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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
 
You must absolutely hate fine art.
I buy audio equipment first and foremost for it’s sound, second comes price, last is looks.
I’m not one of these that sets up his "glitzy chassis" multi $k equipment in between the speakers on just as "glitzy" racks, so I can gaze at it in wonderment and say to myself wow how good it looks instead of listening to the music. And at the same time all that "glitzy" equipment your gazing at is ruining the stereo image and depth.

Cheers George
mikepowellaudio's avatar
mikepowellaudio
76 posts
 
Is there a possibility some of us like beautiful chassis without being douchebags ?
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
4,966 posts
 
Not when you knowingly prop it up in-between the speakers like the "great glitz audio god" and ruin any great stereo image and depth you may have had, then your "what you said"

Cheers George

georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
4,966 posts
 
We are testing different input impedance values for the best result in all situations. .Once the final number is settled on I’ll let you know..

Testing??? there's nothing to test, once you have a "Output to Input" impedance ratio of 1:10 or more, your fine.
  
We had a large participant demo at our audio society meeting, about 35-40 "golden ear'ed" audiophiles were present. I designed a switchable on the fly input impedance changer on a very good amp that was in a very good system.
  
This impedance changer change the "O/I" impedance ratio in 20 increments of  from 1:100 down to 1:5. It was at 1:5  that only two "super golden ear'ed" audiophiles "thought" they could hear a difference for the worse, but they also both said they probably couldn't pick it in a blind A/B.
All said they heard a difference at 1:3.
AC levels were checked to the mV for all ratios to be the same.

Cheers George        
tweak1
870 posts
 
George, wasn't it you who told me when I had the Hattor XLR passive pre that it was a impedance mismatch with both my Emerald Physics, then later with my Audio Alchemy DPA-1?
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