GaN amplifier from GaN themselves limited supply!!!

This is for others that are interested in this GaN by GaN amp

Here is a test/measurement made by Amirm of Audio Science Review, one of the most highly respected sites for the truth on anything audio related.

This GaN amp complete was loaned to them by an owner for test/measurement and "it had it’s variable feedback" "set to low" via GaN’s laptop downloadable program because the owner loaned it in to him in that way, trouble is a couple of measurements won’t be as good as they could have been Amrim says that in the tests, and reflects in his conclusion statement.

"Performance here is above average compared to median of all amps I have tested (which lands around 78 dB SINAD). But it not stellar. Speaking with the designer, his focus was to keep the level of feedback low to show the advantage of the GaN transistors not needing much. He was not aiming to produce the best performance possible. Personally I wish he had targeted that given that is what we like to see here.
All in all it was superb in tests and measurements all aspects that matter."

As for heat there’s virtually none.

" Again, no heatsink due to high efficiency.s for heat sinking it runs so cool there’s no need for it. Practical MOSFETs take time to switch and during that time, they generate losses in the form of heat and limit how fast you can switch them. GaN transistors aim to solve this problem as these few slides from GaN systems show:"

Distortion at high power for a Class-D is incredible

"We see that the distortion is still under control instead of shooting through the roof.!!"

"I don’t think I have ever tested a switching amplifier with this level of frequency independence. Even Class AB linear amps struggle to produce such an absolutely clean response. Amplifiers with high amount of feedback run out of gain at higher frequencies and hence distort more. Not this design."

Even techs with follow up comments on the thread were very impressed.
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/gan-systems-amplifier-eval-board-measurem....

As for me getting one, all here know I only have Class-D preference for one, the Technics SE-R1 with it’s 1.5mhz switching frequency, even this GaN by GaN I started here, won’t shift my linear amps, yet!!

Cheers George

Why, on earth, did the mods remove this?

”@georgehifi

Designing an amp is a bit more involved than making a volume control…

Perhaps Ralph, who knows a thing or two about what an amp can sound like, is applying that knowledge to the D class amps - which are at the Beta stage (look at the link I posted) . And perhaps, building a world class amp, can take a minute to sort out, especially when you know what it should sound like.

But, feel free to keep on naysaying. Seems that is what you do best.”

Explain this to me please?

Yeah, my prior post got deleted as well. George gets very defensive whenever anyone questions anything about things he recommends here to the point where when even very knowledgeable and respected people here bring up valid points he feels the need to lash out at them and tries to discredit them by saying they have an ulterior profit or business-related motive (total bunk BTW). Oddly his unfounded claims against the reputations of these respected members are allowed to remain for some strange reason while posts questioning George’s motives or claims get deleted. Frankly I don’t get the double standard, but whatever. Still interesting to hear about amps made with these modules and exciting to see where the newer GaN, Purify, etc. technologies are taking the world of amplification.

@siox

Yeah, thats the very confusing part. Ralph has said nothing negative about the tech, just calling out application.

Meanwhile, George gets to throw his vitriol about.

Not cool...

And I am also curious about the new tech that is around the bend. Especially curious when a designer like Ralph does what could be argued as a complete 180 from OTL tubes to D class amps.

That is very interesting!

 

The first mentioned history of the new GaN output devices here on Audiogon

The new GaN transistors were reported here some 4-5years ago about how they will transform Class-D, especially the way Technics used them with the SE-R1 and it’s 1.5mhz switching speed instead of what everyone else uses around 500-600khz.

Here are the first post on Audiogon mentioning the new GaN transistors from "Alex Lidow" of EPC who was the inventor of the Mosfet, or one of them.
https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/class-d-is-just-dandy/post?postid=1413463#1413463

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/class-d-is-just-dandy/post?postid=1413469#1413469

https://epc-co.com/epc/Applications/ClassDAudio.aspx
And the video he uses and measures the original older GaN by GaN evo board this thread is about the newer model.

And dht4me who has been in direct contact with Rick Reigel from GaN, says there is another "Reference Board" in the design stages.

This present unit bodes very well for the members here who can do very simple kit assembly themselves, basically mount the GaN board it in a box add some rca sockets and speaker terminals.

You got a killer Class-D GaN integrated amp with dac!! and variable feedback for well under $1500 that "could" blow any others here away, as dht4me reported when he demoed it to the LA audio crew and said,
"I have built 4 of these to date, the first was for me but as soon al local Las Vegas audiophiles heard it they were begging me to build them one."

Cheers George