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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
rsf507
405 posts
 
@ricred1 Just my opinion but HEA is such a niche market with fewer and fewer buyers each year, companies have to keep charging more for they sell less. Again just my thoughts.
celander's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
celander OP
1,036 posts
 
Jeff Rowland gear is always very expensive. I guess that is part of his design package. 
ricred1
1,412 posts
 
rsf507, 
I agree with you about HEA being a niche market. The question it seems more manufacturers would be asking is how to expand their market. I submit the ever increasing cost is a significant factor that prevents many from being involved with HEA.
mapman's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
mapman
15,679 posts
 
IF you can undercut very expensive high end gear with not quite so expensive other gear that delivers sound people think competes or maybe even sounds better and make a better profit at it then that is a good thing for all except sellers of very expensive high end gear.

Not to mention Class D is most efficient and runs cooler so you save on power bills.
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
4,966 posts
 
contaminate
No, sorry Guido you Audioman mentioned Rowland and Pascal. Not me.
I took it back one stage further where the Class-D modules really come from, Sanway China.
It’s perfectly valid to show what’s going on in this industry, your upset because your very pro Rowland, I understand and I did in the very next post say that the Continuum was the only model, so far, as I’ve not seen inside others, YET

Jeff Rowland gear is always very expensive. I guess that is part of his design package.
That’s an expensive box to say the least.
Exactly the point I was making, those exact same Sanway boards were $100 each on Alibaba in lots of 10, so god knows what Pascal and Rowland were getting them for, and the Continuum was some $10k without extras.

Cheers George
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