Anybody else waiting for GaN and Purify to have a baby?

jjss49

Here’s something interesting, your MiniGaN 5 has the "EAS eGaNAMP2016 Gallium Nitride Class-D Amplifier Module" in it. https://ibb.co/2n5wTKK

And now they’re bringing the newer "EAS eGaNAMP 2.1 Reference GaN modules" out https://ibb.co/P6WmMZS

And there’s the original one I showed GaN by GaN with power-supply dac, pre etc etc.
https://ibb.co/9gmXdcS

Things are really heating up for a congested GaN amplifier choice, great thing is most are going to be well below $1k

Cheers George

I will second the Orchard Audio Starkrimson Ultra.
500 watts, switching frequency 750kHz I believe, phase plots look good, most importantly sound is amazing.
I know have 2 of them. I have relegated my Purifi 1ET400a
to the rear channels of home theater.

I thought these eval boards were not optimized for audio? At least the first generation one.
In any case, I doubt these boards possess the design magic and proprietary GaN's that AGD has. I consider the AGD amps the current standard for GaN amps.

Until one can build a pair of amps for, say, $3K with the same performance as the AGD Audion, I see no reason to consider them.

I thought these eval boards were not optimized for audio? At least the first generation one.
In any case, I doubt these boards possess the design magic and proprietary GaN's that AGD has.

@art_boston 

They are meant to be for audio, but also to allow a designer to evaluate the GaNFET capabilities. One of the ways they show that off is the board is supplied without heatsinks- it can run full power into 8 ohms without damage. This is also why the power supply that comes with that kit is current limited (so the amp is limited to 114 watts/channel into 4 ohms) so as to not overheat the output devices- which they would do if putting out 400 watts (the devices can handle that power if heatsinked). Overall the product ticks the boxes set out by GaN Systems but if you are looking for a high end audio class D amp you're better off looking elsewhere. Not that this board is bad by any means, just that other products not meant for evaluation are better for audio.

As it stands I’m thinking pairing the GaN 5 with a decent tubed preamp could be the heart pretty darn good-sounding system for not much $$$.  Yes?  No?  What tube preamp would you use?  Off the top I’d be curious about a Schiit Freya+ or a Quicksilver Line Stage.  What say you?