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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
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
7,068 posts
 
No-one here should listen Ralph Karsten. He knows tubed circuits and that’s about it...
Engineering school only spent a day on tubes when I was going to school. You figure it out.
Actually, the first "digital amp" was the TACT. They do not have an DAC in it. They convert the PCM signal directly to PWM. There is no analog signal ever inside a TACT (except that which is generated via PWM and outputted via the speaker outs).
The quotation marks above are well-placed :)

If in doubt, Bruno Putzeys is one of the most-respected designers in the class D field. So who are you going to believe, him or someone marketing an amplifier?  Just read the paper at the link I posted and don't shoot the messenger.

stray_cat
32 posts
 
Just did a search for the Technics su-g30 and it appears some members here have owned and sold them. It seems that street prices may be more realistic than the $3999 msrp.

Maybe they'll run across this thread and chime in.



georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
4,966 posts
 
Just did a search for the Technics su-g30 and it appears some members here have owned and sold them.

Here is every post ever to mention the Technics SU-G30 on Audiogon,  no one in these posts has ever owned it, or sold it.??
Can you supply the link to members here that have?
https://forum.audiogon.com/search/index?utf8=%E2%9C%93&query=Technics+su-g30

Cheers George
toetapaudio
200 posts
 
Our reference amps are Mola Mola Kaluga’s, designed by Bruno Putzeys. They have been in a different class compared to other class D and A/B designs we have tried. We also know somebody who had a very expensive (£50k)class A design from Switzerland who moved them on for the Kaluga’s (£10k).

Just because another amplifier is based on the same NC1200 module, won’t necessarily mean it will sound the same.

Demos available in the U.K. if interested.
celander's avatar
celander OP
1,036 posts
 
Here is a post of a review for the Merrill Audio Element 116 monoblocks. 
https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/merrill-audio-element-116-review#1704562
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