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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
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
4,966 posts
 
Common guys, THREAD MISDIRECTION????

I’ll jump in before the OP does.
This thread of celander ’s is supposed to be about Class-D and GaN Technology, keep it on topic. If you want to talk about worthless reviews, Van Alstine’s amps PM each other.

Back to what this thread is about, and that is GaN technology.
Here is an interesting read from EPC the inventors of the GaN Fet and what it can do because of it's ability to have a much higher switching frequency as in the Technics SE-R1 and I believe the Merrill's now as well.
https://ibb.co/mqg829t

Cheers George
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
4,966 posts
 
blindjim2,801 posts
  I heard the Merrill Element 116s recently. albeit all too briefly. I've been around long enough to know when I'm listening to something special though and quite immediately.
I found his setup overall to be spooky good

Taken from another thread by a long term member, this bodes well for the Merrill amps using GaN technology.

Cheers george
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.
merrillaudio
49 posts
 
This is a side note to the Class D and cool running amps. 

One of the major benefits of running cool or cooler is that the components stay intact longer. A major benefactor of this cooler running amp it the Electrolytic Capacitor that is very common in power amps. The electrolytic capacitor offers higher density, higher voltage and higher capacitance for the size and price. A large number of capacitors and large capacitance is used for the power regulation, even if most of the regulation is done by semiconductors. 

The drying out would typically run about 20 % less after 10 years.  Heat accelerates the drying out of these capacitors reducing the performance faster.  One hopes electronics will last a few decades. Cooler running equipment have a better chance of this occurring. 

Of course, first and foremost are sonics. And it will have to start off very good to have this as a consideration. 
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