change the way you look at your computer”.
If you sit at your desk listening to plastic speakers for long enough the iDecco, like its big brother the Nova, will transform your workspace into a high-end solution. Just plug your computer into the iDecco via a USB cable and connect a pair of quality speakers.

 iDecco Specification:

Amp:

• 40 watts per channel <15 distortion into 6ohms.
• Stereo MOSFET amp modules.

Preamp:

• Class A Preamp output stage.
• <30 Ohms output impedance
• Hybrid tube design using triode (Stereo 6922).
• 6.5V output 2.0V input.
• Polypropylene caps in the signal path.
• 2 x Aux inputs.
• 3 x Digital inputs (all transformer coupled) – USB, Toslink (optical), Coax.

Headphone Amp:

• Class A output with 6922 tube in circuit.
• Suitable for all electro-dynamic headphones.
• Frequency response: DC – 100KhZ +/- 0.1dB.
• Voltage gain: 10dB.
• Maximum output voltage: 7Vrms.
• Output impedance: <30ohms.
• Maximum output power: 100mW into 8 Ohm/300mW into 150 Ohm/150mW into 300 Ohm.

Digital to Analogue Converter (DAC):

• 4 x digital inputs: 1 x iPod. 1 x USB, 1 x Coax, 1 x Toslink (optical).
• ESS 9006 Sabre DAC with patented jitter reduction circuit.
• 24/96 upsampling.
• 11 regulated power supplies.
• Class A output stage (for use ans an external DAC).
• Transformer coupled digital inputs for ground isolation.
• Galvanically isolated USB stage.
• >118dB S/Noise
• <1 picosecond jitter measured at the Master Clock (Super Clock).

The iDecco is an inexpensive, high quality solution for anyone looking to combine both digital and analogue platforms, and at the current price it represents exceptional value.