GaN-based Class D power amps

Ok, time for me to clean up some ignorant commentary expressed in one of my posts on this page. The Lyngdorf amp is a class D amp, but not one that includes GaN-FET transistors (+1, bulldogger). The amp might be a modified Bruno Putzeys’ design using variants of his Hypex Ncore modules (+1, GeorgeHiFi) with judicious use of NFB across the audio frequency spectrum. Bruno Putzeys is the person I believe Lyngdorf mentioned in his FB post. By searching "Bruno Putzeys," I discovered he is also the designer behind a class D monoblock called Mola Mola Kaluga. At $16k per monoblock pair, it was said to be competitive price-wise and sonically with the best amps out there.

Some reviews are here:

https://www.soundstagehifi.com/index.php/equipment-reviews/972-mola-mola-kaluga-mono-amplifiershttps://www.6moons.com/audioreviews2/molamola/1.html

It remains to be seen whether Bruno will migrate to GaN-FET tech class D designs, but this amp isn’t one of them. It will be interesting to A/B this class D design against the best sounding GaN-FET class D amps out there (whatever that may be).

It was stated earlier in this thread that "there are no truly digital amplifiers".

This is very wrong. They’ve been out for 20 years -starting with the TacT Millennium in 1998 and reviewed (that year) by Robert Greene of The Absolute Sound.

Wadia had their PowerDAC right after, but it was never reviewed and only had a 3-year life.

The TacT was re-branded under Lyngdorf Audio. It has been joined by the NAD M32 and Technics R1 - the only 3 in the world I’m aware of. (Another from Italy, was ’blogged’ by Clement Perry of Stereo Times, but was never reviewed).

Though they have diff. methods of attenuating the signal, they all share the same (basic) topology -a DAC-integrated w/o separate sections. Meaning NO analog stages, NO converters. The switching output stage acts as a D to A.

What’s shocking in 2019 is how few audiophiles are aware of this revolutionary product category. There are reviews in the past 5 years, starting with Jim Merod in PFO (reviewing NAD’s M2 back then).

So it’s catching on, one decade at a time...

 Hello all, the Mola Mola Kaluga is based on the NC1200 module. Interestingly Hypex has removed the price restrictions from the NC1200 module. Nord Acoustics will be releasing a NC1200 based amplifier for under $3500 !!!! I’m sure others will follow suit. Bruno Putzeys is part of a new company called PURIFI along with a group of true Audio all stars! He has designed a brand new class D module which is being used in the new Lyndorf amplifier.  This looks like a very exciting new company. I can’t wait to see  and hear the products that they release! Class D seems to be advancing quickly now. I would imagine over the next year or two we will be hearing class D amplifiers that will compete with anything on the market. Exciting times for us fans of class D amplifiers!

Jonnie, Add to your list of "Digital Amps" the Exogal combination of Comet and Ion, the 2 forming a direct digital amp, the culmination of Jim Kinne's work continuing on from Wadia roots.