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GaN-based Class D power amps (Corrected OP)

The use of GaN-based power transistor tech is now emerging for Class D audio power amplifiers. Seems appropriate to devote a forum thread to this topic. At least 3 companies have commercial class D amps on the market: 

AGD Productions, with their Vivace Class D amp ($15k per monoblock pair, 200W into 4 ohms). 
http://agdproduction.com

Review of the Vivace Class D monoblocks at this link:
https://positive-feedback.com/reviews/hardware-reviews/agd-production-vivace-gantube-monoblock-ampli...

Merrill Audio, with their model Element 118 ($36k per monoblock pair, 800W into 4 ohms), and Element 116 ($22k per monoblock pair, 600W into 4 ohms).  
https://merrillaudio.net

Review of Element 118 at this link:
http://www.enjoythemusic.com/superioraudio/equipment/1018/Merrill_Audio_Element_118_Monoblock_Amplif...

Technics SE-R1 Class D stereo amp ($17k per stereo amp, 300WPC into 4 ohms)
https://www.technics.com/us/products/r1/se-r1.html

Preliminary review of the Technics SE-R1 at this link:
https://www.stereophile.com/content/technics-se-r1-digital-amplifier

Technics also has a lower priced (~$4,000) GaN-based class D server/integrated amp that includes a GaN FET driver stage:
https://www.technics.com/us/products/grand-class-g30/network-audio-amplifier-su-g30.html

A review is available at this link:
https://hometheaterhifi.com/reviews/amplifier/integrated-amplifiers/technics-su-g30-network-audio-am...

Anyone listened to or own any of these amps?

[Note: this is a corrected, Original Post of an earlier thread having the same name.]
128x128celander
celander's avatar
celander OP
1,503 posts
 
I encourage folks to post to the other thread instead of this one. It’s more developed. 

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/gan-based-class-d-power-amps
helomech
1,672 posts
 
Anyone paying that much for class D hardware is getting ripped hard. 
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,173 posts
 
I have no doubt Class D is very attractive to high end amp vendors in that it provides a possibility of building a high performance product that can compete in the high end and achieve a greater profit margin needed to compete in that small niche market.

It’s also attractive for all the other vendors that do not play in the high end market in that they can build a similar high performance product for less and also price it to sell to a much larger market.
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