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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
rob181
2 posts
 
Why compare them to other Class D amps - who cares - compare them to the best main stream products in the same price range - regardless of "Class" - now that is what I am interested in.
Post removed 
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
4,966 posts
 
How are we going to know anything about these new amps if all we get is reviews of them versus old outdated Merrill amps.

Really!, you need to look around.

Reviewed 2017 https://positive-feedback.com/reviews/hardware-reviews/merrill-audio-veritas-monoblock-amplifiers-ar...

Still on their site. https://merrillaudio.net/veritas-mono-block-power-amplifier/


Veritas is nothing more than a stock Ncore module and has been beaten by many new cheaper amps
And THERE IT IS!! 
Because any day now there's a new IcePower module kit in a box on the market.  http://tweakaudio.com/EVS-2/EVS_1200_amplifier.html  

Why is it anyone selling, manufacturing or about to release a Class-D amplifier, is here on these pages and others putting s**t on anything that is GaN technology related? You only harm your own cause.

Cheers George
ricevs
190 posts
 

George,

My "cause" is great sound for everyone.  I love audio and I love it evolving.  Thank you for continuing to post my site.  Every time you do, I get emails from people who want my amp.  You are my shill!  People interested in $22,000 amps are not interested in $2000 amps.  I don't expect my highly modified dual mono fully tweaked IceEdge amps to compete at that level.,,,,,but who knows?!?

I am really excited about the possibilities of class D....whether using "dead time compensation" with mosfets, getting rid of dead time via patents, or GaN.  I want to know how these new GaN amps perform related to what is out there.  Reviews of old Ncore versus GaN do not let anyone know what is possible. Yes, I want reviews versus class A and class A/B as well.

We had a guy here who says he has 6 class D amps including 2 GaNs and was going to listen on 6 systems and let us know.....then he wimps out and says "people want to argue here, so I am not going to tell you anything". What he did say was: mosfet amps sound great or not so good and that GaN amps sound great or not so good.  Don't you want to know what he hears?  I sure do.  Information that could illuminate the situation.

As far as looking around, here is one that you missed.....class A/B mono blocks for $5000 that trounce the $12,000 Veritas mono blocks.

http://www.audiophilia.com/reviews/2018/10/13/audio-by-van-alstine-dva-set-600-mono-block-amplifier

georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
4,966 posts
 
ricevs
Thank you for continuing to post my site. Every time you do, I get emails from people who want my amp. You are my shill!

Nah, your your own shill. And everyone knows it, beating your own drum and bagging out GaN technology, if not why are you even on this Gan thread then.
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