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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
celander's avatar
celander OP
1,036 posts
 
George, please order a GaN evaluation board amp module out of the Digikey Electronics catalog, assemble the amp and let us know how it sounds. 
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
4,966 posts
 
You can do that, or just get a hifi shop to demo the Technics SU-G30 for you, being only 50W on yours or some low wattage efficient speakers.
 I'll wait till I can pickup a pair of GaN monoblocks complete with Chinese Sangway type boards in them for around $2K or less for the pair.
By then all the their techs will have worked out any bugs with them. 

Cheer George 
celander's avatar
celander OP
1,036 posts
 
For those tempted to buy the ~$1,400 Digikey EPC evaluation board, keep in mind what you are paying for: copyright royalty fee for the PCB’s (probably $700 of the cost); PCB’s stuffed with mostly non-premium parts worth likely ~$350; and marketing costs. Such a board will not be nearly as good as a set of unstuffed PCB’s one could build up using premium parts. Digikey should simply offer unstuffed PCB’s at manufacturing costs, along with a copyright royalty fee-free, non-commercial license to the end user to build not more than 1 amp circuit with the PCB’s. 

Nelson Pass’s Zen designs were offered this way back in the day. 
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
4,966 posts
 
$1,400 Digikey EPC evaluation board, keep in mind what you are paying for:
PCB’s stuffed with mostly non-premium parts

Really!!!!!

I see nothing but premium parts! And I wouldn't expect anything else from a companies eval board.

https://www.scribd.com/document/398286093/EPC9106BOM-1

https://www.digikey.com.au/product-detail/en/epc/EPC9106/917-1090-ND/5036827?cur=USD&lang=en
celander's avatar
celander OP
1,036 posts
 
Enjoy the board then. I’ve got higher standards. 
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