2. amps-preamps
  3. 142893-45726

GaN-based Class D power amps

The use of GaN-based power transistor tech is now emerging for Class D audio power amplifiers. Seems appropriate to devote a forum thread to this topic. At least 3 companies have commercial class D amps in their books:

Merrill Audio, with their model Element 118 ($36k per monoblock, 400 W into 8 ohms, 800W into 4 ohms), Element 116 ($22k per monoblock, 300 W into 8 ohms, 600W into 4 ohms) and Element 114 (coming soon). 
https://merrillaudio.net

Review of Element 118 at this link:
http://www.enjoythemusic.com/superioraudio/equipment/1018/Merrill_Audio_Element_118_Monoblock_Amplif...

ADG Productions, with their Vivace Class D amp ($15k per monoblock pair, 100W into 4 ohms). (The designer emailed me indicating he has another product in the pipeline.)
http://agdproduction.com
Review of the Vivace Class D moniblocks at this link (warning: link might not work (1/11/2019)):
https://positive-feedback.com/reviews/hardware-reviews/agd-production-vivace-gantube-monoblock-ampli...

Technics SE-R1 Class D stereo amp ($17k per stereo amp, 150WPC into 8 ohms, 300WPC into 4 ohms) 
https://www.technics.com/us/products/r1/se-r1.html
Preliminary review of the Technics SE-R1 at this link:
https://www.stereophile.com/content/technics-se-r1-digital-amplifier
Technics also has a lower priced GaN-based class D integrated amp in their catalog:
https://www.technics.com/us/products/grand-class/stereo-integrated-amplifier-su-g700.html

Anyone listened to or own any of these amps?


128x128Ag insider logo xs@2xcelander
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
4,966 posts
 
No sorry, what’s he doing here bagging GaN, with his own kit in a box about to be released, same goes for a couple of others. One that your jumping the gun on, saying he’s the new Messiah for curing "dead time without using GaN" and he hasn’t even got his on the market yet. 
They're all panicking and in product protection mode because of this new GaN technology, that they would have to do a major re-design at big cost to be able to re-design to use it.

Cheers George
ricevs
190 posts
 

George

Yes, I am panicking.....having a panic attack right now....he he.  Lighten up!!!!  There are no GaN amps under $15K right now that anyone wants and it will be some time before there are any at 2K.  Why would I panic?  My amp will sell if it sounds good for the money and not sell well if it does not.  This has nothing to do with GaNs or your opinion and you know it! I don't need my amp to sell to live.  Nor does Ralph need to sell his upcoming class D amps to live. 

In fact, I have been in contact with IcePower and trying to get them to play with GaNs.  I am the one that asked Nuprime on their Audiocircle forum if they were experimenting with GaNs.  I am PRO GaN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

check out my post on the below forum and Nuprime reply.

https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=158342.40

George, you can be so negative.  This is not a battle of minds or wills.  This is a game.  Enjoy the audio game.  Make helpful comments and supportive comments.  But to take it so seriously......not a healthy thing!


aolmrd1241
759 posts
 
I agree with georgehifi 100% that ricevs is only on this thread to push his own personal amp agenda in a way that seems underhanded and without any merit...shill??? me thinks so.

*I’m still waiting for an answer that ricevs did not respond to...*

02-06-2019 8:25amricevs said..."Lots of class D and class A and class A/B amps are better than the old Merrill Veritas......not a current reference."

Hmm !!! Curious as to what reference amps you have ’directly compared’ to the ancient Veritas monos in your bold statement of fact? Would you care to ’elaborate on your comparative test results’ and ’findings please’?
stray_cat
32 posts
 
@ricevs Yea I thought he was still in the process of seriously evaluating them, not necessarily wimping out, note that he is a distributor and I bet he will start carrying what he thinks folks will love.

 Where his post was helpful was saying the GAN amps sounded different, like night and day, and be it GAN or mosfet class D, they can either be average or world class, depending on various factors. That's what I got out of it.

@georgehifi  The search I did was try to to find one for sale:
Agon members posted ad history:

mountainsong (10-11-18)
$1850.00 10/10

placetas90 (8-26-18)
$2600.00 10/10
Technics ST-G30 music server plus SU-G30 Combo less than a month old!

Madavid0 (4-13-18)
$1500.00 9/10 free shipping
Technics SU-G30 Network Amplifier - MQA - PRICE DROP!

Madavid0-on audiomart: (03-29-18) $2200.00 9/10

The music Room $1611.00

zachjjackson (1-30-17)(3-13-17)$2799.00 10/10

I was hoping one of those members would comment.
ricevs
190 posts
 

Aolmrd,

Did you read the review on the above link about the Van Alstine amps that creamed the Veritas?  Did you also notice in that review a link to a review of the $2000 in black/$2200 in silver Van Alstine stereo amp that also creamed the Veritas?  The $12,000 Veritas is not a reference amp if a $2200 class A/B amp creams it.  A person who has borrowed the $22,000 Merrill 116s should really get a pair of the mono Van Alstine amps ($5000) and compare.....don't you think?  If they both cream the Veritas (according to the reviews) then it could be a fun shoot out.  This is what I am talking about.....actual A/Bs versus real stuff.....not just the manufacturers old stuff that cost almost half as much.  I would hope any manufacturer that makes an amp for twice as much as the old one would sound better.....if it did not they would not be in business long.  But what really matters is how does the new technology compare to the many other amps out there.  Looks like we are in for a long ride as the comparisons are just not coming in.

More to discover