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
Looks like ADG Productions Inc will be showing off gear at APOXNA 2019.
http://www.axpona.com/exhibitors.asp
Schaumburg is a short drive from Evanston. 😎

I'd like to make sure that everyone understands that any harmonic distortion, ringing and overshoot at the switching part of the amp is going to be far above the switching speed.

Problems with the slew rate, switching speed,etc. here are not going to directly translate to audible issues the same way they might in a linear amp.

The shape of the square wave in a linear amp is totally audible. Class D is not going to translate the same way.


celander OP767 posts
@tweak1, Early adopters pay the heavy price.


Just like with all new topologies, the old become door stops, and unsalable, when the new topology takes off.
Just like CD's early days with brickwall filters, like Sony's 16bit 101's and 701's have a listen to those, they are listenable, I got rid of mine as soon as I heard Marantz's 14bit without brick wall filter.

tweak1
I contacted Paul McGowan (PS Audio) about his Sellar dac/pre, and also asked whether they are playing with GaN.
 "The Stellar S300 is a dual mono design,  based on a modern Class D ICE module, designed in Denmark."

The Stellar S300/700 used Ice modules.

EG: If all three below had the same RRP

PS would wait for maybe a Chinese Class-D manufacturer to start making the complete Class-D boards using the GaN technology. (high profit low manufacturing cost)

For PS to design and make their own Class-D boards based around the GaN transistor would be a major undertaking for a company like them to do. (medium profit high manufacturing cost)

AGD is another story, being a "boutique manufacturer" maybe a one man show, can afford to go the hands on hand made route. (low profit very high manufacturing cost, but very low overheads)

The middle one's the disaster if things go wrong.

Cheers George      
 
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