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Gallium Nitride GaN Class D Amplifiers

In my recent research for a possible upgrade to my current amp (Benchmark (AHB2) I was reading about the new higher end design for Class D. I'm very interested in learning more about these new GaN(Gallium Nitride) designs. Three companies are offering some very well reviewed products and they are not going crazy with Watts per channel:

Orchard Audio offers a 250 watt Amp

AGD a 100 watt

Atmos-Phere also a 100 watt

What's interesting  is while Orchard is a new company AGD and Atmos-Phere have been around a while producing high end Tube amps. In almost every review it is noted how these newer designs sound like Class A or Tubes with all the benefits of Solid State. One reviewer couldn't go back to his tube amps after extended listening to the Orchard. No wonder AGD and Atmos-Phere are getting into this technology. It's very exciting as these amps are highly efficient turning over 90% of the power they draw into sound compared to about 78% with A/B designs and I believe even significantly lower for Class A. They run cool and usually weigh between 10-28lbs. I plan to do more investigation. Small size and light weight with decent power is very attractive. There are also mono block offerings for more power if needed. These are not cheap Class D products. They are well designed and constructed.

Orchard Audio's base model is around $2700and their Dual mono version with larger power supplies is $5500.

Both AGD and Atoms-Phere are $5000

Mono blocks for each are about twice the cost.

Has anyone had any experience, demos, etc ., with these types of GaN Class D amps?

 

jfrmusic
clio09
3,354 posts
 

@mapman +1, I also own the Bel Canto REF1000Ms and use them to power my distributed bass array for a bi-amp set up. No shortage of bass there and it's very fast and articulate.

When speaker designers of yore were making speakers with 32 and 16 ohm impedance damping wasn't quite as important. Back then tube amplifiers, zero feedback SET in particular known for high output impedance, were by far the norm. Nowadays with speakers being of lower impedance things have changed. It's been said by a few people I know who make tube amplifiers that the popularity of solid state amplifiers using feedback came about due to speaker designers making 4 ohm impedance speakers. Makes sense when you think about it as damping should be higher with that type of load. However, these same tube amplifier makers have said to me that anything over a damping factor of 20 makes very little if any difference. So the damping factor spec should be taken with a grain of salt as well.

arnold_h
95 posts
 

I have no experience with AGD, Orchard or Atmos-phere but I have owned a Peachtree Audio gan. 400 for a year, my local HiFi dealer had it in stock and I was able to audition it and bought it, 400 watts into 8 or 4 ohms.  I am quite happy with it, very detailed, but not bright, neither forward or laid back, more neutral. Wanted a little more power for my Magnepans than I had with my old 150 watt Threshold amp.  There may be better gan amps for a higher price but I can’t complain, quite happy with the gan. 400. I think class D is the amp of the future and they are constantly evolving and getting better, and the days of the 150 lb space heater class A/AB amps are growing shorter.  

thecarpathian
4,339 posts
 

Aren't Orchard amps balanced input only?

audio_is_subjective64
69 posts
 

Yes. 

Aren't Orchard amps balanced input only?

izjjzi's avatar
izjjzi
103 posts
 

@atmasphere I would love if you could try the two tracks I mentioned with your various amps and report findings. Maybe PM me? I am super curious. 

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