Class D Amplification Announcement

@mapman 

I am going based on solid user recommendations. What other choices in GaN amplifications are available? Will certainly be interested to know.

Well for GaN specifically orchid audio, Peachtree (what’s with all the fruit references ?) and Class D Audio come to mind. But the topic was Class D in general.  GaN may be a useful new technology but many modern modest cost Class D amp designs do things exceptionally well and are competitive.   I believe personal preferences will be the main deciding factor, as is commonly the case when talking about high quality products these days. 

**** The sound of a high rez two channel system sounds nothing like live music****

Three possibilities:

- The “high rez”’system is not assembled well; is not well balanced.

- Recordings being played are not very good.

- The listener is not familiar with the sound of live music.

A great recording played back on a well balanced (!) high resolution system can sound, while never exactly like, fairly close to the sound of live.

**** What we are looking for at home is a hyper real (as in unreal) experience****

No offense intended, but speak for yourself. That is not what many of us are looking for.

I suppose it’s a sign of the times. Hyper real flavors in food (way too salty). Hyper loud movies and concerts. Hyper fast, hyper personalized experiences. Hyper connectivity, and more. I’m old school, I prefer my music to sound as natural as possible; as close as possible to the real thing. Others may want a different experience. As far as I’m concerned Harry Pearson had it right. However, to each his own. Enjoy your music!

@mapman ,

Got it. I have certainly read user reviews on Orchard, but not as many for Peachtree. Don’t know why; but I am more gravitating towards GaN over other Class D tech. Will try to audition different types when I am ready for a change.

There’s also the LSA Voyager GaN 350 from Underwood HiFi.