GaN based SU-R1000 Technics Integrated Class-D, review by TAS

Perhaps it is for other designers but Alberto knows more about GaN’s than others.

Well for those that know it’s not good to put all that wattage, current, signal etc etc through those tiny touch contact tube pins, they will be a problem after a while. Even the designer said the tube thing was a bit of advertising gimmick in an interview.

AGD’s Audion first gen is "only" 400kHz and is considered to be an excellent product? Their second gen is up to 800kHz I believe.

See even he knows that the higher is better.
As the SE-R1’s at 1.5mhz!!! is minimum, to have close to zero phase shift back in the audio band.
As this Hypex at 600khz shows has (red trace) https://ibb.co/2thS6y2 with 70 degrees!! phase shift at 10khz! and still 50degrees of of phase at 2khz!!!!!
>2mhz in the future will be the best.

I have a good friend who has listened to the Technics  in depth 
And it is very good but felt his Coda CSIB integrated was more complete in several areas ,in other systems they may like the more nimble Technics, the Coda uses The Latest Mosfets,
FETs, gan are the latest fastest FETs , and the Coda also uses 40 Bipolors on the outputs day Huge 3kva potted transformer , I myself bought the Coda and just installed IMO the world class Latest Jupiter waxed paper Copper foil 
capacitors for the Class A  preamplifier output section. It is very good it will compete with top separates in the $10 k+ range,which says a lot. 35+ years  in business ,10 year warranty,and           Made in USA 🇺🇸 

George you have been critical of many designers, engineers, builders and brands.  What amps, preamps, DACs have you designed built or what patients do you hold?  Just wondering before I invest in my next piece of audio equipment. 

audioman58
Coda also uses 40 Bipolors on the outputs day Huge 3kva potted transformer

Great output stage setup for the bases to me the best of linear high bias SS amp/s. Gryphon, Dan Ago, Krell, John Curl etc etc all still go this way, and still to me nothing competes with them when hearing them.

But Class-D is going to be the norm that's fact, especially with offshoots of Technics SE-R1 and it’s 1.5mhz switching frequency, but still even these amps can’t drive speakers like Wilson Alexia’s etc. Like what those Gryphon, Dan Ago, Krell, John Curl etc etc linear complimentary bi-polar amps can, and they'll still be around for those that want the very best, with the very best of speakers that are usually very hard to drive.

As it not possible "yet" for GaN or any complimentary Mosfets to keep almost doubling their wattage for each halving of impedance from 8ohm to 4ohm to 2ohm like the big Bi-Polar amps above can do.

Cheers George

George:

1. The SE-R1 needs to be at 1.5MHz to perform as it does, considering the rest of its design.

2. The AGD does not need to run that high to perform as it does. Its design and execution are superior, I believe. sure, they increased the frequency to 800MHz now, but the improvement in SQ is incremental not dramatic.

3. You’re always mentioning specs; you should mention SQ. Both AGD’s are superior in SQ. Would you rather have your 1.5MHz and lesser SQ? Of course not!

4. I believe the best performance and SQ will be using a linear power supply. I had an H2O S250 Signature, B&O and linear, and it performed beautifully with Apogees, including Scintillas. I’ll wait for that amp rather than jump into the current wild, wild west!