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The Future of Audio Amplification

I have recently paired an Audio Research DS225 Class D amplifier with an Audio Research tube preamplifier (SP8 mkii). I cannot believe how wonderful and lifelike my music sounds. The DS225 replaced an Audio Research SD135 Class AB amplifier. Perhaps the SD135 is just not as good as some of the better quality amps that are out there, but it got me thinking that amazingly wonderful sonance can be achieved with a tubed pre and Class D amp. I have a hunch that as more people experience this combination, it will likely catch on and become the future path of many, if not most audiophile systems. It is interesting that Audio Research has been at the forefront of this development.
distortions
tweak1
870 posts
 
GuidoC

You seem like the perfect candidate to get the GaN amps

I have owned 4 different gen class Ds, Parasound A21,  and a behemoth Kinergetics KBA 75, which I think was puree class A. It grabbed a hold of the heads on my then Genesis Vs, like none of the other amps I tried on it
guidocorona
4,114 posts
 

Hello Tweak1, are you referring to  amps designed around Gallium Nitride transistors?  I have had a mono amp in my system designed around Gallium Nitride (GaN) transistors for just a few days last spring. It was a still incomplete but lovely prototype of the now released Merrill Element 118 monos. At the time, it was not fully broken in and still showed some minor artifacts. In spite of that, it showed high promise, Yet I could not get a complete idea of its performance within the limited hours of up-time.


Saluti, Guido




georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
4,966 posts
 
I have had a mono amp in my system designed around Gallium Nitride (GaN)
Which EPC "evaluation" board was this last spring? as this is the only way to get them as far as I know?

As far as I know this board is the only one EPC (using GaN transistors) that’s been released so far,
The EPC0106 at $1338.00 usd, no transistors only yet.

https://www.digikey.com/products/en?%20WT.z_cid=sp_917_0110_buynow&site=us&lang=en&mpart...

https://epc-co.com/epc/Products/DemoBoards/EPC9106.aspx

Cheers George
cheenyportabello
2 posts
 
I have an NAD C 268 class D amplifier, NO PREAMP, and mac mini DAC using 3.5 mm line out and the sound is MAGICAL and I've heard just about everything.  I think the main is reason is that there is no preamp, but for whatever reason, the sound is just incredible. 
kosst_amojan
2,095 posts
 
@atmasphere 

That's a pretty small laptop charger. My Acer has a charger that does twice that. 19V@6.32A. 

No need to argue with me though. The guys you really need to argue with are the thousands of people replacing SMPS's every day and every guy who's ever worked on CNC machines. There's nothing cheaply or poorly engineered about Mazak or Haas machine tools and they can't seem to make these power supplies last. These are massive industrial hardened beasts the size of a large audio amplifier installed in filter ventilated control cabs. They're good for about 10 years. 
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