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
ricevs said..."Lots of class D and class A and class A/B amps are better than the old Merrill Veritas......not a current reference."

Hmm !!! Curious as to what reference amps you have ’directly compared’ to the ancient Veritas monos in your bold statement of fact? Would you care to 'elaborate on your comparative test results' and 'findings please'?
Hi,

Yes we have also tested the Class D Nuprime Evo amplifiers and the new Evo dac and both products tested well above their price points. We are still testing several different Class D amplifiers in 6 different systems and this takes time for obvious reasons. Currently we do not feel that there is any advantage, Class D GaN amplifiers have over other top Class D amplifiers, based on our direct A/B testing.

Cheers,

worldwidewholesales
  We are still testing several different Class D amplifiers

Hi, you keep using this word "testing"??, yet I've never seen any measurement "test" results.
Or are you just listening?
If you are doing measuring "testing" can you let us know what measuring equipment you use?,  as there is no mention of it anywhere on your site and if you do, do you have a link to the test result graphs?.

Cheers George

George,

Measurements mean very little......you must listen, listen and listen some more.....for reality.  Of course, really bad measurements are usually detrimental......however, what constitutes bad measurements?  You would have to listen to determine that.

I think GaNs will make class D better (everything else being the same).  However, we are in the infancy of their use.  Every GaN and every mosfet based class D amp will sound different as everything you do makes a difference sonically.  We have years of perfecting yet to come.

These first GaN amps are just the tip of the iceberg.  We will see relatively inexpensive GaN amps that blow these expensive first offerings away......no doubt.

Cannot wait for Worldwidewholesales to finally tell us their comparisons of all these GaN and non GaN (mosfet) class D amps.


Here is a an email back to me from the US company "ClassDAudio" regarding the use of the new GaN Fet technology in any of their completed amps or very well priced Class-D kits they make, that use linear power supplies!!
https://classdaudio.com/amplifier-kits.html

"Hi George,

These will not be available in kits. These amps are complex and expensive to manufacture. We’re hoping to have complete amps ready maybe in about a month. We’re still finishing case design. Tom"


Cheers George