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The Future of Audio Amplification

I have recently paired an Audio Research DS225 Class D amplifier with an Audio Research tube preamplifier (SP8 mkii). I cannot believe how wonderful and lifelike my music sounds. The DS225 replaced an Audio Research SD135 Class AB amplifier. Perhaps the SD135 is just not as good as some of the better quality amps that are out there, but it got me thinking that amazingly wonderful sonance can be achieved with a tubed pre and Class D amp. I have a hunch that as more people experience this combination, it will likely catch on and become the future path of many, if not most audiophile systems. It is interesting that Audio Research has been at the forefront of this development.
distortions
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
http://www.ti.com/power-management/gallium-nitride/overview.html  

Here we go one of the majors have got the rights to make it, watch Class-D take off now, and finally compete with the best of Linear amps in the mids and highs and beat it in the bass as it always did.

Cheers George
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stevecham
3,340 posts
 
Gal, I ummm, night ride.
4krow
80 posts
 
Whether better or not, it is always of interest to me to get a chance to listen to new technology. I should pull back a bit though, as 'everything' uses the word technology in order to market it. Still, whether old or new, I get some ideas to ponder when I have the chance to audition.
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
Yep looks like GaN technology has infiltrated into car audio also and beat the competitors, the SoundDigital SD300.2
https://ibb.co/80x8L1C

Matt Hall, a very experienced sound quality competitor and audiophile, has done an amazing test with numerous high end amplifiers from different brands.

There were a total of 18 listeners, all unaffiliated with any audio equipment manufacturer.

We are proud to announce that the GAN made it to TIER 1, which was reserved only for the highest quality amplifiers, the ones that can be really used for Reference Level listening.

This is a direct quote from Matt’s review: "Describing how dimensionally accurate, transparent, and dynamic this lightweight amplifier is with profound adjectives seems disingenuous, but I assure you, I’m no charlatan. This amplifier is legit!"

To read the complete review, please click here: http://issuu.com/diogoianaconi/docs/amplifier_shootout

Soon we will be releasing information on the new GAN amplifiers. We will have a 2-channel and 4-channel version!

Cheers George
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