GaN-based Class D power amps
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?
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It is not clear whether the cheaper Technics is a digital amp or a class D amp. I will use these terms because it is very clear. A digital amp takes the analog signal and coverts it to PCM though an A2D converter and then converts it to PWM. A class D amp takes an analog signal and converts it directly to PWM. The only way I found out the larger Technics amp was a digital amp was to read the very clear review I linked to. Many would not want their analog signal (using their multi thousand $ DAC or phono stage) to go through an A2D converter). George, please use your sleuthing capabilities and find out for us if the Technics converts analog to digital first or not. I just sent Technics an email asking them. I also asked Technics if the SE-R1 is even sold in the US as it is not listed on the US portion of the website. It is listed as sold in Japan. I finally got a response from Soundigital and they said they are $800 and have warehouse stock in Florida. You would have to contact a Soundigital dealer to buy it. This amp uses 12 volt power and has rca inputs only. Someone should buy it and mod the heck out of it. Would be a fun project.....I am not volunteering. |
It is not clear whether the cheaper Technics is a digital amp or a class D amp. Really??, it's Class-D. If you need proof under "Design" 3rd paragraph down. https://hometheaterhifi.com/reviews/amplifier/integrated-amplifiers/technics-su-g30-network-audio-am... I finally got a response from Soundigital and they said they are $800 and have warehouse stock in Florida.Sounds like a viable re-badging/re-casing project. |
What it says is that the "output stage" is class D......it does not say how it is driven. Class D and Digital both use the same switching output stage. It is how it is driven that differentiates them (at least, to me). All the info on the SE-R1 says nothing about the 24/192 A2D converter used on the analog inputs. It is only stated in the review I posted. And Technics did not say it was wrong info. So, is there an A2D converter on the analog inputs of the cheaper Technics? We have yet to find out. If it has one....then it is a digital amp. Hey nothing wrong with converting analog to digital. But, it is one more process and everything you do adds distortion. If it is done to the Nth degree then great. Do you think Panasonic would make the worlds most transparent A2D converter? If you use normal op amps on the input of your A2D converter then you have loss. You would want sonically superior discrete circuits, super sounding resistors, caps, state of the art power supplies, dual mono, etc. |
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