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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?


celander

Showing 4 responses by celander

celander's avatar
celander OP
1,036 posts
 
Here is a post of a review for the Merrill Audio Element 116 monoblocks. 
https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/merrill-audio-element-116-review#1704562
celander's avatar
celander OP
1,036 posts
 
Ricevs, Did you even read his OP?

He said, “I have had the Merrill Audio Veritas since January 2014 and have definitely enjoyed owning them.”

So the reader is led to believe all of his comments about the Element 116 is in reference to the Veritas he used previously.
celander's avatar
celander OP
1,036 posts
 
I would like this thread to remain on track to the topic set forth in my original post. I started this thread because I felt that other class D amp threads often only touched tangentially upon this new GaN-FET technology.
Everyone has the power of the pen. Please start your own thread about other amp technologies or designers thereof. Please don’t waste your penmanship here with those topics unrelated to the topic of this thread.
celander's avatar
celander OP
1,036 posts
 
It’s too bad that Merrill (the man) won’t be in the mix at APOXNA 2019 in Chicagoland. 
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