What are the best GaN Amplifiers available today?

I tried the Peachtree GaN400 based on the glowing reviews and wasn’t at all impressed. It sounded like typical Class D sound—no balls in the lowest octaves, clear and articulate but also fatiguing. It was a surprisingly noisy amp as well.

A local audiophile friend of mine auditioned the Orchard Starkrimson and he wasn’t impressed with it either. He preferred his other amps which had retailed for similar prices. Similar to the Peachtree, the way he described its sound aligns with what I associate with typical Class D sound. In other words, no notable sonic advantages over a competent Class AB amp.

I’ve determined that the problem with forum anecdotes with regard to amps is that many are lacking a good point of reference. Someone will chime in saying that an amp like the Starkrimson powered their Magnepans or ESLs well, yet this person probably wouldn’t say that had they compared the amp to a big Krell on the same day. That or they will be comparing these amps to a mid-fi offering from a competitor.

Suffice to say I suspect GaN FETs with regard to amps are mostly another flash in the pan technology that hasn’t really moved the needle. There may be exceptions of course, but I am highly doubtful at present.

I have not heard the Peachtree but from what I have read it is just OK at best.

GaN got a lot of hype early on here. It is a technical advancement but no one thing alone assures a superior product. It’s all in how well designed and implemented a product is overall. It usually takes some time for engineers to fully realize any new technology fully. So the rule with new tech is always the longer you wait the lower the risk. New technology gets done better and often more cost effectively over time.

I’ve determined that the problem with forum anecdotes with regard to amps is that many are lacking a good point of reference. Someone will chime in saying that an amp like the Starkrimson powered their Magnepans or ESLs well, yet this person probably wouldn’t say that had they compared the amp to a big Krell on the same day. That or they will be comparing these amps to a mid-fi offering from a competitor.

Suffice to say I suspect GaN FETs with regard to amps are mostly another flash in the pan technology that hasn’t really moved the needle. There may be exceptions of course, but I am highly doubtful at present.

@helomech Reference is a big deal IMO/IME. I use LPs and CDs that I recorded and mastered myself. It helps having been at the recording session. 

@mapman GANFETs have been around since 2009. They became much more commonplace about 2016; at that point most of the major US players had their own version of the devices and they became a lot less expensive. 

@helomech  Hey man, Stick with your class A/ AB Amps. But Class D is no flash in the pan. They are becoming an ever increasing market year after year and are starting to take a BITE out of your A/ AB sales. Aavik..Peachtree...Atma-Sphere...Jeff Roland....Orchard...AGD.....good stuff and MORE MUSICAL to many than A/ AB.  I do enjoy a Big Tubed Preamp with a ClassD Amp however.