Anyone in the northern New Jersey area want to bring one of the amps over to the listening room we would enjoy meeting with you and having a listen. We are open to hearing and learning new things.
Happy Listening.
Class-D Audio USA have just released their new GaN amp at the CES
Class-D Audio USA have finally shown their GaN based Class-D at the CES, anyone see/hear it?
It should be well priced.
Wonder if they went the extra yards/cost for the higher 1.5mhz switching frequency, like the mighty Technics SE-R1.
https://www.classdaudio.com/
CES report on GaN https://dgit.com/daily/ces-2020-shows-our-silicon-future-is-becoming-gan-and-more/
https://epc-co.com/epc/Applications/ClassDAudio.aspx
Cheers George
It should be well priced.
Wonder if they went the extra yards/cost for the higher 1.5mhz switching frequency, like the mighty Technics SE-R1.
On Jan 23, 2020 at 6:14 PM, Sales <sales@classdaudio.com> wrote:
Hi George,
Yes, our new GaN amp was just at the CES show a few weeks ago, and was a big success. If you email me tomorrow and remind me, I can provide more information... I’ll try to remember to email when I get to work, but sometimes I get pulled many directions when I get there.
Tom
https://www.classdaudio.com/
CES report on GaN https://dgit.com/daily/ces-2020-shows-our-silicon-future-is-becoming-gan-and-more/
https://epc-co.com/epc/Applications/ClassDAudio.aspx
Cheers George
46 responses Add your response
Not sure if any of you ever followed up and purchased one of these Gan Amps from Class D but I did and it sure is a nice amp. I have the latest monoblocks arriving soon from Class D also and am excited. The now $750 stereo amp is quite the value. I owned a Cherry Megaschino MK2 and only sold it as Tommy passed and repairs became impossible and I didn’t want to risk damaging it with no possibility of repair but I sure wish I had it here to compare. Great amp. Great price and great customer service. |
Yeah I asked JA of Stereophile just today if there’s a chance he could review/measure the new Technics SU-R1000 https://www.stereophile.com/content/technics-su-r1000-gan-integrated-has-everything-bar-speakers as it’s getting great reviews, this is the lastest one. https://7review.com/technics-su-r1000-review/ Cheers George |
You might want to start a separate thread on the AGD amps when you get it. That way we can follow yours and others thoughts on it without having to look at this thread.....which is now a thread on a $700 amp. Your amp is something like $7500. Different market for sure. When the Premium-audio amp is released early next month then new owners can post here. |
I`m open to the new tech i just do not want to waste my or a manufactures time if i`m going to hear the same signature that i have heard in the past.I think it’s just going to be more of the same, but at $699! instead of >$2k The only one mentioned here that has pushed the Class-D envelope with it’s 1.5mhz switching frequency and output filtering of it, is the >$20k Technics SE-R1, and maybe the new affordable integrated SU-R1000 as someone mentioned. Looks like (if you can believe the manufacturers specs) the $9k SU-R1000 can double wattage from 150w 8ohm to 300w 4ohm, which many Class-D have trouble with, but again nothing about doubling 4ohm to 2ohm. https://www.radiokoerner.de/technics-su-r1000-reference-class-stereo-vollverstaerker.html (you have to translate) Cheers George |
The only ones that i have not heard are the Merrill, AGD and Technics. The Cherry is a notch above natural, if your around live music or people who play instruments which everyone in my family does what i have heard so far in Class -D portrays a better picture than the real deal. I`m open to the new tech i just do not want to waste my or a manufactures time if i`m going to hear the same signature that i have heard in the past. |
Very good analogy, and still have a way to go just like CD did. Technics with the SE-R1 have advanced it more than anyone, others to me have just gone sideways. Don’t think, even these USA made GaN poweramps for $699!!! are going to be the answer either https://ibb.co/jy8wpNS https://premium-audio.com/ Cheers George |
Did you listen to Merrill, AGD, latest and best Nuprime, the best Cherry, modded Purifi, modded IceEdge, Technics biggie? All these were available before Covid except the modded Purifi. The very best of the latest Class D sound very neutral. If you are a tube person, or a super lush class A person, then you will still might find some of them lacking in warmth. However, if your system is tweaked so you don't "need" a warm amp to balance it then you can get goosebumps. Many find they like a tube preamp with a class D amp....and that gives them the magic they want. I lower the distortion in my system so that I can run a solid state DAC right into my class D amp and get super NATURAL sound. When some people say "real" they are talking about a sound I would call colored. I once ran a solid state phono stage directly to my amp and then inserted a Modulus line stage (just the output stage....no pot, no switching, etc.). It sounded way more real with the tube in the chain. It was adding its own coloration....that made the music sound more real because I did not have a great source. Turns out that my Ariston turntable was real grainy and my phono stage was not great either. But if you tweak your system for super low distortion then the very latest class D can give you chills and thrills. |
