Class A or Class D solid-state amplifiers (modern designs)

@spenav 

Thanks! Those look like a lot of fun

I’m running a tube pre into a pretty conventional SS Class A/B amp, and think it would be fun to have a few amps around with different “characters”

Let me know if you give any of these GaN amps a listen - would be curious as to thoughts vs “conventional” Class D, to the extent discernible…

May add a Benchmark AHB2 in the meantime…always so tempting

This is supposed to be a little bit better than the monoblocks.

https://orchardaudio.com/stereo-ultra

If you're interested in investigating quality implementations of GaN at lower cost, this is where I would start (rather than the LSA Voyager or the Peachtree Gan 400).

@jonwatches1 

I have been using the AGD Audion mono for a few months and am still happy with it. Give them a try within your budget and you will be able assess for yourself. Most companies have a generous return policy. Good luck. 

@atmasphere 

@spenav 

I have heard the amps you mentioned at length.  I knew Tommy O'Brien personally and he came to many of our Audio Raves back in the day.  He is a really nice gentleman and his products are excellent.  That being said, those designs cannot produce the sound of a Class A tube amp we manufacturer.  Again, everyone has what they want from their system.  We offer several options out of many available.  You don't need me to validate your system or any of your choices.  If someone is happy with their system and sound, that is what this is all about, right?

So what companies would I say are my competition - for the Class A tube mono-blocks I would say that's a good question.  I havenot heard that many that are point-to-point wired amplifiers using the best parts quality with customer made transformers and chokes, Audio Note non-magnetic resistors, V-Caps, copper plates, etc.  I have heard most of the typical tube amps most of you are familiar with but not many Class A tube amplifiers.  Lamm is a company that I would consider competition.  For the hybrid power amplifiers I would say Aesthetix Audio would be.

We have a fantastic music room in Northern New Jersey.  We are always open to host and have people bring equipment over to hear how things sound.  We are audio people and love to hear new things.

I am not trying to bash any manufacturer.  We need many manufacturers in the business to deliver products at various price points.  We modify and upgrade components weekly for people who what to improve the sound of their system.  We are happy to help.

Happy Listening.

I have a Rowland Continuum 500 Class D amp that runs circles around my two Plinius integrateds, one a model 9200 and the other a Hautonga. The Plinius Hautonga is good and I believe a dark horse at its price range, but the Rowland Class D is simply better driving Dynaudio C1 speakers. I recently had to send the Rowland for repair as both channels sounded wrong, one channel was slightly distorted while the other channel sounded muted. As it turned out both Icepower modules were malfunctioning and had to be replaced at a cost over $1,000. The Rowland amp was rarely used over its 10+ years of ownership as I was mostly overseas working so I only got to use it a few times every year whenever I was home. Yet both modules failed. The repair tech told me the inside of the amp was pristine and looked brand new, and everything else was on spec. This makes me think the Class D modules may not be built to the same very high standard as the rest of the amp. Not generalizing just narrating my experience. While I love the Rowland sonics next time I buy an amp it is probably not going to be Class D.