The Future of Audio Amplification
If they are using these EPC GaN transistors in this prototype, the only reason would be to be able to attain a far higher switching frequency speeds to 1.5mhz like Technics with the SE-R1. Can you point to a link where you saw this is stated?? Cheers George |
Just found it, as yes they do state because of the GaN transistors ""which allows fast switching" but it puzzle me that they don't state how fast they switch at like Technics does at 1.5mhz. And just like the Technics not cheap either at $36k http://www.enjoythemusic.com/superioraudio/equipment/1018/Merrill_Audio_Element_118_Monoblock_Amplif... Cheers George |
I encourage everyone to listen for yourselves. While there are lots of fun puzzles left in the world of audio technology, solving them may or may not have appreciable benefit to end listeners. That’s something only listening for yourself can decide. Selling you a problem you didn’t have in the first place is what drives the industry. The trouble with the Techniques amps is that you can't attribute their sound just to 1 technology. This is a pretty remarkable amp, but there's also DSP speaker impedance correction going on. You cannot say "great amp, must be the super fast switching speeds" unless you can eliminate other variables. Are fast transistors cool? Of course they are. But great Class D amps have been around for ages. Yet here is George, standing outside an airport with a sign saying "Planes can't fly!" Best, E |
George, Merrill is not so much interested in achieving high switching frequencies. He seems to be using GaN to reduce dead states. BTW, here is the latest Merrill newsletter, where he talks about the Element 116, which he will sell for about $22K. a further trickle-down Element 114 will eventually retail for about $12K. Saluti, G. |
@erik_squires Sorry, but we wouldn't even be having this discussion if great class D amps had been around for ages. Judging by the measurements I keep seeing, great class D amps still haven't arrived. Most of them have issues with ringing. All of them have ultrasonic noise that sits on the outputs like standing DC. Upwards of .8 volts of noise!?!?!? That's hifi, is it? A 1kHz sinewave looks horrible through those things. For all intents and purposes, it's made entirely out of high frequency noise. Some around here have said that the HF is easily filtered out. If so, why is JA always running low ass filters on his AP to get a sine the doesn't look like a scared porcupine? I'm with George 110%. Class D isn't bringing anything new or great to hifi. Efficiency, yes, but they're technically inferior to class A. |
