The Future of Audio Amplification
Hello George, as far as I know there were no "evaluation boards" of any kind in the Merrill Element 118 prototype. The circuit is entirely designed/implemented by Merrill from the ground up using discrete components, including the in-circuit application of GaN transistors. For more information, you may want to contact the company. Regards, G.
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If they are using these EPC GaN transistors in this prototype, the only reason would be to be able to attain a far higher switching frequency speeds to 1.5mhz like Technics with the SE-R1. Can you point to a link where you saw this is stated?? Cheers George |
Just found it, as yes they do state because of the GaN transistors ""which allows fast switching" but it puzzle me that they don't state how fast they switch at like Technics does at 1.5mhz. And just like the Technics not cheap either at $36k http://www.enjoythemusic.com/superioraudio/equipment/1018/Merrill_Audio_Element_118_Monoblock_Amplif... Cheers George |
I encourage everyone to listen for yourselves. While there are lots of fun puzzles left in the world of audio technology, solving them may or may not have appreciable benefit to end listeners. That’s something only listening for yourself can decide. Selling you a problem you didn’t have in the first place is what drives the industry. The trouble with the Techniques amps is that you can't attribute their sound just to 1 technology. This is a pretty remarkable amp, but there's also DSP speaker impedance correction going on. You cannot say "great amp, must be the super fast switching speeds" unless you can eliminate other variables. Are fast transistors cool? Of course they are. But great Class D amps have been around for ages. Yet here is George, standing outside an airport with a sign saying "Planes can't fly!" Best, E |
