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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
kennyc
1,191 posts
 

Peachtree also carries GanFet products.

audioman58's avatar
audioman58
3,877 posts
 

I would not let GAN transistors be your deciding factor ,that is just one small influencing part of a big chain of parts . Much has to do with how substantial the power supplies are , quality of build ,and output stage . Some build pretty boxes 

look at Merrill a fine product but  put a pretty face on it with nice machined cases 

and then $25-$30k I was shocked ,just 3 years ago they were around $10k .if I am going to spend over $10 k  AAvic from theDanish Audio group makes Outstanding 

gear That get get very $$ ,But they have a entry level line that is very refined with lots of trickle down technologies  that is reasonable a integrated starting around $6k. The Danes  are known to build excellent products .I owned a class D product 

I regret selling from Gato audio very natural and musical. I think they have a Canadien distributor .their 150 monoblocks with a meter is very well respected .

check these guys out . Sorry I cannot remember everything here but it’s a good starting point.

audioman58's avatar
audioman58
3,877 posts
 

Check out audio group Denmark , they have very good products ,even their entry level has technologies their brilliant designers have that most Donot .

well worth checking out ,their entry level is better then most of any type of amplification per $$ dollar spent. Lots of cutting edge technologies.

wolf_garcia
6,628 posts
 

A Pass XA-25 and a Had Firebottle HO...why should I care?

Ag insider logo xs@2x
bhvf
202 posts
 

I wanted to give an update. I needed to drop off a couple DACs I was trying at my local AGD dealer. I mentioned this thread and told him about my thoughts on bass. He said he never heard that nor experienced it in his own systems with their amps. He speculated it may be my speaker cables so gave me something to try. There's a huge difference on the bass side between my regular cable and the ones he gave me. I'm shocked at the difference. I bought the cables when I had a totally different system so they may just not work with this amp and speakers as well. Crazy hobby/addiction.

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