Before Covid-19 i was able to audition just about every Class-D amp available. To ME they have all sounded like SS on steroids and unnatural much like when CD players first hit the market. My question, do these GaN Class-d amps sound real and natural? Or are they bringing more of the same just in a different package? I could careless about the tech the sound could be coming out of the exhaust of a Ford Pinto i don`t care but it needs to sound real. |
I don't know if you are asking about the class D audio or the AGD......but I emailed Tom at Class D audio a week ago and here is the latest info on class D audio GaN amps: The $1600 amp is going through a revision (release time unknown). There is a $700 GaN amp that will soon be released. Just finishing the powder coating now.....then to silk screening....then to final testing and then shipping. It will be 150 watts a channel, 100K input impedance, 3 position gain, balanced and unbalanced inputs and uses a switching power supply to keep the cost and size down. It is 10 inches wide and 2 inches tall. Will be the cheapest GaN amp available. Should be fun. https://premium-audio.com/ Let the page load and then it will scroll to show a pic of the new baby amp (labeled "The Giant"). |
Their main website is very dead and empty of product, it says reconstructing https://www.classdaudio.com/ The new GaN poweramp is $699!!!!! Is on their premium website, same problems as above https://ibb.co/jy8wpNS https://premium-audio.com/ Cheers George |
Here is what Paul from ClassDaudio / Premium Audio sent me to put up. Hi George,Cheers George |
The brochure brings to mind looking over a 'pro audio amp', as would be used in a live music venue. It's front panel is one 'visually'; XLR's , as far as I aware, are still uncommon in 'audiophile' (sic) amps.... Personally, I don't have any issues with either; I use Behringer digital eq's and a crossover. along with a splitter/mixer. 1/4" jacks and XLR's exclusively..RCA? Nope. But I don't have a problem over 'gender bending'. *L* Or 'rack mounting' either. And the $ seems fair for SOTA stuff.. At CES, that wasn't likely an issue...if you go to AXPONA, there might be some 'pushback' or consternation over that... When I was 'newer' than I am now, Crown was a fav for audio, but now...mostly pro app amps... But I suppose it's where you sense your market is, and more power to you. *G* No pun intended, but there it is.... ;) Cheerfully yours.... |
Have Technical specifications for the new Class-D GaN amp been posted somewhere?Nothing yet, just this preliminary brochure has been done that he sent me last night. He (Tom) should/will be watching this thread if you have any questions, as I gave him a link to it. Here is a link to the brochure... http://premium-audio.com/brochure/premiumbrochure.pdfCheers George |
@hickamore....*L* Yup, and the landscape changes beneath your feet. I'm a SS person myself, but having grown up with tubes and lived through the transistor>chip>integrated circuit>MB 'eras', the 'new' is all I've known....*G* I can appreciate the 'romance of tubes', and their 'sound'. But 'smaller/faster/lighter' and eventually 'better' is the march we live with. Of course, the 'better' issue is one that's still up to one to define and decide for one's self. And I'm good with that...*S* "I've been Ayn Randed, nearly branded a Communist, 'cuz I'm left handed. But that's the hand to use! Well, never mind." - A Simple Desultory Philippic - Paul Simon. Right handed myself...not that it's right, nor wrong....it just Is. ;) Have a good weekend, however handed...;) J |
My uncle is a Audiophile as well as myself and designs in pro audio, class D has made its mark the Gan circuits can be good but the design circuit also has to be created and voiced also properly around it. it will progress over time ,but still in its early stages .in many cases the good old Vacuum tube which was called obsolete back in the 80s still in many areas still is the standard for realism and naturalness.being part of the audio circuit in a Power amp, preamp, or in digital there is a magic hard to ignore. |
Thanks for the 'insider's view', George. If the development of D-amps continues at the current pace, the 60 lb.blocks can finally stop heating listening rooms....Not to mention the spinal damage every time we have to move or clean them. I want to see a GaN Class-d amp like Technics SE-R1 with it's 1.5mhz switching frequency for around $1500, it's not out of the question, just needs a different component change and little heatsinking. Cheers George |
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Thanks for the 'insider's view', George. If the development of D-amps continues at the current pace, the 60 lb.blocks can finally stop heating listening rooms.... I'm being facetious, but have always thought that the technology would mature quickly, given it's widespread applications already. From little acorns, mighty oaks....;) Have a great weekend, J |
Just got this from Tom from ClassDaudio https://www.classdaudio.com/ . $1595 they are on the money, if it’s a good one, their hiend site www.premium-audio.com Hi George,
That Technics amp above is not the massive SE-R1 GaN poweramp, but their network/integrated streamer GaN amp the SU-G30, it’s like a Swiss army knife of integrateds. Cheers George |