Questions re:  GaNfet technology vs other designs.


How do the newer GaNfet technology amps compare to the HYPEX NC400, HYPEX NC500, HYPEX 1200 and PURIF Audio designed amps in terms of sound quality? And also how do these GaNfet technology based amps compare to class A and class A/B amps for sound quality?

It seems several companies are offering GaNfet Amps. For example, please the Orchard Audio Starkrimson 150w gan amplifier and the Atma-sphere Class D power amplifier (and several others).

GaNfet is claimed to provide excellent sound quality. Several class D mono blocks offer great sound as various reviewers have reported. I noticed there are several GaNfet technologies power amps available but not many integrated amps. I wonder why. 

Maybe the better question is GaNfet Amps really for prime time? Your comments on GaNfet Amps are requested. thanks....

hgeifman

@spenav - Perfect answer. GaN is just a component technology. Throwing it into a flawed design is not going to fix the flaws.

I have a EVS 1200 dual mono amp, based on the same IcePower modules in PS Audio's M1200 mono amps: PS Audio modules are stock with in-house designed tube inputs.  According to a review by Michael Fremer, they were so good that he bought them. My EVS was marketed a good 9-12 months before PS's M1200s. EVS highly tweaked the modules wherever possible. I raved about mine and had a big following in AG forums some 2 years ago, but when I received my LSA Voyager 350 GaN amp, the top to bottom improvement was literally night and day.

AFAIK, the GaN modules have been very hard to come by of late, which will likely hinder progress toward integrateds

hth

I noticed there are several GaNfet technologies power amps available but not many integrated amps. I wonder why. 

@hgeifman The most likely reason is that they will be seen soon.

Thanks for your above comments. I am just searching for user comments on any Amp that uses the GaNFet technology.  I previously owned the Hypex NCore NC400 Dual Mono Class D Power Amplifiers and the Mola Mola Kaluga Class D Mono Power Amplifiers (NC1200) and both were very disappointing.  This means they were not musical and not very engaging. 

I am looking for any comments on any amps that use the GaNFet technology. And, yes, Obviously, I understand its the implementation that makes an amp sound great.  Thanks. 

Don't let yourself fall into the trap of "musical" / engaging. Mainly that comes from a non-flat frequency response, and that could be correcting something else in your system or just be something you like. There are other easier and more reliable ways to do that.